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Aaron View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Top 5 US Prog bands from the 70s
    Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:02

I was just thinking about my collection and how american prog is something I never focus on.  My favorite US prog band is probably Happy the Man, even though, honestly, only their s/t and Crafty hands are the only releases that I would call brilliant. 

Sure Zappa is great, but after that, who cares, I feel like I am having a brain fart and missing something obvious, but all the US prog bands I am thinking of suck, like Ambrosia or Saga (dont actually know if the are american) or Styx

I will admit that I kind of do like Starcastle though, on the occasion that their cheesiness doesnt put me off, and I was just sampling Sweet Smoke, who I'll look into

so list a top five or top ten, this has probably been a thread before, at which point one of you will link 10 different threads on the same topic in their post, please do

Aaron

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:15
Utopia is #1, Todd Rundgen is an awesome pop & prog songwriter.
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Edited by Ounamahl
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Ounamahl View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:16
Spock's Beard comes second
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:17
Yes if you do a search for American prog ... you will find 3 threads that will be of interest ... 

Excluding Zappa ... 4 of my Top 5 bands are incredibly predictable ...

1) Kansas
2) Utopia
3) Yezda Urfa
4) Cathedral
5) Journey (very largely on the basis of the excellent first album, which is fiery jazz-rock that is nothing like subsequent releases)

And, I too have a dislike for Ambrosia, btw ... and find Happy The Man a little frustrating

Haven't yet heard full albums by Touch, Starcastle, Lift, Babylon and Mithrandir ... other 70s US prog bands that people mention (well Touch might be a 60s outfit)
"Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.”

"No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:22

Originally posted by Ounamahl Ounamahl wrote:

Spock's Beard comes second

 

Stay awake there in the back row: the topic is on  70's!!!!!!!! And in the 70's Spock didn't have a beard, just pointy ears!

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Aaron View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:22

right right, Kansas, forgot about them, theyre ok

I also like Return to Forever and Dixie Dregs, but I think I would prefer to leave the fusion bands out of this

I guess I am looking for a more lesser known list

although, to be fair I know nothing about Yezda Urfa and Cathedral, whom I will be looking up right now

Aaron

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:23

Originally posted by Trotsky Trotsky wrote:

(well Touch might be a 60s outfit)

1967 to 69!

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:24
Hah sorry, I didn't read the topic very well :D
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:25
 Of course I agree with the Kansas, Utopia, Yesda Urfe, Frank Zappa picks but
dare I say  Steely Dan!!! Of course I do. It's certainly progressive in that they created music like no other before it, incredible musicianship, abstract lyrics and impeccable compositions.

Has no-one thought of including them as an 'official' prog-rock band?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:27

Gypsy for obscureness - although only one distinct prog song on their American Gypsy album (Columbia Records???)?????

 

Remember Todd Rundgren produced at least one truly solo album - i.e. doing all the instruments himself: because of this I'm reminded that Emitt Rhodes did also produced truly solo albums at the same time. However, I can't remember whether his records contained anything really prog....................

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:28
Besides American Jazz-Fusion acts, I'd have to say that my favorite U.S. Prog album from the 70s is Journey's debut, really excellent.

By the way, Steely Dan aren't Prog, although they are quite good.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:36
Originally posted by Aaron Aaron wrote:

    
but all the US prog bands I am thinking of suck,
like Ambrosia or Saga (dont actually know if the are
american) or Styx


I will admit that I kind of do like Starcastle though,
on the occasion that their cheesiness doesnt put me
off, and I was just sampling Sweet Smoke, who I'll look
into



Aaron


Ambrosia's first album BLOWS away anything by
Starcastle,Yes wantabes, or Happy The Man.
You must have missed the first Ambrosia album which is
brilliant! "Mama Frog", "Drink Of Water", "Time Waits For
No One", "Make Us All Aware", and "Nice Nice Very Nice"
are all very original Classic Prog! See this review
http://www.progressiveworld.net/ambrosia2.html

Edited by philhepple
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:41

Kansas

Happy the Man

Yezda Urfa

Cathedral

Arabesque

 



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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 11:50

Five of my favourite US bands from the 70's are:

Zappa

Kansas

Utopia

Weather Report

Dixie Dregs

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:03

Odyssey (great Hammond organ work)

Ethos

Netherworld

Lift (exciting vintage keyboards)

Angel (first two albums)

Atlantis Philharmonic

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Aaron View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:05

[QUOTE=philhepple]
Ambrosia's first album BLOWS away anything by
Starcastle,Yes wantabes, or Happy The Man.
You must have missed the first Ambrosia album which is
brilliant! "Mama Frog", "Drink Of Water", "Time Waits For
No One", "Make Us All Aware", and "Nice Nice Very Nice"
are all very original Classic Prog! See this review
http://www.progressiveworld.net/ambrosia2.html[/QUOTE]

if you insist, I will give the album another spin, I wouldnt deny that Ambrosia is probably better than Starcastle, I would never admit to them being a important band in any way, just fun to listen to sometimes

I am surprised to see all these Kansas and Utopia fans, but whatever, you like what you like

Aaron

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:20

Ambrosia (first two albums are awesome; their poppy instincts seem to turn some people off but there is no question these are progressive pop albums at their best)

Happy the Man

Kansas

Utopia

Netherworld

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:29

 Kansas definately take the crown!

 What about Pavlov´s Dog?

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Pylo View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:30

Only 4 for me

  • Kansas
  • Zappa
  • Mahavishnu Orchestra (US ?)
  • Return to Forever
Pylo
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 08 2006 at 12:32
I was at a friends house last year and he put on "Drink Of Water" by
Ambrosia without telling me who it was and GUNNED the volume. I was
blown away. I couldn't believe how good the whole album sounded.
Before that I had only heard the pop ballads and hadn't given Ambrosia
the time of day. I've also heard the second album is good. I'll have to get
it.
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