Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 56

Thread: What attributes qualify a song to be Prog? Which songs are the precursors to Prog?

  1. #1

    What attributes qualify a song to be Prog? Which songs are the precursors to Prog?

    It's a twofer, folks -- two questions for one. Me first:

    I'd say that most good Prog songs are characterized by several disparate parts. Each part seems almost capable of standing alone, all by itself, as a pretty solid song. But then when they glue several seemingly disparate parts together, that mosaic somehow results in a mashup that is utterly charming.

    Precursors of Prog songs:

    Strawberry Fields Forever has to be the first such song on record. Followed by A Day in the Life and I am the Walrus. Then come Happiness is a Warm Gun, Revolution 9, Abbey Road medley. We can therefore mostly blame Lennon for Prog.

    But wait! What about Tomorrow Never Knows? What? Prog song with only one chord? Madness!

  2. #2
    Member since March 2004 mozo-pg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    9,679
    Good luck!

  3. #3
    Member Paulrus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    The Left Coast
    Posts
    2,170
    Oh. My. God. You really are new here, aren't you.
    I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Paulrus View Post
    Oh. My. God. You really are new here, aren't you.
    Join date August 2018.

  5. #5
    Member Vic2012's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    La Florida
    Posts
    7,550
    A bona fide, honest....."what is prog?" Thread. Should be entertaining, comical, and a rollercoaster ride of hilarity.

    Go!

  6. #6
    pretty much the alpha and omega is genesis more fool me. the album around it isn't much to write home about but that track yowza!

  7. #7
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Divided Snakes of America
    Posts
    1,981
    Simple: if it meets my personal standards for musicianship, composition, arrangement, innovation, originality and expressiveness without regard to commercial appeal.

    < end of thread >

  8. #8
    Member Since: 3/27/2002 MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    The Kingdom of YHVH
    Posts
    2,770
    Progressive Rock (noun) When a musical artist pushes the boundaries of an established style of music that is based around Rock instrumentation (Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Kit Drums) and backbeat. Blending it with other styles such as Jazz, Classical and ethnic musics. Incorporating elements such as non-standard chord progressions, tempo and mood changes within a piece, odd time signatures, Avant or Harmolodic passages, complex Horn charts or Orchestral arrangements.
    Why is it whenever someone mentions an artist that was clearly progressive (yet not the Symph weenie definition of Prog) do certain people feel compelled to snort "thats not Prog" like a whiny 5th grader?

  9. #9
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Divided Snakes of America
    Posts
    1,981
    ^^^

    Wrong! Anyway I said end of thread god damnit!!!

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Buddhabreath View Post
    Simple: if it meets my personal standards for musicianship, composition, arrangement, innovation, originality and expressiveness without regard to commercial appeal.

    < end of thread >
    Not the end of thread because you haven't attempted to answer which songs are the precursors of Prog rock?

  11. #11
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Divided Snakes of America
    Posts
    1,981
    ^^^
    OK fair enough but I'll have to give that one some thought.

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Buddhabreath View Post
    ^^^
    OK fair enough but I'll have to give that one some thought.
    Thank you

  13. #13
    Member moecurlythanu's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    The Planet Lovetron
    Posts
    13,021
    Precursor: "Wake Up Little Susie"

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by moecurlythanu View Post
    Precursor: "Wake Up Little Susie"
    Isn't there a line in that song "what're we gonna tell your prog"?
    "And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision."

    Occasional musical musings on https://darkelffile.blogspot.com/

  15. #15
    Member Paulrus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    The Left Coast
    Posts
    2,170
    I knew there was a proto-prog thread around here somewhere.

    Feldman, I'll just say that meta topics like this have been discussed here ad nauseum many, many, many times. The search function is your friend.
    I'm holding out for the Wilson-mixed 5.1 super-duper walletbuster special anniversary extra adjectives edition.

  16. #16
    Banned
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Divided Snakes of America
    Posts
    1,981
    ^^^
    Thanks very interesting thread if you missed it - but it didn't end well. LOL!

  17. #17
    Wasn't there a Seinfeld episode about the Bizarro universe where Feldman played the Bizarro Kramer?

  18. #18
    The can of worms is officially open.
    You say Mega Ultra Deluxe Special Limited Edition Extended Autographed 5-LP, 3-CD, 4-DVD, 2-BlueRay, 4-Cassette, five 8-Track, MP4 Download plus Demos, Outtakes, Booklet, T-Shirt and Guitar Pick Gold-Leafed Box Set Version like it's a bad thing...

  19. #19
    Member chalkpie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Hudson Valley, NY
    Posts
    8,191
    More like The Wurm of Caens.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by DocProgger View Post
    Wasn't there a Seinfeld episode about the Bizarro universe where Feldman played the Bizarro Kramer?
    There wasn't.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by feldman View Post
    There wasn't.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bizarro_Jerry.

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by DocProgger View Post
    Mandela effect.

  23. #23
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    NE Pa
    Posts
    106
    I'm strapped in!!

  24. #24
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    NE Pa
    Posts
    106
    Would Albert Hofmann qualify as a precursor to Prog?

  25. #25
    Man of repute progmatist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Mesa, Arizona
    Posts
    3,806
    Prague Rock is rock music from the Czech Republic. Does that clear it up for ya?
    "Well my son, life is like a beanstalk, isn't it?"--Dalai Lama

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •