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1973: A Year in Progressive Rock
During a decade that defined progressive rock, 1973 was a pivotal year. Influential bands like Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Jethro Tull and King Crimson released some of their best-selling albums and there was a plethora of releases from less well known, but equally worthy acts. This book is a journey through this creative period; stopping off on route to explore symphonic rock, the Canterbury scene, Krautrock, fusion, progressive folk, art rock, space rock, album artwork and much more. The author was in his late teens in 1973 with an insatiable appetite for music and remembers the period with affection but this book is much more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s a comprehensive and knowledgeable guide to an era when music with multiple sections, rich textures, intricate time signatures, inspired arrangements and diverse influences performed by skilled musicians was a universal language. For the discerning music lover, it was possible to journey to the dark side of the moon, take a dip in topographic oceans, encounter pot head pixies from a distant planet and still be home in time for larks’ tongues in aspic.
160 pages, Paperback
Published May 7, 2022
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July 7, 2026
It somehow took me 2 years, 6 months, and 1 day to read the mere 133 pages in this book! That's not because of the quality though. More a sign of how distractable I am!
The book is split into two parts. The first part is sort of an intro to what prog is, what movements there have been in prog, and why 1973 was such a significant year. I'll be honest, and with all due respect to the author, the first part of the book is the least memorable. Maybe it's because there wasn't anything new for me here, or because the author mixes in a lot of his own opinions that I didn't always agree with, and wasn't massively interested in.
But the second half is where the author takes you through 20 prog albums from 1973, track by track, explaining what they're about (if relevant) and some background to the recording. I'd heard of 14 of the 20 bands, but had only listened to a pitiful 4 of the albums. Listening through the albums and reading the extra info was great. I just kept putting the book down and occasionally losing it between albums, hence taking two years to get through them all!
It's not the deepest of dives into the albums, and the most hardcore proggers probably won't find much to interest them, but for the younger, less knowledgeable fans, or older fans who fancy a breezy trip down memory lane, this is a good start!
The book is split into two parts. The first part is sort of an intro to what prog is, what movements there have been in prog, and why 1973 was such a significant year. I'll be honest, and with all due respect to the author, the first part of the book is the least memorable. Maybe it's because there wasn't anything new for me here, or because the author mixes in a lot of his own opinions that I didn't always agree with, and wasn't massively interested in.
But the second half is where the author takes you through 20 prog albums from 1973, track by track, explaining what they're about (if relevant) and some background to the recording. I'd heard of 14 of the 20 bands, but had only listened to a pitiful 4 of the albums. Listening through the albums and reading the extra info was great. I just kept putting the book down and occasionally losing it between albums, hence taking two years to get through them all!
It's not the deepest of dives into the albums, and the most hardcore proggers probably won't find much to interest them, but for the younger, less knowledgeable fans, or older fans who fancy a breezy trip down memory lane, this is a good start!
Displaying 1 of 1 review