Category: Progressive Rock

Posted on

Yes featuring ARW, Live at the Apollo

I am pleased to share that Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman (ARW), Live at the Apollo finally has a release date, September 7, 2018.

The recorded live event is available in various formats,  highlighted with an opaque orange vinyl 3 LP edition. The orange vinyl edition is limited to 3,500 units.

The other formats available for preorder are CD, DVD, and Blu-Ray.

I was fortunate to see Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman ARW, An Evening of Yes Music & More on October 21, 2016, at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT. They were grand together as Yes is Jon Anderson on vocals!

I’m eager for the live concert footage on the Eagle Rock Blu-Ray edition.

Track Listing

Side A
1. Intro / Cinema / Perpetual Change
2. Hold On

Side B
1. I’ve Seen All Good People : (i) Your Move (ii) All Good People
2. Lift Me Up
3. And You & I (i) Cord Of Life (ii) Eclipse (iii) The Preacher, The Teacher (iv) Apocalypse

Side C
1. Rhythm Of Love
2. Heart Of The Sunrise

Side D
1. Changes
2. Long Distance Runaround / The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)

Side E
1. Awaken

Side F
1. Make It Easy / Owner Of A Lonely Heart
2. Roundabout

Posted on

Classic Rock Mag – Purple Reign – June ’18

Purple and Rock are two of my all favorite expressions. The latest issue of Classic Rock Magazine (June 2018, Issue 249) features extensive coverage about the Deep Purple Family. There was a period of time when they were the pinnacle of rock.

Purple Reign

I have been a Deep Purple fan since ’68 when I first heard their hit single “Hush” on progressive rock radio (WNEW-FM, 102.7, NYC). “Hush” celebrates its 50th anniversary in June. Amazing.

 

Deep Purple

This issue is a in-depth read, 28 pages to be precise. Starting with Deep Purple, then onto Dio and Rainbow, followed by Coverdale & Whitesnake, and more… A total steal at $3.99!

Kudos to Sian Llewellyn, Editor and her team of writers. This is rock curation at its finest!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on

The Ultimate Music Guide – Yes

Yes is a progressive rock band that I return to often as their music echoes as poetry in the Music Of Our Heart. I obtained this issue of The Ultimate Music Guide Yes via the Uncut North America Digital Magazine Music Store. I couldn’t find it in my local magazine rack at Barnes & Noble.  Isn’t that what my iPad Pro and the Web is designed to accomplish 😉

Posted on

Heavy Horses 40th Anniversary, ‘New Shoes Edition’ From Jethro Tull

Released Today, Friday, March 2, 2018!

JT

2018 marks 50 years since progressive folk-rock band Jethro Tull jumped onto the British music scene. Released between Songs From The Wood (1977) and Stormwatch (1979), Heavy Horses was the second of a trilogy of folk-rock albums from Jethro Tull.

The 40th anniversary ‘New Shoes Edition’ of Heavy Horses, is a 3CD/ 2DVD boxset that features the original album with nine additional bonus tracks, seven of which are previously unreleased. The ‘New Shoes Edition’ also contains a live concert from May 1978, and two DVDs which feature the original, bonus and live tracks all mixed to surround sound by Steven Wilson and Jakko Jakszyk. A 96-page booklet covers a history of the album and corresponding tour, complete lyrics, rare photos and exclusive interviews.

Heavy Horses3D

Posted on

Traffic – Shindig! Magazine, Issues 65/66

I put my iPad Pro to excellent use today as a digital music magazine. I downloaded two issues Shindig! Magazine (UK) regarding my favorite band, Traffic.

The magazine augments the two-part Traffic article with an exclusive Dave Mason interview as well as a provocative article on the oft-maligned Chris Wood, “Songs From The Wood”.

So if you have looked for a substantive source of knowledge about Traffic this will satisfy that craving.

My personal thanks to British journalist Kris Needs for the comprehensive research he conducted. Well done Sir! Excellent read.

 

 

Posted on

Asia – Symfonia: Live in Bulgaria 2013

Progressive rock has been decimated  by the deaths of Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and John Wetton within the last year. Prog Rock Magazine will be featuring a cover story about John Wetton’s music and life in their next issue.

Asia has released a three-disc live set, Symfonia: Live in Bulgaria 2013 which serves as their memorial to late singer John Wetton.

It was recorded in the Plovdiv Roman Theatre at the Sounds of the Ages festival four years ago and marks one of guitarist Sam Coulson’s first appearances with Asia after he replaced founding member Steve Howe. “The band never sounded better,” Wetton later said of the performance.

Asia, ‘Symfonia: Live in Bulgaria 2013′ Track Listing
“Sole Survivor”
“Time Again”
“Face On The Bridge”
“My Own Time”
“Holy War”
“An Extraordinary Life”
“Days Like These”
“Open Your Eyes”
“Only Time will Tell”
“Don’t Cry”
“Heroine”
“The Smile Has Left Your Eyes”
“Wildest Dreams”
“Heat of the Moment”

Read More: Asia Dedicate Upcoming Live Album ‘Symfonia’ to John Wetton | http://ultimateclassicrock.com/asia-symfonia-live-in-bulgaria-2013/?trackback=tsmclip

2017-plovdiv

Posted on

Days of Future Passed in its 50th Year

Many of the artists who are essential to my DNA music fabric will be celebrating 50th anniversaries this year. The Moody Blues announced last week that they are embarking on a Days Of Future Passed, 50th Anniversary Tour. The U.S. Tour commences on June 3rd and runs through July 23rd. They will be performing their iconic album live onstage in its entirety for the first time.

The Moody Blues forged a unique direction with the Days Of….second album. I love the risks they took incorporating a symphony with their sound. They achieved cross-over to classical, especially with the album art.  I can’t decide if this album represents psychedelic or progressive rock as a genre.

In Search of a Lost Chord is definitely psychedelic rock with the song about Timothy Leary, “Legend of a Mind” and the Moody’s experiment with LSD. The album cover represents an acid trip.

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12996137

I think I’ll spend Saturday listening to The Moody Blues on Apple Music through the SONOS Play One to overcome the dreary day.

Posted on

Prog Magazine – Jethro Tull Issue

Excellent issue this month about Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull. Jethro Tull disbanded in 2012. Jethro Tull will celebrate a 50th-anniversary at the end of January 2018. Ian Anderson is working on a studio Jethro Tull recording that will mark that moment in rock history.

I have been trying to learn more about what happened between Ian Anderson and lead guitarist Martin Barre. Prog Magazine covers that story in depth in this issue.

16508263_1285353004837333_93672335378102254_n

I have been a Jethro Tull fan since 1968, starting with the first recording, This Was. I purchased Jethro Tull recordings steadily until 1980 when I hit marginal utility with A the 13th studio album. Tull stopped clicking for me. I took a hiatus until 2002 when Ian Anderson began doing his Rubbing Elbows tours. I resumed seeing Jethro Tull live in concert on the 40th-anniversary tour in 2008 and again with the  Thick as a Brick 2 tour as a free concert.

jethro_tull_-_a

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2549951

I look forward to the 50th-anniversary celebration of Jethro Tull. Prog Magazine has been instrumental in rekindling my interest in the Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson 80’s era discography. I especially like the recordings The Broadsword and the Beast and Crest of a Knave.

 

jethro_tull_crest_of_a_knave

By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1121640

 

16708528_1289413834431250_6775028577752048120_n

Posted on

Greg Lake – Songs of a Lifetime

I am constantly amazed by the powerful brilliance of Greg Lake’s voice. He is instrumental in his role in the history of progressive rock. I was listening to the 2nd and 3rd tracks on King Crimson’s, In the Court of the Crimson King, marveling at the richness found in the songs he sings, “I Talk To The Wind” and “Epitath“.  I decided to dig deeper into Greg Lake’s catalog. His vocal tone is a blessing within the music of our heart.

I spent time beguiled with his live recording, Songs of a Lifetime from 2013. Its a wonderful album to acquiesce with on a lazy afternoon. I relished how Greg Lake took the time to share his memories with an enraptured audience. The revelations allowed further insight into Greg’s artistic process which brought the songs greater sustenance.

So if you are searching for an hour of musical fulfillment, I strongly urge you to listen to Greg Lake’s Songs of a Lifetime.

Image result for greg lake songs of a lifetime
Posted on

The times I have seen Yes live

My love of Yes and progressive rock me has been flourishing. Tomorrow night I have tickets to see Anderson, Rabin, and Wakeman. A concert I have been anticipating for months. In the music of our heart this is Yes.

I have been reflecting on the Yes concerts I have attended in the past.  I first heard Yes with The Yes Album in 1970 in the college student lounge. I did not see Yes live until 2001 at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, CT. It was the Yes Symphonic Live when Yes toured with a full symphony performing with them. That was also the first time I heard prog rock and symphony combined. It was superb. They were promoting the studio album Magnification which I have a warm affection for today.

Yes Symphonic Live was released on DVD in 2003. I like when artists capture performances I have seen on video. I have this DVD in my music video collection. It helps to recall the concert I witnessed in 2001.

The next time I saw Yes was in May of 2004 at Mohegan Sun Casino Arena. Little did I realize it was one of the last opportunities to see the classic line-up of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White.. Roger Dean designed an undersea stage setting for Yes’s 35th Anniversary Tour.

As it so happens Yes decided to film and record a concert with the original Yes team a few nights later in Lowell, Mass.

Soon I will see Yes for the third time live. Can you feel the excitement? Rick Wakeman stated that ARW will be recorded (filmed?) live on the US tour. Maybe the Wallingford stop will part of that future recording. Going for the One!

%d bloggers like this: