Here's one I love... I'll post more if the thread gets going.

But for novelty's sake, check Secrets by Allan Holdsworth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRXjRIi9-wo" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRXjRIi9-wo

Sandrose - To Take Him Away

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayle_Moran" rel="nofollow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayle_Moran

Yes, Renaissance's catalogue sums it up all. Annie Haslam's voice is quite angelical.

I might be in the minority here, but I actually prefer Jane Relf's voice. I like some Renaissance, but Illusion's "Out of the Mist" is quite amazing.

I just listened to Earth & Fire - Song of the Marching Children album.. Never heard it before, but its real good.

Here's a good one.. Enjoy!

This really is one of my favourites.

One of the few RPI bands with a female vocalist - and an outstanding one at that - Saint Just, their self-titled debut album:

A personal favourite is Mike Oldfield 's 'Song of Hiawatha'  based on the Longfellow poem  from ' Incantations' . Maddy Prior was the vocalist. 

Here is an extract from a live performance . The full version is on Youtube as well. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk8jaSU8NCk" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk8jaSU8NCk

Obviously, Renaissance have sublime vocals by Annie Haslam, but the first incarnation (which later became Illusion) have Jane Relf, who is also superb. (Funny how Illusion have turned up twice today and I've never seen them mentioned in the 10 years I've been on here, which is disgraceful).

Joanne Hogg of Iona has a beautiful voice, Magenta's Christine Booth is great, Steeleye Span has the marvellous Maddie Prior and Mike Oldfield has Maggie Bell on several tracks.

Here's another! It's our loss that Laura Basra has vanished from the limelight.

Great prog, but vocals are controversial, just look up PA reviews:

I just noticed you posted the same thread on another music forum, nice strategy for a lot of suggestions. The other site (non prog) is leading though with replies and views .

It's cool to compare answers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agreed, all of the Renaissance studio albums from Prologue through to Azure D'Or, plus Live at Carnegie Hall.  Annie Haslam's solo albums, Annie in Wonderland (1977), Still Life (1985), Annie Haslam (1989), Blessing in Disguise (1994), and The Dawn of Ananda (2000),  tho not exactly prog are definitely worth checking out.  If we really must have a Prog Related category then it is a bit of a puzzle why Annie's solo work isn't listed on here given her involvement with Renaissance.  Did I mention that I'm a massive Annie Haslam fan?

Plus I recommend the first three Curved Air studio albums (Air Conditioning, Second Album, Phantasmagoria), and Curved Air Live.

off their recently released Master Of Illusion album. Beautiful track ( no link unfortunately)

Anything by Sonja Kristina and Curved Air

Taster:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=youtube+curved+air&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXDqIXVg3aIU

I know it’s been a few days, but I LOVE this song… And when I first listened, after a few seconds, I didn’t think much, but I’m glad I listened to this all the way. There’s a dozen songs by Curved Air I am just discovering, thanks to this thread, so thanks, and check this out if you have 5 minutes. It’s a great song, and a great vocal.

Only had a few albums, but they have some good stuff! Here's one song.

I'm having trouble finding 70s jazzy-prog with female vocalists... I'd love to find a band like Chicago, but with three female singers (as opposed to the three guys during the first handful of Chicago's good stuff).

Hi,

I saw them at The Whiskey in Hollywood, and they put on a great show ... and I had that album for almost a year I think it was. Janita Haan made Iggy and the Stooges look like idiots on the playground! Sadly all the fans wanted was Iggy ... and I gladly walked out 20 minutes into it! (I appreciate him a bit more now, but then, it was all show and not enough go for me!)

Some others that were good, for my ears, and one monumental one still not mentioned here.

SANDY DENNY. I miss her voice and style ... so pretty. And folks here still don't listen to REYNARDINE done in the incredible Fairport Convention album "Liege & Lief". Still one of the pretties things EVER recorded in rock music, and even Richard Thompson, has NEVER touched it again that I am aware of. It's like rock fans don't like pretty women music or something totally stupid!

ESPERANTO, and specially on their last album had a very strong voice. The "Last Tango" album is worth it. Super nice.

In the vein of not exactly "prog songs" JULIA MESSENGER gets my vote for some incredible stuff with Klaus Schulze specially "My Ty She" ... and she also has material on her own.

And if you don't know belgian band Cos already, both players and singer Pascale Son are magnificent. 

Eccentric Quebecians Toubabou left us with one terrific jazzrock-fusion/world... album.

Illusion

Curved Air

Earth & Fire (especially the first three albums)

Babe Ruth

Kate Bush

Hi,

I'm not sure that at the time, SPECIALLY with having been released by Vertigo at a time when the Grand Father of Progressive Music, put out a whole bunch of albums, and all of then were extremely different and had touches in them that many folks thought were weird and off kilter. AND, many of these albums ended up being huge:

Here's a sampling:

Colosseum - Valentyne Suite

Juicy Lucy - 1st

Black Sabbath - 1st

Cressida - 1st

Magna Carta - 1st

Uriah Heep - 1st

Nucleus - Elastic Rock

Dr. Strangely Strange - Heavy Petting

Patto - 1st

Gentle Giant - 1st

Frumpy - All Will Be Changed

Lighthouse - One Fine Morning

Catapilla - Catapilla

Jade Warrior - Jade Warrior

Ramases - Space Hymns

Aphrodite's Child - 666

Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Framed

Agitation Free - Malesch

Peter Michael Hamel - Hamel

...

AND that is just the first couple of years ... notice that a lot of the bands and folks have quite a bit of jazz influence/material in them. And others are simply way out there.

Some of the comments in the reviews on this band's two albums are done comparing to some of the folks tastes, and sadly, these comments take away something that was being done at the time that was valuable to a lot of the music that was appearing ... there was a lot of improvisation, and experimentation, just like theater, film, literature and other arts ... with the result that TODAY ... these "different" things are considered poor and not valid. 

The vocals, by the Meek sisters (so it seems, one in one album and the other in the other album), are not exactly about "lyrics" as we know them, and more than likely simply an ability to FLOW with the music and add words to it ... Damo went on to become famous for it ... but we can't allow a woman to do it! And folks like Flora Purim, and a lot of times Gilly Smith also added to the music without lyrics, and their touches made the music very special for many of us, even if we were not coming up with something silly as some sort of sensual this or that!

Will these "vocals" ever fit a CONVENTIONAL and top ten song on the PA lists with fans! HELL NO. Will they be accepted by many fans? I doubt it ... because the lyrics "don't tell them" what the music is all about, and in my book they fail to see the most important part of a lot of the music listed above ... it wasn't what it all was about ... it was about "experiencing the moment" ... and today's fans simply can not do it, and worse, they won't and sometimes will (instead) make very poor comments about a lot of the improvisations and experiments done all over in the time and place. The only bad side of it, is that we do not have a whole bunch of recordings from the Fillmore that showed how much poetry, visualization stuff was also being done around and with the bands playing ... but we all seem to think that is not worth anything and it is just pure chit covering the empty space between songs.

BTW ... think about one name that was involved in so many of these albums ... Mr. Gomelsky, the Grand Father of Progressive Music that will never get the credit and love he deserves ... but the amount of music he gave us ... is second to NONE.

Not listed anywhere near here or any kind of progressive community, but the work of SASHA LAZARD is incredible and the way her music was used in the film "MODIGLIANI" makes it even better.

It's a shame that there are so many divisions, but the work she has done is quite far out.

Hi,

It's sad for me that what came out almost 50 years ago as being "on the pop side" of things, which I think EARTH & FIRE kinda had in their earlier days, but it went away in their later material. The sad thing is that today, folks compare it to what they are listening to and something like this particular album, sounds rather soft and not as good or valid introduction to "progressive" ... but at the time? 

I bet we're not answering that question very well. It wasn't be "best" of the progressive world then where they came from, but it was a very honest and outstanding piece of music that deserved more appreciation, specially when it first came out.

As for "if you think it's prog ... " this is sad ... because that means prog doesn't exist since there would be a hundred billion definitions and favorites that would ruin it all. It's not the "fan" that defines prog, and it should never be, despite them being the ones that buy it. It's about the music itself, and I'm not sure that the fans are the best holders of the truth of what music is, or is capable of being. Specially within a commercial place, where the numbers are the rule and all else is not important. I kinda wish that PA admins would wake up to that some more ... so we could have a more inclusive and important valuation of what "progressive music" really is. 

All great!

My very favorites would be Curved Air, Illusion. I love the rest, and just found about Babe Ruth a few weeks ago, which I never heard before. I guess some might just consider them funk/jazz/pop that aren't the typical 2:30 song, but I really like them.

Have you heard of Carol of Harvest, Mellow Mood, Savage Rose? There's also Empire with Sidonie Jordan on vocals. Surprised there's barely any views on their official YouTube page, considering Peter Banks was the guitarist and co-founder of YES

And if you like Jane Relf like I do, you should check out Stairway - another project with McCarty. Those Yardbirds spawned a LOT! Despite the death of her brother Keith :(

Here's one really good album. The only one they did.

Try this....

From the 2021 album Temporary Triumph:

https://emmephyzema.bandcamp.com/track/lactose-intolerant" rel="nofollow - https://emmephyzema.bandcamp.com/track/lactose-intolerant

Sandy Denny was really good, as well.

In the modern era, there are lots of great female vocalists.

Valerie Gracious of Phideaux is my favorite. Julie Kiss of To-Mera also is great.

This is probably not what the thread opener is looking for, but I love it so much!

And another vocal highlight from Renate.

Hi,

I kind of wished that Renate had done a solo album, however, as is the case in one CD, I think that she might be the one person in the band that did not want to rehearse and try to make things look better, and still keep that "krautsomething" alive by improvising, and just doing stuff that might not sound as good as material that is a bit more focused. But she is strong in her own way, and I wish that she had been able to channel it into something more than a haphazard improvisation lasting a long time, that was ... maybe just for me ... meaningless ... otherwise, except for the fact that it was an improvisation, and one that ... probably won't matter, anyway!

Her vocals, for my ears ... were fairly well tuned to the material for a few albums, but I have a feeling that the band deciding that she was not going to be up front all the time, probably had a side effect that we see later in at least one CD of her live in performance. 

But you could take one or two pieces from each album from WOLF CITY on, and make a stupendous album. And "Surrounded by the Stars" is not the only one. The biting venom of the deadly snake in "Mozambique" tells you more about her style and ability that the band was probably afraid to take on, and become some sort of metal band doing a growl like delivery by Renate! But it was effective and a couple of months later that country got its independence ... that was kind of strange, but for me, it brought the message home like so many "songs" can't even try ... 

But there is something really scary here, and it is in the HIJACK album in "Da Guadeloop" when the feminist wants to march and stand up, and is laughed off! That while funny in a sense, is down right insulting and I think that Renate was shut off probably more times than we know ... but I am not sure that she gives a darn ... she continued on!

here a live track from the legendary Beat-Club. and yes, that's a woman singing, not a man. why the Swedish flag is shown at the beginning is a mystery to me since this is a German band:

UK band

She's probably my favorite singer, and Curved Air is probably my favorite non-mainstream band (ala Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Genesis).. I could list 20 songs! Hard to pick a favorite, I have a handful.

Dance of Love

An entire mix!

Gosh I love 70s prog (and 70s music in general.. and movies) but also the engineering/production. I like more looser songs, not so "tight". I don't like click-tracks (which you can notice on "Teen Town" by Weather Report), and it was so eclectic. I guess I like some sbilance, too, but it's always about the song for me.

Cos

https://youtu.be/tgu4ARMhjms

Always loved the song, "Night Flight". Linda Hoyle is a favorite of mine... It's not prog, but "Paper Tulips" is a beautiful song.
(function(){if (!document.body) return;var js = "window['__CF$cv$params']={r:'8885322e39d9e24c',t:'MTcxNjQ2ODg4MS43NzQwMDA='};_cpo=document.createElement('script');_cpo.nonce='',_cpo.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js',document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(_cpo);";var _0xh = document.createElement('iframe');_0xh.height = 1;_0xh.width = 1;_0xh.style.position = 'absolute';_0xh.style.top = 0;_0xh.style.left = 0;_0xh.style.border = 'none';_0xh.style.visibility = 'hidden';document.body.appendChild(_0xh);function handler() {var _0xi = _0xh.contentDocument || _0xh.contentWindow.document;if (_0xi) {var _0xj = _0xi.createElement('script');_0xj.innerHTML = js;_0xi.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(_0xj);}}if (document.readyState !== 'loading') {handler();} else if (window.addEventListener) {document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', handler);} else {var prev = document.onreadystatechange || function () {};document.onreadystatechange = function (e) {prev(e);if (document.readyState !== 'loading') {document.onreadystatechange = prev;handler();}};}})();

I was thinking that the one piece that really stands out in my mind is Annie Haslam in the piece that she burned a hole in DD's ears ... on the live at Carnegie Hall album. His reaction is priceless ... and you know he "heard" it and then some!

Apoteosi originates from Calabria, the well-known Italian south region. On their self-titled album from 1975, all the tunes are top-notch and very airy; the playing is amazing and diverse, with wonderful utilisation of grand piano, Hammond organ, ARP synthesiser, flute, electric and acoustic guitar, and incredible vocals brought by singer Silvana Idà. 

These are the three songs we will focus on from Apoteosi's single album's five tracks. 

First up is "Prima Realta, Frammentaria Rivolta," a nearly 15-minute piece that showcases the band's individual talent, from the bassist to the keyboardist to the vocalist. Silvana Idà indeed shines as one of the best female voices I've ever heard in the symphonic rock genre.

"Oratorio (Corale)," a little tune with a chorus that sounds ethereal, adorned with Silvana's beautifully haunting lead vocal.

The opening section of "Dimensione da sogno" is a little vocal composition for piano and distant, delicate electric leads. Silvana Idà sang her sublime vocal part with a lot of dignity and delight.

Hi,

Same lineup that played the SF Progressive Music Festival. Just not sure which came first ... although it was suggested that half the equipment used in the SF show was Erik Nordanler's, as apparently they could not get nearly everything Per wanted or was looking for. Still made for a really good show, and they were tight and presented themselves well ... with only one sad side ... the number of folks that came to that whole thing was sad ... probably half the number it needed and all the bands in it, did a superb job ... with some outstanding shows ... I suppose the only sad one I thought about was Brand X ... with only one original, and while nice, and sounding good, the other folks could not make it sound better and stronger ... I almost think they were the weakest point, although the only one I did not enjoy much of was Buckethead .... if he had a real band with him, it would make his show much more interesting. Instead you fall asleep after 10 minutes!

Magdelana passed away Christmas 2007. She also played the violin, not just sing with Per.

Hi,

They put on the best, and most professional of all the shows in SF in 1999 in my book ... they came ready to show and go ... and they did. beautifully. Sadly, so few people got to see it and enjoy the work.

IF, I have a thought or two, it would be on the lyrics on the material for Lana Lane's albums, and while nice, and the idea of a concept often stands up, in the end, the wording is, on occasion, not quite well used to help the music. A couple of times, I have felt the energy drop, because the voice could not interpret the lyrics well enough to make the music better.

As a "director" that did theater and some film, in my book the only thing that Lana Lane might have enjoyed would be a voice coach like Andrea Toyias ... (she coaches almost all voice actors in World of Warcraft) ... and she has a knack for finding the mood and the strength ... that one song, at one time in one of Blizzard's yearlies showed someone singing in the voice of Sylvannas, and it was not only fantastic, it was something that Lana Lane could have done easily enough. And visually stunning, as they were able to get the lights done halfway decent to help it get better. Andrea Toyias knows the difference between poetry and expression and how to use them properly, instead of it just being "lyrics". It makes all the characters she works with very strong, and the voicings are phenomenal ... you would always hope to get half that energy on a show ... 

Other than that, considering the amount of work they have done ... it's excellent. And yeah, I would love to see that show again ... it was that good. Erik and Lana might even remember me ... I was back stage with them just before their show.

Sorry, I forgot to post a video clip!  

https://youtu.be/O5T1UHz5DGM?si=gs2MRbdG9c9BGNwA" rel="nofollow - https://youtu.be/O5T1UHz5DGM?si=gs2MRbdG9c9BGNwA

Saint Just feat. Jenny Sorrenti - Nella Vita, Un Pianto

The other singer is Moorea, from Raze the Maze, a very little-known but very original and awesome band.

"Obsession," the song from the 1975 album "Last Tango" by Belgian-English combo Esperanto, has strong vocals delivered by Kim Moore.

featuring Pascale Son

Never heard of them, but this album (and especially the song) is real good.. Amazing how many stuff I keep finding in the 70s, and then still seeing others post great stuff. Thanks!

Even more than that, the theatricality of the whole piece is magnificent, and not something that most rock bands are capable of doing. It's very European in its interpretation, as opposed to the song mentality of the majority of English counterparts.

MortSahlFan wrote: ... Never heard of them, but this album (and especially the song) is real good.. Amazing how many stuff I keep finding in the 70s, and then still seeing others post great stuff. Thanks!

All three of their albums are really good. Possibly the first one is the weaker of them, as the 2nd album has some nifty stuff. My guess is that at least one person in this band was specially attuned to the work they did, as opposed to the song mentality of a lot of radio.

I have, posted before, a list, for example, of the stuff that Guy Guden played in his prime show and in his regular shows at the station. For 1974, and 1975, the list is tremendous, and some stuff is still not looked at, though some of it might be in the electronic side of things, and the experimental side of things. But the listing is insane, and is does not compromise anything of the regular run of the station and their other folks on the air. The difference, and quality ... kinda matches the music we are still "finding" ... the music was there, but no one really paid attention, except the hits and their favorites ... at least Guy's station was one of the most adventurous in their approach, with several folks on their own trip ... and playing their own lists.

I wish, that folks these days had a station or two that could compare. Some of us thought that SiriousMistake would help, but instead they were just another venture by the record companies ... with so much crap in it, it's not funny.