Some roots of prog rock

Good job spotting "Telstar", but it was Joe Meek that provided the spacey element to the Tornadoes, who were little more than his studio's house band at the time.

The Velvet Underground was an amazing, groundbreaking NYC response to the psychedelic wave, and I've heard many punk and post-punk bands claim them as influences, but their name doesn't seem to ever come up when progressive bands talk about their inspirations.

I think it's pretty safe to say that the psychedelic era encouraged rock music to experiment with a wider range of influences, including varying combinations of classical (avant-garde as well as the more standard stuff), jazz, ethnic music, and of course LSD  ...and some of the fallout included the first generation of 'true' progressive rock.

Possessed wrote: James Lee wrote: just wanted to make sure we all knew that the Mothers' concept album "Freak Out" was released in '66- I think that beats even "S.F. Sorrow" by a year.   I agree. Freak Out was released in 1966. One could make a case that it was the first progressive rock album with long tracks.

Finally! I'm not the only one saying Freak Out! is the first prog record!

(my review is here: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=5283)

Possessed wrote: Joren wrote: Possessed wrote: James Lee wrote: just wanted to make sure we all knew that the Mothers' concept album "Freak Out" was released in '66- I think that beats even "S.F. Sorrow" by a year.   I agree. Freak Out was released in 1966. One could make a case that it was the first progressive rock album with long tracks. Finally! I'm not the only one saying Freak Out! is the first prog record! (my review is here: http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_CD. asp?cd_id=5283) Joren, I read your review and agree with your accessment of the album. This is also the very first Frank Zappa album that I ever heard! My brother borrowed the double vinyl record from a friend one day and played it for me. I should also point out that  Paul McCartney stated in his autobiography that he heard Freak Out from one of his avantgarde friends and it influenced  him to take more chances.

Yeah, I've heard that Zappa influenced the Beatles a little

James Lee wrote: especially that one album cover! whoops, sore subject

I'm Only In It For ZAPPA!

At the very beginning in 1964/65 were:

The beatles of course,

The byrds

Zappa

But also some pieces of "giles, giles and friip/the cheerful insanity" is the pre-KC!

somewhere close to the beatles, with the typical english humour

listen to "erudite eyes" on this album