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Originally Posted by Big Ears
Thanks again for the positive comments, US.
Although I am old enough to remember psychedelia as a concept, the short response is that I do not have the knowledge to write convincingly about the transition from the musical form to progressive rock. Early psychedelia records and The Beatles' initial attempts are well-documented, but I have little or no knowledge of the American bands (13th Floor Elevators, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, etc). Rather than seeing a linnear development from psychedelia to progressive rock, in which the former fell by the wayside as the result of changing fashion, some would argue that they developed side-by-side, as Hawkwind and Steve Hillage, for example, maintained a psychedelic aspect throughout the seventies. When I was about 11-years-old, progressive and heavy rock just seemed to appear out of nowhere! One day, I might give the birth of progressive rock a try, but I do not post everything I write in any case. Much of it never reaches the word processor.
I am definitely not an author or a professional writer. Having been taught to write very formally, I do know the rules, even if I break them now and again. This can make my writing rather stilted. Journalists tend to write as they speak and think nothing of ending a sentence with a preposition. My guess is that they are also trained to use little devices such as connecting a piece of writing to their readers' existing knowledge. They also have editors to oversee their work. Annoyingly, I am a perfectionist and do not have a proof-reader, so I keep returning to things I have drafted. Maybe I should put this right.
The advantage you have over me, US, is that you are a prolific writer, so I would say do not change anything.
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There's certainly a hole there with not listening to some of the west coast American psychedelia of the late 1960s. As far as I'm concerned the Doors, the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, Country Joe and the Fish, Chocolate Watch Band and Love are essential to any music catalogue. If you want I'd be happy to recommend a must listen to list of the best albums here and then you could compare them to the British psychedelic scene of the same period. Strangely enough you mentioned the Manfred Mann Earth Band on my journal and on the first album (which is great by the way) if you remove the heaviness from it, you can kind of hear the American psychedelia influence on the band.
I agree with what your saying about the psychedelic influence and there is certainly not a direct line between psychedelia and prog but I do know that most of the prog bands were influenced by the free flowing style of psychedelia, even though their arrangements and outlook differed greatly. Early Yes on their debut were basically a psychedelic band.
I suppose what makes writers good, is the diversity of styles and differeing opinions they bring rather than just going with a basic model.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Ears
Bandolier by Budgie (MCA 1975)
Budgie keep their ammunition slung across the chest
Bandolier is the Welsh power trio’s third album, consolidating their reputation for trademark grinding riffs, bizarre song titles and occasional slow ballads (to balance the thunderous impact). It also ranks among their first five and best albums, with the driving Breaking All the House Rules and the insistent Who Do You Want for Your Love as standouts. Slipaway is the gentle piece, while the Andy Fairweather-Lowe cover, I Ain’t No Mountain, was an early attempt at a hit single. The album closes on Napolean Bona Parts 1 and 2, an epic that makes modern bands sound like pansies!
NOTE: The above represents my experiment in reviewing an album in 100, or less, words (a bit like Trollheart's Bitesize). My intention was to review Budgie's first five albums in this style. Having begun writing about progressive rock, the project has been shelved, like so many others.
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Bandolier was the last great Budgie album really.