Obscure/Lesser Known Classic/Prog Rock Album recs (that don't suck)

[Vilden]

I'm not big into this genre so I can't recommend much or even really know if this is what you're after but I like Orne, a side project of Peter and Void from Reverend Bizarre. For fans of stuff like Black Widow.

 

[razoredge]

I've heard a ton of Steve Morse's stuff & I have about all of his albums on my PC, but not once have I heard the Dixie Dregs. I once heard that they weren't very good... It's also new to me that they're proggy. I migt just have to check them out. Oh, & thatnks for the Camel recommenation

I only have one Morse tape, its been awhile but it seems that was primarily... say celtic, folky feel in a Morse kind of way, which The Dregs had a handful with that same feel, after all bluegrass was a form of American Irish music so you can hear some common ground. Just try to find a copy of "Freefall" and take it from there. To my ears they really raised the bar on musical integrity at that time which was around '75 or '76. Even by most jazz/fusion standards which were often more improv/jam based than composed. You wont find alot of "solos" in the typical sense, its mostly all intregral parts of the songs with trade offs between guitar, fiddle and keys, lots of syncropated stuff as well. You wont hear anything really heavy or distorted. Theres fast stuff and slow stuff, some rocks, some has the southern country feel, some funky grooves, but the musicianship and compositions may still hold there ground for depth even today. I cant even explain them, its just "The Dregs" they were unique. If I was put in a rack and streached for "secret information" or a "confession" I would be found screaming "The Dregs" at the top of my lungs as my limbs tore from their joints... lol. Thats how much they affected me, but remember I heard them before I heard all this stuff that came around since. Younger ears may not understand what was so impressive.

 

[ramses]

John Petrucci's two favorite Guitarists...none other than Steve Howe, and Steve Morse. For a guitar magazine(forget which)years ago, he reviewed Morse/Howe albums. When I saw DD, both Larue and West played bass...I'm serious, no kidding! I got West's autograph, since he played on those DD albums. I got Larue to sign the Steve Morse stuff. A lot of people don't know that the drummer in Winger is none other than Rod Morgenstein! And, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess used to tour with the Dregs. That's why Dream Theater knew he was good, and eventually talked him into joining their band. The stuff that Morse did in Kansas was ok...I say that, because as a lot of bands did in the *0's, they trimmed their songs musically, and did more ballads. I think he only played on 2 Kansas albums...Power, and In the Spirit of Things. He had some good , but brief guitar moments. I think he was just grabbing a paycheck(can't blame him, he deserves it)kind of a hired gun. The only reason I got the Power album was because of Steve. I need to get some of his Deep Purple stuff, I only have Purpendicular. Morse plays on 2 songs on the Rush Tribute album-Working Man...La Villa Strangiato, and Red Barchetta. I have his Southern Steel, and Structural Damage albums..great stuff. He plays 2 acoustic Yes pieces on the 96' tribute album. Clap, and Mood For A Day. Of course live, the Dregs are great. It was great to see my bandmates, who area bit younger than me turn to me and say " He's fucking fast!" I didn't have any money to go see them last time they were down...or Purple either. They are just one of those bands live, that you just smile, and watch the band like you're watching a tennis match...back and forth between keyboards, guitar, and violin. Of course the same can be said of Dt, Yes, and a select few bands that are of their musical merit.

 

[razoredge]

Cool info. I did know about Morgenstein/Winger but had long since forgotten. I figured Morse would be the best replacement for Livgrin being how... of my friends... we were into The Dregs and Kansas at the same time, so there was some crossover. But when you get down to the best of Kansas you are talking Livgrins stuff so the band without him seem like it could not help but limp a bit. Which brings me to another "need to get" .... Proto Kaw, I heard a few on XM Deep Tracks occasionally the past few years and I though it sounded good. You have that one yet ?

I have Rapture of the Deep and enjoy it quite a few times a year. Just had it in circulation again about a month ago. Its all I have of the three DP w/SM recordings. More straight up stuff but they keep it interesting. Gillans almost the weak link to my ears , cant believe I had to say that, that would have been blasphomy 20 years ago.

 

[Matt]

Morse is a great player. He did pretty well on Purple's latest album, but without Blackmore DP doesn't do much for me.

 

[Matt]

@ Doom - Listening to the Anglagard. Fucking weird stuff. Liking it though.

 

[ramses]

Don't have Proto Kaw yet. It sucks being layed off, and unemployed for the last 6 months! I'm so used to grabbing a handful of albums every month. Gillan sadly is just getting old. It's like Steve Howe. Have you seen him the last few years? He has his guitars so low when he plays live now. His acoustic stuff is louder. The last few Yes dvd's are great, it's just that Mr. Howe can barely be heard-he looks rough as well...big bummer for me.

 

[Matt]

Yeah, he needs to sit on a chair or something...

Gillian, however, hasn't lost much. He's a little lower now, but he's still an excellent singer. Unlike some of his counterparts (cough robertplant)

 

[Burkhard]

Recommend me some lesser known stuff that isn't shit, and be specific plz (What album(s), etc). Stuff like Camel or Van Der Graff Generator.

Are you already familiar with Nektar? A while ago I bought some of their albums and I found "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" and "A Tab In The Ocean" quite enjoyable. Here is a clip of two songs from "A Tab In The Ocean" which they played at a concert that was aired on German TV about 3 years ago:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQdF12Fw-I&feature[/ame]

BTW, did you already read through this thread?:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/non-opeth-music-chat/150277-rare-prog-early-70s.html

(Might take a while.)

 

[razoredge]

Thats like a heavy blues boogie, which I like. The vocals on this song are very Jack Bruce-ish, which I like. Love the Hammond (if thats what it actually is), thats the keyboard sound.... "which I like". lol

 

[razoredge]

Gillian, however, hasn't lost much. He's a little lower now, but he's still an excellent singer. Unlike some of his counterparts (cough robertplant)

I wasnt talking about his actual voice as much as how he went after the songs. But there is no doubt his voice has lost some off the edges. They all have, cant be avoided, I dont hold that against them.

 

[Matt]

Are you already familiar with Nektar? A while ago I bought some of their albums and I found "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" and "A Tab In The Ocean" quite enjoyable. Here is a clip of two songs from "A Tab In The Ocean" which they played at a concert that was aired on German TV about 3 years ago:


BTW, did you already read through this thread?:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/non-opeth-music-chat/150277-rare-prog-early-70s.html

(Might take a while.)

Thanks for that link. I post like twice a year on the Opeth board because it's filled with faggots, so I missed that. Good stuff in there though.

And yes, am familiar with Nektar.

 

[ramses]

Forgot about the band Goblin, from Italy, and I like Renaissance as well.

 

[Belligerent]

Always liked the song "Lines on my Face" by Peter Frampton. Also the band Mountain deserves to be mentioned. Leslie West is an underrated guitarist.

 

[Krilons Resa]

@ Doom - Listening to the Anglagard. Fucking weird stuff. Liking it though.

It takes more than a few listens to fully grasp but once you are acclimated with all the movements, holy fuck is it worth it.

 

[razoredge]

Also the band Mountain deserves to be mentioned. Leslie West is an underrated guitarist.

Thats a good point, Nantucket Sleighride was a bit progressive. I think Theme for Imaginary Western was too. With me the biggest point that is ignored or given less than enough recognition is how important the entire band, Mountain, was in bringing hardrock to peoples attention. Even I almost always forget to mention them, hell they were kickin ass and rockin hard in 1970-71 right along side the rest of them that always get mentioned. Felix Pappalardi was a great bass player and producer too. But yes, Leslie was RAW guitar in your face.

 

[Ice]

Always liked the song "Lines on my Face" by Peter Frampton. Also the band Mountain deserves to be mentioned. Leslie West is an underrated guitarist.

Mountain is good I saw them open up for Deep Purple a few years ago, good show and they have a great sense of humor.

 

[mdmatt4ever]

Cool info. I did know about Morgenstein/Winger but had long since forgotten. I figured Morse would be the best replacement for Livgrin being how... of my friends... we were into The Dregs and Kansas at the same time, so there was some crossover. But when you get down to the best of Kansas you are talking Livgrins stuff so the band without him seem like it could not help but limp a bit. Which brings me to another "need to get" .... Proto Kaw, I heard a few on XM Deep Tracks occasionally the past few years and I though it sounded good. You have that one yet ?

I have Rapture of the Deep and enjoy it quite a few times a year. Just had it in circulation again about a month ago. Its all I have of the three DP w/SM recordings. More straight up stuff but they keep it interesting. Gillans almost the weak link to my ears , cant believe I had to say that, that would have been blasphomy 20 years ago.

rapture of the deep is great. the best purple album in decades. bannanas was good too though

 

[Burkhard]

Love the Hammond (if thats what it actually is), thats the keyboard sound.... "which I like". lol

Maybe you´ll also like this one then:

Birth Control - "The Work Is Done"


A German Kraut Rock-band. I saw a concert of them on German TV a few years ago in a "Kraut Rock Special" and enjoyed it. However, I only have got one of their albums - "Hoodoo Man" -, which, as far as I understand, also contains their biggest "hit": "Gamma Ray". Someone posted the album version of this song on youtube.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEr1yioVWtk&feature=[/ame]

 

[razoredge]

They were pretty radical, sounds like maybe around 1970 or earlier to me.
I was really into the sound Ken Hensley, Vincent Crane and Craig Frost got out of their Hammonds, so it always stuck with me.