CULPEPER'S ORCHARD

Certainly this is not a fully progressive album, but considered in the context of history, it is a remarkable album in the genre. The titans of progressive rock were also only flirting with the genre in 1970. Tull's "Benefit," Genesis' "Trespass," Yes' "Time and a Word," and ELP's eponymous album could also hardly be considered fully progressive in scope. Truth is that Culpeper's Orchard's debut is a great rock and roll album flirting with elements that would soon blossom into the melodic/symphonic/blues/folk progressive rock scene. Of course, in terms of complexity, eclecticism and dynamic progression, some of the Canterbury blokes were already ahead of the game, but Culpeper's Orchard deserves mention alongside the burgeoning progressive scene.