who invented prog rock?
- Thread starter fuzzbender
- Start date
Remember Caravan? I had two of their albums. I don't know why. I agree Procol Harum is on the leading edge.
Hey, me too. I don't know either.
Telepathist
Tele-Afflicted
Jethro Tull 
Can't say since it's before my time, but maybe Caravan albums were like the Fleetwod Mac "Rumors" album of their day, the album that everyone had but no one ever listened to. Sorta like Supertramp
I'm afraid not BT. They were not of that calibre.
telejester
TDPRI Member
"Whiter Shade of Pale" is regarded as the first foray into classical-themed (prog) rock. A lot of these other bands like The Nice and Moody Blues were right behind Procol Harum in going in that musical direction. Born out of psychedelia, and then later mixed with other genres to make a pretty wide expanse of music. Not many bands sound alike, IMO.
Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp were not of Caravan's caliber? Or Caravan was not of Mac and ST's caliber? Because, if it's the latter, wow, that's really not saying a lot
(Pop-era) Fleetwood Mac and Supertramp is some horrible music
String Tree
Doctor of Teleocity
Frank Zappa.
But he never liked being viewed as 'trendy'.
But he never liked being viewed as 'trendy'.
No its not. You don't like it is all. I'm not a big Supertramp fan, but they were good. However Rumors is a great record by pretty much any criteria.
Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
You guys are treading on my beloved Supertramp. Breakfast in America is a great album, and yes, they had some great musicians.
DuncanAngus
Tele-Afflicted
I'd say that you are correct Sir. Days Of Future Passed (1967) is in my mind, the 1st prog album.
A few years later it seemed that prog was a bit different as it became about a musician's musical ability and almost virtuosity. I never saw Pink Floyd or the MB's in that group, but for what it was, the Moody's 2nd album is a keeper.
xMercury69x
Friend of Leo's
Supertramp was great, but Breakfast wasn't one of their best. Crime of the Century is one of those albums you can play end to end (both sides) and not find a bad track. Even If Everyone Was Listening is pretty good.
Rumours is also one of those albums. A couple of lesser tracks, maybe, but wall to wall quality.
Rumours is also one of those albums. A couple of lesser tracks, maybe, but wall to wall quality.
Mr Perch
Tele-Afflicted
That's the one.
Collirem
Tele-Meister
I would have to agree with Days Of Future Passed - 1967 .... Moody Blues. The first complete "Concept Album".
Sherpa
Tele-Holic
I don't know who was the first, but according to Bill Bruford, prog rock was kept alive in large part thanks to the northeast of the U.S., where most of the prog rock bands listed above - very much including asking crimson - had a strong enough fan base to justify touring. They couldn't have survived on gigging solely in the U.K., continental Europe, or the rest of the U.S. For that matter.
During the early/mid '70s, Boston was fantastic in this regard, and I had the chance to see and hear Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, ELP, PG-era Genesis, and a myriad of other progressive bands. If only the acoustics in the Boston Garden had been as good as the musicianship...
During the early/mid '70s, Boston was fantastic in this regard, and I had the chance to see and hear Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, ELP, PG-era Genesis, and a myriad of other progressive bands. If only the acoustics in the Boston Garden had been as good as the musicianship...
DuncanAngus
Tele-Afflicted
Sherpa, You must have read Bruford's book as I did. I was not aware of this before he mentioned it, but prog was a VERY big deal here in it's heyday. Yes, ELP would sell out multiple night at the Boston Garden and it was common to go to more than 1 show. If you missed a night in Boston you could drive to Hartford or Providence and see them.
As a side note, I saw that the new version of King Crimson will be playing Boston this summer with tix at $300.00+. No Giles, no Bruford, Adrian, no Whitton, or Lake. You do get Fripp and Tony Levin though...
Tonemaster
Tele-Afflicted
Ian said it straight up. They all got their heads up their arses. Prog Rock....bollocks.
T.
T.
Post Toastie
Poster Extraordinaire
Another POS from Jethro Tull was "A Passion Play". It was the filler between TAAB and Aqualung.
Mr Perch
Tele-Afflicted
Who's Ian? I think I agree with him. Prog Rock for the most part was super pretentious white people's music, and the really talented people gravitated toward jazz. Zappa, for me, was an exception because he had a sense of humor about what he was doing. Rock music is the music of teenage lust and rage, and if adults take it too seriously it just becomes ridiculous.
