I went through a phase in college (mostly thanks to my English-centric radio show), where I was ingesting a lot of prog. I nearly wrote up Camel's "Mirage" as well.

In addition to what Drinky said, it should be mentioned that prog is just an umbrella term for a lot of other sub-genres. In other words, what you might be thinking is prog might in fact be the "Canterbury" sub-genre.

To me, I couldn't ever get really into metal prog, though I did like Porcupine Tree. I got much more into the jazz-influenced stuff. Couldn't get into the heavy symphonic as well, though that Oldfield record above could fit into that. Really dug the spacey/psych orientation as well.

I've seen post-rock and krautrock both described as prog as well. Heck, even some raga gets the moniker depending on the reviewer.

As far as my first submission I throw out this:


Years of Disney soundtracks white-washed that Newman's songwriting was bitingly funny. Seemingly, Newman holds mankind in contempt, which is odd for someone so associated with Mickey Mouse. This album reminds me of Dylan's Positively 4th Street, Idiot Wind, and Don't Think Twice if they were re-arranged with Horns. I love this album because the songwriting is stellar, it's funny, and it's about the South. In light of revising Huck Finn, I wonder if they'd even release Rednecks today.

Tom Waits: The Heart of Saturday Night

One of my favorite Tom Waits albums and pretty assuredly my favorite of his older style barfly persona albums. Opener New Coat of Paint and the title track are a couple of his songs that pretty much never get old to me. I prefer the more fleshed out musical sounds of this one to his more stripped down debut.

New York Dolls: Too Much Too Soon

I actually like this one better than the debut. The recording is a bit better while the songs are as trashy as ever. Besides, Babylon and Chatterbox are a couple of my all tiem favorite Dolls songs.

Love this one. And I considered suggesting it but I figured someone else would.

If someone could up John Cale's Fear that would be awesome.

I could up Kraftwerk's Autobahn if any wants it. The recent reissue.

Oh yeah, good call on that. I like it better than the debut, too. I didn't have the Dolls entered into my RYM catalog yet, so I kinda forgot about them.

I'm a huge fan of Autobahn as well and also would give a shout out to the first Kiss album if for nothing else but the song Strutter.

Lots a great jazz in the mid-70s... these were important soundtracks to my life that year, especially the Death and the Flower which I played for about a month (literally without stop) to "soothe" a romantic breakup... from the girl who turned me gay, ha. I'd still argue this is the best Keith Jarrett.

Ralph Towner: Solstice
Terje Rypdal: Whenever I Seem To Be Far Away
Keith Jarrett: Death and the Flower

After reading the AMG review of that NY Dolls, I think that I need it. Looks like I'll be picking it up sometime soon.
Nice rec.

I think Greil Marcus (i think - can't remember who exactly) or some other big music journalist picked Too Much Too Soon as their "Desert Island Disc" in the first volume of the Stranded book series. It was a really great write up.

And Harry - yeah there is some good jazz from 74, I might post something from that.

Also Kingfish - love love love that Randy Newman (as well as most Newman records), really great to see some of my favorite records being posted. I always look over this year and praise of the 5 years prior, but some really great music.

Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance - Anymore for Anymore



When the Faces imploded Ronnie Lane took his money and thought it'd be a great idea to tour as a folk collective in an act that also featured circus performers and dancing girls. Presciently, he called it Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, which it was. Within two albums he was broke. Fortunately for us, those two albums are both excellent. "Anymore for Anymore" from '74 was the first. It sounds like a distinctly British version of "The Basement Tapes", full to the brim of mandolins and fiddles and Ronnie's amazing gift for melody. If you like the Faces classic "Ooh La La" then you already know the template.

Pt 1:
Pt 2:

just discovered that album in December. Have listened to it like a dozen times since. So good, everyone needs it.

a lot of stuff to add to my list coming out of this thread. . .

2 stone-cold classics from Clinton & co. in the same year. Fucking great year.

Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On

Outside of Cosmic Slop, this may be the band's most hilariously sexual album... where "Getting It On" is not only the object of game, it is the game, itself! And it's all good. Leering acid freak funk classics like the title track and "Red Hot Mama", to the more seductive "I'll Stay". (Which actually sounds like the only reason that he'll still be around is because he's too damn stoned to go away.)
Not my second-favorite album of theirs this time, but probably my third. And a classic, nonetheless.

And on the flip:
Parliament - Up for the Down Stroke

Pure, hard-ass funk. And, this time, it is (damn, yet again) my second-favorite Parliament album (after Osmium). "Testify", "The Goose", "Up for the Down Stroke"... every damn song on here will make you want to shake your ass. Harder. And harder.

While this is not my favorite Be-Bop Deluxe record, it's one of my favorite records overall. A very competent starting point for a band that shined brightly (albeit briefly), and launched the career of one of the most prolific but vastly under appreciated guitarists of our time. Bill Nelson has always been an innovator, never afraid of experimentation, even to the point of not doing "guitar solos" anymore to move in a new direction. (Drastic Plastic/1977) While there is a Bowie influence here, I get tired of hearing how Be-Bop was a Bowie ripoff, which is simply not true. He took whatever influence, expanded it and created something new. Key tracks - Jet Silver & The Dolls of Venus - Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape - Jets At Dawn - Love Is Swift Arrows - Rocket Catherdals. Nelson's guitar playing is nothing short of incredible on this record.

Nice choice. Bill Nelson released an album last year, btw - never did manage to find it. Also, Jason Falkner covered "Jet Silver & the Dolls of Venus" on his album last year. Maybe it's time for a BBD rediscovery.

Yes! BBD!

Once again, college radio experience. When they finally unloaded all the vinyl out of the archives at the station, I was MD so I got to have first crack at things. Several treasures were found that day. In them, half the BBD studio discography and "Live! In the Air Age". Dig it.

Never heard of this. But just the kind of stuff I was hoping to get out of this these threads. Thanks.

+1

Other than a couple of tracks, I was never able to track down that Falkner record. I knew he covered it, but it's still one I haven't heard. I was unaware that Bill Nelson had a new record, but after a quick search, I think I've narrowed it down to three from 2010 with 'Fables & Dreamsongs" being the proper 'vocal' release.

That's awesome ! I still have my white vinyl release of 'Live'.

Ditto. But what a pain in the ass trying to find a specific track.

Gimme some links wit dese grits, nigga.