Supertramp - Supertramp
Already inadvertently reviewed twice by me in my main journal, we’ll be looking into Supertramp’s debut again. Almost more of a folk record, somewhat in the
From Genesis to Revelation mould, it nevertheless signposted some of the greatness that was to come from this band.
Weasels Ripped My Flesh - The Mothers of Invention
What is it with Zappa and rodents? First
Hot Rats and now this? Ah, sanity, how I fear for you! The things I do for prog!
If i Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You - Caravan
What a great title! If it wasn’t Caravan, one of the leaders of the Canterbury scene, this album would gain its place here just for that imaginative title. But it is, and they are, and it is. Capische?
Atom Heart Mother - Pink Floyd
While Syd was finding himself, or losing himself, or doing whatever the hell it was with himself after leaving Floyd, Gilmour, Waters, Mason and Wright were getting on with it. With a proper, working band now and no issues to concern them (at least, in the studio) they crafted their first album to break them commercially, hitting the number one spot. This was also their first foray into working with Storm Thorgerson’s Hipgnosis, who would design so many of their iconic album sleeves.
Trespass - Genesis
Ah, the first of what I consider the “real” Genesis album,
Trespass set down a template other prog bands would follow, with long, involved songs telling long, involved stories and creating the persona of stuck-up arty bands whose feet weren’t rooted in the real world. One of my all-time favourite Genesis albums, it was the end for poor Anthony Phillips, but the beginning of a glorious career for Genesis, leading the charge of the riders on the prog rock storm.
Chunga’s Revenge - Frank Zappa
And here he is again. Like a turd in my bowl who just won’t flush away, it’s Zappa again. For the second time in the same year. Again. As a matter of fact, it would have been three times, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to listen to
Burnt Weeny Sandwich too! There’s only so much one man can take!
Air Conditioning - Curved Air
I already spoke about the problems Curved Air had in the previous section. This is their debut album.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Emerson, Lake and Palmer
If any band typified the excesses and overblown self-indulgence of progressive rock, it was ELP. Though they had masses of fans, they had probably as many detractors, and were seen as elitist and arrogant, claims which are hard to deny. We’ll get to all of that in due course, but for now this was their debut album, after the breakup of The Nice.
Gentle Giant - Gentle Giant
Already referenced in some detail in the ProGenitors section, this is the debut album from the trio of brothers who tried, didn’t really make it, but gained a cult following even decades after their demise.
He to He Who Am the Only One - Van der Graaf Generator
Yes, back then some bands did release more than one album in a year. VDGG were another, their third effort hitting the shelves as 1970 drew to a close.