Classic Rock And Prog Almanac

This week, Peter did a monologue on the third album by Nick Drake, Pink Moon (for Jacob!). Topics covered include: Nick Drake’s biography, which album is Nick Drake’s best, the question of overdubbing, the guitar playing on the album, and the rediscovery of Nick Drake in the 1990s. Also, what’s the holy trinity of failure? Did Nick Drake leave the tapes for the album in the record company reception? What’s the meaning of 11? What happens if a Nick Drake song goes over 4 minutes? And the hardy perennial: is it a concept album?

This week, Tim and Shaun discussed their top ten favourite progressive rock albums from 1971. Topics covered include: the importance of virtuosity in prog, whether album covers are important for an album, the role of improvisation in progressive rock music, whether early minimalism was an influence on prog and the possible relationship between folk music and prog. Also, what was Prog’s Pol Pot year? Did anyone catch the prog-adjacent proms? What’s an eco-ballad when it's at home? How would Tim re-write various Yes tracks? Has Shaun brought his actuarial tables? And the question of the day: “is it prog”?

This week, Tim did a monologue on the compilation Wings Greatest, from 1978. Topics covered include: the significance of concept albums, what musical movements Wings might be said to belong to, whether the track listing is complete and the suite-like and programmatic nature of the compositions. Also, to what genre do Paul and Linda’s haircuts belong? What’s the opposite of lo-fi? How far is it physically possible to get from Allen Klein? Who’s Uncle Ian when he’s at home? And what’s the name of the Director of Man On The Run? If only we knew...

This week, Tim and Shaun discussed their top ten favourite progressive rock albums of 1970. Topics covered include: what prog actually is, how you would decide it one way or the other, what postmodernism is, the eclectic sound of the bands under discussion, and how these albums relate to later works by the same bands. Also, what’s our favourite song about fountains? Can we avoid mentioning the prog proms? What’s the most existentially stark rock track ever written? Who’s the HR rep for Yes? And, crucially, what would Stumpy do?

This week, Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed the seventh studio album by The Kinks, Arthur or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire. Topics covered include: whether it’s the band's greatest album or not, the difference between the American and British reception of the band, whether Arthur is a concept album or not, what historical period it covers, and whether the lyrics make sense. Also, did King Arthur really exist? What’s the name of the teapot on the cover? Was Tim’s Great Grandmother (who died in 2004) a Victorian? Is Shaun planning to write the album up into a play? What is plus-de-jouir when it’s at home? And what’s the problem with the world today?