Prolific Musicians
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1262
Printed Date: February 16 2025 at 01:42
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Topic: Prolific Musicians
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Subject: Prolific Musicians
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 12:58
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I was checking out Tony Levin's discography and I was amazed at how many albums he's contributed to. Astounding! Nearly 300 recordings. Whew! Bill Bruford has quite a long list of collaborations, as does Rick Wakeman and more recently Roine Stolt. What makes these musicians so sought after or is it a case of being in the right place at the right time? We've got many musicians on this forum and I'd like to hear their take on Tony Levin, Bill Bruford or any musician who has been so "In Demand" and why they are so prolific. |
Replies:
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 13:42
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Robert Fripp is quite prolific having worked with artists as diverse as Bowie and the Orb. Brian Eno too, but more as a producer I guess (U2, Enosification on the Lamb by Genesis, as well as his own projects and Roxy Music. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: JrKASperov
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 13:42
I only know Bruford, and he has said himself that he likes to explore his drumming. That's why he left Yes (partly) and joined King Crimson, and played with Moraz and soforth. Personally, I think he was best with Yes and the Fragile album, just listen to his 'anti-drumming' on South Side and Heart of the Sunrise. His alternating bass and snare really make it a wonderful contribution!  ------------- Epic. |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 14:56
| Clive Nolan's another who seems to crop up a lot. Apart from being a full time member of Arena and Pendragon (plus Nolan and Wakeman), he seems to guest on dozens of other albums. |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 15:39
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I think on the last thing I read.. that David Gilmour has played on around 80 other albums non- Floyd related. He has always amused himself on his time off as a session musician playing with Kate Bush, Paul McCartney, the Who, Roy Harper, Grace Jones, Brian Ferry, Jools Holland, Sam Jones, Ringo Starr, Arcadia, Hawkwind... etc. Recently he's played on the new Phil Manzanera cd and the new Alan Parsons cd coming out. ------------- THIS IS ELP 
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 17:37
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Simon Phillips. Great drummer, he played with many prog artists. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 18:24
| Michael Brecker holds the record - watch him blowing a storm with Jaco on Joni Mitchell's Shadows & Light DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Posted By: The Prognaut
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 18:46
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Ok, here’s my two cents in contribution to this thread: - Eric Clapton - Jeff Beck - Tim Renwick - Rick Wakeman - Manu Katche - Dominic Miller - Sting - Dick Parry - Mike Portnoy - Peter Hammill - Bill Bruford Am I missing someone else? Hmmm… well, I can always edit my post! Regards, Land
------------- break the circle reset my head wake the sleepwalker and i'll wake the dead |
Posted By: diddy
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 19:19
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Profilic. That's something I recognized lately. Many artists related to the progressive genre contribute in side-projects. For sure there are some who are featured on more releases than other but in general nearly every prog musician seems to have collaborated in other projects than their "main" band. Looking at the so called Flower Kings or Dream Theater "family" the different projects are almost countless. Jonas Reingold, Roine Stolt and Mike Portnoy you know these names even if you don't know how their main band sounds like
 Sometimes I sit down and wonder how anybody can be in the know of all the connections and involvements of prog musicians...I also wonder how I managed it to know so much about it, maybe not so much like others but when I imagine my thoughts reading the booklet of Roy Harpers HQ album: "Bill Bruford...Hmm who the hell is this guy, never heard of him...John Paul Jones, Chris Spedding, I know them but Bruford???" And now I know who he is and where he played, I know his style, it's crazy...can't describe it any better, I hope you know what I mean...
------------- If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear... George Orwell |
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 21:49
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I really wanted to hear some discussion regarding "why these musicians?" What sets these guys apart from everyone else? Avoid the "their Great" statements.... is it style, personality, tone, they just happen to live in the right studio...... What make Tony Levin so prolific? Maani, Cert, threefates, have you met him? Why Tony instead of the hundreds of other guys who could fill the nitch? |
Posted By: threefates
Date Posted: July 23 2004 at 22:39
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Well I would think theres many reasons for that.. on both sides. I know with Dave Gilmour.. he generally loves being a session guitarist, it takes the responsibility away.. he doesn't have to sing and he has a lot of friends that ask him to do it...so he does. It also gives him the ability to play many different styles from jazz to blues to heavier rock.. Why does everyone want him to play on their albums... they get his name, his sound and his experience... Who wouldn't want him!! I've met Tony Levin a couple of times.. I think he started his career as a studio musician and liked that better than being in an actual band. Its sort of like working temp work.. I can understand that.. pay with no committment. ------------- THIS IS ELP
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Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: August 21 2004 at 12:49
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lucas wrote:Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: August 21 2004 at 12:53
| I think these guys , BB, TL etc. just love to play. It`s that simple. It`s their life. And they are so restless that the don`t confine their talent to only one style. McLaughlin has played on many other albums as well from Carla Bley to Larry Coryell. |
Posted By: King Headache
Date Posted: August 21 2004 at 12:54
Perhaps they are workoholics, at least Portnoy must be 
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 21 2004 at 15:21
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I believe the most prolific is Rick Wakeman with almost 130 albums performed and composed by him, without counting his work with Yes, Strawbs, Bowie, Cat Stevens, ABWH, etc. Iván |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 22 2004 at 09:22
....and of course Black Sabbath. A bit of quality control on the solo stuff would have been in order. He's made some true masterpieces, but too often it was a case of quantity over quality. |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: August 22 2004 at 18:29
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Easy Livin wrote:
Yes, I have to agree with you, at least 90% of this albums are New Age easy music. But that 10% surely makes it for all the rest!!!!!!!! Iván |
Posted By: asuma
Date Posted: August 22 2004 at 19:30
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now i wonder who has the smallest catalouge (sp?). are there any people with only 1 or 2 albums? ------------- *Remember all advice given by Asuma is for entertainment purposes only. Asuma is not a licensed medical doctor, psychologist, or counselor and he does not play one on TV.* |
Posted By: Bryan
Date Posted: August 22 2004 at 19:47
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I'm sure there are tons. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 04:59
T2 took 21 years between their 1st (essential "It'll All Work Out In Boomland") and their 2nd album. Touch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! etc etc.
catalouge: a small uninhabited island in the West Indies or a twin hulled boat fitted with easy chairs (sorry that is catalounge). |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 10:50
| Did anyone know that Jeff Berlin played a gig with Rush once in the US. Geddy just stayed on keyboards and didn`even touch the bass! |
Posted By: Dan Bobrowski
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 11:24
| I remember hearing that. I don't remember which tour. |
Posted By: Marcelo
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 11:30
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When a musician becomes prolific, usually loses quality. Or not?
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 14:46
Indeed, I'd willing sit through nine "Ambient sunsets" to hear one "King Arthur..". |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 23 2004 at 14:55
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Getting back to Danbo's original point of why some musicians are so prolific. I remember reading an interview with Clive Nolan where he said he didn't really see himself as prolific, he said that music "is all I do". I suspect that is some cases, the mucisians prefer to offer their services without the ties of being part of a band on a permanent basis. They have the freedom to come and go, while being able to make a good living from doing what they love doing. If they don't want to do something they can just say they're not available. There's also the benefit of not having to write the songs, promote the album, finance the project etc. While many artists will thrive on such pressures, others shy away from them. Money of course will always come into it. We tend to assume that our heroes are wealthy beyond our dreams. The reality is of course that away from the headline acts, the income of many will be very variable, and at times almost non-existent. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: August 24 2004 at 10:43
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