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My Top 100 Obscure British Prog Albums |
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Psychedelic Paul 
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 Topic: My Top 100 Obscure British Prog AlbumsPosted: February 19 2022 at 13:06 |
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As promised, here's my A-Z list of obscure British album favourites from the prog vaults (1967-1978), where the best-known album below is probably Khan's Space Shanty (although it's still virtually unknown outside of the progosphere) and somewhat predictably, the list is heavy on the psychedelic.
 AFFINITY - Affinity (1970) AGINCOURT - Fly Away (1970) ANDROMEDA - Andromeda (1969) AQUILA - Aquila (1970) ARCADIUM - Breathe Awhile (1969) ARMAGEDDON - Armageddon (1975) ART - Supernatural Fairy Tales (1967) ARTHUR BROWN'S KINGDOM COME - Journey (1973) ARZACHEL - Arzachel (1969) ASGARD - In the Realm of Asgard (1972) AUDIENCE - Friend's Friend's Friend (1970) AUTUMN - Ocean World (1977) AXE - Music (1969) BACHDENKEL - Lemmings (1973) BEGGARS OPERA - Act One (1970) BLACK WIDOW - Sacrifice (1970) BLONDE ON BLONDE - Contrasts (1969) BRIAN DAVISON'S EVERY WHICH WAY - Every Which Way (1972) CAMEL - Underage (1970) CANTERBURY GLASS - Sacred Scenes and Characters (1968) CAPABILITY BROWN - Voice (1973) CHIMERA - Chimera (1969) CIRCUS - Circus (1969) CIRKUS - One (1973) CLOUDS - Scrapbook (1969) CONTINUUM - Autumn Grass (1971) CRESSIDA - Cressida (1970) CZAR - Czar (1970) DARRYL WAY'S WOLF - Canis Lupus (1973) DEEP FEELING - Deep Feeling (1971) DEMON FUZZ - Afreaka! (1970) DR. Z - Three Parts to My Soul (1971) DRUID - Toward the Sun (1973) DUNCAN MACKAY - Score (1977) EAST OF EDEN - Mercator Projected (1969) ECLECTION - Eclection (1968) ENGLAND - Garden Shed (1977) THE ENID - In the Region of the Summer Stars (1976) FANTASY - Paint a Picture (1973) FIELDS - Fields (1971) FIRST AID - Nostradamus (1977) FRUUPP - Future Legends (1973) FUCHSIA - Fuchsia (1971) THE GHOST - When You're Dead, One Second (1970) THE GODS - Genesis (1968) GRACIOUS - This is... Gracious! (1971) GRAIL - Grail (1970) GRAVY TRAIN - (A Ballad of) A Peaceful Man (1971) THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH - Horizons (1970) THE GUN - Gun (1968) HELP YOURSELF - Beware the Shadow (1972) ICARUS - The Marvel World of Icarus (1972) IF - If 3 (1971) ILLUSION - Out of the Mist (1977) INDIAN SUMMER - Indian Summer (1971) JACKSON HEIGHTS - King Progress (1970) JADE - Fly on Strange Wings (1970) JADE WARRIOR - Last Autumn's Dream (1972) JANUS - Gravedigger (1972) JULIAN'S TREATMENT - A Time Before This (1970) KHAN - Space Shanty (1972) LEAF HOUND - Growers of Mushroom (1971) LODESTONE - Time Flies (1971) LONE STAR - Lone Star (1976) LOUDEST WHISPER - The Children of Lir (1973) MANDALABAND - Mandalaband (1975) MARSUPILAMI - Marsupilami (1970) MAY BLITZ - May Blitz (1970) MORGAN - Nova Solis (1972) NEKTAR - Journey to the Centre of the Eye (1971) OCTOPUS - Restless Night (1970) ODIN - Odin (1972) PALADIN - Charge! (1972) PEGGY'S LEG - Grinilla (1973) PETE BROWN & PIBLOKTO! - Thousands on a Raft (1970) PETER BARDENS - The Answer (1970) PUSSY - Pussy Plays (1969) QUATERMASS - Quatermass (1970) QUICKSAND - Home is Where I Belong (1974) RAMASES - Glass Top Coffin (1975) RARE BIRD - Rare Bird (1969) RAW MATERIAL - Time Is... (1971) REFUGEE - Refugee (1974) RICHARD WRIGHT - Wet Dream (1978) RIFF RAFF - Riff Raff (1973) ROOM - Pre-Flight (1970) SALAMANDER - Ten Commandments (1971) SATURNALIA - Magical Love (1969) SECOND HAND - Reality (1968) THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN - The Seven Ages of Man (1972) SKIN ALLEY - To Pagham and Beyond (1970) SPIROGYRA - Bells, Boots and Shambles (1973) SPRING - Spring (1971) STEEL MILL - Green-Eyed God (1972) STILL LIFE - Still Life (1971) SUNFOREST - Sound of Sunforest (1969) TITUS GROAN - Titus Groan (1970) TONTON MACOUTE - Tonton Macoute (1971) TRACTOR - Tractor (1972) VISITOR 2035 - Visitor 2035 (1978) WALLY - Wally (1974) WRITING ON THE WALL - Power of the Picts (1969) I've sneaked a couple of Irish albums into the list too.
 Edited by Psychedelic Paul - September 10 2023 at 00:49 |
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dr wu23
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Posted: February 19 2022 at 15:54 |
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Thanks for the list...I love all that old obscure stuff.
There are a few there I don't own/know.....Aquila, Axe, Lone Star, Riff Raff, Steel Mill, Wally. I'll have to come up with one after dinner.  Edited by dr wu23 - February 19 2022 at 15:56 |
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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 19 2022 at 16:27 |
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These are the only albums I own on CD from the list above:- ANDROMEDA - Andromeda (1969) ARCADIUM - Breathe Awhile (1969) ART - Supernatural Fairy Tales (1967) ECLECTION - Eclection (1968) THE ENID - In the Region of the Summer Stars (1976) FRUUPP - Future Legends (1973) THE GODS - Genesis (1968) ILLUSION - Out of the Mist (1977) JADE - Fly on Strange Wings (1970) LOUDEST WHISPER - The Children of Lir (1973) OCTOPUS - Restless Night (1970) PETER BARDENS - The Answer (1970) Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 20 2022 at 00:40 |
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enigmatic
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Posted: February 19 2022 at 19:46 |
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Thank you for the list Paul! Not to brag, but I own on CD 30 albums from your list. I used to have additional 60 albums, but sold it at some point.
My favorites from your list are: AFFINITY - Affinity (1970) - beautiful Linda's Hoyle voice and artwork by Marcus Keef BEGGARS OPERA - Act One (1970) - for every Hammond organ fan, look on Beggars Opera video on YT from German TV show Beat Club CRESSIDA - Cressida (1970) - I slightly prefer second album "Asylum" DARRYL WAY'S WOLF - Canis Lupus (1973) - album produced by Ian McDonald (R.I.P.) with one track dedicated to him EAST OF EDEN - Mercator Projected (1969) - No. 3 album of 1969 for me, right after KC's debut and Soft Machine Vol. 2, FANTASY - Paint a Picture (1973) FIELDS - Fields (1971) - heavy organ driven prog-rock recommended to Rare Bird and Greenslade fans FUCHSIA - Fuchsia (1971) - one of my favorite prog-folk albums GRACIOUS - This is... Gracious! (1971) - prefer their self titled debut THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH - Horizons (1970) INDIAN SUMMER - Indian Summer (1971) JULIAN'S TREATMENT - A Time Before This (1970) KHAN - Space Shanty (1972) - pretty well known album/band by now, doesn't need any recommendations MARSUPILAMI - Marsupilami (1970) - IMO masterpiece, they opened 1969 Isle of Wight's festival, but they didn't do very well. Out-of-tune melllotron. :-( ODIN - Odin (1972) QUICKSAND - Home is Where I Belong (1974) - another very good prog-folk album PUSSY - Pussy Plays (1969) - one of the best psychedelic albums with progressive elements RARE BIRD - Rare Bird (1969) - prefer the second album RAW MATERIAL - Time Is... (1971) REFUGEE - Refugee (1974) - probably it doesn't belong on the obscure list, but ... one of the best listed here ROOM - Pre-Flight (1970) - very unique sound and 70's vibe SPIROGYRA - Bells, Boots and Shambles (1973) - another favorite of mine from prog-folk category SPRING - Spring (1971) - for mellotron lovers TITUS GROAN - Titus Groan (1970) TONTON MACOUTE - Tonton Macoute (1971) Missing on your list that I'd highly recommend: Gnidrolog - Lady Lake (1972) Samurai - s/t (1971) T2 - It'll All Work Out in Boomland (1970) Web - I Spider (1970) |
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Saperlipopette!
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Posted: February 19 2022 at 23:50 |
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Lots of uneven gems here that I sort of love anyway, such as
Gracious, Spring, Circus, Clouds, Fuchsia, Asgaerd... and more. Here's
fifteen favorites amoung the ca. 70-75 or so I'm familiar with: ART - Supernatural Fairy Tales (1967) ARTHUR BROWN'S KINGDOM COME - Journey (1973) ARZACHEL - Arzachel (1969) AUDIENCE - Friend's Friend's Friend (1970) BLACK WIDOW - Sacrifice (1970) CONTINUUM - Autumn Grass (1971) CRESSIDA - Cressida (1970) DEMON FUZZ - Afreaka! (1970) DR. Z - Three Parts to My Soul (1971) ECLECTION - Eclection (1968) EAST OF EDEN - Mercator Projected (1969) JADE - Fly on Strangewings (1970) MARSUPILAMI - Marsupilami (1970) PETER BARDENS - The Answer (1970) SPIROGYRA - Bells, Boots and Shambles (1973) TONTON MACOUTE - Tonton Macoute (1971) For Second Hand I (much) prefer Death May be Your Santa Claus. Same goes for: Beggars Opera: their two following albums, Audience - House on the Hill, If - 2, Skin Alleys debut, Cressida Asylum (but love both) |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 02:10 |
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It was tempting to make it a Top 110 list, then I could have included Gnidrolog, Samurai & The Web too - all favourites of mine - but thanks for mentioning them. I'm unfamiliar with T2 though, so I'll check them out.
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nick_h_nz
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 02:58 |
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^ There are a few on your list that I’d not really describe as obscure. They even border on well-known, if not actually meeting the criteria (whatever that might be) for that description.
The thing is, even a name like King Crimson is obscure outside prog circles (in comparison to Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Genesis, etc.), so the idea of obscurity needs to be in relation to the average PA member, I would have thought. In that case, there’s probably half a dozen names or so in there that aren’t particularly obscure. So much so, in fact, I wondered if you were using them as clickbait, just so you could get a response of “that’s not obscure, Paul!”. This does often appear to be your MO, as so many of your posts seemed geared to get a reaction. I wouldn’t go as far as some, and call it trolling, but you do like fishing for reactions. So, you’d not need to have gone so far as increasing to a list of 110, so much as removing some of the less obscure (if not well known) names, and replacing them with some more obscure gems. Then again, there will of course be people out there who have not heard of the bands/albums I don’t consider to be obscure, which is why I’ve not named them. Because anyone who finds them for the first time from your list, is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. In that respect, every single one of these bands is obscure to someone. But then, so is King Crimson the first time someone hears of and listens to them…. |
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 03:17 |
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^ You're certainly right about King Crimson being obscure to some, Nick, as neither of my two brothers have ever heard of them - one brother likes Robbie Williams and Take That and the one's a fan of Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, so enough said.
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 20 2022 at 03:24 |
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Sean Trane
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 04:08 |
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a fair bit I haven't heard of, let alone heard at all. The ones in Italics, I heard of and and probably have heard, but I've got no real memory of it. Edited by Sean Trane - February 20 2022 at 04:13 |
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let's just stay above the moral melee
prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
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omphaloskepsis
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 05:17 |
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Fantastic list, Paul. I've considered purchasing 15~ of the albums listed. This list should help me backfill 50 year old discs.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 05:58 |
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^ Thanks Cindy. I only have 12 of those albums on CD so far, but obviously I'd love to own all of them if the price is right. If it wasn't for ProgArchives and the Internet, I wouldn't know any of those rare British albums even existed, or that Prog-Rock isn't just confined to British shores. Every day is a constant voyage of discovery here, sailing the uncharted Topographic Oceans of Progressive Rock.
Edited by Psychedelic Paul - February 20 2022 at 05:58 |
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David_D
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 07:00 |
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I must confess, I'm rather lost here as well, Paul, as I've explored only a quite small number of the bands here, and I have only three favourites KHAN - Space Shanty (1972) STEEL MILL - Green-Eyed God (1972) ARCADIUM - Breathe Awhile (1969) even I'm fond of and owe some other albums than those listed here with JADE WARRIOR and MAY BLITZ, as well, and I'm certainly impressed and suprised that you wasn't entirely kidding about it in "my" thread.
 Edited by David_D - February 20 2022 at 12:56 |
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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David_D
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 07:53 |
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I can certainly recommend Steel Mill.
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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David_D
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 08:39 |
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Sounds good with these old, original vinyl releases.
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 08:42 |
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I'm green-eyed with envy for anyone who owns that outstanding album.
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David_D
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 09:41 |
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I'm certainly that, as well, when concerning a (70's) vinyl release, as I have it only on CD. On the other hand, what I've got is a beautiful, high quality release by Green Tree Records from 1994 which gives a very good sound quality when played on my Hi-End tube CD-player. |
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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David_D
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 10:16 |
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Remembering now better, I'm in fact most satisfied and got it on CD by the very purpose, as I find this album at its very best when playing the tracks in another order than the original - which I can do very well on my CD-player, as it's programmable.
Edited by David_D - February 20 2022 at 10:19 |
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quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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kenethlevine
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 10:53 |
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Pererin is Welsh which I suppose is British, but their first 2 albums are certainly among my favourite albums in any genre
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: February 20 2022 at 11:23 |
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Thanks Ken. That sounds like a tasty Welsh rarebit for me to sample, and although I'd vaguely heard of Pererin, I had no idea they were Welsh until now.
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Psychedelic Paul
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Posted: August 12 2023 at 16:22 |
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Out of my Top 100 obscure British albums listed above, the only album I knew of and owned before going online in 2010 was Illusion's Out of the Mist with Jane Relf. The remaining 99 albums were still shrouded in mist until recently.
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dr wu23 wrote: