Record Reviews

AD INFINITUM ~ AD INFINITUM KINESIS 1022 (Barcode: 781207102222) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998 The only album by the best ever US Neo-Prog group Ad InfinitumFind albums by this artist, which was created from the ashes of CathedralFind albums by this artist, after the group fell apart. Two lead singers and great instrumentalists create soundscapes of great beauty and depth. Sometimes sounds more YesFind albums by this artist then Yes, if you can believe it. Roger DeanFind albums by this artist cover!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ADVENT ~ CANTUS FIRMUS NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 702987024726) ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1992 - 2006 Released: 2006 Every time an album like Cantus FirmusFind albums with this title by AdventFind albums by this artist lands in my lap a lot of questions pop up immediately. Since I consider myself quite knowledgeable in all matters Prog, the most intriguing one being “How came I’ve not heard about this band earlier, considering this is their 2nd album?” Mind you this happens very rarely and even more so when the album in question is as phenomenal as this one, almost unbelievably phenomenal. Let me start with a bold statement here: “This is one of the best Prog albums ever made!” I know many of my readers at this point start shrugging and say: “Here he goes again”. Let me try and explain (to the best of my ability) why I think this statement is 100 % true. Since this album was recorded in the 2000’s, the musicians had the benefit of perception of the Progressive Rock’s vast tradition accumulated during the genre’s 30+ years of history, thus being able to incorporate this insight in their creation. I emphasize the role of perception here (either conscious or subconscious) in contrast to an attempt to imitate, which of course makes all the difference. This album creates a perfect amalgam of the entire genre’s tradition up to that point (I mean the mainstream of the tradition centered on Symphonic Prog) and is in a sense a concise summary of the genre’s essence. In other words when asked (for the millionth time) “What is Prog?” I can now calmly say: “Listen to this album – everything you need to know about Prog is there.” Of course some influences on this music are immediately more obvious than others, the main one being Gentle GiantFind albums by this artist. Starting with the a cappella opening tune and the use of muliti-layered vocal harmonies throughout the album, the quirky rhythm changes and the devilishly clever concatenation of short themes into a continuous musical epic (like in the central 18+ minutes long tour de force piece here). Another thing is that in every respect (i.e. stylistically, sonically, conceptually, etc.) this album really belongs in the 1970’s. Not that is sounds dated (God forbid), but the fact that it was made in the 2000’s makes this entire venture a true miracle. Life is not fair of course, so just imagine this album released with Gentle Giant on the cover and I can assure you that it would have been considered one of the (if not the) best GG releases. Well, it has Advent on the cover, which should make no difference, but unfortunately it does. The only solace can be found in the fact that if one wishes to imagine how GG would have sounded in the 2000’s, all one has to do is to listen to this album. If you are a food connoisseur, this album is a French meal with a dash of YesFind albums by this artist as a starter, great Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist soup with main course a la Gentle Giant and a GenesisFind albums by this artist dessert. Add to this a vintage red vine full of talent, imagination, creativity and instrumental perfection and you get a perfect Prog meal called “Cantus Firmus”. A bit about Advent: They are an American quartet with a guitarist, two brothers who play keyboards and a drummer. One of the brothers is the lead vocalist and the other supplies the vocal harmonies (makes perfect sense). The double keyboards provide a rich, orchestral sound which plenty of opportunities to insert a multitude of interesting ditties, which require repetitive listening in order to be noticed and appreciated. The album includes bonus material recorded for but not included on the band’s debut release, which is every bit as strong as the rest of the album. There is no way to finish this but with another (shouted) question: “Where (and when) is the next album?!!!” Absolutely essential.

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend

AISLES ~ THE YEARNING MYLODON 031 (Barcode: 3426300045843) ~ CHILE ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 1st album by the excellent Chilean Prog group AislesFind albums by this artist, which is active on the local scene since the early 2000s. The band includes three brothers: Sebastián VergaraFind albums by this artist (lead vocals), Germán VergaraFind albums by this artist (guitars) and Luis VergaraFind albums by this artist (keyboards) and two non-family members Rodrigo SepulvedaFind albums by this artist (guitars) and Alejandro MeléndezFind albums by this artist (keyboards). The band plays classic Symphonic Prog, firmly based on the YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist and MarillionFind albums by this artist tradition and sounding as good as any of these bands with no inferiority complex whatsoever. The vocals (in English) have very little traces of foreign accent, and are of excellent quality, expressive and dramatic, somewhat reminiscent of Marillion’s front men FishFind albums by this artist. The album is full of well-developed musical themes, beautifully played and sung, with two tracks over 10 minutes long. Every fan of melodic Symphonic Prog around the globe will surely enjoy this great debut album with no reservations, eagerly awaiting the follow up.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JOHNNY ALMOND / MUSIC MACHINE ~ PATENT PENDING VOCALION 8417 (Barcode: 765387841720) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1969 Released: 2005 Multi-instrumentalist / composer Johnny AlmondFind albums by this artist was one of the most versatile and in-demand players on the British scene in the late 1960s. A member of the Alan Price SetFind albums by this artist, he also led a septet of young up-and-coming musicians called Johnny Almond Music MachineFind albums by this artist, which recorded two albums of which this is the first. Soon after recording this album Almond joined the new version of John MayallFind albums by this artist’s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, which recorded the revolutionary The Turning PointFind albums with this title album. In that group he met guitarist Jon MarkFind albums by this artist, with whom he formed one of the best British Jazz-Rock groups – Mark-AlmondFind albums by this artist. Bass player Roger SuttonFind albums by this artist (ex-Brian AugerFind albums by this artist’s TrinityFind albums by this artist), who plays on this album, was also a founding member of Mark-Almond and would later be e member of Riff RaffFind albums by this artist and NucleusFind albums by this artist. Another player, the drummer Alan WhiteFind albums by this artist, would later join the legendary YesFind albums by this artist. This album is a splendid example of early Jazz-Rock, with strong Rhythm And Blues influences. Almond plays tenor, alto and baritone saxophones, flute, alto flute, organ, vibes, mellotron and bass clarinet – surely deserving the “music machine” nickname. His virtuosity (my favorite being his flute playing) is obvious. He also composed all but one of the eight tunes included here. Overall this is an excellent album and a great trip down the memory lane. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

ANDERSON PONTY BAND ~ BETTER LATE THAN NEVER EAR MUSIC 4029759106517 (Barcode: 4029759106517) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 2014 - 2015 Released: 2015 This is the only album by the rather strange hybrid band featuring Progressive Rock vocalist Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist (of YesFind albums by this artist fame) and French violin virtuoso and Fusion superstar Jean-Luc PontyFind albums by this artist. The album was basically recorded live during the band’s debut concert in the US, with the guitar parts overdubbed later in the studio. Additional musicians include guitarist Jamie GlaserFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Wally MinkoFind albums by this artist, bassist Baron BrowneFind albums by this artist and drummer Rayford GriffinFind albums by this artist. The album presents fourteen tracks, which include original Yes songs in new arrangements, as wells as music composed by Ponty with new lyrics added by Anderson. The band toured for a couple of years in North America and was favorably received at the time, but in retrospect the music did not age well as far as my ears are concerned. Although Anderson is certainly a great vocalist and Ponty a superb violinist, the music was on the extreme easy side of both Prog and Fusion and is today quite forgettable. Overall, although headed by two music veterans of considerable talent, the resulting music is sort of “not here and not there”, as the saying goes, and leaves few memorable moments. Of course these are excellent musicians and the album has its moments, and both Anderson and Ponty die-hard fans would definitely keep this album in their collections.

Updated: 20/04/2024Posted: 20/04/2024

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON ANDERSON ~ ANIMATION (EXPANDED EDITION) OPIO 01 (Barcode: 604388679423) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1982 Released: 2006 3rd album by the legendary YesFind albums by this artist founding member and singer Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist. Anderson recorded over the years extensively as solo artists in parallel to his work with Yes, accumulating an impressive musical legacy. This album is considered to be his strongest and most consistent release. Recorded by a stellar cast of over 30 musicians, including Clem ClempsonFind albums by this artist (ColosseumFind albums by this artist), Simon PhillipsFind albums by this artist, David SanciousFind albums by this artist, Jack BruceFind albums by this artist and many others, with brass and string sections and arrangements, this is one impressive piece of music. As usual in Anderson’s case this is a concept album, based on a story written by him. The convoluted lyrics are as unclear and mystical as ever, to the delight of his fans and a source of mockery by his critics. Whatever one might think about Anderson’s literary talents, the music – composed entirely by him - is excellent, with strong fusion (and even some jazz) undertones, played brilliantly all the way. The new expanded edition adds bonus material recorded at the same session, including the almost 12 minutes long epic track called “The Spell”. An absolute must to all Yes fans and a very strong Prog album overall. Recommended.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BILL BRUFORD / EARTHWORKS ~ A PART, AND YET APART SUMMERFOLD 003 (Barcode: 604388639120) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1998 Released: 2005 5th album by this fantastic jazz quatret led by the legendary drummer Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist, who acheived fame as a member of Prog giants such as YesFind albums by this artist and King CrimsonFind albums by this artist. This is a return to the pure jazz form, which is where Bruford comes from originally and the proves that the years spent playing Prog have not deminished his jazz talents at all. Absolutely brilliant performance!

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

BILL BRUFORD / EARTHWORKS ~ FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY FREE SUMMERFOLD 005 (Barcode: 604388639328) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 Released: 2005 7th album and a 2CD set from this legendary Prog drummer Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist (YesFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist) comming back to his jazz roots. A classic quartet (sax, piano, bass & drums) seems to be the best way to play jazz still after all those years and this absolutely stunning live recording proves yet again that Bruford is one of the greatest musicians on earth and still my favorite drummer. Finger lickin` all the way!

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

BILL BRUFORD / EARTHWORKS ~ FOOTLOOSE IN NYC DGM 0202 ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2001 A live concert from 2001 at the `Bottom Line`. Over 90 minutes of the best jazz you can hear on this planet, with extensive backstage footage gives the best possible glimpse at one of the most interesting artists of our era. Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist`s unique style, which carried him for many years on the Prog scene with such acts as YesFind albums by this artist and King CrimsonFind albums by this artist, fits perfectly the jazz idiom. 134 minutes.

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BILL BRUFORD / EARTHWORKS ~ LIVE AT THE SHAUBURG BREMEN 1987 MOOSICUS 1215 (Barcode: 885513121523) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1987 Released: 2022 This is an archival live album by the British Jazz drummer / composer / bandleader Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist and the first edition of his sensational quartet called EarthworksFind albums by this artist, which also included saxophonist Iain BallamyFind albums by this artist, pianist Django BatesFind albums by this artist and bassist Mick HuttonFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded by Radio Bremen in November 25, 1987, and offers ten tracks, all original compositions by the quartet members. Bruford founded Earthworks in 1986 after spending almost twenty years as member of cutting edge Progressive Rock bands like YesFind albums by this artist (of which he was a founding member), King CrimsonFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, U.K.Find albums by this artist and his own band called simply BrufordFind albums by this artist, returning to his Jazz roots. Earthworks comprised of the crème de la crème of the young British Jazz scene at the time and took the local as well as international scene by storm. This live recording finds the quartet in absolute top form, over a year after their debut album was recorded and following extensive touring, which allowed them to develop the material and their unique musical approach. In contrast to expectations and speculations, Earthworks was a bona-fide Jazz quartet, which did not follow the Fusion path, which would have been more natural as a continuation of Bruford’s musical path up to that moment. Bellamy and Bates arrived from the sensational Loose TubesFind albums by this artist Big Band, which was one of British Jazz most surprising ensembles during the 1980, and Hutton was already a highly sought after young Jazz bassist on the local scene. Together they were simply unstoppable and the level of their performances was absolutely sensational. They were able to create a complex fury of sound, which was completely unprecedented on the British Jazz scene, and Bruford’s drumming behind Earthworks in as absolute peak of his career. Overall, this album is a “missing link” in the Earthworks discography, from the period between the debut and the second album “Dig?Find albums with this title”, and of course an essential part in the Bruford discography, which none of his many fans will want to miss.

Updated: 17/06/2023Posted: 17/06/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CAST ~ AL-BANDALUZ MUSEA 4512 (Barcode: 3426300045126) ~ MEXICO ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2003 Released: 2003 Double album from the Mexican Symphonic Prog masters CastFind albums by this artist. The spirit of YesFind albums by this artist and other past greats is alive and well and Cast certainly know how to play the right notes. This set includes two lengthy epics (over 30 minutes each), as proper for Symphonic Prog, and other shorter pieces which are equally interesting. Their many fans need no encouragement to get this one.

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

CATHEDRAL ~ STAINED GLASS STORIES SYN-PHONIC 03 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1978 Released: 1996 Only album by CathedralFind albums by this artist, one of the best and universally acclaimed US first generation Prog bands (not to be confused with the band Cathedral, which existed in the 1990s). Although the influences of UK classics (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist and Gentle GiantFind albums by this artist) are obvious, Cathedral managed to avoid just copying the masters and created a classic album in the Symphonic Prog genre, which is still very much respected and loved.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ HARD ROAD: THE MARK 1 STUDIO RECORDINGS 1968-69 PARLOPHONE 825646337415 (Barcode: 825646337415) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2014 This wonderful Box Set includes the expanded and remastered versions of the first three albums by the seminal British band Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist: "Shades Of Deep PurpleFind albums with this title", "The Book Of TaliesynFind albums with this title" and the eponymous "Deep PurpleFind albums with this title". Recorded between May 1968 and March 1969, i.e. in just ten months (!), these are some of Rock and Prog cornerstones of epic proportions, seldom given their due as far as influencing future generations of Rock and especially Prog musicians in the decades to come. The Mark 1 lineup consisted of vocalist Rod EvansFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Nick SimperFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, who all contributed as songwriters, although obviously most of the group´s material was created by Lord and Blackmore. On those three albums the band played mostly their own music, but also arranged, quite dramatically one must admit, songs by other songwriters, like John LennonFind albums by this artist / Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist (twice), DonovanFind albums by this artist, Joe SouthFind albums by this artist, Billy RobertsFind albums by this artist, Neil DiamondFind albums by this artist and others. All three albums were produced by the legendary British produced Derek LawrenceFind albums by this artist. This Box Set includes both the original mono and stereo mixes (on separate CDs) of the first two albums and the stereo version of the third album. All five CDs are expanded by a plethora of bonus tracks, which include album outtakes, alternate takes, single edits, etc. all of which are studio recordings. For radio (i.e. live in the studio) recordings of the Deep Purple Mark 1 the fans should look up the excellent double CD album entitled "The BBC Sessions 1968–1970Find albums with this title", which collects all Mark 1 BBC recordings on the first CD. It is also worth remembering that although the next Deep Purple album would be recorded by the Mark 2 lineup with vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist and bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, musically it belongs very much to what the Mark 1 lineup was doing on the third album, which included elaborate orchestral arrangements. The appropriately titled "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title" album, a pioneering and unprecedented merger of a Rock group with a Symphonic Orchestra, was a direct result of the work initiated on the third album and is a true closure of the Mark 1 chapter. The fifth album however, "In RockFind albums with this title", was a completely new story and came as a reaction to the release of the Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist debut album in early 1969, which also prompted the personnel change from Mark1 to Mark 2. That album embedded Deep Purple´s role as a defining element of the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal genres and Rock music in general. I often wonder why the role of Deep Purple Mark 1 is almost completely ignored by the Prog snobs. Even under the populist definition of Prog as an amalgam of Rock (electric instruments and rhythmic patterns), Classical (extended melodic and harmonic themes) and Jazz (improvisation), Deep Purple Mark 1 are the essence of Prog, much more so that say early YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist and other pretenders to the Big Five. By the same token the roles of other Deep Purple Mark 1 contemporaries, like NiceFind albums by this artist, Moody BluesFind albums by this artist and several others, are similarly completely overlooked, which is a pity to say to say the least. Prog was not just born one day with Robert FrippFind albums by this artist being struck by lightening… This is an essential piece of history of the formative years of Rock and a beautiful example how great music remains untouched by time and perhaps even gets better in time. I can´t imagine a music library, which does not include these classic recordings, so now is the time to repent and remedy.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DRUID ~ TOWARD THE SUN / FLUID DRUID BGO 285 (Barcode: 5017261202857) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 - 1976 Released: 1995 1st and 2nd albums by British Prog band DruidFind albums by this artist, a short-lived but excellent quartet, which included vocalist / guitarist Dane StevensFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Andrew McCrorie-ShandFind albums by this artist, bassist Neil BrewerFind albums by this artist and drummer Cedric SharpleyFind albums by this artist. The played classic Symphonic Prog, mostly composed by the guitarist and the bassist, which included lengthy instrumental passages and well structured songs, with Stevens´ falsetto vocals perfectly suiting the gig, a close similarity to Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist´s work with early YesFind albums by this artist, less the theatrics. The band and both these albums are as good as anything produced by all the other UK Prog bands, but unfortunately they simply missed the train with Punk exploding just at the time when they were starting their career, with British Prog being decimated in the process. The band folded shortly after recording the second and last album, and their recorded legacy remained mostly forgotten, to be re-discovered a couple decades later by the new generation of Prog fans. In retrospect these two albums are superb examples of the first classic wave of British Prog and remain a most satisfying listening experience, surely deserving wider recognition. Sometimes I wonder if the fact that bands like Yes, who decided to schlep on against all odds, was a wise move musically. Here is an example of a band which knew when to quit, leaving behind them a spotless legacy. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ BRAIN SALAD SURGERY SONY 783013 (Barcode: 886978301321) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2011 This is the 5th album by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER SONY 783007 (Barcode: 886978300720) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2011 This is the 1st album by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION SONY 783011 (Barcode: 886978301123) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album (although recorded live and before the 2nd album and initially intended to be a bonus LP to be paired with the 2nd album) by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ TARKUS SONY 783008 (Barcode: 886978300829) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ TRILOGY SONY 783012 (Barcode: 886978301222) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2011 This is the 4th album by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ TRILOGY (DELUXE EDITION) SONY 888750049025 (Barcode: 888750049025) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2015 This is the fourth album by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and 45 years older, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. This Deluxe Edition spread over two CDs and a DVD-A is sadly another rip-off scheme, which basically adds nothing to the original album. The first CD is the original album; the second CD adds a single alternate version track and offers a new stereo mix of the original album, which is completely redundant. The DVD-A offers the same material in other higher resolution formats, including lossless and 5.1, in short a complete waste of time and plastic, not to mention money. God only knows why these monstrosities are being produced again and again?

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER ~ WELCOME BACK, MY FRIENDS, TO THE SHOW THAT NEVER ENDS SONY 783014 (Barcode: 886978301420) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 2011 This is the 6th album (recorded live during the 1973/74 world tour and released originally as a 3 LPs set, a summary of the glory days and the last great one) by the supergroup Emerson, Lake & PalmerFind albums by this artist, which was definitely one of the most important, innovative and revolutionary groups to emerge on the Rock scene as leaders of the Progressive / Art Rock genre by the early 1970s. The group arrived on the scene a bit later than their "accomplices" (YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist and others), since keyboardist Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist / lead vocalist Greg LakeFind albums by this artist and drummer Carl PalmerFind albums by this artist were already prominent members of early / proto Prog bands before the trio combined forces and merged into this formidable ensemble. They definitely were the best fit as far as the simplistic definition of Prog is concerned (i.e. an amalgam of Rock and Classical music), allowing Emerson to fulfill his fascination / obsession with Classical music pieces and even contribute some of his own music set to a similar (i.e. classical) framework. It also allowed Lake to write some of the most memorable Rock ballads and Palmer to beat the hell out of endless drum sets, all of which seemed to delight hordes of Rock (and I mean Rock as opposed to Prog) music listeners the world over. They were all monster musicians, they were at the top of their youthful peak of creativity and they kicked ass, big time! It was great while it lasted, and it did last for about half a decade and six albums, and the legend went sour when these gentlemen failed to realize that it´s over and pressed on, seemingly endlessly, damaging the image of their glorious achievements in the process. But in retrospect, wiser and older by 40 years, I still find this music fascinating and powerful, imaginative and bold, and above all artistically sound. Considering the fact that these recordings were off the market due to some corporate music industry bullshit, it´s great to see it back on the shelves, this time released by SonyFind albums on this label Music, which hopefully will keep them alive for a while.

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FLASH ~ FLASH ESOTERIC 2166 (Barcode: 5013929726628) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2009 1st album by the brilliant British Prog band FlashFind albums by this artist, formed by founding member of YesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Peter BanksFind albums by this artist, after he left the band following the recording of their first two albums. The band also included another ex-Yes member keyboardist Tony KayeFind albums by this artist, lead singer Colin CarterFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Mike HoughFind albums by this artist. In many respects Flash was what Yes should have become, at least in my opinion. Banks didn´t like the change of direction Yes were following, which although brought them fame and fortune, was for many of the early fans of the band (myself included) a huge disappointment. The pomposity and pretentiousness that Yes displayed in the years to follow was often pretty sickening and Banks was able somehow to predict that. Therefore the forming of Flash was a great joy at the time, as it truly followed in the footsteps of the two first Yes albums ("YesFind albums with this title" and "Time And A WordFind albums with this title"), which to this day are my favorite albums by the band. What makes Flash such a great band? Well, it certainly had all the right ingredients, both in its personnel, as far as musicianship is concerned and musical approach, following the development of the Prog movement in the right direction. Great melodies, brilliant performances, a balance of influences ranging from Jazz to Pop, all incorporated just at the perfect measure. This album has no weak moments, no unnecessary fillings, in short no bullshit whatsoever. Everything is just perfect as far as Prog is concerned. Over the years I enjoyed listening to this album countless times, never ever being disappointed and in time it actually grew stronger on me, surely in view of the realization, that they don´t make them any more. Essential music for body and soul!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

FLASH ~ FLASH (FEATURING RAY BENNETT & COLIN CARTER) PURPLE PYRAMID 0339 (Barcode: 741157033922) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2010 - 2012 Released: 2013 Of all the Progressive Rock bands that flourished in the early 1970s, British legends FlashFind albums by this artist were always among my favorites and the forty years that passed since basically changed nothing in that respect. I always claimed that Flash was what YesFind albums by this artist should have become: a gutsy, focused and multifaceted outfit which was able to write great music and cross genres elegantly rather than indulge in endless doodling and ego trips. No wander that Peter BanksFind albums by this artist left Yes after a couple of albums and formed Flash with vocalist Colin CarterFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Mike HoughFind albums by this artist (with another ex-Yes member, keyboardist Tony KayeFind albums by this artist featured on their first album). The band managed to record three classic Prog albums, which to this day sound absolutely brilliant and are prime examples of the genre. I´ve been aware of the effort to re-form Flash in the recent years, following the developments on the net, and finally the process that took several years came to fruition with this album being released almost exactly forty years after the original band folded. The band, which recorded this album, includes two founding Flesh members: vocalist Colin Carter and ex-bassist now guitarist Ray Bennett. They are supported by keyboardist Rick DaughertyFind albums by this artist, bassist Wayne CarverFind albums by this artist and drummers Mark PardyFind albums by this artist and Paul PaceFind albums by this artist. The album consists of nine tracks, eight of which are originals by Colin and Ray and one is a cover of a song by Nine Inch NailsFind albums by this artist. The original songs include two instrumentals and a new version of a song that was included on the original band´s last album. In the last years we have witnessed numerous attempts to re-unite and re-vitalize bands with a glorious past, most of which sadly ended up as miserable, at least artistically speaking, failures. This album is a classic example how such process can work and be successful. Most importantly the album presents almost entirely new material, written recently, rather that re-worked versions of old material, which makes little sense. The material in this case sounds really great, losing nothing of the original Flash vitality and preserving the original sound and ambience on one hand but being completely contemporary on the other. Therefore this album sounds as good to a die-hard Flash fan, who is familiar with the band´s recorded legacy, as to a new listener, for whom this is the first encounter with the group, hopefully leading to digging up the past as well. Time seems to have been merciful with Colin and Ray; Colin´s vocals are still confident, vigorous and energetic and he obviously has no trouble moving up and down the scales and Ray´s guitar work sounds really impressive and creative, cleverly eschewing needless fireworks. The entire album sounds superbly and is an ideal mixture of that nostalgic / retro ambience and modern sound possibilities. This is therefore a most proper addition to the legendary band´s legacy, which should satisfy old fans and bring new listeners into the enchanted phenomenon called Flash. Well done indeed gentlemen!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

FLASH ~ IN THE CAN ESOTERIC 2201 (Barcode: 5013929730144) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2010 2nd album by the brilliant British Prog band FlashFind albums by this artist, formed by founding member of YesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Peter BanksFind albums by this artist, after he left the band following the recording of their first two albums. The band also included lead singer Colin CarterFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Mike HoughFind albums by this artist. In many respects Flash was what Yes should have become, at least in my opinion. Banks didn´t like the change of direction Yes were following, which although brought them fame and fortune, was for many of the early fans of the band (myself included) a huge disappointment. The pomposity and pretentiousness that Yes displayed in the years to follow was often pretty sickening and Banks was able somehow to predict that. Therefore the forming of Flash was a great joy at the time, as it truly followed in the footsteps of the two first Yes albums ("YesFind albums with this title" and "Time And A WordFind albums with this title"), which to this day are my favorite albums by the band. What makes Flash such a great band? Well, it certainly had all the right ingredients, both in its personnel, as far as musicianship is concerned and musical approach, following the development of the Prog movement in the right direction. Great melodies, brilliant performances, a balance of influences ranging from Jazz to Pop, all incorporated just at the perfect measure. This album has no weak moments, no unnecessary fillings, in short no bullshit whatsoever. Everything is just perfect as far as Prog is concerned. Over the years I enjoyed listening to this album countless times, never ever being disappointed and in time it actually grew stronger on me, surely in view of the realization, that they don´t make them any more. Essential music for body and soul!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FLASH ~ IN THE USA: LIVE RECORDINGS 1972-73 THINK LIKE A KEY 1130 (Barcode: 782706673367) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2022 This is an archival album by the brilliant British Prog band FlashFind albums by this artist, formed by founding member of YesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Peter BanksFind albums by this artist, after he left the band following the recording of their first two albums. The band also included lead singer Colin CarterFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Mike HoughFind albums by this artist. This 3CD set includes live recordings done during the band’s first three US tours in 1972 and 1973. The sound quality of these recordings is pretty rugged, as they are mostly recordings done by the fans on primitive equipment. The sound has been remastered and restored, but of course is not in par with professional recordings. Nevertheless, the album portrays the excitement and quality Flash were able to create during their concerts and is a welcome addition to their recorded legacy. In many respects Flash was what Yes should have become, at least in my opinion. Banks didn´t like the change of direction Yes were following, which although brought them fame and fortune, was for many of the early fans of the band (myself included) a huge disappointment. The pomposity and pretentiousness that Yes displayed in the years to follow was often pretty sickening and Banks was able somehow to predict that. Therefore, the forming of Flash was a great joy at the time, as it truly followed in the footsteps of the two first Yes albums ("YesFind albums with this title" and "Time And A WordFind albums with this title"), which to this day are my favorite albums by the band. What makes Flash such a great band? Well, it certainly had all the right ingredients, both in its personnel, as far as musicianship is concerned and musical approach, following the development of the Prog movement in the right direction. Great melodies, brilliant performances, a balance of influences ranging from Jazz to Pop, all incorporated just at the perfect measure. Their music has no weak moments, no unnecessary fillings, in short no bullshit whatsoever. Everything is just perfect as far as Prog is concerned. Over the years I enjoyed listening to their music countless times, never ever being disappointed and in time it actually grew stronger on me, surely in view of the realization, that they don´t make music like this them anymore. Overall, this is a great trip down memory lane, for those who have been around to hear the band live in real time and hear their three classic album when they were first released. Although the sound quality is below standard, the music can still be enjoyed, all things considered. Essential to Flash fans!

Updated: 20/11/2022Posted: 08/11/2022

CD 3 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FLASH ~ OUT OF OUR HANDS ESOTERIC 2200 (Barcode: 5013929730045) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2010 3rd and last album by the brilliant British Prog band FlashFind albums by this artist, formed by founding member of YesFind albums by this artist, guitarist Peter BanksFind albums by this artist, after he left the band following the recording of their first two albums. The band also included lead singer Colin CarterFind albums by this artist, bassist Ray BennettFind albums by this artist and drummer Mike HoughFind albums by this artist. In many respects Flash was what Yes should have become, at least in my opinion. Banks didn´t like the change of direction Yes were following, which although brought them fame and fortune, was for many of the early fans of the band (myself included) a huge disappointment. The pomposity and pretentiousness that Yes displayed in the years to follow was often pretty sickening and Banks was able somehow to predict that. Therefore the forming of Flash was a great joy at the time, as it truly followed in the footsteps of the two first Yes albums ("YesFind albums with this title" and "Time And A WordFind albums with this title"), which to this day are my favorite albums by the band. What makes Flash such a great band? Well, it certainly had all the right ingredients, both in its personnel, as far as musicianship is concerned and musical approach, following the development of the Prog movement in the right direction. Great melodies, brilliant performances, a balance of influences ranging from Jazz to Pop, all incorporated just at the perfect measure. This album has no weak moments, no unnecessary fillings, in short no bullshit whatsoever. Everything is just perfect as far as Prog is concerned. Over the years I enjoyed listening to this album countless times, never ever being disappointed and in time it actually grew stronger on me, surely in view of the realization, that they don´t make them any more. Essential music for body and soul!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GENESIS ~ FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION (EXPANDED EDITION) EDSEL 721 (Barcode: 740155172121) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2005 Debut album by the British Prog legends GenesisFind albums by this artist, who were just teenagers barely out of high school at the time this music was recorded. Vocalist / lyricist Peter GabrielFind albums by this artist, blessed with a unique voice and theatrical delivery way beyond what could be expected from a youthful lad and his mates keyboardist Tony BanksFind albums by this artist, guitarist / bassist Mike RutherfordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Anthony PhillipsFind albums by this artist and drummer John SilverFind albums by this artist delivered a masterpiece of early Prog, which in retrospect (and I know this sounds like a blasphemy) overshadows everything they did later. This concept album, which presents the Biblical story covered by 13 songs, is full of great melodies, clever lyrics and heartfelt delivery. Although the band had no experience performing live before this music was recorded, the album was carefully produced and the orchestral arrangements, done with great taste, were just perfect for the music and solidified the album, hiding whatever shortcoming were there as a result of lack of experience by the band. The resulting music sounds somewhat similar to early Moody BluesFind albums by this artist orchestral extravagancies, but is completely original and sounds today as good as it did at the time. My problem with future Genesis releases is mainly due to the fact that the band, and especially Gabriel, would constantly indulge in ego trips and completely lose self-restrain, which resulted in watering good musical ideas with extensive passages, which contributed nothing of essence (exactly as another Prog legend YesFind albums by this artist). Therefore I love this album more that anything they recorded later. This expanded edition adds a whole additional CD of material, which includes the demos recorded before the album, pre-album singles and album outtakes – in short a goldmine of additional material. This is an absolute must to every Prog fan!

CD 2 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PAUL GONSALVES & TUBBY HAYES / JOHNNY SCOTT ~ JUST FRIENDS / LONDON SWINGS VOCALION 8482 (Barcode: 765387848224) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2011 During the 1964 concerts in UK by the Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist Band, saxophonist Paul GonsalvesFind albums by this artist was taken ill immediately prior to the band´s opening concert. He was promptly, but without any warning, replaced by the legendary local saxophone hero, Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist, who filled the void superbly. This incident led to a friendship between the two players, which led to the recording reissued herein. Gonsalves and Hayes exchange licks like there´s no tomorrow, leading a nonet consisting of excellent British musicians, some of which were the members of Hayes´ band at the time. The great pianist Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist was also drafted to the ranks. The music is simply divine, swinging like mad and the performances are truly stellar. A true meeting of the Giants! This reissue also includes an album by the Johnny ScottFind albums by this artist Orchestra, which consists of the leading Jazz players on the UK scene at the time. The superbly arranged material is a prime example of how seemingly straight-forward material can be sophisticated and interesting, when in the hands of Masters. This is a great trip down the nostalgia lane. Hayes enthusiasts will find this one essential!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

STEVE HACKETT ~ OUT OF THE TUNNEL`S MOUTH (SPECIAL EDITION) INSIDEOUT 327 (Barcode: 5052205053881) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 At a time when most contemporary Prog music crop proves that the genre has simply run out of steam (yet again!), guitarist / composer Steve HackettFind albums by this artist, one of the forefathers of the genre (GenesisFind albums by this artist) demonstrates that not all is lost and intelligent Prog is still alive and kicking. This album is one more addition to Hackett´s splendid legacy and a testimony to the fact that he ages incredibly well. The album includes eight new beautiful songs, all composed by Hackett (with lyrics by various collaborators), exquisitely performed by a large group of Hackett´s usual cohorts, which include keyboardist Roger KingFind albums by this artist, his brother John HackettFind albums by this artist on flute, surprise appearances of guitarist Anthony PhillipsFind albums by this artist (Genesis) and bassist Chris SquireFind albums by this artist (YesFind albums by this artist) and several others. The performances are all first-rate and Hackett´s guitar playing remains simply stellar. The album is a continuous spellbinding experience, which although is not very innovative, presents the core of the Prog idiom, characterized by deeply melodic themes with improvised passages and multilayered rich arrangements. The last song on the album incorporates Middle Eastern folkloristic elements, which is the first for Hackett. He plays splendidly both acoustic and electric guitars throughout the album and his vocals are also excellent. This special addition of the album adds a bonus CD, which presents six Genesis songs performed live, five of them by the Steve Hackett band and the last one with the Hungarian ensemble DjabeFind albums by this artist, which toured with Hackett as a guest in 2010 and recorded a 2CD live album during that tour. The bonus material is quite different from the studio album and shows Hackett primarily as a performer in a typical live Prog framework, which of course he stands up to with distinction. For the many Hackett fans around the world this is definitely a must, but any Prog enthusiasts getting this album will find their money very well spent. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 26/08/2020Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ COMMONWEALTH BLUES ART OF LIFE 1016 (Barcode: 804640101628) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2005 British Jazz legend Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist was one of the greatest representatives of the genre and also one of the very few British musicians to get US exposure due to his frequent performances there. Although primarily revered for his tenor saxophone playing, he was also a superb flautist and vibraphonist. The bulk of recordings come from the period between mid-1950s to mid-1960s. By late 1960s Hayes became seriously ill and subsequently died (in 1973) at a ridiculously young age of 38. His musical legacy is of immense importance, as it laid the foundations for the European Jazz and its emancipation from the American Jazz tradition. His virtuoso playing and extraordinary sense of improvisation enabled Hayes to extend the be-bop tradition, established by Jazz giants like Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist and John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, into a new plane with added European sophistication and culture replacing the raw energy and often rage of American Jazz. This album is an extremely important document of Tubby’s magnificent performance, especially so due to the fact that it contains all previously unreleased recordings. The source of the music comes from the famous BBC “transcription service” recordings – a blessed initiative of the BBC to record British Jazz and subsequently broadcast these recordings on the BBC World Service stations around the world. These recordings were pressed on vinyl and distributed worldwide, but never released commercially. The album includes four such sessions, recorded for the Spanish-speaking listeners (see the announcements in Spanish) with his quartet, which includes Gordon BeckFind albums by this artist on piano, Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist on bass and Johnny ButtsFind albums by this artist on drums. The first three sessions are devoted each to a separate instrument and feature Hayes on tenor saxophone, vibraphone and flute. The fourth session features his playing all three instruments, each on a separate track. The recording quality is excellent (as is the remaster) and the result is a magnificent album, which deserves the title of a true classic of the British Jazz. The many fans of Tubby Hayes will find this album to be essential for their collections and it deserves a honorable place in any decent Jazz album collection. Genius at work!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ FIVE CLASSIC ALBUMS PLUS BONUS EPS AND TRACKS (VOL.2) REAL GONE JAZZ 448 (Barcode: 5036408159823) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1955 - 1959 Released: 2014 This is the second part of a reissue of early recordings by the legendary British Jazz saxophonist / vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist, undoubtedly the greatest herald of British Jazz in the early post WWII period. This set collects recordings made between 1955 and 1959, which present Hayes playing Swing and Bebop with many of the best British musicians at the time. His spectacular abilities and virtuosic performances earned him a worldwide acclaim. Hayes died in 1973 at the ridiculous young age of thirty eight and one can only speculate how his music might have sounded when British Jazz fully developed its own voice and identity later on. The five albums included here are: "Modern Jazz Scene 1956Find albums with this title" from 1956, "After The Lights OutFind albums with this title" from 1956, "The Jazz CouriersFind albums with this title" (a combo co-led with Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist) from 1957, "The Last WordFind albums with this title" (also with the Jazz CouriersFind albums by this artist) from 1959 and finally "London Jazz QuartetFind albums with this title" from 1959. In addition several EPs featuring various combos and orchestras led by Hayes are also included, all of which were recorded in 1955. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great mainstream Jazz music played by the best British musicians at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true British Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 31/05/2016

CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ FREE FLIGHT JAZZ IN BRITAIN 05 (Barcode: 5060774190012) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1972 Released: 2020 This is an archive album by iconic British Jazz multi-instrumentalist / composer Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist recorded live with his quartet, which included pianist Mick PyneFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony LevinFind albums by this artist. Subtitled “The Ron Mathewson Tapes Vol. 3”, it presents an informal cassette tape recording of a gig at the Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist’s club made on 17th or 18th October 1972, just nine month prior to his Hayes’ death at the ridiculous young age of thirty-eight, kept by the bassist, who recently donated his archives to Jazz in Britain Ltd. incorporating the British Jazz Sound Archive, a new not-for-profit organization whose aim is to collect, curate, preserve, celebrate and promote the legacy of British Jazz musicians. The archive collects, curates and preserves off-air and other recordings of British Jazz performances. This CD is their fifth release. The 2CD album presents eight tracks, five lengthy ones (about fifteen minutes in duration), one shorter (eight minutes) and two incomplete tracks, obviously a result of the cassette reaching its end before the set was over. Five of the tracks are standards and three are Hayes originals. The album also includes extensive liner notes by Simon SpilllettFind albums by this artist, a Hayes specialist and author of the definitive Hayes biography “The Long Shadow of The Little Giant: The Life, Work and Legacy of Tubby Hayes”. Hayes was obviously a superb instrumentalist, recognized as a champion not only in UK, but also over the pond, where his virtuosity simply could not be ignored despite the usual condescending attitude towards European Jazz musicians by their American colleagues. Hayes was after all first and foremost deeply rooted in the American Jazz tradition and his more modernist approach, developed in the last period of his activity, was relatively limited in comparison to other British Jazz innovators, who were slaughtering Holly Cows by the herd. The music is basically pretty placid, with excellent performances by all the musicians, but nothing really out of the ordinary. The chatter and background noise add to the authenticity of the live recording and the sound quality is listenable, so this is definitely a pleasurable listening experience and a valuable document of the British Jazz scene at the time, but it does not add anything that is not available on the plethora of posthumous releases by Hayes already available on the market.

Updated: 28/06/2021Posted: 31/03/2021

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ HIP! THE UNTOLD STORY OF TUBBY HAYES` 1965 RHYTHM AND BLUES 080 (Barcode: 5060331752790) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2021 This is an archival 2CD album by the iconic British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist. It presents three radio broadcasts, all previously unreleased, all captured in 1965, a year in which no studio recordings by Hayes were made and he did not head a regular ensemble of his own, as a result of his troubled personal life riddled by health and addiction problems. However, when it came to live performances, Hayes, as this album shows, was still the greatest saxophonist active on the British Isles at the time. CD1 presents a ten tracks broadcast by the Commonwealth Jazz OrchestraFind albums by this artist, led by Hayes and featuring some of the greatest British Jazz musicians, like trumpeters Shake KeaneFind albums by this artist and Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Bobby WellinsFind albums by this artist and Ronnie RossFind albums by this artist, pianist Stan TraceyFind albums by this artist and others. Vocalist Joy MarshallFind albums by this artist appears on three tracks. The Big Band / Orchestra performs three originals by Hayes, including the fabulous “100% ProofFind albums with this title”, which will become the title track of his studio album two years later. Two more British originals are by trumpeter / composer of Jimmy DeucharFind albums by this artist, a regular Hayes’ collaborator. The rest of the material comprises of great arrangements of Jazz standards. CD2 presents two Hayes’ quartet broadcasts, with pianist Terry ShannonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist and drummers Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist or Ronnie StephensonFind albums by this artist (who also plays on the Orchestra tracks). The last five tracks (second broadcast) offer a somewhat lower sound quality, but the quality of the music is certainly as admirable as the rest of the music on this album. The accompanying booklet offers an informative essay by Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist, who is the author of the Tubby Hays biography, which of course is worth reading. Overall, this is a superb piece of British Jazz history, and a splendid reminder of the great talent of one of its most impressive heroes, who sadly left us tragically way to prematurely. Hayes was undoubtedly one of the greatest European saxophonist, and his talent was recognized also on the other side of the pond, which happened rarely. His pioneering ability to combine the Jazz tradition with modernism and even early Avant-Garde Jazz approach, in addition to his superhuman performing skills, makes him a legendary figure, which should be remembered by all.

Updated: 17/01/2023Posted: 17/01/2023

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ LIVE AT THE FLAMINGO 1958 RHYTHM AND BLUES 092 (Barcode: 5060331753445) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 Released: 2023 This is an archival album by the iconic British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist. It presents a previously unreleased live recording at the legendary Flamingo club in London, captured during the early days of Hayes’ career, before he achieved the top rank on the British scene. The music is performed by a formidable octet, with trumpeters Les CondonFind albums by this artist and Stuart HamerFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Alan BranscombeFind albums by this artist, Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist and Hayes, pianist Terry ShannonFind albums by this artist, bassist Jeff ClyneFind albums by this artist and drummer Bill EydenFind albums by this artist – a band that in fact existed only once for that particular concert. Three additional musicians guest on selected tracks. The album presents nine tracks, seven of which are standards and two are originals, one by Jimmy DeucharFind albums by this artist and another by Hayes. The accompanying booklet offers an informative essay by Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist, who is the author of the Tubby Hays biography, which of course is worth reading. The music is of course still mostly in the American Bebop tradition, but clearly shows how the British musicians adopted that tradition and added a very specific “British touch” to it, already at that early stage. The individual performances are nothing short of brilliant and the octet arrangements are clever and sophisticated. The club atmosphere is a reminder why the Flamingo was a place to be in late 1950’s London, when one wanted to hear some great music (and for other less cultural reasons). The recording is mono, but offers quite reasonable sound quality, which enables everything to be heard properly, even if the drums are sometimes a tad too high in the mix, a small price to pay for the splendid music, which lost nothing of its vitality in the sixty-five years since it was recorded. Overall, this is a superb piece of British Jazz history, and a splendid reminder of the great talent of one of its most impressive heroes. Hayes was undoubtedly one of the greatest European saxophonist, and his talent was recognized also on the other side of the pond, which happened rarely. His pioneering ability to combine the Jazz tradition with modernism and even early Avant-Garde Jazz approach, in addition to his superhuman performing skills, makes him a legendary figure, which should be remembered by all, especially since he left us tragically way to prematurely.

Updated: 24/10/2023Posted: 19/10/2023

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ NO BLUES: THE COMPLETE HOPBINE `65 JAZZ IN BRITAIN 53 (Barcode: 5060774190555) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1965 Released: 2023 This is an archival live album by British Jazz saxophonist / composer Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Kenny PowellFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Dick BrennanFind albums by this artist. Saxophonist Tommy WhittleFind albums by this artist expands the lineup to a quintet on a couple of tracks. Two of the tracks are piano trio recordings. The music, which was recorded at the Hopbine club owned by Whittle, was taken from the Mathewson’s tape archive, which was left to the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label upon his death in 2020. The 2CD album presents seven tracks, all of which are standards. The album includes an extensive twenty-four pages long booklet, written by Hayes’ biographer Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist. The tape is a mono recording, but the sound quality is excellent and way better than the other version of this material, which was previously released by HarkitFind albums on this label Records in 2005, and the music can be heard loud and clear. One of the tracks, which lasts for almost twenty minutes, is released here for the first time and this is the first time this performance can he heard in its entirety. This album captures Hayes at the peak of the first part of his career, which was dedicated to becoming an “equal” to his American counterparts, as far as virtuosic improvisation and mastery of the Bebop idiom were concerned. He certainly achieved those goals and received full approval from the Americans, during his US stints during that period. But the drive to enter a more ambitious sphere, partly influenced by American Avant-Gardists like John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, and partly by the British / European Jazz revolution bubbling in the undercurrents, were about to take Hayes into a completely new era, which lasted for the sadly short last period of his life. The album is also a wonderful document of the London Jazz scene in the mid-1960s, which exploded with activity. The first post WWII wave of Jazz musicians were at their peak and the young and hungry generation barking at their behinds, who were about to take over the scene by the end of the decade and revolutionize it, creating for the first time what would become the true British Jazz, unique, innovative and utterly brilliant. Overall, this is a most welcome addition to Tubby Hayes recorded legacy and British Jazz fans surely will appreciate the work and dedication of the people behind the Jazz In Britain label, who keep bringing us these wonderful releases and keep the history of British Jazz alive. Absolutely essential part of any serious British Jazz collection.

Updated: 02/07/2023Posted: 02/07/2023

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ SEVEN CLASSIC ALBUMS REAL GONE JAZZ 402 (Barcode: 5036408151322) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1958 - 1962 Released: 2013 This is the first part of a reissue of early recordings by the legendary British Jazz saxophonist / vibraphonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist, undoubtedly the greatest herald of British Jazz in the early post WWII period. This set collects recordings made between 1958 and 1962, which present Hayes playing Swing and Bebop with many of the best British musicians at the time. His spectacular abilities and virtuosic performances earned him a worldwide acclaim. Hayes died in 1973 at the ridiculous young age of thirty eight and one can only speculate how his music might have sounded when British Jazz fully developed its own voice and identity later on. The seven albums included here are: "In ConcertFind albums with this title" by The Jazz CouriersFind albums by this artist, a combo co-led by Hayes and Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist, from 1958, "The Couriers Of JazzFind albums with this title" also by The Jazz Couriers, from 1959, "Tubby`s GroveFind albums with this title" from 1959, "TubbsFind albums with this title" from 1961, "Tubbs In NYFind albums with this title" from 1961, "All Night LongFind albums with this title" from 1961 and "Return VisitFind albums with this title" from 1962. A couple of tracks from the 1962 album "Equation In RhythmFind albums with this title" recorded with the American drummer Jack CostanzoFind albums by this artist are included as bonus tracks. Overall this is a fascinating collection of great mainstream Jazz music played by the best British musicians at the time, and which has additionally also an enormous historical value. I can’t imagine any true British Jazz fan missing this set! Side Note The Real Gone JazzFind albums on this label label releases hundreds of album collections, which include usually between three to eight original albums in a two to four CDs sets. Most of these albums were recorded and released in the 1950s and early 1960s. These collections provide the track lists and lineups of the original albums, but no recording information, liner notes and any background information whatsoever. The label takes advantage of the copyright law in UK, which limited the length of the copyright protection of recorded works to 50 years, after which recorded works become public domain. In 2013 UK implemented a correction of the copyright law extending the protection of recorded works to 70 years (like the rest of Europe), but the correction does not apply retroactively, which means that recordings which entered the 50 years rule prior to January 1, 2013 (i.e. recorded before January 1, 1963) remain public domain. There are two great advantages to these releases: they are really inexpensive and they bring back to life many albums not reissued previously on CD, which means it would cost a collector an arm and a leg to get a copy of them. Many of these albums are absolute gems and essential pieces of Jazz history. The disadvantages are: the lack of proper information, original cover art, combining tracks of several original albums on one CD and the sound quality, which depends on where the label gets the source material. From my experience most of the releases have quite excellent sound quality but I have not listened to all of them and some people have complained about it.

Updated: 27/05/2018Posted: 28/09/2016

CD 4 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ THE COMPLETE HOPBINE `69 JAZZ IN BRITAIN 30 (Barcode: 5060774190319) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2021 This is an archival album by British Jazz saxophonist / composer Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Mick PyneFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Spike WellsFind albums by this artist. The music, which was recorded live at the Hopbine club, was taken from the Mathewson tape archive. It presents eight tracks, three of which are Hayes’ originals and five are standards. The album includes an extensive twenty-eight pages long booklet, written by Hayes’ biographer Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist. The tape is a mono recording, but the sound quality is excellent and way better than the other sources of this material, which were previously released on two other albums, and the music can be heard loud and clear. One of the tracks is released here for the first time and this is the first time this performance can he heard in its entirety. In many respects this recording marks a closing of a glorious career by one of the British Jazz greatest personalities, who would be dead just three and a half years after this music was recorded, ridden by ill health. It is also of course a wonderful glimpse at the birth of modern British Jazz, partly influenced by the Free Jazz explosion in American Jazz at the time, but still very much within modern mainstream, reshaped and domesticated into the unique British experience, which eventually emancipated British Jazz from the American bondage. These performances are obviously more spontaneous than those captured on the studio albums Hates recorded at the time and all showcase the great talents of the four musicians involved. Pyne, Mathewson (both sadly not with us any more) and Wells (hopefully destined to stay with us for many more years) show their talents here in full and Hayes’ fluency and artistry remain unparalleled. Interestingly, John ColtraneFind albums by this artist influence on Hayes’ playing is more distinctly heard here than on most other recordings he made. Overall, this is a most welcome addition to Tubby Hayes recorded legacy and British Jazz fans surely will appreciate the work and dedication of the people behind the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label, who keep bringing us these wonderful releases and keep the history of British Jazz alive. Absolutely essential part of any serious British Jazz collection.

Updated: 27/01/2022Posted: 27/01/2022

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

TUBBY HAYES ~ GRITS, BEANS AND GREENS: THE LOST FONTANA STUDIO SESSION 1969 FONTANA 602577569647 (Barcode: 602577569647) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 2019 This is an archival “lost” studio album by British Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Tubby HayesFind albums by this artist, recorded in a quartet setting with pianist Mick PyneFind albums by this artist, bassist Ron MathewsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Spike WellsFind albums by this artist. The album presents five tracks, three of which are original compositions by Hayes and two are standards. This is the single CD version of this album, which also exists as a 2CD album with eighteen tracks documenting the entire two-days recording sessions of this material. The album is accompanied by an extensive booklet with text by Simon SpillettFind albums by this artist, Hayes’ biographer. Recorded just four years before his premature death, Hayes is in absolute top form both as a composer and a player, and the quartet is an ideal vehicle to showcase his talents. Although deeply rooted in the American Jazz tradition, this music sparkles with modernism and is an integral part of the process of creating the British Jazz sound, which at the time of the recording was a boiling magma of young talent, but managed also to pull in many of the veterans as well. The sessions, which produced this album, were originally destined to produce the follow up album to the 1967 iconic release “Mexican GreenFind albums with this title”, but for many different reasons sank into oblivion, only to be re-discovered fifty years later. In retrospect, they are the last quartet studio recordings, with the great musician’s fate sealed by his habits and ill health. The same quartet was recorded live on several occasions and the splendid “The Complete Hopbine `69Find albums with this title” released by the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label offers a great document of their masterful performances together. Overall, this is a splendid example of Hayes’ Genius at its best, accompanied by three superb representatives of the British Jazz scene, which is an essential piece of Hayes legacy, as well as a proof of the importance of archival Jazz material, which is great to have and to return to. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 02/06/2023Posted: 02/06/2023

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GLENN HUGHES / GEOFF DOWNES ~ THE WORK TAPES BLUEPRINT 285 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock This material was recorded in 1994 for a solo album by Glenn HughesFind albums by this artist (Black SabbathFind albums by this artist, Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) but eventually never released. It sees the light of day for the first time on this CD. The songs are mostly written by the keyboards player Geoff DownesFind albums by this artist (YesFind albums by this artist, AsiaFind albums by this artist) and the cooperation between these two rock giants works very well.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KEYES ~ THE KEYES GEAR FAB 233 (Barcode: 645270023320) ~ USA ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1964 - 1971 Released: 2008 A collection of recordings spanning eight years by the obscure US (Louisville) band The KeyesFind albums by this artist, which is a good example of Pop with Psychedelic influences. Playing self-penned material and using vocal harmony and great instrumental work as well as instrumental arrangements, the band had a potential to achieve at least some fame, but similar to many other bands of the period never really made it. Although obscure, this material is as good as anything recorded at the time and deserves to be re-discovered. Wholeheartedly recommended!

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MAINHORSE ~ MAINHORSE TIME WAVE 001 (Barcode: 604388669523) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2006 Only album by MainhorseFind albums by this artist, which was the first group to feature the amazing talents of the Swiss keyboards wizard Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist. A typical early Progressive work, with plenty of great instrumental moments. Moraz composed all the music for the group. Unfortunately the group split shortly after recording this album. Moraz would of course later join YesFind albums by this artist in their high glory days (replacing Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist) and record the classic RelayerFind albums with this title album with them. Later on he joined The Moody BluesFind albums by this artist (replacing Mike PinderFind albums by this artist). This album remained unreleased on CD for many years and is one of the most sought after Prog rarities in history.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

MOODY BLUES ~ THE POLYDOR YEARS 1986-1992 POLYDOR 602537894147 (Barcode: 602537894147) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1986 - 1992 Released: 2014 This is a reissue / archival Box Set presenting the music recorded by the seminal British Pop / Rock band The Moody BluesFind albums by this artist between 1986 and 1992. The group enjoyed an enormous, both artistic and commercial, success between 1967 and 1972, with a stream of seven brilliant and innovative albums. A period of concentrating on solo projects between 1974 and 1977 ended, when the band reunited and released an album in 1978 followed by founding member vocalist / keyboardist Mike PinderFind albums by this artist leaving the band for good. The remaining four founding members: vocalist / guitarist Justin HaywardFind albums by this artist, vocalist / bassist John LodgeFind albums by this artist, vocalist / drummer Graeme EdgeFind albums by this artist and vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Ray ThomasFind albums by this artist were joined by ex-YesFind albums by this artist Swiss keyboardist Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist. They released two further albums for DeccaFind albums on this label, until the label was bought by PolydorFind albums on this label, where the story of this Box Set begins. This Box set includes the remastered and expanded versions of the four albums The Moody Blues released on Polydor: “The Other Side Of LifeFind albums with this title” (1986), “Sur La MerFind albums with this title” (1988), “Keys Of The KingdomFind albums with this title” (1991) and finally the live album “A Night At Red RocksFind albums with this title” (1993) recorded in 1992 with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, expanded to two CDs. Also included is a live CD “The Other Side Of Life Tour”, as well as a DVD of “A Night At Red Rocks” and another DVD with the documentary “The Other Side Of Red Rocks” and finally a vinyl single – altogether six CDs, two DVDs and a vinyl single, a hardcover book with essays and photographs - quite a package indeed. Although the music produced by The Moody Blues during this period is often dismissed by fans and critics alike, this is completely unjustified. They retained four of their founding members with their brilliant vocal harmonies and incredible songwriting talents and although the keyboards work by Moraz bears many of the dreaded 1980s synthesizer sound characteristics, it can be accepted as part of the time’s ambience. Overall, this Box Set is an incredible time capsule and a loving tribute to one of the greatest Classic Rock bands of all time. It offers a remarkable opportunity to re-discover (or simply discover) this chapter in the band’s activity and witness a process of musician that are able to age well and remain productive. I had an unexpected fun to listen to this music, a joyous ride indeed!

Updated: 27/09/2021Posted: 27/09/2021

CD 9 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PATRICK MORAZ ~ THE STORY OF I TIME WAVE 003 (Barcode: 604388669721) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2006 1st album by Swiss keyboards wizard Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist and then member of YesFind albums by this artist. Following the release of RelayerFind albums with this title all Yes members embarked on solo projects, this one being definitely the most significant of them all. After completion of this project Moraz returned to Yes to play some concerts with them, soon to be replaced by none other than the returning Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist. This album presents Moraz not only as a virtuoso player, but also more importantly as a serious composer. The music, which mixes elements of jazz, classical and world music, is complex and intricate and yet extremely melodic. As customary at the time the album is a concept work based on a story line written by Moraz himself. Moraz recorded the music in Switzerland and Brazil, where he used a group of local percussionists. This gives the music a distinct ethnic and trans-cultural feel. The splendid Jeff BerlinFind albums by this artist plays some great bass lines and drummer Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist swings mightily. In retrospect this is definitely one of the best works created among the Yes Family members and a worthy document of the era. Warmly recommended. Visitors' Comments Dr. Rafael Augusto Lara Palmeros This is the first solo albumn by Swiss keyboard player Patrick Moraz with an excellent group of musicians (John McBurnie, Vivienne McAuliffe, Ray Gomez, Jeff Berlin, Alphonse Mouzon, Andy Newmark and percussionists of Rio de Janeiro). The concept albumn is based in a love story of massive tower in the jungle (¿Amazonia?). The tower lures people from all over the world to go inside it. Inside the tower people are able to experience their wildest desires and fantasies but the only rule is that people inside the tower may not fall in love with each other. However two people inside do so and decide to escape since the tower acts also as a prision which inhabitants are slaves of their own desires- The albumn consists in a suite (fourteen relatively short tracks related to the story), the music is notable for its rich use of pitch-bend controls on the synth/organ notes and its multi-layered, heavy but rhytmically agile synth and keyboard textures. ´ Impact´,´Warmer hands´,´ The storm´, ´Risk and fall´,' Dancing now´, and my favourite ´Best years of our lives' are tracks of impressive Prog- World Music- Jazz Fusion. If you are a real Prog fan, this item is absolutely essential. 5 stars.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PATRICK MORAZ / BILL BRUFORD ~ MUSIC FOR PIANO AND DRUMS WINTERFOLD 001 ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 1983 1st album by the Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist / Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist duo. Although both musiciabs are ex-YesFind albums by this artist members, they actually never played together in the band. Another thing they have in common is of course their fascination with Jazz and improvised music, and their 2 albums shows that beyond any doubt. Although duo albums can be difficult to digest sometimes, this album is so full of excitment and beauty that no music lover should have any problem with enjoying this!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

PAGEANT ~ LA MOSAÏQUE DE LA RÊVERIE MUSEA 4181 (Barcode: 3426300041814) ~ JAPAN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1986 Released: 1996 1st album by the most famous Japanese Prog band PageantFind albums by this artist and considered by many as the best album recorded by any of the Japanese 80`s Prog bands. Female vocals, rich instrumentation and references to classic Symphonic Prog bands like YesFind albums by this artist and GenesisFind albums by this artist are all there. The band manages to create a unique point of referrence however, where outside influences remain subdued and in good taste. All Symphonic Prog fans love this album!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

REALM ~ THE PATH SYN-PHONIC 09 ~ USA ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1992 Released: 1993 This is the second and last album by American Prog group RealmFind albums by this artist, which comprised of guitarist / vocalist Darrell StudnaFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Steve VailFind albums by this artist and drummer Lake FurneyFind albums by this artist. Studna and Vail share the composition and lyrics credits on five of the album´s seven tracks, and have one track each credited individually. From the very first note of this album it becomes immediately apparent that Realm is yet another attempt to create a YesFind albums by this artist clone (circa the Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist period). The falsetto vocals (loathed by many) and convoluted keyboards parts are plainly recognizable even to Prog beginners. And yet, although obviously lacking originality, the band is pretty great at what they do, creating an impression of actually being the "real deal", which is not really inferior to the original (which says more about Yes than Realm IMHO). The original compositions are quite good, and the performances by all the trio members are first rate, which results in a surprisingly pleasing mainstream Prog album. Neo-Prog definitely had its problems in the 1990s, producing in retrospect only a handful of truly great bands and innovative / original music. This is an example of Neo-Prog, which does not pretend to be original, but emphasizes the attempt to preserve the spirit of the original Prog idiom, doing it quite well overall. A must for Yes fans, but most symphonic Prog lovers should be more than happy with this little gem. Search and investigate!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

REFUGEE ~ LIVE IN CONCERT - NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 1974 VOICEPRINT 421 (Barcode: 604388327225) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2007 Considering the fact that the legendary band RefugeeFind albums by this artist, formed in 1973 by two ex-NiceFind albums by this artist members Lee JacksonFind albums by this artist and Brian DavisonFind albums by this artist with the Swiss keyboards wizard Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist, recorded only one studio album and disbanded after less than a year with Moraz leaving to join YesFind albums by this artist, every piece of their recorded legacy is an absolute revelation. Add to this the surprisingly high quality of the recording and you have an amazing piece of Prog history on your hands. The concert includes most of the material from the studio album, but the live versions are extensively expanded to include longer solos and variations. All three musicians perform beautifully with Moraz expressing his virtuosity to the limit (and beyond). A couple of non-album tracks are also present, these of course never previously heard. It is a great pity that these recordings were to be the last recorded documents of Jackson and Davison for over 30 years (until the Nice reunion). The word of Prog would have been even richer if they continued their careers. Moraz was of course to be a central figure on the Prog scene for many years and recorded extensively. This is an absolute essential piece of Prog history and I know very few Prog fans that would miss this item in their collection.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

REFUGEE ~ REFUGEE TIME WAVE 002 (Barcode: 604388669622) ~ SWITZERLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2006 Only album by the classic Prog group RefugeeFind albums by this artist, which at the time was viewed as an attempt to revive the glorious days of The NiceFind albums by this artist as it featured two ex-Nice members (Lee JacksonFind albums by this artist and Brian DavisonFind albums by this artist) and was fronted by a virtuoso keyboards player – Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist. The album is a great showcase of Patrick’s abilities as a player and composer and includes two lengthy suites (17 and 18 minutes long) in the best tradition of Prog instrumental music. It is a real shame they managed to record only one album before disbanding. Moraz would of course later join YesFind albums by this artist (and achieve international recognition) and then The Moody BluesFind albums by this artist. This album remained unavailable for many years on CD and is one of the most sought after Prog releases in history.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

SPIN XXI ~ CONTRAPONTO ROCK SYMPHONY 130 (Barcode: 7898217281304) ~ BRAZIL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2002 - 2006 Released: 2007 1st album by Brazilian Prog band SpinFind albums by this artist. The band exists since the mid-1970s but only now managed to record their debut album. The XXI stands for Mk. 21 (the 21st incarnation of the band), but the album was actually recorded by Mk. 20 & 21. The band is spearheaded by singer / lyricist Kakao FigueiredoFind albums by this artist, backed up by the typical guitar / keyboards / bass / drums instrumentation. The band plays as if the clock stopped smack in the mid-1970s, creating Symphonic Prog similar to the classic bands like YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist, etc. Figueiredo has an impressive voice with a wide tonal range and he uses the typical theatrical intonations, taken from the Italian Prog School. The vocals are in Portuguese, but that’s for the best, always preferable to poorly pronounced English. The music is very melodic and includes just five extended tracks, the longest being over 15 minutes. Beautiful instrumental work by all members of the band, with plenty of space for individual showmanship. For lovers of classic Symphonic Prog this is a feast!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CHRIS SQUIRE ~ FISH OUT OF WATER (DELUXE EDITION) CASTLE 1545 (Barcode: 5050749415455) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2007 1st and only album by YesFind albums by this artist bassist and founding member Chris SquireFind albums by this artist, recorded at a time when all Yes members took a break from group activity and recorded solo projects. This is a very ambitious undertaking, involving a large orchestra and a group of musicians playing music composed by Squire. The band members include Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist on drums, Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist on keyboards (both from Yes), Mel CollinsFind albums by this artist on saxophone (King CrimsonFind albums by this artist), Jimmy HastingsFind albums by this artist on flute and a few others. Squire plays bass and sings lead vocals (his voice sounding remarkably similar to Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist). The result is a classic Prog album, perhaps one of the last Prog classics of the Golden Decade and certainly more interesting than anything Yes as a group were doing at the time. The compositions are concise, but nicely developed, and there is none of the extravagant (and often pompous) typical Yes prolongation and repetition. All the players do a splendid job and Squire’s bass, often in the lead, is powerful and impressive. This new edition adds a bonus DVD, which includes two video clips filmed as promos for the album and a recent (2006) interview with Squire talking about the album. This is a must for all Yes fans and probably most Prog fans all over the world.

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

STRAWBS ~ GRAVE NEW WOLD A&M 540934 (Barcode: 731454093422) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 1998 6th album by StrawbsFind albums by this artist. After Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist letf the group unexpectedly to join YesFind albums by this artist (one of his typical moves), Strawbs reformed, adding new members, and moved even more into the Prog genre, with more complex tunes and rich instrumentation. This album is a beautiful example of some of the best English lyricism.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

TEMPUS FUGIT ~ TALES FROM A FORGOTTEN WORLD (EXPANDED EDITION) MASQUE 0406 ~ BRAZIL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1993 - 1997 Released: 2006 1st album by the Brazilian Prog band Tempus FugitFind albums by this artist took the Prog wold by surprise, as it was a superbly written and executed worthy of a veteran band and not a newcomer. Heavily influenced by classic Italian bands (PFMFind albums by this artist and others) as well as British Prog (MarillionFind albums by this artist, YesFind albums by this artist, etc.) this is a beautifully lyrical album, full of outstanding melodies and long epic themes. The guitar and keyboards provide rich and colorful sonic textures and the vocals (in English), although sparse, are also well suited to the entire musical fabric. Fans of Symphonic Prog will be delighted by this masterpiece from start to finish. The Expanded edition add two demo tracks from 1993, previously unreleased. Most warmly recommended!

CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

VIOLENT SILENCE ~ A BROKEN TRUCE PROGRESS 055 (Barcode: 7320470172254) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the third album by Swedish Progressive Rock group Violent SilenceFind albums by this artist, formed and led by drummer / keyboardist / songwriter Johan HedmanFind albums by this artist, with vocalist Martin AhiquistFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Hannes LjunghallFind albums by this artist and Bjorn WestenFind albums by this artist and bassist Anders LindskogFind albums by this artist. The album comprises of just four epic tracks, all lasting over ten minutes, three of which were co-composed by Hedman, Ljunghall and Westen and one by Hedman and Ljunghall, with all lyrics written by Hedman. Stylistically the music is "frozen in time" in the early 1970s Symphonic Prog, with immediate reminiscences of early YesFind albums by this artist and their contemporaries. The melodic suites are well structured and interestingly developed, but introduce no innovation to the music that was first defined forty years earlier, for good and for bad. The high-pitched vocals are clean and in tune, but in the long range can be somewhat unnerving. There is a bit of Celtic and perhaps also Scandinavian Folk influence, which makes this music better than most similar efforts. The instrumental work is spotless, obviously dominated by the keyboards, which play many interesting riffs and fine solos. The rhythm section is doing a perfect job, keeping the music streaming forward and the background elegantly rich, with some superb bass passages. Overall this is a very good Symphonic Prog album, which should delight the die-hard fans of the genre, who simply want more of the same. People who moved on to greener pastures will find this a bit archaic, but nobody can deny the obvious class these guys represent.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

RICK WAKEMAN ~ LIVE AT THE BBC HUX 085 (Barcode: 682970000855) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2007 By the time the two concerts featuring Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist and his English Rock EnsembleFind albums by this artist were recorded, the young keyboards wizard had already behind him a list of achievements that few others manage to accomplish in a lifetime. Wakeman played on endless studio sessions for the top UK acts, was a members in two seminal Prog bands StrawbsFind albums by this artist and YesFind albums by this artist and composed and recorded a series of musical epics of grand proportions: The Six Wives Of Henry VIIIFind albums with this title, Journey To The Centre Of The EarthFind albums with this title, The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round TableFind albums with this title, White RockFind albums with this title (the soundtrack for the Winter Olympic Games) and most recently his first album with his English Rock Ensemble: No Earthly ConnectionFind albums with this title. The two concerts recorded for the BBC were a part of Wakeman’s promotion tour of the last album. With Wakeman’s enormous array of keyboards and the six-piece English Rock Orchestra (Ashley HoltFind albums by this artist – vocals, Roger NewellFind albums by this artist – bass, John DunstervilleFind albums by this artist – guitar, Tony FernandezFind albums by this artist – drums, Reg BrooksFind albums by this artist – trombone and Martin ShieldsFind albums by this artist – trumpet) produced a truly awesome, powerful orchestral sound, which suited Wakeman’s dramatic compositions perfectly. The music includes excerpts from all the Wakeman’s solo albums mentioned above, as well as material from the last album. Although the two concerts include some parallel material, each performance is quite unique and therefore none of it is redundant. This is undoubtedly Wakeman’s finest hour ever and considering the great sound quality of these recordings perhaps the best live album he ever made. Quite honestly this album is more or less the essence of Wakeman’s output and except for fanatic Wakeman fans is quite sufficient as his spot in one’s music collection. Definitely most wholeheartedly recommended! Side Note: Unfortunately things went pretty downhill for Wakeman from that point on. Although he is to this very day one of Rock’s most prolific composers, his totally unrestrained policy on releasing his albums, which resulted in a monstrous (I stopped counting a long time ago but they must be well over 200) amount of albums, which totally destroyed his credibility. Sure there is a lot of great music in those albums, but none of it was innovative or neoteric enough to make any difference. Overproducing can be disastrous and unfortunately Wakeman is a living proof of that.

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RICK WAKEMAN ~ THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (DELUXE EDITION) A&M 600753562604 (Barcode: 600753562604) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 - 1975 Released: 2014 This is the third (second studio) album by British keyboardist / composer Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent and prolific figures of the Progressive Rock movement. The album was recorded after Wakeman left (for the first time) the legendary Prog group YesFind albums by this artist, and features members of the band that took part in the recording of his previous album ("Journey To The Centre Of The EarthFind albums with this title") as well as the English Chamber ChoirFind albums by this artist and Orchestra. In many respects this album continues the pattern set up in its predecessor, which puts Wakeman in the centre playing an array of keyboards, accompanied by a Rock group including vocals and supported by a large orchestra and choir. Of course Wakeman did not invent the concept of combining orchestra and choir with a Rock band; that has been tried out with various degrees of success many times before. The most important issue in an attempt to create a Rock-Classical Fusion is always the extent of integration between these two musical universes, which is supposed to give birth to a symbiotic hybrid. Unfortunately such organic fusion does not happen neither on its predecessor nor on this album and Wakeman uses the Classical elements as an extension of his palette of sounds, as if he had another synthesizer at his disposal, but not as an extension of his musical horizon. When stripped down from all the excess ornamentation, which is not easy mind you, the album does present some decent melodic content. Wakeman always could weave some pretty nice tunes, which absurdly hold water better in their simplicity than when glazed up by layers upon layers of sugary glitter. Having said all that, Wakeman knew how to maximize his success and push the boundaries of the Rock / Prog idiom into the extravagant grandeur, which could flourish for just a brief period of time, when the circumstances allowed it, writing down a fascinating period in Rock´s history. Wakeman never lacked neither the vision nor the ability to actually make projects like this one become a reality, which is a virtue he deserves praise for, regardless of the net musical value that was actually created. This Deluxe Edition is quite a vulgar attempt to sell the same material again, as it offers absolutely nothing worthwhile in return for its price. There are no bonus tracks at all and the accompanying DVD brings high definition stereo and quad mixes of the same material (God only knows what for?). Overall this album brings back on the market music that did not age well, which is dishonestly packaged. It retains its historic value when judged in perspective.

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

RICK WAKEMAN ~ THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII (DELUXE EDITION) A&M 600753562383 (Barcode: 600753562383) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2014 This is the debut album by British keyboardist / composer Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prominent and prolific figures of the Progressive Rock movement. The album was recorded while Wakeman was a member of the legendary Prog group YesFind albums by this artist, and features all the members of the band except for the vocalist, as well as members of Wakeman´s previous group StrawbsFind albums by this artist, which initially brought him to the public attention. As appropriate for the genre and the period, the album proposes many innovations, such as the fact that it is completely instrumental, that it is a concept album based on real historical figures, the fact that it focuses on the many different keyboard instruments, including synthesizers, which were in the early stage of their development, and so on. Upon its release the album was warmly received by the critics and turned out to be a huge commercial success, enjoying a legendary status and still selling more that forty years later. However, in retrospect, the album does show some serious cracks in its polished image. Although it does include some nice melodic themes, the keyboard arrangements and especially the extravagant effort to include as many different keyboard effects and sound layers sounds pretty naïve today, if not ridiculous at the most excessive moments. Rhythmically the whole album is very straightforward and holds no surprises or innovation. The whole affair could be describes as Baroque (if one wants to be nice) or simply pompous, to be honest. Throughout the album the music sounds as if performed by Yes, which of course is not surprising, considering the participation of the band´s members and Wakeman´s artistic grip over the band. Again in retrospect it shows how much Wakeman´s vision dominated Yes, changing the band gradually from an ambitious and unique outfit to a repetitive, pretentious, self-indulgent and eventually boring outfit by the time this album was released. This Deluxe Edition is quite a vulgar attempt to sell the same material again, as it offers absolutely nothing worthwhile in return for its price. The bonus tracks are two single edits of the album´s tracks and one different mix. The accompanying DVD brings high definition stereo and quad mixes of the same material (God only knows what for?) and a five minutes long video of Wakeman performing one of the tracks at the BBC. Overall this album brings back on the market music that did not age well, which is dishonestly packaged. It retains its historic value when judged in perspective.

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ CLOSE TO THE EDGE (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73790 (Barcode: 081227379025) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2003 5th album by YesFind albums by this artist. By the time this album was released, the group was already deep into its somewhat overblown and self-centered world, with Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist`s mystical lyrics sounding dangerously close to gibberish and Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist`s showmanship on the keyboards pompous and tireing. Don`t get me wrong - this is great music and a Prog classic in every respect, but the initial spark, brilliance and energy was slowly, but surely being lost in the process. This was also the last Yes album to feature the brilliant drumming of Bill BrufordFind albums by this artist, who left to join King CrimsonFind albums by this artist by the time this album was released.

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ FRAGILE (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73789 (Barcode: 081227378929) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2003 4th album by YesFind albums by this artist. This is where the definitive Yes line-up first recorded together, after the flamboyant Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist replaced Tony KayeFind albums by this artist on keyboards (or rather keyboard kingdom). Although the album was put together rather haphazardly fast to mark Wakeman`s arrival (and to pay for his keyboards), the group managed to complete a Prog masterpiece - a canon example of what the genre was all about - something that would be cherrished and immitated for generations to come. This album also marks the first collaboration with the graphic artists Roger DeanFind albums by this artist, who created the famous Yes logo and was in charge of the design of their lavish album artwork. Essential!

CD 1 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

	YES ~ KEYS TO ASCENSION ESSENTIAL 417 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock A 2CD album, marking the big return of the Prog legends to active playing. `Original` lineup with Anderson, Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White. Mostly a full concert recorded in 1996 and featuring some great classics, with 2 new studio songs. Beautiful new graphics by Roger Dean.
	CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

	YES ~ KEYS TO ASCENSION (DVD) CASTLE 1006 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Classic Yes lineup with Wakeman, Anderson, Howe, Squire and White reunited in 1996 for recordings and concerts, which give us the 2 double albums of the same title. They play some of the group favorite tunes from all periods in a magificent setting. Dolby Digital Sound, 150 minutes.
	DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	YES ~ KEYS TO ASCENSION 2 ESSENTIAL 457 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Another 2CD album, following in the steps of the previous one, from 1997. First CD is a live show and the second all new studio material. Same lineup. Beautiful new graphics by Roger Dean.
	CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

	YES ~ LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA 1979 SANCTUARY 3005 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Classic Yes lineup with Wakeman, Anderson, Howe, Squire and White playing some of the group favorite tunes in front of an extatic audience. Good sound and very solid performance which of course makes any Yes fan happy. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 50 minutes.
	DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ PROGENY: SEVEN SHOWS FROM SEVENTY-TWO RHINO 081227956417 (Barcode: 081227956417) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2015 This monstrous Box Set comprises of seven 2CD sets, which present seven concerts recorded between October 31, 1972 and November 20, 1972 during the North American YesFind albums by this artist tour promoting "Close To The EdgeFind albums with this title", their fifth album. The band at the time comprised of vocalist Jon AndersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve HoweFind albums by this artist, bassist Chris SquireFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist and the new drummer Alan WhiteFind albums by this artist. These concerts had an almost identical set list, which is of course reflected herein. Some of these recordings were already used in the past to compile the "YessongsFind albums on this label" live album released in 1973 but most are previously unreleased. By the time Yes recorded "Close To The Edge", there was absolutely nothing left of the initial spark of genius that was reflected by their first two albums. They were deeply into overblown and self-centered world, which had almost completely lost touch with reality. Anderson´s "mystical" lyrics were dangerously close to gibberish and his hysteric vocal extravaganzas reflected a state of blurred consciousness. Wakeman´s endless keyboard doodling was pompous and arduous, and the rest of the gang just schlepped along. Yes, things could be a lot worse and indeed they would soon be much worse with the release of the forthcoming albums, but it was already truly "close to the edge". Sarcastically, Yes were crowned as Kings of the Progressive Rock, whereas in fact their music completely stopped to progress (i.e. develop) from their third album on. It simply spiraled deeper and deeper into narcissism and arrogance, producing worthless Rococo trinkets hanging in the air. The melodies became simplistic, the endless instrumental passages became intolerably boring and a chill of emptiness took over. Oddly and completely beyond any reasonable explanation the Yes bandwagon keeps rolling to this very day, with this Box Set being a pinnacle of the theatre of absurd. The sheer audacity of releasing this Box Set is of epic proportions, and reflects the complete detachment between Yes and the real world. Even if God Almighty himself had have called upon Moses to come up the mountain to receive the ten commandments seven times in a row, that would have been considered way overboard. But apparently releasing a box of seven almost identical concerts played within twenty days of each other is fine with some people. Every live music performance is unique, true. But some are more unique than others. Box sets that present a series of live recordings captured in the span of a relatively short time and include repetitions of the same material do exist, but they all are completely justified, as opposed to this Box Set. "The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard RecordingsFind albums with this title" is a four CDs Box Set by John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, presenting concerts played during four days and includes many repeated tunes. It is a singular most important collection of music ever produced on this planet. But Coltrane was God. "The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel 1965Find albums on this label" is an eight CDs Box Set by the legendary Miles DavisFind albums by this artist second quintet, presenting music played just in two days. Of course there is repetition, but it is pure genius. And of course Miles thought he was God. "Performance Rockin` The Fillmore: The Complete RecordingsFind albums on this label" is a four CDs Box Set by British Rock Supergroup Humble PieFind albums by this artist, presenting four identical sets played in two days (i.e. each song is repeated four times, with just one exception), but they are miles apart from each other. It epitomizes Rock at its absolute peak, which is purely Devilish. I could of course go on and on listing Box Sets, which present extensive live recordings from every possible genre, which are all perfectly justifiable, make perfect sense and include fabulous music. Sadly nothing similar can be said about this Box Set. It symbolizes pure vanity and complete disregard towards the fans of the band, which are repeatedly requested to pay for the same material again and again, honestly offering nothing in return. The sound quality is of course still very much Lo-Fi, in spite of the great efforts made to improve it. Even the Roger Dean graphics, which I usually adore, look pale and weathered. This is cynical BS and if anybody tells you otherwise, you are being bullshited.

Updated: 29/01/2019Posted: 28/12/2015

CD 14 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ RELAYER (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73792 (Barcode: 081227379223) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 8th album and definitely the last of the great YesFind albums by this artist epics - from that moment on the band will be ridden with personell changes and internal frictions, rending it virtually non-productive. The young Swiss keyboards player Patrick MorazFind albums by this artist replaces the ever restless Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist, who keeps coming and going through the Yes revolving door. Moraz is an excellent player and does a superb job, considering he was drafted just a few weeks prior to the recording sessions. The music stays very much in the same pattern as the last 2-3 albums, with just 3 long pieces. The new eddition includes interesting studio and live bonus material.

CD 1 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73791 (Barcode: 081227379124) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2003 7th album by YesFind albums by this artist. With Alan WhiteFind albums by this artist on drums, the group set to record their next showcase. The resulting double album was received with mixed feelings for the first time in their career. Many fans saw an album comprised of 4 long suites as utterly overblown and self-indulgent. This was just too much of the same. Others prised the album as revolutionary and prophetic. In retrospect this was a heroic effort, but with little musical consequence - it just didn`t contribute anything new neither to the group nor to the Prog genre. After this album Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist announced (for the first time) that he was leaving the group. His coming and going would become legendary...

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ THE YES ALBUM (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73788 (Barcode: 081227378820) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 3rd album from 1971. This is a transition album marking the formation of the second Yes line-up, with Peter Banks replacement on guitar - Steve Howe. Howe`s versatility and obvious virtuosity matched the Yes `concept` perfectly and the group was fusing into an organic and definitive Prog unit. For the first time this album features solely compositions by the band members and unleashes the power of the band to its full capacity. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ TIME AND A WORD (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73787 (Barcode: 081227378721) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2003 2nd album by Prog icons YesFind albums by this artist. Although this was the least commercially sucessful album by Yes, in retrospect it presents an ambicious effort by the band to establish a unique identity, preserving the charming freshness and somehow naive approach. This was also the last album to include Peter BanksFind albums by this artist (guitar), who was soon to leave Yes to start his own band FleshFind albums by this artist (later to be joined by Tony KayeFind albums by this artist (keyboards) as well). As imperfect as it might seem, this is still one of my favorite Yes albums (along with the debut), before pompous and over-visceral efforts took over. Essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

YES ~ YES (DELUXE EDITION) RHINO 73786 (Barcode: 081227378622) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2003 1st album by YesFind albums by this artist. Anderson, Bruford, Banks, Squire & Kaye were to change the face of Rock as we know it with this sensational and astounding debut album. Full of new and original ideas, new sound and instrumentation that was to become the model for all Prog to come, this is a cornerstone of rare magnitude. Although naive and imperfect at times, this is my favorite Yes album and nothing done later by Yes had similar impact on music as this album. Absolutely essential!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

YES4JAZZ ~ TRZASKOWSKI REWORK SJ 057 (Barcode: 5902596066697) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the second album by Polish Jazz quintet, called Yes4JazzFind albums by this artist, which comprises of saxophonist / clarinetist Robert ChylaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Seweryn GraniastyFind albums by this artist, pianist Wojciech PruszynskiFind albums by this artist, bass guitarist Bartlomiej PietschFind albums by this artist and drummer Waldemar FranczykFind albums by this artist. The album presents six tracks, all composed by one of the Godfathers of Polish jazz, pianist / composer Andrzej TrzaskowskiFind albums by this artist. As the title suggests, the album attempts to “revitalize” the music by Trzaskowski, which is often less popular and somewhat neglected in comparison to the work of his contemporaries, members of the first post WWII generation of Polish Jazz. The Polish Jazz scene, like no other in the world, seems to have an obsession with reworking / recomposing / reshaping / transforming the music by Polish Classical and Jazz composers, with very contrasting results, sometimes highly successful but also quite pitiful at times. One can assume that Polish Jazz musicians tend to respect the Polish musical tradition and approach the legacy with love and reverence, but fashionable trends and fads can’t be ruled out in many cases. The music of Trzaskowski certainly deserves to be remembered and admired, as listening to his rather limited recorded legacy proves beyond any doubt. However, the need to “rework” his compositions rises the basic question of the purpose to do so. His music is a testament of a period, which in many respects is unrepeatable, and more importantly it remains completely valid and aesthetically perfect as it is. Unless the “rework” is diametrically innovative, creative and impressive, such attempt might prove questionable. One has to admit that “rework” is highly exaggerated in the case of this album, as the music stays pretty faithful to its origin, except for the more contemporary sound, mostly effected by the electric bass and strident drums and of course the absence of a trumpet, which was an essential signature in Trzaskowski’s music. But all things considered, the music flows fluently and swings happily, and considering the quality of the original compositions, it can’t be really bad, can it? Overall, this is a very nice mainstream Jazz album, with beautiful musical contents, amicably performed by the quintet, and a tribute to one of Polish Jazz greatest figures. Definitely worth investigating, especially by Polish Jazz enthusiasts.

Updated: 10/08/2022Posted: 10/08/2022

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

YESHE ~ PIASTOWSKA 1 SONY 887654098221 (Barcode: 887654098221) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion Recorded: 2010 Released: 2012 This is the second album by the Polish ensemble YesheFind albums by this artist, led by the legendary trumpeter / composer Antoni GralakFind albums by this artist, who was a member of such groundbreaking Polish ensembles as Free CooperationFind albums by this artist, Young PowerFind albums by this artist and Tie BreakFind albums by this artist and participated in countless other projects over the years, including leading his ensembles like GraalFind albums by this artist and Yeshe. This incarnation of Yeshe includes also guitarist Piotr PawlakFind albums by this artist and keyboardist Darek MakarukFind albums by this artist who is in charge of a plethora of electronic effects and sampling. The music, all original by Gralak, was recorded live and is dedicated to the Polish pioneering visual Artist Andrzej UrbanowiczFind albums by this artist. Stylistically the music presents a wide spectrum of contemporary musical trends and incorporates such diverse influences as Avant-Garde Jazz, electronic music, Techno, Industrial and World Music. The amalgamated result is a completely original and unique blend, which is fascinating and electrifying from start to finish. The basic formula presents Gralak improvising on top of an ambient / sampled background, which changes from track to track both rhythmically and conceptually. A trained listener will hear many citations form Indian and other Far Eastern Cultures, as well as samples of exotic instruments like sitar, tabla and a plethora of others. Gralak´s trumpet work is nothing short of brilliant and brings immediately memories of his Free Cooperation cohort Andrzej PrzybielskiFind albums by this artist, who is sadly no longer with us. Throughout the entire duration of this album Gralak improvises almost without a break, in a truly phenomenal form. This album is not only a rare musical gem, but also a wonderful example of completely boundless music, which crosses cultural, stylistic and time borders effortlessly and elegantly. It definitely deserves a much wider recognition that it actually has today. Brilliant stuff!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

ZINGALE ~ THE BRIGHT SIDE NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 634479880407) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2008 Released: 2009 The two founding members of the legendary Israeli Prog band ZingaleFind albums by this artist: guitarist / singer / composer Ephraim BarakFind albums by this artist and bassist / singer / composer Udi TamirFind albums by this artist, reunited 30 years after the original band disappeared from the local scene and revived the band, recording this new album. Zingale caused quite a stir in the late 1970s and their only album recorded at the time, called “PeaceFind albums with this title”, is considered a Prog masterpiece among the genre’s collectors all over the world to this very day. Barak and Tamir worked together for months to write the new material and later added drummer Barak Ben-ZourFind albums by this artist to complete the lineup, which recorded the music. The new album was initially available only as digital download, but demand from fans all over the world prompted the band to release the album in physical format. As to the music, it is obvious that the band faced an enormous challenge trying to follow and recreate the success of their legendary debut album after so many years. Therefore the band took the right decision to open a new page and create new music, essentially different from their earlier effort. The music here is completely up to date, using a wide array of instrumentation (overdubbed guitars and keyboards) in order to create a rich orchestral sound of Symphonic Prog, with the dual vocal parts (in English) overlaid on top of the complex instrumental layers. Although the spirit of YesFind albums by this artist hovers somewhere in the background, this music is quite original, sometimes mystic, sometimes bombastic, as appropriate for Symphonic Prog at its best. The album is quite overwhelming at the first listening session and requires several attempts to absorb its content. Don’t give up, as eventually this will pay off big time. Fans of Symphonic Prog will eat this album alive and considering the reputation this band already has among Prog fans they don’t have to prove themselves. Definitely worth investigating!

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend