What was the best year for prog?
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Printed Date: November 07 2024 at 12:38
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Topic: What was the best year for prog?
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Subject: What was the best year for prog?
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:04
I figure most (including me) will say it was in the 70s so I didn't bother with later years. If I did then I would have to have put them all out. No one later year seems to stand out though. Plus, consensus seems to be that prog's peak years were in the first half of the 70s so there you go. 
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Replies:
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:09
1973 for me. The year of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, Renaissance' Ashes Are Burning and Genesis' Selling England by the Pound, to name just three. 
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Posted By: LaMort
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:31
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1972. Thick as a Brick - JETHRO TULL Close to the Edge & Roundabout (single) - YES YS - THE BRONZE BALLET Foxtrot - GENESIS
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Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:33
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For me it has to be 1972 - the year of two of the most iconic prog albums of all time - TAAB and CTTE. ------------- 'We're going to need a bigger swear jar.' |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:34
YS? You mean the album by Il Balletto Di Bronzo? I agree. That's a great album.
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LaMort wrote:Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:35
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1973 would be a close second with the aforementioned Tubular Bells, and DSotM of course, amongst other notable prog works. ------------- 'We're going to need a bigger swear jar.' |
Posted By: Gentle and Giant
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:38
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This year as we have more prog right now than ever before. ------------- Oh, for the wings of any bird, other than a battery hen |
Posted By: LaMort
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:47
 Correct. And i would love to thank MARIO BAVA for introducing me to them, in his film...Five Dolls for an August Moon.
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Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 12:58
An interesting way of looking at it... so me thinking laterally would suggest 1979 as possibly being the best year for prog because by *then we had all of the classic era prog. Others may disagree of course *i.e. the release of 'The Wall' at the tail end of 1979 ------------- 'We're going to need a bigger swear jar.' |
Posted By: Criswell
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 13:06
Concur with 1973...add Brain Salad Surgery, Tales, 6 Wives, & Future Days (CAN)...
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 13:30
So that was you that voted "other" then?
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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 13:40
... 1980 Art Zoyd – Génération Sans Futur Jeff Beck – There and Back Blue Öyster Cult – Cultösaurus Erectus Brand X – Do They Hurt? Al Di Meola – Splendido Hotel Ashra – Belle Alliance Bruford – Gradually Going Tornado Dixie Dregs – Dregs of the Earth Eloy – Colours Keith Emerson – Inferno Gamma – Gamma 2 Gandalf – Journey to an Imaginary Land Genesis – Duke Goblin – Contamination Group 87 – Group 87 Steve Hackett – Defector Hawkwind – Levitation Jethro Tull – A David Earle Johnson with Jan Hammer – Hip Address Kansas – Audio-Visions Kenso – Kenso Kerry Livgren – Seeds of Change Kitaro – In Person Irene Papas | Vangelis – Odes Anthony Phillips – 1984 Richard Pinhas – East West Didier Lockwood – Live in Montreux Jean-Luc Ponty – Civilized Evil Rush – Permanent Waves Saga – Silent Knight Carlos Santana – The Swing of Delight Robert Schroeder – Floating Music Klaus Schulze – ...Live... Sky – Sky 2 Tangerine Dream – Tangram Yes – Drama *Führs & Frohling – Live 1980 (released 2001) 1981 Blue Öyster Cult – Fire of Unknown Origin Fabio Frizzi – The Beyond King Crimson – Discipline Di Meola / McLaughlin / De Lucia – Friday Night in San Francisco Dregs – Unsung Heroes Eloy – Planets Gandalf – Visions Hawkwind – Sonic Attack Michael Hedges – Breakfast in the Field However – Sudden Dusk Jean-Michel Jarre – Magnetic Fields Yoshiaki Masuo with Jan Hammer – Finger Dancing Vangelis – Chariots of Fire Rush – Moving Pictures Saga – Worlds Apart Robert Schroeder – Mosaique Synergy – Audion Tangerine Dream – Exit Tangerine Dream – Thief Twelfth Night – Live at the Target Richard Wahnfried – Tonwelle Rick Wakeman – The Burning Rick Wakeman – 1984 Frank Zappa – Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: poseído del alba
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 14:08
| Tough...I'll have to go with Foxtrot, Close to the Edge, Octopus & Darwin [=D>] |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 14:10
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I'm going to go with 1974. Having said that, some of the more recent years (from 2018 onward) I feel rival the early 1970s. I just can't decide which one is best. My stomach came with an optional concrete infrastructure research database which I have yet to use. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 14:18
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1959, of course! That's the year ofMiles Davis’ Kind of Blue, the album that gave birth to modal jazz; the complexity and melodic genius of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps; Ornette Coleman’s The Shape of Jazz to Come, which did away with conventional harmony and form altogether; Dave Brubeck’s Time Out, which pushed the boundaries of meter and rhythm in jazz, and the energized and politically charged compositions of Charles Mingus’ Mingus Ah Um, Art Blakey's Moanin', as well as Abbey Lincoln's Abby Lincoln Is Blue, Bill Evans' Everybody Digs Bill Evans, Art Blakey Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Sonny Rollins' Newk's Time and more. Oh, wait! Am I on the wrong site? No, Miles Davis' Kind of Blue: #26 on ProgArchives' list of 100 Top Prog Albums of All-Time! Need I say more? ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:12
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1971 is the single greatest year for rock music, prog or otherwise. Studio releases, Prog/Prog adjacent in order of release: Chicago - Chicago III
Uriah Heep - Salisbury Yes - The Yes Album Miles Davis - Jack Johnson Soft Machine - Fourth Jethro Tull - Aqualung The Groundhogs - Split Amon Düül II - Tanz der Lemminge Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink Procol Harum - Broken Barricades The Nice - Elegy Captain Beefheart - Mirror Man Weather Report - S/T Debut Roy Harper - Stormcock Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus Funkadelic - Maggot Brain Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste The Moody Blues - Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Deep Purple - Fireball Strawbs - From the Witchwood The Who - Who's Next Black Sabbath - Master of Reality Can - Tago Mago Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself Santana - Santana III Frank Zappa - 200 Motels Jeff Beck - Rough and Ready Gong - Camembert Electrique Focus - II (Moving Waves) Gary Wright - Footprint Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame Pink Floyd - Meddle Barclay James Harvest - Barclay James Harvest and Other Stories Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Going On Elton John - Madman Across the Water Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV Yes - Fragile Genesis - Nursery Cryme Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts Isaac Hayes - Black Moses John Martyn - Bless the Weather Alice Cooper - Killer (also Love It to Death released earlier) Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition King Crimson - Islands Electric Light Orchestra - S/T Debut David Bowie - Hunky Dory No Release Date: John Fahey - America Edgar Winter - Edgar Winter's White Trash Faust - S/T Debut Eloy - S/T Debut Comus - First Utterance Jade Warrior - S/T Debut Leo Kottke - Mudlark Herbie Hancock - Mwandishi Jade Warrior - Released Spirogyra - St. Radigunds ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:19
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:30
| Dark Elf, you left off ELP's Tarkus. Was that intentional? I see Nursery Cryme by Genesis is absent also. |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:34
Nursery Cryme is there. I'll edit in the Tarkus omission. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:37
| ^Oh ok. Not sure how I missed Nursery Cryme then. I know a lot of people don't like the "thin" production on it but I've never really noticed that much (same with Going for the One which people complain about). |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:48
Nah, Cryme is the first "proper" Genesis album in my book. As far as 1971, it is the first real explosion of prog, krautrock, progressive soul, progressive folk, experimental electric, fusion rock/jazz, and even rock bands with prog pretensions (ie. Zeppelin, The Who, Heep, Purple, Alice Cooper, Sabbath, etc.). ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 18:52
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1975 Triumvirat-Spartacus Mahavishnu Orchestra-Visions Of The Emerald Beyond Passport-Cross Collateral PFM-Chocolate Kings Gentle Giant-Freehand Nektar-Recycled Tangerine Dream-Rubycon Rush-Fly By Night Headstone-Headstone Solution-Cordon Blue Soft Machine-Bundles Libra-Libra
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 12 2024 at 23:19
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I tend to think 1974 but then there is no one year that has my favourite release by a major band/artist (1977 should be in the poll as it's obviously a stronger year than 1976 imo) 1971 VDGG - Pawn Hearts Jethro Tull - Acqualung Focus - Moving Waves 1972 PFM - Per Un Amico Genesis - Foxtrot Yes - Close To The Edge Aphrodite's Child - 666 Electric Light Orchestra - ELO 2 Banco - Darwin! 1973 ELP - Brain Salad Surgery Curved Air - Aircut Rick Wakeman - Six Wives Of Henry VIII Le Orme - Felona E Sorona 1974 King Crimson - Red Triumvirat - Illusions On A Double Dimple Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory Supertramp - Crime Of The Century Kayak - s/t Peter Hammill - The Silent Corner and The Empty Stage Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom Refugee - Refugee Kansas - s/t Kraftwerk - Autobahn 1975 Camel - The Snow Goose Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn Vangelis - Heaven and Hell Steve Hackett - Voyage Of THe Acolyte Harmonium - So On Avait Besoin D'une Cinquieme Saison Edgar Froese - Epsilon in Malaysian Pale Birds - Trace Cherry Five - s/t 1976 Eloy - Dawn Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear Manfred Mann's Earthband - The Roaring Silence Be Bop Deluxe - Sunburst Finish 1977 Pink Floyd - Animals Hawkwind - Quark, Strangeness and Charm Rush - A Farewell To Arms Loccanda Delle Fate - Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Piu Colosseum II - Electric Savage Peter Gabriel - Car |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 00:41
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1975 just over 1971, 1972 and 1973. ------------- 
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Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 02:30
And DSOTM…. ------------- Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 03:03
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 04:34
 ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 04:44
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If looking at RYM's chart for 150 highest rated Progressive Rock albums for the years 1971-76 (with popularity weighting on 4), so many albums are on it from each year: 1971 - 27 1972 - 25 1973 - 29 1974 - 29 1975 - 25 1976 - 15 ( https://rateyourmusic.com/charts/top/album/1971-1976/g:progressive%2drock/pop:4/ ) On that basis, I'd say, it's hardly possible to point at any year(s) in the period 1971-75 as the best one(s).
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 04:59
Ten good reasons why 1973 was the best year for prog.  1973: Alquin - Mountain Queen - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lL9UH8vvgWEIW6w0k3bmtIyatPqvGhrQA" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lL9UH8vvgWEIW6w0k3bmtIyatPqvGhrQA 1973: Earth and Fire - Atlantis - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mT836EXK6039W5qzIcsA-RS1HGQF1DMhg" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mT836EXK6039W5qzIcsA-RS1HGQF1DMhg 1973: Fantasy - Paint a Picture - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_TaS3ukydpLn9olqC2rMHQwL7wWMmAqk" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_TaS3ukydpLn9olqC2rMHQwL7wWMmAqk 1973: Fruupp - Future Legends - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG2ZW6QrhcM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG2ZW6QrhcM 1973: Genesis - Selling England by the Pound - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kkgAn92SdFt_nUYmDjGo8jyKGKnQ_AM8Q" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kkgAn92SdFt_nUYmDjGo8jyKGKnQ_AM8Q 1973: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_4sZCLlr0" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv_4sZCLlr0 1973: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l1x-JAx0w53suECoCI0YJtW6VB8DBQWRQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l1x-JAx0w53suECoCI0YJtW6VB8DBQWRQ 1973: Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kLlzvwRGj185pGq9yYhveAzan1m0qWHbQ" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kLlzvwRGj185pGq9yYhveAzan1m0qWHbQ 1973: Spirogyra - Bells, Boots & Shambles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YrdTGfv1Q" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9YrdTGfv1Q 1973: Rick Wakeman - The Six Wives of Henry VIII - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J00015lLDM" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J00015lLDM |
Posted By: Mormegil
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 05:31
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Toss up between '72 and '73 - can't vote. ------------- Welcome to the middle of the film. |
Posted By: Manuel
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 05:48
| 1972 for me, though the whole era was fantasic. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 07:03
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Hi, I have no idea how to make a choice here. I listen to music for the work and its color, and while it all came alive for me in 1971/1972, I never thought that a specific year was more important than another ... it's weird ... for me all music in timeless ... not set in stone to one year or time period. We don't look at Beethoven and say that 1813 was his greatest year! I simply don't understand how we continue to think and look at "progressive music" as just another song ... most of it in those early days was NOT JUST A SONG! And that would have been the main reason why folks in the independent FM Radio in America played them! To get away from the song mentality of the 2 minute Light My Fire!
------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 07:52
Out of my alltime favorite albums, I took only those that were made in the 70s, and counted how many records from each year of that decade there were on my list. And it turns out that 1976 is the winner (9 albums), while 1978 is second place (8 albums). :) *Though, keep in mind that my list consists of prog music from all over the world, and not just the 1st World Commonwealth countries. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 08:23
Selecting a (for me, favorite not best) year in music is a bit silly or pointless. I know. But I have a brain that occasionally works a little like that, and there's nothing I can do to prevent it. I know I've looked through my collection of jazz albums too and thought to myself "Goodness, to think that all of these masterworks were released in 1964! Surely my favorite year in jazz". -But it doesn't really mean anything. I didn't buy any of them because of the year of it's release. It's just something I've noticed. No different than noticing I have a lot of Jazz albums recorded at Van Gelder Studio. |
Posted By: VianaProghead
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 08:41
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I also think 1973. ------------- "PROG IS MY FERRARI". Jem Godfrey (Frost*) |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 08:53
So no albums in 1971?!
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:11
| 2019 for me. |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:26
------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:30
1970 is awesome. Magma's debut, Soft Machine's Third, VdGG's The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each, OtherAmon Düül II's Yeti, Linda Perhacs' Parallelograms, Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother, Supersister's Present From Nancy, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, Gentle Giant's s/t, Miroslav Vitous' Infinite Dance, Pentangle's Cruel Sister etc. I will go with 1971 for VdGG's Pawn Hearts, Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson, Can's Tago Mago, Comus' First Utterance, Igor Wakhévitch's Docteur Faust, Gentle Giant's Acquiring the Taste, Ash Ra Tempel, Bjorn J:son Lindh's Från storstad till grodspad, Spirogyra's St. Radigunds, Popol Vuh's In den Gärten Pharaos, A.R. & Machines's Die Grüne Reise, Earth & Fire's Song of the Marching Children, Egg's The Polite Force, Roy Harper's Stormcock etc. Every Prog year has lots of awesome and relevant releases in my collection, but some have more than others. I approach these topics subjectively based on what I know, remember, and even my mood. While I think it would be fair to say that Prog has had its classic peak years, my tastes cover a spectrum of music. For my collection, I don't care much if it's even considered Prog. I like lots of different kinds of music from lots of years. One can think of these sorts of things as just trying to think through a way to come to a year. I would not pooh-pooh that. It can be creative. And I think it's good to be challenged to think out of ones own boxes, and into others, and try to come up with an answer using some methodology. We are challenging each other every time we come up with such topics, and to me that is fun. Wish more did topics, more support of each other's topics, that there was a wider variety of topics, and a wider appreciation of kinds of topics and more discussion in polls. But no complaints, the forum is not as lively as it once was. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:31
plenty too choose from rogarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?ssubgenres=&salbumtypes=1&syears=1971&scountries=&sminratings=5&smaxratings=0&sminavgratings=0&smaxresults=100&x=53&y=5#list" rel="nofollow - rogarchives.com/top-prog-albums.asp?ssubgenres=&salbumtypes=1&syears=1971&scountries=&sminratings=5&smaxratings=0&sminavgratings=0&smaxresults=100&x=53&y=5#list
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Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:33
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There have been many subjective answers here, but I have certainly the impression that the OP is asking for some more objective ones, meaning, not just based on personal tastes and preferences. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 09:58
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^ I appreciated your methodology, David, but of course there is going to be personal bias (subjectivity) in what method one chooses. Of course there were some years where Progressive Rock as we know it especially a narrower genre/style (less so approach methinks for this example) had peaked in output, prominence, and popularity. As for the OP's intentions, I guess those often get clearer as the discussions with the OP develop and become more sophisticated and specific over time. Then one can hone in on different methodologies. 72 and 73 are often considered peak years (1973 especially). This kind of topic has been done many times (nothing wrong with that) and the results seem consistent with those done in the past from my memory. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 10:37
I think it would be near impossible to not take personal tastes into consideration when deciding what is the best year. Of course ultimately it's subjective. That said, you are right in that one should try to be as objective as possible. So even if tales from topographic oceans is your favorite Yes album but you don't think it's their best and you think The Yes Album or Close to the Edge is then vote for the year that corresponds to that album. Then of course you would have to factor in albums from other bands as well.
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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 10:50
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I'm still thinking...1971 has some of my favorite albums ever, but there's a lot up to 1976. I'd say the decade 1967-1976 is my era. ------------- Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 13:19
Yes, that's what I had been thinking too, so actually, I got some suprised by seeing the statistics from RYM's chart. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 13 2024 at 13:31
I'm not sure here that you've seen it, as what I have in mind is the kind of answer which is based on some "objective" criteria like in this post of mine:
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 14 2024 at 06:10
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Well, aside from the statistics, I still think the best period for prog in the so called classic era, strictly production-wise was 1975-1981 due to the advancement in synthesizers and recording technology. No longer was quality of the majority of recorded music (especially outside of the UK and US) brought down by the gritty "undercoked" sonics. From that point on, albums would sound much more defined and fat. In addition to that, a lot of prog bands had gotten equipped with new syntheziers, which resulted in richer and more colorful arrangements (take Rush or Kaipa for example). ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 14 2024 at 08:42
It's also my (audiophile) experience that the sound quality in the second half of the '70s was the best one. ------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: Octopus II
Date Posted: September 14 2024 at 09:11
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All great years!
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Posted By: mellotronwave
Date Posted: September 14 2024 at 14:21
| ^indeed |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: September 14 2024 at 15:11
The synths on Brain Salad Surgery (73), Relayer and Lamb (both 74) all sound fine to me and very advanced for when they were recorded. You could even go back a little earlier. However, I will say that I always found it unfortunate that prog started to die out around 77/78 because the synth sounds happening at time (which were still developing as you implied) would have fit right in with prog. You can hear it in a lot of new wave stuff. Blondie's "heart of glass" is a good example. Listen to the synth on that.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 15 2024 at 02:20
| For synths I've never heard anything better than Gary Numan's Replicas album (1979) and also the single Cars by him. I've also always preferred the synths sounds that Vangelis and Tangerine Dream were getting around 1977-1983 more than any other era. The theme music for Stranger Things was also a nod to that era I think. |
Posted By: David_D
Date Posted: September 15 2024 at 03:16
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If looking at the number of Progressive Rock releases each year, according to RYM's statistics they were about: 1971 - 470 1972 - 530 1973 - 470 1974 - 400 1975 - 470 1976 - 450 ( https://rateyourmusic.com/genre/progressive-rock/ )
------------- quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond |
Posted By: omphaloskepsis
Date Posted: September 15 2024 at 04:52
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I consider 2023 the greatest prog year since the 70s...with a 73 sweet spot. Don't get me wrong, 2023 does not top the 71-74 period. According to PA ratings, 2023 has 70 albums that average 4.00 or higher. Even when factoring in recency bias, 2023 is impressive. The year 2024 has 56 albums and 2022 has 46 albums that average 4.00 or higher.
That said, PA's album rating system is not why I put forth 2023. I subjectively believe 2023 is the best prog-year since the 70s. I added the PA ratings as objective evidence to support my subjective claim. Subjectively...your mileage may vary. Different strokes for different folks.
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: September 15 2024 at 06:46
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I voted arbitrarily 1971, because it needed help. Gnosis 2000 being temporaily out, I couldn't really check my cumulative ratings to see which year is actually better. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: September 19 2024 at 02:31
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------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: September 19 2024 at 02:32
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of lesser interest for the topic of this thread. ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: September 19 2024 at 02:51
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1973. King Crimson's "Larks Tongues in Aspic" seals the deal for me. ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: September 19 2024 at 03:40
But it's not just the synths. The whole craft of mixing and recording music IMO got better by the late 70s. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: Starshiper
Date Posted: November 07 2024 at 07:53
| I voted 1973 because, within the greater tapestry of progressive music, from "Tubular Bells" to "Birds of Fire," that year stands out as a veritable zenith, where its most illustrious bands reached their creative apogee and progressive music gained commercial exposure without sacrificing its artistic sensibility. Both their vast artistic approaches and the improvements in recording technique contributed to the 1973 albums' superb sound quality. |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: November 07 2024 at 08:24
Who the heck told you that? What is your source (re no good synths before mid 74)? Also, I think there's plenty of great sounding albums by the late 70s. I would say by the early 70s it got better (not late). Also, one of the best sounding albums ever made came out in the 60s. Can you guess which one?
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Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: November 07 2024 at 10:21
And yes, determining hi-fi vs lo-fi is very subjective. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: November 07 2024 at 11:05
Hi, That is such an awesome listing and very inspiring ... it really shows what we were listening to in those days, and how varied it all was. It really shows how great the independent FM radio in America was so important to what we came to consider as progressive and prog in time ... I keep saying that it is impossible to think of a "favorite" when you come up against a huge list like this ... but sadly, I'm not sure the Internet folks can relate to it much ... I have my "favorites", however, I can't take them away from everything else ... put on Le Sacre du Printemps, and the list kinda falls apart! Put on Nilsson and Tebaldi in Turandot and so much of the lists fall apart ... but ... some amazing and incredible memories at the juncture of meeting new music in your mind! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |