I'd like to dedicate this thread to lesser known UK prog-rock bands from early 70s.

Why UK? Why early 70s? The best progressive rock scene, best years for prog-rock at least IMO.

I have to admit, I am a total sucker for good and old early 70s prog-rock.

I've been searching for these hidden treasures for many years now and I am curious if anyone on PA can share with me his/her list of favorite second tier UK prog-rock bands/albums.

Let's define second tier prog-rock bands as unsuccessful bands that managed to release 1-2 albums in early 70s that sold poorly, never reached UK Top 100 charts and shortly after that they vanished.

I am sure there are some exceptions from this rule. I can find at least couple UK bands that managed to release 3 or 4 albums during their music career in early 70s (Beggar's Opera, Jonesy), 

but none of these albums was successful in terms of the sales.

We should definitely include them. We can also include archival recordings - albums recorded in early 70s, but released for the first time much later as an archival release.

I would definitely exclude the big UK bands included in "TOP 20 Favorite Prog-Rock Bands" list (recent thread hosted by Psychedelic Paul) and bands that had at least 1 album in Top 100 on UK charts 

(for instance: Curved Air, Caravan, Renaissance, Atomic Rooster, Greenslade, Procol Harum, Moody Blues, Soft Machine, Traffic, Strawbs, Hawkwind, Family and probably few more that I don't recall right now).

My favorite 30 second tier early 70s UK albums include but are not limited to (one album per band, in alphabetic order):

Aardvark - s/t (1970)

Affinity - s/t (1970)

Beggars Opera - Waters of Change (1971)

Bram Stoker - Heavy Rock Spectacular (1972)

Catapilla - Changes (1971)

Comus - First Utterance (1971)

Cressida - Asylum (1970)

Diabolus - s/t (1972)

Fantasy - Paint a Picture (1973)

Fields - s/t (1971)

Fuchsia - s/t (1971)

Fuzzy Duck - s/t (1971)

Gnidrolog - Lady Lake (1972)

Gracious - s/t (1970)

Greatest Show on Earth, The - Horizons (1970)

Indian Summer - s/t (1971)

Jody Grind - Far Canal (1970)

Jonesy - Keeping Up (1973)

Julian's Treatment - A Time Before This (1970)

Marsupilami - s/t (1970)

Odin - s/t (1972)

Rare Bird - As Your Mind Flies By (1970)

Raw Material - Time is... (1971)

Samurai - s/t (1971)

Skin Alley - s/t (1970)

Spring - s/t (1971)

Still Life - s/t (1971)

T2 - It'll All Work Out in Boomland (1970)

Titus Groan - s/t (1970)

Web - I Spider (1970)

I wasn't sure what to do with Khan, Egg, East of Eden. East of Eden had a successful album ("Snafu", No. 29 on UK charts and single - "Jig-A-Jig"). Khan and Egg are pretty well know by now and get lots of "airtime" on PA. Well, I will leave it up to you. All 3 bands and their albums would be in my Top 30.

I will throw Frumpy into the mix; "Frumpy 2" is one of the best albums of 1971, and that's saying something. here a video of them playing "Take Care of Illusion", my personal favorite of the 4 tracks of that great album

why the Swedish flag is shown at the beginning of this video is a mystery to me; Frumpy were a German band

I can tell for instance that First Utterance is as high placed as #19 on the top 160 all-time albums list, I've made in 2019, based on all the ratings on RYM and PA (only 1 album per band included, though) while It'll All Work Out in Boomland surely not that high but still on 85th place.

None of them are obscure now. But this is only because of internet, newsgroups, forums, GEPR.net, PA, PE and other progressive rock sites. These bands were fairly unknown in their own country (UK) in 70's. The list I provided is just to start the conversation about lesser know bands, 2nd tier progressive rock bands from UK that haven't been that successful in 70s.  How many treads, Polls, Top 15 lists we can have about bands like Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, VdGG, KC and their albums? I am just "testing the water" David_D. The purpose of this thread is to give more visibility to lesser known UK bands, expend our horizons, discover new music. That's all. Definitely Comus is one of them. They never had huge popularity in 70s. I've heard about them and their music in the middle of 90s through rec.music.progressive.  They've built large fanbase over the years, reformed again for some festival in Sweden in 2008, continued to perform occasional gigs,  recorded new album in 2012.

And not to forget that, this album was selftitled.

That's very fine, Enigmatic, I'm not questioning your intention with this thread. 

I just like the fact that some 70's bands which certainly were more concerned with musical ambitions than with commercial succes, today have become quite popular.

 

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=11144" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4057" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=8459" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=19207" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=18195" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=21787" rel="nofollow">

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=28143" rel="nofollow">

That last one is Australian ...

 

This list is more or less what was called in the 90's proto-prog when most of these albums got a Cd reissue (a lot of them via the Repertoire label) . Most of these bands only made 1 or two albums back then. TBH, I heard or most of those at that time (90's reissues in CD). 95% of the list was totally unknown to me prior to these reissues.

Of course, we (PA) made the Proto-Prog genre something fairly different

a few possible additions:

Gravy Train

Ramases

Audience

Sean Trane - thanks for the contribution to this thread and your contributions on PA. I am a constant reader of your album reviews for many years now. I wish I could write as good as you.

You are absolutely right. All these bands were called proto-prog back in the 90s on rec.music.progressive newgroup and later on original PE. Since the term means different things to different people, I don't want to use it.  "Second tier" fairly well describes those bands and they are no longer obscure, thanks to PA and world wide web. They were totally unknown to me in the 90s too, with the exception of Rare Bird and Gracious. Rare Bird was pretty popular in Poland in early 70s because of the hit single "Sympathy". Polish record label "Polskie Nagrania" released Rare Bird's compilation album (songs taken from first 2 albums) in 1975 or 1976. Gracious was played on Polish radio few times in 70s, but every time the same song - the suite "The Dream" from the debut. BTW, after moving to USA and few years later after purchasing my first PC and connecting to WWW, Gracious twofer on BGO Records was my first online CD purchase. That was probably in 1996. I remember that too well, waited long enough to hear their 2 albums in entirety. Well, there was no YT back then. 

On that behalf, I've found some "obscure" English albums which I'm fond or very fond of.

Besides those I've already mentioned, are following:

I'm not quite so fond of Changes, and I like the very emotional and intense vocal of Anna Meek - you know I'm fond in general of rather heavy stuff. And curiously enough, I've got much more fond of the heavy stuff and even Metal when getting older - the last 15 years - but I guess, it has topped by now.

Beggars Opera - Waters of Change

Decameron - they made 4 albums but never made much impact

Fresh Maggots - lots of acoustic guitar but also acidic lead guitar

Forest- like a kinder gentler ISB

Third Ear Band - "The Magus" was recorded in 1972 and not released till 2004.  It would have been revolutionary at the time

Amazing Blondel - maybe too prolific to be called obscure - Elizabethan folk rock

Paul Brett Sage - first album is great

Dancer - Tales of the Riverbank - another one from 70s not released until 2000s

Fuchsia - debut from 1971 was their only album until 40+ years later when they released a 2nd album that I actually think was better

Nigel Mazlyn Jones - "Ship to Shore" is excellent

Magna Carta - peak was "Lord of the Ages"

Pererin was around at the end of the 70s but the style is quite earty 70s with some Runrig thrown in.  First 2 albums are exceptional

Strange Days - sole album is really good

Tir Na Nog - Tear and a Smile is excellent

Bran - precursor to Pererin - Hedfan and Ail Ddechra are both good

Fruupp - 4 albums I think, all good

Gracious - 2 good albums

Jade Warrior - used to be obscure, but now it's unclear.  debut is highly recommended

Jonesy - they have appeared on the occasional best prog albums list which they in no way deserve, but they are good

Loudest Whisper - Children of Lir is good

Salamander - Ten Commandments is decent

Sallyangie - sole album made by the teenage Mike and Sally Oldfield

Spriguns - decent but not very undistinguished UK folk rock

Spring - their s/t isn't really obscure anymore

Spectrums first two albums Spectrum Part One and Miles Ago are well worth consideration IMHO.

Gotta love "Charge" if only for the great Roger Dean cover.

Kenethlevine - thank you for your contributions to this thread. Very nice list! Some of them I've never heard before, so I will definitely check them out (Paul Brett Sage, Nigel Mazlyn Jones, Tir Na Nog, Pererin). There are some excellent bands/albums you listed that are on my Top favorite second tier British bands: Spring, Gracious, Beggars Opera, Jonesy, Fuchsia. And the rest, some of them I haven't played for years. Thanks for reminding me about these albums. It's time to revisit them. 

My first introduction to Paladin was through the archival release of "Jazzattack" (2002, on Brazilian label Rock Symphony label). Parts of it are really good, the song "The Fakir 1" reminds me East of Eden. The album is listed as new release on PA. I don't have the CD any longer to verify it, but I remember reading in the liner-notes that this is a compilation from previously recorded material around 1976. I could be wrong though.  

As far as I know Palladin only released two albums, a self titled debut and "Charge". 

Looking at the track listing of "Jazz Attack" there are similar titles such as "Anyway" from "Charge" and  "Third World", "Carry Me Home" and "The Fakir" from the debut but they mostly seem to be updated re=recordings of the first album, particularly given that "The Fakir" was originally a single track and on "Jazz Attack" it appears to be broken up into two songs "The Fakir I" and "The Fakir II" as is the case also with "Third World".

I can't be sure about that but I would certainly like to get a hold of "Jazz Attack" to check  the album out for myself.

Anyway, here's  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6xaAWNbmMw" rel="nofollow - Mix you Mind with the Moonbeams by Paladin - YouTube  from "Charge".

So weird to see this listing, and it ignoring what was one band that was listed in what another Admin here on PA had posted what appeared to be the first use of the word "progressive" in an advertisement for a concert ... and one of the bands listed? THE EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND.

Even stranger is that folks did not look up the history of the HARVEST label in England, for a listing of the most incredible names in music, and eventually a lot of them deserved to be noted as "progressive".

It's just sad for me, not to see the EBB listed, and how well known they were, and they preceded HAWKWIND in the area of free shows, specially ones in the political arena, something that here on PA we don't like to discuss unless it has feathers, perfume and flamingos! The EBB is not a "psychedelic" band ... it is a very strong (Lugosi style) edition of rock music with very intelligent and educated lyrics!

my pleasure.  I have reviewed all of them and you can get a sense of whether you might agree or disagree from my critiques

When comes to the music from early 70s, I am more of a fan of eclectic prog, symphonic prog, space-rock, Canterbury scene. progressive folk, so that's why the EBB is not included on my list of favorite uncharted, second tier UK bands from early 70s.

Should they be listed on PA? Absolutely, I totally agree. Most likely together with another band from the same period: Pete Brown & Piblokto!

Quicksand 'Home is where i belong'.. great band from South Wales

Marsupilami cos they were great and they lived and practised on a farm very near where i grew up!

Stackridge.. again a great West Country band.. 2nd tier?? Hmm a bit underrated in my view.. those first two lps are just essential.

Right, and it's an obscure band, as well.

Mellow Candle

Great list...have all of those except for Aardvark, Fuzzy Duck and Greatest Show....even have a handful on original vinyl.

That Fuzzy Duck album is excellent IMHO. It's a real shame that they only released that one album.

http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=25580" rel="nofollow">

Yummy.

I forgot to include it in my initial post. Very interesting and melodic jazz influenced progressive rock with  sax, clarinet, flute, organ and vibes besides usual instruments. Highly recommended!

Greenslade is the only obvious one that springs to mind. 4 great albums but never quite got themselves promoted so to speak.

I'm assuming that Refugee may not count as Moraz is Swiss?!

EDIT - Just noticed that Greenslade are ruled out so unless Refugee count then I don't have anything!

Almost everyone who followed the top prog-rock bands knew about Refugee and Greenslade too.

I had Refugee album and 2 Greenslade albums (Bedside Manners Are Extra, Spyglass Guest( taped from Polish radio station on those large 7 inch reel magnetic tapes, few months after they were released. The copyright laws weren't obeyed in Poland, so you could hear and tape entire albums from the public radio. There were no records stores in Poland selling foreign LPs in 70's or 80s. Only Polish record labels had their stores selling LPs recorded, pressed by them. They only way to discover new music was through the radio, word of mouth and record conventions. Warsaw had a large flea market where small area was designated for record collectors. How these people obtained the LPs? Either purchased abroad by family members or mailed by a friend/cousin. Only government officials, high ranked university professors, journalists, radio/tv personalities, sportsmen/sportswomen, musicians (by permit) were allowed to travel abroad. I was lucky, my close friend from high school had a university professor in the family who travelled often to Germany for different conferences. I used to give him small lists of LPs to purchase if... I had some extra cash.

I personally think that "Epic Forest" is the best Rare Bird release.

Isn't it a beauty and challenge of progressive rock? We, progressive rock fans can't agree on anything. 

Put 5 progressive rock fans in one room (with different background/age) - ask them 5 questions:

1. What are the Big 5 bands of prog-rock?

2. What are 5 the greatest prog-rock albums?

3. What do you consider as first prog-rock album ever recorded?

4. What was the first progressive rock group?

5. What is the best Rare Bird album?

and they all give you different answers.

My favorite Rare Bird album, by far is "As Your Mind Flies By".

Oh ok. I didn't know that you were involved. Also, to be honest I don't see what harm it is having that list in this thread especially since I said not all are from the UK. I think about 90 percent are from the UK anyway. Again, I don't see what the big deal is though or see the harm in having it on here. I think we all need to relax a bit sometimes and not worry about the small stuff. 

Dude, you're killing me! Ok, fine. I'll remove those bands. Any others you want removed?

If you were truly relaxed you wouldn't be making such an issue out of the list I posted. 

Anyway, I could say your thread title is misleading because you said second tier when you really meant third tier. The bands you mentioned on my list that are too well known are all second tier. None of them are first tier. 

Please don't take it personally. It was an opinion, not a criticism.

It's all subjective remember.

I certainly think, it's best to follow the OP.

Not least when it's very obviously that the opener is much engaged in the topic.

It is entirely my pleasure. I commend you for bringing attention to these lesser know acts of that period.

Music is at its core about emotion and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hi,

I kinda thought that the EBB fit all those terms except "symphonic" since we only use that term when KEYBOARDS are used, and the EBB did not use them a lot earlier on. They didn't need to, since the lyrics drove the band and the ideas at the time. For all intents and purposes, Edgar is STILL a very adventurous and politically concerned person, and it was part of the band. 

Pete Brown & Piblokto ... is more of a nice thing to have to get an idea, but the sad thing about all of Pete Brown's stuff with anyone else but Cream, did not quite make it, and often sounded rather sad. It was as if the folks did not understand the lyrics, and could not interpret it musically without a format already used ... as his words appear to be fine in many of the efforts. Just slightly misused.

Reminds me of Syd Barrett's solo albums, and how folks interpreted the stuff, and end up making a not so great mess of the whole thing, and Robert Wyatt describes it better, on a song that they are trying to nail down, and the lead guitarist asks him what chord is Syd on? And Robert's reply, is the scariest thing for all musicians in this board! "He doesn't know the chords! He just plays!" ... meaning you have to listen and stick with what he is doing, and most musicians can not do that without "knowing" what key things are in!

I kinda thought the same thing about Pete Sinfield, when people tried to make "songs" of his words, and it didn't quite work well. The lyrics required a certain freedom of music that simply was not there, and those folks were trying to put conventional structures to his words, and the combination was not very good, when compared to how his words were used in other places, and specially used by Greg Lake, who probably knew that those words were not exactly to be "sung" as much as acted out first.

(Kinda makes a distinction between musicians and artists?)

Love Ton Ton Macoute (cd)....still looking for a bargain on old vinyl...I have all the Darryl Way Wolf things on old vinyl.

Meant to get it a few years back but it got lost on the list of things to buy.

Another great list.....have most of those...love that old stuff., Thanks for mentioning Czar...great one not many know unless they like this early era..,,, very rare on vinyl.

no one mentioned Steamhammer yet...much like Gravy Train in style.

MKll is the best but they all are interesting.

Another one not mentioned..have it on cd....crazy price on old vinyl...

I know, and you mention not all are uk, so just cleared the country for this group.

Excellent music by the way.

Hi,

And I think it was a DG/Chris Spedding duet in Roy Harper's "Playing the Game Pts 1-5" ... that one was massive and far out!