Prog Rock - apotheosis or nadir?
Tom Service looks at Progressive Rock, to find out whether it was an apotheosis of rock music, or a folly of over-reaching naivety. He consults keyboard legend Rick Wakeman.
Tom Service looks at Progressive Rock, to find out whether it was an apotheosis of rock music, thanks to the influence of classical music, the virtuosity of the performers and the ambition of its structures - or was it a folly of hopelessly over-reaching naivety and vapid pomposity? For a short period in the early 1970s, rock bands such as Yes, Genesis, ELP and King Crimson were boldly experimenting with their music, devising complex pieces that bore little relation to the simple pop song, and exhibiting dazzling instrumental skills. So why did it all go wrong so quickly? Tom consults Dr Sarah Hill, co-editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Progressive Rock, and also speaks to legendary keyboard wizard (and ex-member of Yes), Rick Wakeman.
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Greg Lake
Tarkus
Performer: Emerson, Lake & Palmer.- SANCTUARY.
- TDSAN-009.
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Manticore
- Atlantic.
- 7567-81520-2.
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Aquatarkus
- Atlantic.
- 7567-81520-2.
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Yes
Heart of the Sunrise
- Warner Music Ltd.
- Warner Music Ltd.
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King Crimson
The Court of the Crimson King
- POLYDOR.
- 800 030-2.
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Genesis
Supper's Ready
- Charisma.
- CASCDX-1058.
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Rick Wakeman
Arthur
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- A & M.
- AMLH-64515.
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Rick Wakeman
Merlin the Magician
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- A&M.
- 069490-774 - 2.
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King Crimson
21st Century Schizoid Man
- Musique Sabot ?.
- KCCD B074.
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Aaron Copland
Fanfare For The Common Man
Music Arranger: Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Performer: Emerson, Lake & Palmer.- SANCTUARY.
- TDSAN-009.
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Rick Wakeman
Cans and Brahms
Performer: Yes.- Atlantic Recording Corporation.
- 7567-82667-2.
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Yes
The Revealing Science of God
- ELEKTRA/RHINO.
- 8122-73791-2.
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Richard Wagner
Lohengrin - opera in 3 acts
Conductor: Christian Thielemann. Performer: The Philadelphia Orchestra.- DG.
- 4791120.
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Richard Wagner
Good Friday music [from 'Parsifal'] - concert version [no voices]
Conductor: Adrian Boult. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.- emi.
- czs 7625492.
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Spinal Tap
Stonehenge
- POLYDOR.
- 817846-2.
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Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures from an exhibition for piano
Performer: Emerson, Lake & Palmer.- Victory.
- 8284662.
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Gabriel FaurΓ©
Berceuse (Dolly Suite)
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- President Records.
- RWCD 36.
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Rick Wakeman
Anne Boleyn
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- A&M.
- 5405682.
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Rick Wakeman
Arthur
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- A & M.
- AMLH-64515.
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Rick Wakeman
Merlin the Magician
Performer: Rick Wakeman.- A&M.
- 069490-774 - 2.
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Sex Pistols
Anarchy in the U.K
- VIRGIN.
- VJCP 68050.
Broadcasts
- Sun 6 Oct 2019 17:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Fri 11 Oct 2019 16:30ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
How Schoenberg opened a new cosmos for composers and listeners to explore.
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Bass is everywhere, but why do we enjoy it? Join Tom Service on a journey of discovery.
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate βnoiseβ from βmusicβ, but is it that simple?
Podcast
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
