Complex, Blues-Driven Prog

Can't add much to what Dick said; I would have chosen the same albums. However, I'll suggest a band and album called Armageddon which I got recently. I think they emerged from the original line-up of Renaissance (before Annie Haslam etc.); it's a largely heavy rock album but with some prog moments here and there (a 12 minute epic rounds it off). Was playing it yesterday and the production is fairly poor in parts but it's well worth a listen.

I should definitely check out Quatermass! 

Dick Heath wrote: salmacis wrote: However, I'll suggest a band and album called Armageddon which I got recently. I think they emerged from the original line-up of Renaissance (before Annie Haslam etc.); it's a largely heavy rock album but with some prog moments here and there (a 12 minute epic rounds it off). Was playing it yesterday and the production is fairly poor in parts but it's well worth a listen. A nice call: Keith Ralf  with ?? (Medicine Head, a duo signed to John Peel's Dandelion label, I seem to recall??) - therefore perhaps the Yardbirds connection is more relevant than Renaissance...??? Stray MIGHT fit the bill too; the first three albums are primarily heavy rock albums (Stray, Suicide, Saturday Morning Pictures) but I think they have some prog moments here and there, IMHO of course. Perhaps the two May Blitz albums too? Yes why not, Stray perhaps more than May Blitz...... Is suggesting the Baker Gurvitz Army going too far......? Even tempted to suggest Mayall's Bare Wires album

Well I already have more than enough bands to explore but I keep bumping into more....can't help my curiosity so here's more blues/heavy/progressive groups;

jimmy_row wrote: Baker Gurvitz Army?  I take it that is a Ginger Baker project, so I'll expect lots of bluesy jamming and near-virtuosic instrumentation.  I'm a fan of Baker so it's inevitable that I will come to this one eventually (...truth be told I'm still yet to fully explore Cream's back catalogue)   Mayall?  Now we're talking...not any prog to speak of, but I'm also a Mayall fan though the only one I'm comfortably familiar with is Bluesbreakers.  Barewires must be the one were Mick Taylor came in...a might jazzy that one is if I can recall correctly (a good thing in my book).

Baker Gurvitz Army is a band I listen to now - and I've made the mistake of buying a belatedly released live album to add to an old vinyl recording - and disliking most of what I hear. Too few good tunes - although those that work have the added force of a powered up Baker on drums. The Gurvitz brothers were the core of the short lived late 60's British rock group Gun - with a pretty good, one hit wonder, Race With The Devil.

Mick Taylor first appeared with the Bluesbreakers on  Diary Of  A Band Volume 1Volume 2 and - Decca Record sold the set as separate LPs! Quality is rather bootleg - but Mayall seemed to record his band at all gigs from the mid 60s, although his recording equipment left something to be desired. (BTW There is a worse quality, legit live  recording of the BBs with Clapton and Bruce, pre-Cream.) What is so good about Diary of A Band, is that Mayall finds space across the LPs to illustrate the progression of Taylor as a guitarist during that tour - have to mention Dick Heckstall-Smith also shines as a lead instrumentalist.  The Bare Wire LP features a connected suite of songs, ie. the  Bare Wires - a sort of but not quite concept blues record.

Coincidentally John Mayall was on BBC Radio 4 this morning apparently being interviewed about the "Hotel California music and business scene" in LA (by BBC Radio One Chief Programme Controller). To reflect the shallowness of this radio series - Barney Hoskins' book and associated BBC TV 4 series have done it so much better - all Mayall was allowed to say was about the destruction of 21 homes in Laurel Canyon in the early 70's ... nothing about the music. The main thing I've gained from this series is  that the controller of Radio One is an Eagles freak!!!

Do not expect much out of Baker Gurvitz Army. I had two of their albums- the debut and 'Hearts On Fire'- and there was not much virtuosity (apart from tedious drum solos), just fairly bland AOR, IMHO. Three Man Army were never more than second division either BUT they are better and more in line with what you are looking for, imho. 'A Third Of A Lifetime' is quite decent.

sheesh, all the knowledge in here....I feel like such a youngster.

salmacis wrote: Remembered another band I have; Toe Fat. The first album is just standard heavy rock (featuring two members of Uriah Heep, Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake, John Glascock later of Jethro Tull and Cliff Bennett, a 60s R & B singer) but the second is a little bit more bluesy and progressive-oriented too. I think one song features Peter Green on guitar, too, although Hensley and Kerslake had gone by then.   I've heard of Toe Fat from my Uriah Heep days...wasn't aware they actually recorded anything with Hensley in the band (shows what I know).  I assume this formation was before The Gods if Pete Green was later then Hensley/Kerslake?

salmacis wrote: Cliff Bennett, a 60s R & B singer

Have to remember ,for 'lending' the Beatles the Rebel Rousers to brass rock back Gotta Get You Into My Life (on Revolver), the Beatles allowed Cliff Bennett & The RRs to cover the tune as a single - became a minor hit.

Captain Beefheart is an excellent example of complex bluesy prog.