Triumvirat-Spartacus

I did not get much response on my thread for Triumvirat's debut, so am trying one with their most successful album, their third studio effort, from 1975, Spartacus. Easily rock music's greatest concept album, a story based on the famous gladiator who led a revolt against what was a decadent and cruel Imperial Rome. It is one of my top three albums of all time, and a winner, instrumentally, vocally, lyrically, and conceptually. Lead vocalist/Bassist and 6 string guitarist the late Helmut Koellen shines here, especially, and is more than amply aided by Juergen Fritz's astounding keyboard work, and Hans Bathelt's powerhouse drumming. A real tour de force! What do others think of this album?

Spartacus and Old Loves Die Hard represent the zenith of Triumvirat's viability as a prog rock band — being their own band, rather. The first two albums are ELP wannabe records, to varying degrees. But Spartacus is exceptional and does boast a magnificent title track.

I always loved "March to the City", which got a lot of airplay in Montreal back in the day.  So did the title cut, which I found a bit too frenetic but enjoyed it well enough depending on my mood.  I don't recall hearing the rest of the album, so I should give it a listen.  I did enjoy "Old Loves Die Hard" very much, as I felt it struck a pleasant balance between complex and accessible and I think it was more their own sound.  Doug, what do you think of Rolling Stone including "Illusions on a Double Dimple" in the top 50 prog albums of all time list?  It's great that they included Triumvirat but would you agree with that choice?

verslibre wrote: presdoug wrote: Triumvirat were the first German rock band to make a strong impact in North America, with Spartacus cracking the Top 30 at position 27, and it is an example of how music is truly the universal language, and breaks down barriers between cultures and society.     That's awesome, but Kraftwerk beat them to the punch a year earlier when Autobahn (still regarded as a Krautrock record) reached No. 5 in the Billboard Top 200. I take no pleasure in saying that, nor in pointing out that Tangerine Dream, one of my all-time favorite bands, didn't mount a North American tour till several years after Kraftwerk's 1975 US tour (thanks to Phonogram backing them following the success of Autobahn).

Illusions reached the Top 50 in America the year before Spartacus, but just barely, so Autobahn wins out, thanks for verifying that, though.

Old Loves Die Hard charted in America in 1976, but just reached position 85 in the album charts. Under-rated, and a fantastic record, though.

A treasured addition back in the 70s and I still go it often. Very often! The aura is spectacular, the playing is dizzying in technique and emotion. In my Top 10 all time . Enough said

Hi,

moshkito wrote: Hi, Pres ... are you trying to lock me up into listening to these things again? At least, my roomie at the time actually played these albums on the air ... something that can not be said for most of the "progressive" wannabee's.

That, I am, mosh; if it will encourage yourself and other people on PA  to listen to Triumvirat, then I am doing what I set out to do.

Edited by presdoug - November 06 2018 at 12:04