Perusing this month's selections, I, of course, had to break down and play most of them. And, among all these jewels is a true gem. Have a listen to Gentle Giant's "Nothing At All". Quintessential progressive rock. And, man, does it rock! And, yes, you want to crank it up to eleven. Listen to the entire song just take the hell off, right around 3:15. That killer guitar ostinato! And check out the drums around 4:30. And then it evolves into something altogether different, and then it ends. Over nine minutes of pure bliss.
That, my friends, is Gentle Giant; soundscapes to get lost in. Or, as we used to call it: bongmusic.
And there are a good ten dozen or so other bands out there just like them, in the magical realm of progressive rock.
Thank goodness for busy parents, best friends with audiophile older brothers, and lots and lots of time. If idleness is the devil's workshop, then we enjoyed every minute we spent there. Here's what we were listening to, all those years ago ...
"Keep On Growing"
Derek and the Dominos
"Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs" [11/xx/1970]
"Light Your Windows"
Quicksilver Messenger Service
"Quicksilver Messenger Service" [05/xx/1968]
"Love Music"
Paul Revere and the Raiders
Single [02/1973]
"Lucky Man"
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Single [02/1973]
"Lullabye Letter"
Soft Machine
"The Soft Machine" [12/xx/1968]
"Mandolin Wind"
Rod Stewart
"Every Picture Tells A Story" [05/xx/1971]
"Maximum Consumption"
The Kinks
"Everybody's In Show-Biz" [08/25/1972]
"Nature's Way"
Spirit
"Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus" [11/xx/1970]
"Nightingale"
Eagles
"Eagles" [06/17/1972]
"No Good Trying"
Syd Barrett
"The Madcap Laughs" [01/03/1970]
"Nothing At All"
Gentle Giant
"Gentle Giant" [11/27/1970]
"Oh, Babe What Would You Say?"
Hurricane Smith
Single [02/1973]
"Orthenian St., Pts. 1 & 2"
Van Der Graaf Generator
"The Aerosol Grey Machine" [09/xx/1969]
"Peace - A Theme"
King Crimson
"In The Wake Of Poseidon" [05/15/1970]
"Peace Of Mind"
Family
"Music In A Doll's House" [07/19/1968]
"Pictures Of Home"
Deep Purple
"Machine Head" [03/xx/1972]
"Quite Rightly So"
Procol Harum
"Shine On Brightly" [09/xx/1968]
"Renegade"
Steppenwolf
"Steppenwolf 7" [11/xx/1970]
"Rock Me Baby"
Blue Cheer
"Vincebus Eruptum" [01/xx/1968]
"Rocks Off"
The Rolling Stones
"Exile On Main St." [05/12/1972]
"Rollin' And Tumblin'"
Cream
"Fresh Cream" [02/09/1966]
"St. Dominic's Preview"
Van Morrison
"St. Dominic's Preview" [07/xx/1972]
"Save The Life Of My Child"
Simon and Garfunkel
"Bookends" [04/03/1968]
"Sentimental Journey"
Ringo Starr
"Sentimental Journey" [04/24/1970]
"Shanghai Noodle Factory"
Traffic
"Last Exit" [05/xx/1969]
"Singing Winds, Crying Beasts"
Santana
"Abraxas" [09/xx/1970]
"Sing Swan Song"
Can
"Ege Bamyasi" [11/xx/1972]
"Situations"
Curved Air
"Airconditioning" [11/xx/1970]
"South California Purples"
Chicago
"Chicago Transit Authority" [04/28/1969]
"Starting In The Middle Of The Day We Can Drink Our Politics Away"
Matching Mole
"Matching Mole's Little Red Record" [11/xx/1972]
"Strawberry Wine"
The Band
"Stage Fright" [08/17/1970]
"Summer '68"
Pink Floyd
"Atom Heart Mother" [10/10/1970]
"Sunshine Superman"
Donovan
"Donovan's Greatest Hits" [01/xx/1969]
"The Changeling"
The Doors
"L.A. Woman" [04/19/1971]
"The Conqueror"
Genesis
"From Genesis To Revelation" [03/07/1969]
"The Day Begins"
The Moody Blues
"Days Of Future Passed' [12/xx/1967]
"The Dust Blows Forward 'N The Dust Blows Back"
Captain Beefheart
"Trout Mask Replica" [06/16/1969]
"The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo)"
Bob Dylan
"Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Volume II" [11/17/1971]
"The Reason Is?"
Hawkwind
"Hawkwind" [08/14/1970]
"The World Is A Ghetto"
War
Single [02/1973]
"Three Roses"
America
"America" [12/29/1971]
"Trouble Man"
Marvin Gaye
Single [02/1973]
"Trouble No More"
The Allman Brothers Band
"Eat A Peach" [02/12/1972]
"Unconscious Power"
Iron Butterfly
"Heavy" [01/22/1968]
"Wasp"
Black Sabbath
"Black Sabbath" [02/13/1970]
"Whisper In The Night"
Electric Light Orchestra
"No Answer" [12/xx/1971]
"Why Can't We Live Together"
Timmy Thomas
Single [02/1973]
"With You There To Help Me"
Jethro Tull
"Benefit" [04/20/1970]
