"Flash" on Gibson Guitars' 10 Classic Prog List

I'd be honoured if you posted in the correct forum.

Close To The Edge, Thick As A Brick, In The Court Of The Crimson King and Selling England By The Pound are not surprising and should be on any such list. Having one album each by the two great power trios ELP and Rush on such a list is also not surprising and indeed very appropriate. Trilogy is a great album (even if I think that Brain Salad Surgery is even better). 2112 is great too - but Hemispheres would have been equally acceptable.

 

Nektar is a bit surprising, but I'm happy to see them there. Remember The Future is my favourite Nektar album and it is a very good album indeed. The Moody Blue I am more sceptical about and I don't really consider them Prog at all. But I do find value in their music.

 

Flash's In The Can is radically out of place on such a list in my opinion! Don't get me wrong I do like Flash, but they never belonged to the same league as Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, ELP, Rush, King Crimson or even Nektar.

 

Further, Flash's debut album is much better than In The Can. But even the debut, though a very good album, would still be very out of place on a top ten list of all time Prog albums. I very recently reviewed In The Can and I actually think it is the least good of the three Flash albums. It is not bad music by any means, but it is a rather bleak copy of the band's debut in my opinion. 

Tangerine Dream is, however, even more out of place on the list. I have never understood that band and I don't think it qualifies as Rock music at all.

 

Edited by SouthSideoftheSky - January 07 2010 at 13:09

Oops, sorry.   Wasn't sure where to post this.....

I don't think Ray (Bennett) would mind me telling you he was surprised by the mention of Flash on this list, too - pleased, but surprised.  Especially for "In the Can" which isn't his favorite Flash album.  I think he would agree that the debut album was their best effort.  The later two albums were rushed by touring and deadlines.   Maybe the Prog Gods simply decided to smile on my 'unsung heroes' and give them a bit of encouragement after long years in the wilderness...

We think Gibson, which also put Peter Banks on its list of 10 great prog guitarists (http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/10-great-prog-rock-guitarists/), might have taken Pete's use of a Gibson into consideration for both lists!

As for whether Flash rates mention in the Prog Pantheon, hopefully time will tell.  They're really just getting started!  Flash was 'nipped in the bud' and this is a whole new ballgame - with years more experience and living under their belts and without some of their original problems.  We shall see.  Perhaps they'll be able to win you over, Fritz!

They are delighted to be at it again...


Edited by sherrynoland - January 07 2010 at 15:40

SouthSideoftheSky wrote: Close To The Edge, Thick As A Brick, In The Court Of The Crimson King and Selling England By The Pound are not surprising and should be on any such list. Having one album each by the two great power trios ELP and Rush on such a list is also not surprising and indeed very appropriate. Trilogy is a great album (even if I think that Brain Salad Surgery is even better). 2112 is great too - but Hemispheres would have been equally acceptable.   Nektar is a bit surprising, but I'm happy to see them there. Remember The Future is my favourite Nektar album and it is a very good album indeed. The Moody Blue I am more sceptical about and I don't really consider them Prog at all. But I do find value in their music.   Flash's In The Can is radically out of place on such a list in my opinion! Don't get me wrong I do like Flash, but they never belonged to the same league as Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, ELP, Rush, King Crimson or even Nektar.   Further, Flash's debut album is much better than In The Can. But even the debut, though a very good album, would still be very out of place on a top ten list of all time Prog albums. I very recently reviewed In The Can and I actually think it is the least good of the three Flash albums. It is not bad music by any means, but it is a rather bleak copy of the band's debut in my opinion.    Tangerine Dream is, however, even more out of place on the list. I have never understood that band and I don't think it qualifies as Rock music at all.

I wonder what part of the "prog" defination Moody Blues lack, i find it that they got em all.