The Strawbs:
The Strawbs basically began, as many of these bands do, as a British folk-rock outfit along the same lines as people like Fairport Convention and Pentangle. But by the time a guy named Rick Wakeman joined up on keyboards, the Strawbs began to move in ever more proggy directions. Even after Wakeman left to join Yes, subsequent keyboard players like Blue Weaver and John Hawken made sure that there were synthesizers and mellotrons aplenty to match up with Dave Cousins lyrical storytelling.
My buddies and I would devote entire evenings that we dubbed "Strawb-Outs" to basically getting stoned and delving deep into Strawbs albums like Grave New World and Hero And Heroine (the latter of which I would recommend as an essential for any respectable prog-rock collection). When the Strawbs played Seattle opening for fellow Prog stalwarts Gentle Giant, their more subtle and still folk-based nuances were not received well by an audience hungry for the musical bombast of the headliners. Still, the Strawbs music holds up quite well even today.
Renaissance:
On the decidedly more classical influenced end of the prog spectrum was Renaissance. The first time I saw Renaissance live was when I managed to bluff my way into a 21 and over nightclub in Seattle (even though I was underage) using my credentials as a writer for the now defunct Seattle rock magazine Monolith. What I remember most about that night was being absolutely awestruck by the five octave range of vocalist Annie Haslim. Standing not more than ten feet from the stage, I recall sensing the air around me actually vibrate as she hit the high notes of songs like the 20 minute opus "Ashes Are Burning."
The thing about Renaissance is that between Haslim's incredible vocal range, and the other musicians all being virtuoso types--particularly bassist Jon Camp--they were an absolutely amazing live band. The only problem was a marked lack of actual memorable songs, making studio albums like Turn Of The Cards largely forgettable affairs. If you can find it however, Live At Carnegie Hall may be the best live album ever made by a prog-rock band.
Camel:
Camel was a largely unheralded band headed up by Peter Bardens and Andy Latimer that nonetheless made a string of fine prog-rock records that included Mirage, Moonmadness and the obligatory concept piece The Snow Goose. I saw them live once at one of those concerts that was attended by the 50 or so people who actually knew who they were (the far more popular Average White Band was playing across town the same night). Despite the tiny crowd, Camel played their hearts out as though they were performing before a packed arena. I'm not really sure what any of them are doing these days, although I did hear that the drummer is now with Marillion.
Article comments
1 - Perry/Chicago
Great tribute !
Glad to see you single out Renaissance and Camel.
I had just listened to my vinyl of Scheherazade And Other Stories by Renaissance and The Lamb and they are both amazing.
Perry/Chicago
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2 - Glen Boyd
So Perry, if you haven't already heard it, I highly suggest you check out the live version of "The Lamb" on the Genesis box set. The recording is crystal clear and the performance is a marked improvement on the original studio version (which had a much more flat sounding recording).
I will also make sure to check out your podcast, and thanx again for the comment.
-Glen
3 - John Medecto
Andy Ward of Camel was indeed in Marillion, but only for about five minutes. He never appeared on any recorded output although appears in the video for Garden Party from their first album. Marillion's drummer since 1984 has been Ian Mosley, a former member of Steve Hackett's band and Daryl Way's Wolf.
Oh, and the Genesis/Marillion thing..? The former certainly influenced the later and there was an undoubted similarily in passing. It was largely down to one song on the B-side of their first EP that this whole thing came up and it's been trotted out ever since, normally by lazy journalists who can't be arsed to do any more research that see what the previous lazy journalist wrote. Genesis haven't even been a particularly obvious influence since their second album.
Meanwhile, modern prog is thriving. Check out bands like Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Tool, Riverside, Pain of Salvation and more. There's even loads of female prog fans these days. Honest!
4 - Pico
Bravo, vintage prog-rock is a topic that needs to be covered more, IMO. There was a lot of great music that came from it and not just from the better known bands like Genesis, Yes and ELP. I'm particularly partial to the Canterbury bands like Camel and especially Soft Machine.
As Mr. Modecto pointed out, there's a lot of good bands out there today keeping the music alive, with P. Tree perhaps being the cream of the crop. You can add to that list Spock's Beard/Neal Morse solo, The Flower Kings, Gordian Knot (not the 60's version), IQ, Echolyn and Ozric Tentacles.
5 - Mark Saleski
nice writeup glen. i have several PFM records, and just may have to pull 'em out later today.
oh, and very true about the OK Computer/King Crimson thing. my exact thoughts the first time i heard that record.
6 - Jon Sobel
Nice tribute! I too was a big fan of Strawbs and Renaissance. I think I disagree about Renaissance's studio albums, though - at least of couple of them I really loved. But then, I haven't heard them in so many years now - maybe my more mature ears would think differently. But Novella and Ashes are Burning and Scheherezade were all really important albums to me in high school. Jon Camp's bass playing on Novella is one of the things that inspired me to take up the instrument. And Annie Haslam's voice was just a wonder of nature - I never got to see R. live but I did see an Annie Haslam concert at Radio City Music Hall once - she really was quite something.
7 - Glen Boyd
John,
Don't get me wrong about Marillion. I actually love the "Script For A Jesters Tear" album, although I think you'd be hard-pressed to deny the Genesis influence there, at least if you are being honest about it. Derivative as it is though, it's done in such an obviously loving way that if you are a true prog fan it's pretty hard not to love the record. I've lost track of Marillion for some years now, but plan to catch up with the new album (which I've been assigned to review here for BC). I'm going to be most interested in hearing what they are up to these days as most of what I hear through the grapevine is pretty positive and suggests that they have developed a more original sound.
Of the newer prog bands mentioned by both yourself and Pico, I'm obviously familiar with Tool and have also heard some of the stuff by Ozric Tentacles (who didn't do a lot for me) and the Flower Kings (who I liked far better).
You guys both rave about this band Porcupine Tree so that is one I will definitely be seeking out.
Jon, I have to admit that Scheherezade was a pretty decent studio album too, but one of the very few. For me, the Live At Carnegie Hall album was always the killer -- Annie is just a freaking wonder of nature on that record and Camp's bass runs still give me goosebumps every time.
Thanx for all the great comments everybody.
-Glen
8 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Cool Article...
I have to agree with John & Pico, There are tons of bands that not only emulate the prog of the 70's(Spock's Beard) but also fuse that style into other genres (Opeth,Ayreon,O.S.I.). Then you have bands that use that Progressive mentality to pioneer new styles(Watchtower,Cynic & Atheist). Ultimately, Watchtower inspired Dream Theater which pretty much kicked off the whole return of "Prog" in my opinion. You should also check out the band,A Chinese Firedrill...
It's all quite a little collaborative world, nowadays. Steve Wilson,founder of Porcupine Tree, produced & played on a number of Opeth's albums. He was also involved in O.S.I. which has the original Keyboard player(Kevin Moore) from Dream Theater(Mr. Moore has his own project called Chroma Key)and Jim Matheos from Fates Warning. Fate's old singer John Arch did a two track concept album which had Mike Portnoy on the kit. Arjen Lucassen(Ayreon)utilized James Labrie(DT) & Mikael .. .kerfeldt(Opeth)on his concept album "The Human Equation". Dream Theater has not only jammed with Marillion but opened for them back in the 90's.They even produced a song for the Rush tribute album.
On & On & On.... (I'm sure it goes even deeper)
9 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Brian. So I guess if I'm reading you correctly then, there is probably a pretty fair ammount of bleed over from the European metal community into the modern prog bands. Interesting, but I guess I shouldn't find it too terribly surprising.
I'm definitely going to be checking out several of these bands based on your recommendations as well as those by folks like Pico and John. If you guys are to be believed, prog would seem to be thriving as much as it ever has. And here I thought all these years that the genre was basically dead. Shows you what I know I guess. I guess my first stop will be Porcupine Tree since thats the band all of you seem to agree on. I'll be sure to report back on what I found. Thanx again for the comment.
-Glen
10 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Well, Glen, it's kinda like a nation united thing,kinda. You may find that you don't agree with our recommendations.But,you also might find that alot of these bands are really just making music in the spirit of prog with a modern feel.
I feel the same way... No Limits, No Boundaries but at the same time trying to keep excellent musicianship intact. Really, just pushing the limits with the music and your skill as a band. Personally, I like when a band doesn't forget its roots and incorporates that into a newer sound.
11 - John Medecto
Glen re: SfaJT: "I think you'd be hard-pressed to deny the Genesis influence there, at least if you are being honest about it."
As I said, there was an undoubted influence there on the first couple of albums but there were also other (arguably greater or equal) influences for example Van Der Graff Generator in there.
There was one b-side, part of which sounded rather too much like Genesis' Apocalypse in 9/8 -not even the most fervent fan would deny this - but this one track (a b-side!) that was responsible for their enduring public image thoughout the Fish years. One journalist accused them in print of being Genesis soundalikes only to later admit he'd never even heard any Genesis!
Anyway, that was then, this is now! I hope you'll enjoy the new album. It doesn't sound much like those early ones if at all, but it's a cracking piece of work, and good luck with the Porkies.
12 - Perry/Chicago
Glen,
Have the box set and many performances of The Lamb, but one that surfaced recently of note is the original unmasterd recording of The Lamb at The Shrine Auditorium in LA (the same source as the box set) in it's rawest form. No overdubs or remixing to the show at this time.
It was streamed at Wolfgangs Vault but is not up at the moment. Seems they are now offering pay downloads of shows so it might reappear.
Worthy of a listen to be sure if you like the Box Set version.
Also, hope you have had a chance to check out the podcast .. .
Perry/Chicago
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13 - ken
omg this could have been written by me! Strawbs, Camel, BJH, and Renaissance were all my favourites back then, in preference to the more major prog acts, although I did really enjoy some of Genesis - especially the Musical Mox (one of the greatest pieces of music ever) and pretty much the whole Selling England album and parts of the Lamb, and I also loved early King Crimson.
If you want to discover great later prog bands, based on your taste, I would recommend
Collage (from Poland)- recommeded "Moonshine' (1994)
Satellite (from Poland, offshoot of Collage) - both of these bands capture and update the spirit of the 70s. Recommended - both A Street Between... and Evening Games
Eris Pluvia (Italy) - gorgeous Camel influenced, mellow, symphonic with recorders, sax, some great fluid leads, but with a better singer
Anyone's Daughter (from Germany, 1979-1983, they were sometimes dubbed the German Camel. Their last album really presaged neo prog)
Eloy - also German, actually a 70s band influenced mostly by Floyd but their best stuff was from early 80s. Recommended - Dawn, Colours, Planets, Time to Turn
Dice - German space rockers. Recommended - Waterworld (2002)
White Willow - not my favourite but a definite Renaissance influence
Mostly Autumn, very Floydian but with a celtic vibe - tru The Last Bright Light (2002)
Amenophis - s/t - gorgeous monster German symphonic prog from 1983. The oft maligned followup, You and I, actually had some very Renaissance inspired moments
Mirage - French group with spirit of all the phases of Camel in their music as well as their name. Highly recommended - Tales form the Green Sofa (2005)
Runrig - group almost as old as Strawbs but muchmore celtic and not as proggy. Still, if you like Strawbs I think you will like them - most recommended - Heartland (1985) and the Stamping Ground (2001)
Kerrs Pink - great Norwegian prog/folk Recommended - the Art of Complex Simplicity
For a BJH/Camel tribute that is great in its own right, try the unusually mellow album "Damnation" from Swedish prog metal gods Opeth
There are also as many lost 70s classics as this, especially from Germany and Italy, belying the general impression at the time that the prog was the province of the British, even if they were certainly the innovators
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