I just added Dragon to PR. 

Back to the business of getting them on here- regardless of arguments about the merits of the decision, they have already been approved some time back, and it seems the holdup in getting their page launched is getting a complete bio and discography

I've already a suggestion about how to deal with the bio - presented as facetious, but I was at least semi-serious about that proposal. Why not? It's the truth - most people here are only interested in Dragon's career up to 1975, so why waste time researching and writing the forty years since?

I couldn't provide a full discography, but how much does that matter? Again, it's only those first two albums most of us here care about. Is it a huge problem if we add them with detail for just those first two albums to start with? Others will be able to add other albums later.

I've added albums to what were otherwise incomplete discographies for Ariel and Mario Millo, and the discography for Spectrum is still incomplete - Spill (Spectrum Plays The Blues) is missing - so obviously there is precedent for adding bands to the site with their discographies still a work in progress.

Listening to "Scented Gardens For The Blind" I'm surprised to find that the only band called Dragon on PA is from Belgium. The music is undeniably progressive rock. I don't see why a change to a more commercial sound on later albums should exclude them from here. It didn't stop Genesis after all!

Split Enz are a valid case in point. A couple of genuinely Sympho-Prog albums, then streamlined, albeit quirky, commercial, radio-friendly Pop.
Given that Dragon did have early Prog albums, then turned toward the mainstream, I'm thinking they should be included. Who knows, just like Journey, and even Styx, the later albums will still have fans and get ratings - I'm sure that reviews will highlight key tracks, and even state any songs which happen to be poor.
I actually don't see why they shouldn't be included.

sl75 wrote: Tom Ozric wrote: Their discog. will have ratings like (now I haven't heard, nor seen the first 2 rare albums) but they might be good. 4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0.........however many April Sun In Cubas or Rains they've done. Yep - just like Split Enz - one genuine prog album that rates above 4, and then a whole lot of other albums that barely rate at all But that one album means they deserve to be here. And I note they weren't shunted to Prog Related.

Yes, the comparison with Split Enz is an good and interesting one - the similarities and differences between the two bands could make an interesting discussion paper if not a book!

Tom Ozric wrote: Their discog. will have ratings like (now I haven't heard, nor seen the first 2 rare albums) but they might be good. 4-4-0-0-0-0-0-0.........however many April Sun In Cubas or Rains they've done.

You are on the mark there - the stylistic shift was certainly drastic and I predict the drop in ratings on PA would be greater than seen for other bands that perhaps moved away from prog after their initial albums (Split Enz and Journey spring to my mind).

Although based on the rather nice Aztec CD reissue of Universal Radio, I might give it a rating of 3 rather than 4...the UR album has some very good moments and is worth seeking out for a listen, but it's not a "lost classic". To my ears the music on UR is rather like "the sum of their influences at the time", including (but not limited to) Floyd and Santana.

In Todd Hunter's biography, the info on the early years in NZ and the first two Dragon albums iis interesting and the period was covered a bit more deeply than I expected.

I certainly hope there will be a reissue of that second Dragon prog album sometime...

I have to say I still think it's pretty odd to go to the PA page for New Zealand and not see Dragon in the list there - had Dragon released only two albums, UR and SGftB, I suspect the band would be in PA already; but, that said, there is much wisdom on this thread already and the reasons for Dragon not to be added to PA have been put well.

Presumably that means that you don't mind seeing some T&A then *chuckles*

Hehe, I can be naughty too though. By enjoying stuff such as this for instance :-)

I agree with you Sonia, but was outvoted. That is how this site works.

Windhawk wrote: Dragon (New Zealand) Overview Discography PA Recent Changes Crossover Subscribe to RSS Feed Date User Chart Action 6y Windhawk Crossover -> Rejected 6y Atkingani Crossover (Atkingani) 6y darqdean Crossover (darqdean) 6y Chris Stacey Crossover (Chris Stacey) 6y Windhawk Crossover (Windhawk) 6y Windhawk Crossover -> New