"Big 6" Major Omissions! Gentle Giant vs. Camel - Progressive Rock Music Forum

Two bands that seem unrightfully forgotten about when talking about the biggest and best of the biggest and best prog bands, especially the "big 6": Floyd, ELP, KC, Genesis, Yes, and Tull. This is less of something I've noticed on this website and more something that I've seen around the internet broadly when talking about prog. I'm sure everyone has their own list of 6 more bands deserving to be mentioned in the same breath as those, but these two seem to me the most obvious exclusions, with perhaps VDGG and Renaissance hot on their heels.

But enough of my pointless explaining! Vote for your favorite (if you so desire...)!

Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)

iluvmarillion wrote:

I love both bands. Can we have them both in?

Big 8! :)

Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)

Rick1 wrote:

Both bands got nowhere near the Big 6 in terms of chart activity: Gentle Giant slightly more so in the States; Camel more so in UK and Europe. Camel had two top 20 albums in Moon Madness and Rain Dances (scraping in at number 20).

It always amazes me that Jethro Tull had much commercial success. Like, with the other 5 I can hear it, but with Tull I've always just listened and thought, "this is great, but how in heck did they sell this?" lol.

Edited by Sacro_Porgo - June 16 2020 at 00:48

Porg for short. My love of music doesn't end with prog! Feel free to discuss all sorts of music with me. Odds are I'll give it a chance if I haven't already! :)

Sacro_Porgo wrote:

Rick1 wrote:

Both bands got nowhere near the Big 6 in terms of chart activity: Gentle Giant slightly more so in the States; Camel more so in UK and Europe. Camel had two top 20 albums in Moon Madness and Rain Dances (scraping in at number 20).

It always amazes me that Jethro Tull had much commercial success. Like, with the other 5 I can hear it, but with Tull I've always just listened and thought, "this is great, but how in heck did they sell this?" lol.

I know it's a well worn debate but I see Tull more as a peer to Led Zeppelin. They were successful in the States very early on and also had some success with singles which, like it or not, raises a band's profile and marketability. Other bands have been reappraised over the years so while they hold high esteem among prog fans they never got wider acceptance - this is what the big 6 managed to do.

Gentle Giant all the way.

The most technically impressive prog rock band of all time, regardless of the infamous "Yeah, well, it doesn't have to be busy/technical to be good..." argument.

Humanity still isn't ready for GG!

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021

I can totally see why the two are not in the "big 6". I love Camel, but in terms of innovation and adventure they lag clearly behind. I respect GG and like some of their stuff, they have their own unique way of doing things and are surely top competent and original musicians and composers, but in terms of influence and breadth, they aren't anywhere near the big 6. By the way I'd pick VDGG over both of these, but even they deservedly didn't make the cut.

Camel.

Try as I might, I can't get into GG.

Welcome to the middle of the film.

Tough one this, but I'm pushed slightly more to GG.

Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen

GG just over Camel.

I love Camel, but definitely Gentle Giant.

"PROG IS MY FERRARI".
Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

Poll Question: which band do you prefer?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Gentle Giant	73	[51.77%]
Camel	68	[48.23%]
You can not vote in this poll

Post Reply	Page 12 3 4 >