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PROGRESSIVE ROCK

   VA - Big Box of Big Prog (A Butterboy Compilation) 5 x Discs + Artwork

Progressive rock (shortened as prog; sometimes called art rock, classical rock or symphonic rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States throughout the mid to late 1960s. Initially termed "progressive pop", the style was an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who abandoned standard pop traditions in favour of instrumentation and compositional techniques more frequently associated with jazz, folk, or classical music. Additional elements contributed to its "progressive" label: lyrics were more poetic, technology was harnessed for new sounds, music approached the condition of "art" and the studio, rather than the stage, became the focus of musical activity, which often involved creating music for listening, not dancing. Prog is based on fusions of styles, approaches and genres, involving a continuous move between formalism and eclecticism. Due to its historical reception, prog's scope is sometimes limited to a stereotype of long solos, overlong albums, fantasy lyrics, grandiose stage sets and costumes, and an obsessive dedication to technical skill. While the genre is often cited for its merging of high culture and low culture, few artists incorporated literal classical themes in their work to any great degree, and only a handful of groups purposely emulated or referenced classical music.

The genre coincided with the mid 1960s economic boom that allowed record labels to allocate more creative control to their artists, as well as the new journalistic division between "pop" and "rock" that lent generic significance to both terms. Prog saw a high level of popularity in the early-to-mid 1970s, but faded soon after. Conventional wisdom holds that the rise of punk rock caused this, but several more factors contributed to the decline. Music critics, who often labelled the concepts as "pretentious" and the sounds as "pompous" and "overblown", tended to be hostile towards the genre or to completely ignore it. After the late 1970s, progressive rock fragmented in numerous forms. Some bands achieved commercial success well into the 1980s (albeit with changed line-ups and more compact song structures) or crossed into symphonic pop, arena rock, or new wave.

Early groups who exhibited progressive features are retroactively described as "proto-prog". The Canterbury scene, originating in the late 1960s, denoted a subset of prog bands who emphasised the use of wind instruments, complex chord changes and long improvisations. Rock in Opposition, from the late 1970s, was more avant-garde, and when combined with the Canterbury style, created avant-prog. In the 1980s, a new subgenre, neo-progressive rock, enjoyed some commercial success, although it was also accused of being derivative and lacking in innovation. Post-progressive draws upon newer developments in popular music and the avant-garde since the mid 1970s. (Wikipedia)

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This is the first volume of Progressive rock box sets planned. Future boxes will use shorter tracks and will be broken down into various Progressive Rock  sub genres. To get the ball rolling this one is called "BIG BOX of BIG PROG".

For those who are interested, the artwork used for this box set are extracts from original oil paintings that I have painted. They are from a series of artworks that were commissioned by a surrealist collector friend. I think they fit well with the mood of this box set.

I have tried to keep tracks by my favourite Prog Rock bands to a minimal. I could include many more from Yes, King Crimson, ELP, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Spock's Beard .... but have tried to include works  with the aim of showing how rich and varied this genre is. Each of these tracks are epic in proportion and musicality. There are only 50 tracks here but they are long tracks with the shortest being only 6:25 long and the longest track running at 49:33. In total there is nearly 14 hours of wonderful Progressive Rock masterpieces to open your mind and hearts.

You don’t have to listen to these all in one session (probably a ridiculous thing to do and certainly requires patience. I did, many times over, in preparing this box set and did not feel mentally crowded.) I do hope that with each listen you will be delighted by what you find here. Are you brave enough? Do not fear, this may well be one of the best Epic Progressive Rock compilations you will find.

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        VA - Big Box of Big Prog (A Butterboy Compilation) 5 x Discs + Artwork

https://butterboycompilations.blogspot.com/2023/01/va-big-box-of-big-prog-butterboy.html


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Track list 1

01 The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson.(09:23)
02 Take A Pebble by Emerson Lake & Palmer. (12:33)
03 Thick As A Brick (Part I) by Jethro Tull. (22:36)
04 Song Of Scheherazade by Renaissance. (24:39)
05 Morning Comes by Aqua Fragile (07:18)
06  Firth Of Fifth by Genesis (09:30)
07 The Underfall Yard by Big Big Train (22:53)
08 All Along the Watchtower by Affinity (11:42)
09 Epic Forest by Rare Bird (09:05)
10 Moonloop (Improvisation) by Porcupine Tree (16:18)

Track list 2

11 2112 by Rush (20:38)
12 Octavarium by Dream Theatre (24:00)
13 Time by Pink Floyd (06:48)
14 The Same River by Riverside (12:01)
15 Echoes by Pink Floyd (23:31)
16 Early Morning by Epitaph (10:03)
17 First Communication by Agitation Free (06:25)
18 Mei by Echolyn (49:33)
19 The Sleepwalkers By Van Der Graaf Generator (10:31)
20 Tarkus by Emerson Lake & Palmer (20:42)

Track list 3

21 Close To The Edge by Yes (18:38)
22 The Island Come And See The Landlord's Daughter You'll Not Feel The Drowning By Decemberists (12:26)
23 Supper's Ready by Genesis (22:52)
24 Tomorrow Birds Will Sing by Black Noodle Project (06:48)
25 Remember The Future by Nektar Part 1 & Part 2 (35:10)
26 Epitaph by King Crimson (08:48)
27 Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 1 by Emerson Lake & Palmer (08:36)
28 The Mountain by PFM (Premiata Forneria Marconi) (10:46)
29 Genena by Phantasia (09:22)
30 Lady Fantasy Suite - Encounter-Smiles For You, Lady Fantasy (previously unreleased) By Camel (12:59)

Track list 4

31 The Invisible Man by Marrilion (13:37)
32 I Am The Sun - Part One by Flower Kings (15:03)
33 Ladies Of The Night by Airlord (09:40)
34 Poor Mans Moody Blues by Barclay James Harvest (06:59)
35 And You And I by Yes (10:21)
36 Moonshine by Curved Air (11:32)
37 What Have We Sown by Pineapple Thief (27:32)
38 Poseidons Creation by Eloy (11:29)
39 The Light by Spock's Beard (15:33)
40 Song for America by Kansas (10:03)

Track list 5
41 Baker St. Muse by Jethro Tull (16:39)
42 The Great Nothing by Spock's Beard (27:03)
43 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1-7) by Pink Floyd (17:32)
44 Rockpommel's Land by Grobschnitt (19:52)
45 Eruption by Focus (22:51)
46 Flight by Peter Hammill (19:45)
47 Nine Feet Underground by Caravan (22:44)
48 Mumps by Hatfield & The North (20:21)
49 The Battle - The Forest by Rick Wakeman (18:57)
50 Ritual (Nous Sommes du Soleil) by Yes (21:37)