Entertainment For Lively Minds
Discovering prog rock late in life/losing one's marbles?
Posted by MrTaylor on 3 February 2012 - 1:29pm.
I've noticed frequent mentions of this Mahavishnu orchestra bunch. Never listened to them before. I'm 47, a blues/rock/rock n roll kinda guy, broad-minded musically (I have owned a copy of both Space Ritual and Jim Reeves Greatest Hits). I have just indulged in listening to a few tracks by them on YouTube: well, the drummer seems keen on continually working his way round the kit and I can't quite get the hang of tapping my fingers on the table to a 12/6 time signature. Actually though, I quite liked it, Never too late is it?
- More from MrTaylor.
- Login or register to post comments
-
mmmm
I think it's more a case of when you're ready for it. Prog is always out there, waiting for people to join in.
Like
a black hole?
You're really on a roll with this...
...sort of thing, aren't you Brooks? :-D
anyway, as the OP has lost his Marbles I thought I bring some back - this is 'Marbles' from Mahavishnu John McLaughlin's pre-MO solo album 'Devotion', with Hendrix rhythm section Buddy & Billy plus Larry Young on organ. The album's a bit of an oddity in JM's canon - psychedelic rock jams in Hendrixy fashion, though one or two riffs eventually made their way to a happier home in the MO...
free your mind
IMHO, many a person who rejects progressive music is repeating received wisdom, and once quality playing, interesting arrangements and a bit of ambition is recognised in one's music, those who used to eschew it get on board. You can come to it from all sorts of things now viewed as hip: jazz noodling, kraut rock, math rock, new indie stuff, electro ... it's not all middle-aged men who got "Brain Salad Surgery" when they were 15 (though, it must be said, there are a lot of us started there).
MrTaylor...
... do you own a cape?
I love this one
Best guitar work Tommy Bolin ever did..
Don't know that one
But he was great with Billy Cobham, with Jan Hammer on keys and West Coast country rock first call bass player Leland Sklar. Top album. Actually I think he was triff with Deep Purple too.
As it happens, Mr T,
I have a spare copy of my double CD Prog comp here on my desk; drop me a line and it's yours. Can't guarantee you'll like any or all of it, but it'll tickle your lugs for a short while.
I think he might be ready
Does it start gently? Perhaps a bit of Camel? Oh I remember this, mono cassette, recorded off the telly speaker. Looovley.
You're right, Twang...
...it IS lovely. Unfortunately, however, Andy Latimer's camp facial expressions make it much easier to like on the ear than the eye.
But good call... :-)
Yes
I'm hanging onto the era-charm vibe. It was like that - self conscious faux cool under a Bowie rip off haircut was a few years away. I note his lousy left hand technique, but I can't deny which of us became a rock star!
You note his what?
.. his "lousy left hand technique" eh. Not sure what on earth do you can actually mean by that though.
(nervously enters debate with Marky...)
He doesn't use his little finger. See 1'12" that third finger stretch....but hey, I was tounging in cheek. He's fantastic.
C'mon lads, break it up...
...break it up... move along now, nothing to see, etc etc...
"Third finger stretch"!
.. oh fer fucks sake. End of debate.
Matter of interest, Marky...
...where can we buy your stuff? I'm mostly digital these days, but if it's only on CD, that's cool too.
Nowhere Bob
It's floating in the ether. It's in my dreams, like the opinion of a music critic. Like leaves in the wind.
"Mostly digital" are you now? You obviously have the special CD's, the ones with the tiny grooves carved in them.
Prog off
I saw the Chemical Brothers film last night and really enjoyed it. However, I know that I am not going to buy the soundtrack because, to these ears, there was an awful lot of prog-like noodling going on. Give Tom Rowlands a cape and there's dear old Rick Wakeman. Thin line.
Interesting isn't it
Musicians, eh. Given half a chance they want to play a bit, then before you know what's happening it sounds a bit proggy. Fine with me of course, as long as they're up to it, but I can imagine some find it a bit like finding a prawn in a trifle.
Astounding Sounds
I can't believe anyone of your age owned a copy of Jim Reeves Greatest Hits, unless you inherited it from your Grandma.
That Devotion clip was fun.
Amazing Music
I own (like I bought) a Gene Autry album.
I still love 70s Hawkwind
I like R****g
and I saw Hawkwind in the 1970's and last December. Mind you I recently bought another Krankies single. I'm doooomed.
Amon Duul 2 annyone?
Pretty far out...
Surprising as this may seem to some, AbleMeister...
..it's too far out for me (and I'm slightly drunk as I type)...
Van Der Graaf Generator
If you have a spare 25 minutes for this Prog opus and cracking TV studio video clip.
A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers.
Aww, thought you'd posted the same clip four times ..
... now that would have been funny.
*RAISES HAND AT BACK OF FUNCTION ROOM*
Er - saying you do or don't like prog music is the same as saying you do or don't like jazz music or rock music or whatever. It's NOT a disease you catch, contrary to what some may think, or like being gay (notthatthere'sanythingwrongwiththat). I greatly enjoy some music which is definably prog and loathe other music which is definably prog. You don't have to be embraced by the greatcoat to enjoy a saunter on the prog side. And how did the M.O. get lumped in with it? They are absolutely so very really not in the least progtastic. They're razzfockjusion.
(Thanks for the Alphonse Mouzon heads up - I found it on my favourite website, where all you have to do is recognise some garbled typography and you win the album absolutely free!)
Prog Rock is the greatest musical thing ever to come from the UK
You might be interested in listening to ProgYes www.progyes.com
we play prog rock /AOR/ art rock/ psychedelic rock and , well, a bit of just 'high quality pop' (if you know what I mean) i.e. Buggles/10cc/Steely Dan etc. We also play Mahavishnu...and Hawkwind..
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProgYes/174505385949594
progyes
I was a big fan of prog in the 70's but not much of it gets played on my iPod these days. Yes is probably the big exception to that and they were my favourites back then. I've been listening to your radio on and off this afternoon and it was good to hear some Yes, Atomic Rooster, Be Bop Deluxe and Mahavishnu.
However (and this is possibly in line with my lack of knowledge of the current prog bands)what on earth are Silver Lining about? Are they representative of modern prog? To my 70's trained ear they sound like the sort of music I'd make if I were setting out to lampoon prog.
I think you may be biased
but why would you hold a Prog Festival in Knaresborough? Well apart from it being one of my favourite beauty spots in Yorkshire and all that. If I'm back from holiday I may just have to venture over. Now I'm listening to a band called You Slosh on your radio thingy. Daft name, nice sound.