The Best Progressive Rock Band of The '60s?

I guess it depends on your own definition of progressive rock.
IMO, first full blown progressive rock album was ITCOTCK. It means that everything released before October 10th 1969 cannot be considered as progressive rock. The bands like the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues were progressive (innovative, moving forward), but I personally wouldn't called them progressive rock bands. They definitely influenced many other bands that follow their steps.

enigmatic wrote: I guess it depends on your own definition of progressive rock. IMO, first full blown progressive rock album was ITCOTCK. It means that everything released before October 10th 1969 cannot be considered as progressive rock. The bands like the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues were progressive (innovative, moving forward), but I personally wouldn't called them progressive rock bands. They definitely influenced many other bands that follow their steps.

Edited by David_D - January 04 2023 at 16:39

David_D wrote: enigmatic wrote: I guess it depends on your own definition of progressive rock. IMO, first full blown progressive rock album was ITCOTCK. It means that everything released before October 10th 1969 cannot be considered as progressive rock. The bands like the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues were progressive (innovative, moving forward), but I personally wouldn't called them progressive rock bands. They definitely influenced many other bands that follow their steps. On the one hand, this point of view seems quite plausible to me, but on the other, I see this problem that it's like no Progressive Rock band existed before October 1969, and then suddenly from that month, it did - unless, King Crimson did.

Exactly, no progressive rock bands existed before October 1969. Who would you have in mind? The Beatles, the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues? They were not progressive rock bands. They were definitely proto-prog bands, but not prog-rock bands. One or two prog-rock infused songs don't make entire albums FULL BLOWN PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUM.

enigmatic wrote: siLLy puPPy wrote: Not true. Many albums that came before ITCOTCK are considered full blown prog. KC was the one who popularized prog and turned it into a serious genre. Examples: Hansson & Karlsson "Monument" 1967 The Electric Prunes' "Mass In F Minor" 1967 and "Release Of An Oath" 1968 Caravan debut 1968 East of Eden - Mercator Projected  Febr 1969 Colosseum - Those Who Are About to Die Salute You Mar 1969 Ekseption - s/t July 1969 Zappa & Mothers - Uncle Meat Apr 1969 Van Der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine Sept 1969 High Tide - Sea Shanties also Oct 1969 Probably others but these are the ones i can think of on the spot. With all do respect, siLLy puPPy, none of them are full blown progressive rock albums in my book. Just my very subjective opinion. And don't get me wrong, I simply love few of them you mentioned. Do you know what they are missing? Those moments that lift you to fifth dimension.

Atavachron wrote: Floyd maybe, but they were closer to Cabaret than prog, like the Doors were.

enigmatic wrote: David_D wrote: enigmatic wrote: I guess it depends on your own definition of progressive rock. IMO, first full blown progressive rock album was ITCOTCK. It means that everything released before October 10th 1969 cannot be considered as progressive rock. The bands like the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues were progressive (innovative, moving forward), but I personally wouldn't called them progressive rock bands. They definitely influenced many other bands that follow their steps. On the one hand, this point of view seems quite plausible to me, but on the other, I see this problem that it's like no Progressive Rock band existed before October 1969, and then suddenly from that month, it did - unless, King Crimson did. Exactly, no progressive rock bands existed before October 1969. Who would you have in mind? The Beatles, the Nice, Procol Harum, Moody Blues? They were not progressive rock bands. They were definitely proto-prog bands, but not prog-rock bands. One or two prog-rock infused songs don't make entire albums FULL BLOWN PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUM.

enigmatic wrote: siLLy puPPy wrote: Not true. Many albums that came before ITCOTCK are considered full blown prog.  KC was the one who popularized prog and turned it into a serious genre. Examples: Hansson & Karlsson "Monument" 1967 The Electric Prunes' "Mass In F Minor" 1967 and "Release Of An Oath" 1968 Caravan debut 1968 East of Eden - Mercator Projected  Febr 1969 Colosseum - Those Who Are About to Die Salute You Mar 1969 Ekseption - s/t July 1969 Zappa & Mothers - Uncle Meat Apr 1969 Van Der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine Sept 1969 High Tide - Sea Shanties also Oct 1969 With all do respect, siLLy puPPy, none of them are full blown progressive rock albums in my book. Just my very subjective opinion. And don't get me wrong, I simply love few of them you mentioned. Do you know what they are missing?  Those moments that lift you to fifth dimension.

Edited by Atavachron - January 05 2023 at 03:21

David_D wrote: According to the liner notes of Caravan's debut LP, released October 1968, Progressive Rock bands (and movement) did exist in the late 60s. The notes say: "Caravan belong to a new breed of progressive rock groups - freeing themselves from the restricting conventions of pop music by using unusual time signatures and sophisticated harmonies. Their arrangements involve variations of tempo and dynamics of almost symphonic complexity".

I have a bad news David, this text is from 1972, not 1968. No one would write that in 1968. Progressive rock as a label/term wasn't defined in 1968. This is from 1972 MGM reissue of Caravan's debut. Liner notes were written by David Hughes who used to write for some independent UK magazines. Plenty of his interviews were with progressive rock artists / bands. The original liner notes from 1968 Verve release are completely different, written in typical 1960s style. Look in discogs.com. Find the LP, download the image of back cover to your PC, zoom it. There are some references to Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane, but nothing about progressive rock. "I think Caravan like Hendrix..(..) they work in the Airplane direction of overall sound, John Coltrane's sheets of sound, each tune constructed, built up with layers of sound."