Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Prog

OK, I don't really care much if it really was (is) a Canterbury-scene or not, but in the magazine Classic Rock Presents Prog Rock it is 5 pages on the stuff! The usual suspects, like Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Gong and Hatfield and The North, are presented. For you unethical people, who want to pretend you have read the article, it is on the pages 50-54.
The magazine also lists the 30 best prog albums, and the 5 best are:
Genesis: Selling England by the pound
Pink Floyd: Wish you were here
King Crimson: In the court of the Crimson king
Yes: Close to the edge
Emerson Lake and Palmer: Brain salad surgery
I notice some of my old favorites Gentle Giant and Can among the nominees, and they have Caravan's "In the Land of Grey and Pink" on number 21, illustrated with a picture of Kevin Ayers (who was a pretty boy for sure, but never played in the band).
The magazine has a chapter on what they call "prog-folk" with artists like Pentangle, The Strawbs, Incredible String Band, Roy Harper, John Martyn, Fairport Convention, Nick Drake, Tim Buckley (also known as Jeff's dad), Steeleye Span and Donovan (!). And why are they prog? "The progressive folkies were totally unafraid to experiment".
The "free" DVD has interviews with members of Yes (the purchase set me back almost 18 GBPs, but that's Norway for you). And then, let's see Spinal Tap again.

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