What was the first Prog album?
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Topic: What was the first Prog album?
Posted By: Certif1ed
Subject: What was the first Prog album?
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 13:33
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I didn't make this a poll, as someone is bound to think of something that I didn't put on the list - and anyway, the purpose of this thread is to try to collect some data surrounding the birth of prog (Oooh! a thread on a mission!) - specifically, the first prog album. I'm going to go with the obvious choice, because I can't think of anything earlier which I would consider a bona fide prog album (but then I've been flat on my back with a mad dose of the flu for the past 3 days or so, hence the old braincell isn't clicking away as it normally does);
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Replies:
Posted By: K00l Prog Guruz
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 13:40
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the beatles with argent peps by tha beatles! My mom says that its the trippiest album of her teen days. lol &nbs p; &nbs p; &nbs p; &nbs p; g2g ps that guy is freaky! ------------- "The world is in your hands, now use it." Good'ol Phil |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 13:46
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Yep Cert: ITCOTCK All others need not apply. Case closed. Move along now! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: K00l Prog Guruz
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 13:56
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lol g2g ------------- "The world is in your hands, now use it." Good'ol Phil |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 14:18
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Just to stir things up a bit, I'll go with "Shine on brightly" by Procol Harum, which includes the magnificent "In held 'twas in I". Prog didn't suddenly arrive overnight of course, it evolved. I reckon "SoB" was the first complete prog album though. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 14:27
Prog sprang fully-formed, from the head of Zeus/Fripp, with ITCOTCK! Prior to that, all was formless darkness. Stop arguing before I come over there and STRAIGHTEN YOU OUT, kilt boy!
Where's a symbol for "infinity" (as in, how long this debate will go on) when I need one? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Easy Livin wrote:
Wrong wrong WRONG Breezy!
"Procul-Freekin-Harum" indeed! Ha! 
Posted By: Wizard/TRueStar
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 14:34
Yes, yes, yes. Quite right. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 15:09
| The Nice 'Ars Longa Vita Brevis'-1968.Keith Emerson,Lee Jackson,Brian Davison and Davy O'List were doing prog before Fripp and his chums. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 15:13
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Arrrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!! "Pop!" ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 15:18
Don't be daft.
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Posted By: Fitzcarraldo
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 15:37
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Agreed. |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 15:43
I totally disagree. Prog Progressed through quite a few related events that culminated with ITCOTCK and others of that year and the next. |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:17
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Actually, an unstated goal of this thread is to make some kind of attempt at disproving the "Big Bang" theory. Or confirming it. Or at least attaining oblivion - whichever comes first... So keep the agreements, arguments and alternatives coming |
Posted By: Prog_Bassist
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:30
 ------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:37
No no, not "pop" as in pop music, "pop!" as in the vein in my forehead bursting! (That's why I put the word in quotation marks. Print can be a less-than-adequate medium for communication....) ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Prog_Bassist
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:38
------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY |
Posted By: Joren
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:40
How hard is it? Case closed? How many times do I have to say it? FREAK OUT!
It's the oldest album listed in the Archives. It's the first album by the genius Frank Zappa. It's the first album to combine rock with avant-garde. The songs may not all be progressive, but the record as a whole IS. Case closed! (hey, I'm serious) |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:49
Wasn't it obvious that I was joking? Of COURSE prog, like all forms of music, EVOLVED. Duh! (Evolved from the Monkees, I hear.... I don't effing know what effing album was the effing first effing prog album! (I was only 7 or 8 years old!) -- I leave that to more "seasoned" & informed souls, like Maani "the Word" Alterman, Dick "I was there" Heath, and Queasy "I'm Scottish" Liver. Now Cert: Definitively define "prog," please.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 16:52
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Of course, if prog "evolved," there really was no definitive "first" prog album....
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:04
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Absolutely right! Searching for the "first" prog album will be as fruitless as searching for the evolutionary missing link-it doesnt exist. Mind you Peter, I cannot for the life of me understand why you get your pampered knickers in a twist everytime someone misses your clumsy attempt at whimsy! ------------- 
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:09
My "knickers" were untwisted, until NOW, Head Fluffer! The anger was feigned -- yet more clumsy whimsy. 'Tis Fryday, and I've a brace of bottles of Monty Python's Holy Grail (ale), from over your way (Blacksheep Brewery) chilling in my fridge....
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Want one? 
Posted By: Prog_Bassist
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:10
I have to agree with that. ------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:10
Doh! I knew, I knew ! Now put your face straight or it will stop like that! -------------
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:15
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^ See the edit in my above post, Dead Mother.... BTW, I'll bet you don't know what a "fluffer" is, do you, you gormless innocent? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:17
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Your the one who keeps a close eye on Gdub's grammar! -------------
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Posted By: DallasBryan
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:17
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I would agree, Frank was probably first! I have
some old tapes from early early 60s recorded in bars on the west coast and frank was already doing it before the summer of love was ever invisioned. Got my respect, which aint much 
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:18
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See the edit in that one too! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:20
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I'm sure greg would simply love to be your head fluffer! -------------
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Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:22
A million nicknames from a million students and not one has ever called you Mr Wood! -------------
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:23
 Dunno -- he seems to have sashayed away in a fit of pique.... ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:25
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Sorry for highjacking yer thread, Cert! Again, folks: What was the first prog album, & why ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 17:25
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[Dunno -- he seems to have sashayed away in a fit of pique....
Nah he went to relatives for Thanksgiving then mentioned a talking tour (or something like that Be afraid, be very afraid................ -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: November 26 2004 at 18:49
Sorry,I'm a thicko.Stop trying to be so subtle!
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Posted By: zappa123
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 03:31
Yeah baby. |
Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 04:27
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Also on a psych/prog angle Red Krayola - Red Krayola ------------- 
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 09:50
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Heh! I'm glad this is a popular discussion area, with a good mix of sensible suggestions, silly arguments and protracted discussions at odd tangents... Business as normal, then |
Posted By: HaroldTheBarrel
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 10:53
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Well, I know there were albums released before this that can be considered progressive, and I also know that many don't consider this to be prog, but I'd have to say Zeppelin 1. ------------- Listen: Your friends have been broken. They've told us of your poison. Now we k now. KILL THEM! |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 10:54
 ^ Good man, Cert! I was a little worried you'd be "put out" by all the shenanigans.------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: frenchie
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 13:32
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"A Quick One, While He's Away" (1966) by the who is meant to be one of the first ever prog songs. its a 9 minute suite. ------------- The Worthless Recluse 
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Posted By: frenchie
Date Posted: November 27 2004 at 13:34
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also pink floyd were one of the first rock bands to start playing extended psychadelic pieces. get live 66 ep (it is the same as tonite lets all make love in london i think) and it has a 16 minute version of interstellar overdrive before piper was released. ------------- The Worthless Recluse
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Posted By: Man Erg
Date Posted: November 28 2004 at 09:02
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Soft Machine 1 -------------
Do 'The Stanley' otherwise I'll thrash you with some rhubarb. |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: November 28 2004 at 16:22
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: November 28 2004 at 22:19
That was meant respectfully, BTW. Those guys are better qualified than I to wrestle with such an issue (and each is more of a true gentleman that I besides...) OK Reed, you can say something sarcastic and homophobic about "mutual masturbation" now, if you must... I even like you... kind of!
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Alucard
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 06:47
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OK it is not the first one but quiet early Wendy Carlos :switched on bach 1968, I think she was the first to use the Moog and one of the pioneers of keyboarding. |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 07:36
Yup. ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 08:50
And if I wasn't, I know a man who knows a man........................................ But sticking to prog as it is recognised by reasonable people now and at the considerable risk of repeating myself: By accident rather than intent, Moody Blues Days Of Future Past (which started life as studio orchestra with a has-been pop group, with Go Now being their only major hit some years before). And when it comes ot real ball grabbing innovation, it is a toss up between Krimson's ICOTCK or Renaissance's first album - both issued by Island Records about the same time - but I can't remember which of the two was released first in the UK - and the straight media then made more fuss over Keith Ralf and co. However, the American band Touch ( see my logo - ' cousin twice removed' to the Kingsmen, of Louis Louis fame ) album was released in the same year (late 1969 in the UK, and possibly 6 months earlier in the USA, which has it predating KC or Renaissance). And then it is argued by some Americans that you shouldn't ignore The United States Of America. Some would argue USA were employing musical ideas in rock similar to Zappa and the Mothers, but FZ & TMOI then were considered an experimental and very interesting American underground band, and rather like Velvet Underground, an anetdote to hippydom - taking FZ & TMOI on board as prog rock has been done with hindsight (the do-wop acapella, and pseudo-pop tunes won't have immediately flagged them up as prog). Soft Machine and the early Floyd were psychedelia for tuning in and dropping out upon. Soft Machine's Volume 2 was their first proper prog album and even then they were only passing through straighter prog and heading for jazz rock sub-division.
However, in the late 60's we talk and wrote about 'progressive music' which was symonymous with 'underground music'. For clues check out Decca Record's late 60's sampler release: Wowie Zowie: The World Of Progressive Music which included tracks by the Moodys, Genesis, Savoy Brown, John Mayall, Touch, etc. and the same label's 2002 release Legend Of A Mind , which is sold as 3 CD sampler of 'underground music' 1967 to 1975, with most the Wowie Zowie musicians reappearing. By the way I most strongly recommend Legend of A Mind as a Christmas stocking filler for yourselves. |
Posted By: Joren
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 10:02
And where did they get that name? Wowie Zowie? 
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Posted By: Velvetclown
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 10:59
It was Beethovens Late String Quartets 
------------- Billy Connolly Dream Theater Terry Gilliam Hagen Quartet Jethro Tull Mike Keneally |
Posted By: Garion81
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 13:24
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I will throw one other album into the mix. It is called Mass in F minor by the Electric Prunes released in 1968. Since it based on the high liturgical Latin mass the original music was based on music of classical composers. The Prunes did take a psychedelic slant to it for sure but there are some very progressive leanings to it. Kyrie Eleison was used in the movie Easy Rider. I am not saying this is the definitive record but it is another example of the period of experimentation that ultimately concluded and died with prog. |
Posted By: Reed Lover
Date Posted: November 29 2004 at 14:51
I dont see what is homophobic about mentioning mutual masturbation, just because it is a big gay-boy pursuit! As for liking me-"you-know-who" will be jealous! Hope you dont keep rabbits.............. -------------
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Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: November 30 2004 at 04:26
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I spent a mesmerised 40 minutes last night listening to the finer points of "Piper at the Gates of Dawn"... man, that is not just a psychedelic album - you can plainly hear Roger inistently maintaining a structured bass underneath the Barrett machinations. The feel may be psychedelic, but the approach appears to be pure prog. I'm very tempted to put this forward as the first prog album - 1967. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: November 30 2004 at 05:31
Somebody had to stay sober whilst the main man was tripping musically, spiritually and physiologically - as was most of the audience. |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: November 30 2004 at 05:40
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...but what I am saying is that with hindsight we could accept this as a prog album, as it meets many, if not most of the criteria - and stands out above most, if not all other psychedelia. It's certainly far more prog than, say S. F. Sorrow to my ears - the latter being a collection more of psychedelically stylised songs, while the former is packed full of surprises and does not linger within a single style domain. Have I tempted you over to the Prog side of the Dawn? |