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neieio View Drop Down
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Points: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Earliest Progressive Rock Song
    Posted: September 12 2004 at 22:26
I would have to go with Richard Harris - McArthur Park, 1967. Think about it.
neieio says so
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gdub411 View Drop Down
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Points: 3484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 12 2004 at 22:57
Interstellar Overdrive-Pink Floyd 67'
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maani View Drop Down
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Points: 2632 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 00:14

neieio:

First, welcome to Progarchives.  We hope you are enjoyin yourself, and we look forward to your participation and contributions both to the reviews and the forums.

This thread (earliest progressive song) has, of course, been done many times.  You may want to check out some of the older threads under "Main Discussions," as there may still be one of them around.

That said, the position I take is that The Beatles wrote the first "proto-prog" songs, including "Tomorrow Never Knows" (1966), and "I Am the Walrus" and "Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967).  However, Frank Zappa may have been earlier, with "proggish" stuff as early as 1966, or even 1965.  Then there are those who consider "Telstar" - an instrumental single (1962!) - as the first proto-prog song.

Still, you are not the first to suggest MacArthur Park, and it does have an illustrious past and place in music history.

Let's see what others have to say...

Again, hope you enjoy yourself here.  It can be great fun!

Peace.
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Ivan_Melgar_M View Drop Down
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Points: 19557 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 00:28

This is a very hard question, progressive rock is not a genre that appeared in one track, it is a process, some pre 69 albums like Days of Future Passed, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown or most of the Zappa albums have clear progressive elements.

But to find the first track that you can call 100% prog' is an almost impossible task.

 If I had to do it, I would have to chose 21° Century Schizoid Man, only because it's the first track of the first 100% progressive album, but not for any other reason that could be considered remotely valid.

Iván

P.S. This answer is copied from a reply I gave to the exactly same thread on another forum in which I'm member.
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Dragon Phoenix View Drop Down
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Points: 1475 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 01:41
My first reaction was indeed a Beatles song, but not one of those listed. I'd go for A day in the life.
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 29298 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 03:10
'A Day In The Life' was the most influential track on people like Robert Fripp so I think that's a good choice.
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Man Erg View Drop Down
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Points: 7456 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 03:17
How about The Who's I Can't Explain (1965)? That middle section. Wow!
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Dick Heath View Drop Down
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Points: 12818 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 13 2004 at 08:31
Originally posted by maani maani wrote:

neieio:

First, welcome to Progarchives.  We hope you are enjoyin yourself, and we look forward to your participation and contributions both to the reviews and the forums.

 

Likewise

This thread (earliest progressive song) has, of course, been done many times.  You may want to check out some of the older threads under "Main Discussions," as there may still be one of them around.

 

Maani is absolutely right: been this way, done it - but where's the teeshirt? - even the  MacArthur Park thing.
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