David Weigel, national political correspondent for the Washington Post, released a book this year on the history of progressive rock — which is a glorious and wonderful excuse for a podcast-length discussion of the subject. What’s great about this kind of music, what happened to it, the best places to start, and a lot more.
Book Discussed
The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock
Dave’s Recommended Starter Music
King Crimson, In the Court of the Crimson King
Rush, Moving Pictures
Genesis, Selling England by the Pound
Yes, Close to the Edge
Soft Machine, Third
Tom’s Recommended Starter Music
Big Big Train, English Electric (Full Power) — extremely strong except for track #1
Yes, Going for the One (bypass the title song if it doesn’t float your boat)
Jethro Tull, A Passion Play (takes numerous listens, but what a masterpiece)
Steven Wilson, Hand. Cannot. Erase. (First Regret/Three Years Older and Happy Returns are devastating; takes many listens but it will hit you)
Jethro Tull, Minstrel in the Gallery (Baker St. Muse is the key song here)
Related Episodes
Ep. 511 Today’s Tom Sawyer: Neil Peart, Rush, and Liberty (Brad Birzer)
Ep. 310 The Year in (Progressive) Music (Brad Birzer)
Ep. 110 The First Money Bomb (Steve Hogarth)
Ep. 74 The Episode of the Year (Brad Birzer)
Ep. 3 Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson (Ian Anderson)
Listener Website Mentioned
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Audio by Chris Williams Audio.
