DAVE'S FAVES #34: PROG TAG 2024

[@dereckvon]

Enjoyed this.

[@beerandvinyl]

Excellent response! I have now seen that amorphous/androgynous with Peter Hamill record many times (how could anyone forget that artwork) and I need to explore big time. Transatlantic was a perfect pick and one of my favorite bands. I often waffle on my favorite genesis record, but I do always come back to Selling England and it's probably a top 10 album for me. You're dead on with Hackett's solo. Chills every single time. The Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding pick is brilliant... I'm surprised I haven't seen that more. I knew you'd knock this out of the park and was looking forward to it and you did not disappoint! Thanks for jumping on this and doing the tag.. I've saved this to my playlist with the others! Thanks again David!

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Good man! Cheers! You know, what surprised me when watching those reaction videos to 'Firth of Fifth', is how many people appear to get the chills in the same place during the song. There's some musical science going on there!

[@MGKBOSTON]

Hi David! I just didn’t have the content in my collection to do this tag. Ommadawn is so good I can’t even describe it. The opening minute of this video is pure comedy my friend. 😂✌️

[@EmbryonicRobot]

Awesome intro, which really set the mood! You mentioned some things I know very well and some I don't, which is all I can hope for in a video. Elton's FfaF and LLB are truly fabulous. I almost chose Frankie Goes to Hollywood for that question. Great vid, again 🙂

[@vinylizingprogger]

Great response! Tough to beat a cover like is what is on Amorphous Androgynous. I am with you Oldfield. Ommadawn, and particularly part II, is my favorite. My pick was also Hammill for vocalist. It is often hard to avoid Hammill in these prog tag type videos. Really hoping to catch Hackett live this year, and perhaps Firth of Fith. Cheers, Richard

[@myprogrockshow3025]

H to He is a great pick! 10cc is definitely in the prog vein, but they don’t get enough credit for it. Greenslade YAY! Charisma label is well represented. Amazing tag!

[@vinylwood]

Morning David , have a question. What or why is the reason for the massive size of your turntable platter?? I know it is a type of acrylic and weighs less than it looks but don’t get the purpose of its mass. 😊

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

I think the basic idea is that acrylic absorbs vibrations very well, so there's less micro-feedback reaching the stylus. As for its size/mass, that's to do with interia to reduce wow and flutter. Despite being an eBay buy maybe fifteen years ago, this turntable serves me well. It's steady as a rock. Fantastic.

[@mike_burke]

@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826Good to see you keeping well Dave. You are most likely busier than ever now that you are retired (that’s been my recent experience at least). Following up on OP’s comment: please do consider a full equipment rundown at some point? Your video on record cleaning was also one of my favourites, I know you liked that one too. Very curious what equipment you have used, loved, hated over the years. Just some crumbs for thought. Cheers!

[@vinylwood]

@@davidatkinson-lifematters4826 Ty David for your explanation. I'm in awe of that deck you have. I'm sporting an old late 80's System Dek , bought second hand in the early 90's, it's not pretty but she's faithful. Thx again for the info, it all makes sense now.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

@@mike_burke It's on my list to do Mike. I've been sorting out old papers, etc. and uncovered a load of hifi manuals from my earlier kit. Coming soon, I hope.

[@frenchvinyladdict]

Good Morning Mister Atkinson, I knew I was gonna love your entries even before clicking the video! I need to go a little bit deeper into Transatlantic, a band that i don't know much about. Thanks for the recommandation. A Trick Of The Tail for a non-prog fan is a good idea as it is easily accessible. Selling England By The Pound!! I knew it ;-) This is the one that got me hooked on the early Genesis era. What i like about this album is the fact that it really stood the test of time, as it sounds a bit more ''modern'' when compared to the previous records they've released before, because of the ARP Pro-Soloist synth integrated into Bank's arsenal, also because Steve Hackett was experimenting with all sorts of effects to transform the sound of his guitar + their producer John Burns really grasped the essence and aesthetic of Genesis which makes also this album a treat for the ears 🙂 Firth of Fifth is indeed a masterpiece.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Cheers! You MUST (if you haven't already done so) give Big Big Train's 'English Electric' a fair hearing. 'The First Rebreather', 'Curator of Butterflies' and also 'Victorian Brickwork' (from the preceding album 'The Undersell Yard') videos are on YT. Best Prog band since Marillion, and possibly since the early-70s.

[@nickcooper1260]

Great video. Genesis Live! is one of the best live albums ever, BJH's album includes the beautiful 'Child of the Universe' and I agree 'Yellow Brick Road' is Elton John's magnum opus.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Thanks. I'm going to do a video on BJH soon. I know there was quite a bit of mediocre songs in their catalogue, particularly later in their career, but those albums up to 'XII' are full of great songs.

[@Harrispilton22]

David ..Newslflash..they’ve invented a thing called cigarette lighters. That was comedy gold! 😆 I’m not a big Prog fan but the first two minutes of Moonchild is fantastic..then it all falls apart. The Amorphous Andogynous put out some great Mix CDs about 15 years ago, they may have been bootlegs? That Frankie pick was very good, the opening track is utterly fantastic, then ‘I’ll stick to the 12” versions of the hits. As a non Prog fan I absolutely love ‘Larks Tongue’ & at a push ‘Red’ May try early Genesis.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Listening to this latest Amorphous album got me hoovering-up loads of FSOL LPs. I loved them in the 90s and have a bunch on CD, including at least one Amorphous CD. I love them. I think there's a comp they've put-out fairly recently which a mix-up one. Tread carefully re Genesis. I would imagine that 'The Lamb' would appeal to you best. It's dynamic, melodic, but edgy. Takes some getting into though, so you'd have to be patient.

[@nurazidaalyssaazmi3010]

excellent choices ! what! haircut !?

[@johnw706]

Great video . Seek out the Roine Stolte mix of that Transatlantic album that you showed . All of the Above on that mix album is even better than the original . ( as are the other songs as well ) Cheers !

[@davemurphy3275]

Cooks matches are needed . King crimson.

[@vdggmouse9512]

IMO - Selling England can't be the best prog album ever because it has 2 non-great tracks. I Know What I like is average at best - and More Fool Me is a track to skip. A track that really lets me down from the greatness of the bulk of this album. Best prog album of all time has to be something written by Peter Hammill. I'll go with Pawn Hearts - by Van der Graaf Generator.

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

Well 'Pawn Hearts' is indeed a stellar album, but I think you're being a bit harsh on 'I Know What I Like'. The chorus has become so well known now that we sometimes forget how weird it sounds on first hearing. There's more going on in that track that we often give the band credit for. Thanks for commenting though.