Customer Reviews

The Progressive Rock Files

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have really enjoyed reading "The Progressive Rock Files". I have read the recent books by Macan, Stump and Martin... all very informative and insightful... I liked Macan's the best because it is the most complete and best organized. I also have the Billboard Guide to Progressive Music and it is good, but I like "The Progressive Rock Files" better because of the great timeline History section, the Definitions section and also the timeline Map on p.299. And of course the A-Z listing is a great guide for band info. and discographies. I have referred to the band listings so many times that the pages are getting worn. It has turned out to be an invaluable reference in researching bands and artists. I recommend the book to intermediate and advanced prog rock fans who do not need a lot of opinions thrown at them. The author is very clear on his intentions to be factual and complete without succumbing to personal preferences. He is also striving to make a complete definition of prog rock, not in an effort to 'box in' the genre, but to settle the argument so that we can go on and just enjoy the music. With this as a guide, I know I will for many years to come.

This is a good book, certainly a valuable resource for anyone interested in the prog genre's more obscure offerings over the past thirty years. My only complaint is mainly "cosmetic" in nature: My copy of the book (purchased here at Amazon.com) literally fell apart after only a few days. I had to glue it back together...seems questionable for a book that lists at $26.95.

As to the content, this books looks like a labor of love, put together on a limited budget. I for one appreciate the author's efforts...he's created a database of information that would be hard to come by anywhere else. I would have liked to see some critical analysis and recommendations of particular albums, but I understand that this would be beyond the book's focus.

I also have a comment on the author's definition of progressive rock. While I agree with some of his listed attributes, I feel that he is leaving out at least one important element (see below).

My own definition of prog would include the following:

1. Virtuoso musicianship; 2. Complex song structures; 3. Willingness to incorporate diverse musical styles, particularly classical; 4. Poetic, less literal lyrics; 5. (This is the one that I've not seen listed, in this book or elsewhere) A sense of optimism. Think about it...prog never focuses on the negative, dark, depressing themes that often characterize other rock music. (Even the name "Yes" is positive!) Progressive rock is uplifting in its message, emphasizing the world of nature and mankind's potential for greatness...that's why the jaded, cynical music press turned on prog: It was too positive for their bleak world-view. 6. A willingness to take music in new directions...hence the term "progressive".

My complaints about this book are minor...it's definately worth owning if you have an interest in prog. Buy this book, but more importantly listen to progressive rock music!

Jerry Lucky obviously knows his stuff when it comes to progressive rock. His chronological history is very thorough, as is his encyclopedia-like listing of prog bands (which takes up half the book and features everything from the classic bands to some bands that even the most die-hard of prog rock fans may have never heard of). My only criticism of this book is the enormous amount of time and energy he puts into defending his favourite genre of music. Admittedly, it's easy to see where this is coming from. Progressive rock has been one of the most maligned and criticized musical genres of the last 20 years, and as Jerry Lucky so thoroughly and elegantly points out, its bad reputation is quite undeserved. It needed to be said, especially by someone as informed as Mr. Lucky is, but I question the forum. This is a book, lovingly put together by a prog rock fan, for prog rock fans. It seems to me that he's preaching to the converted. Still, I did find the various journal excerpts he includes quite interesting, and the rest of the book was completely enjoyable.

Jerry Lucky's "The Progressive Rock Files" is an excellent book,because the author covers nearly all the necessary aspects of the genre:a comprehensive history,black & white and color photos of many important albums,a chronological explanation of the origins and subdivisions of progressive rock(see page 299,a very important A-Z listing of prog bands of the whole world and also the delicious 28 minutes tripping experience of the 68's very psychedelic Pink Floyd.What an exquisite menu for real prog rock fans!!! Nevertheless Lucky fails in:1-he forgot to mention and to put the cover of what I believe is the first rock progressive album(with all the elements)Procol Harum's 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale'2-he didn't mention one of the most formidable albums of all times,Gentle Giant's 'Octopus'. 3-Another album the author didn't gave the credit is King Crimson's 'In The Court Of The Crimson King',for me the recording that really established the genre. 4-something incredible-he didn't include the genious-FRANK ZAPPA!!! 5-he forgot to include England's band Captain Beyond.6-finally, he forgot to mention two United States phenomenal prog bands:SPIRIT and LOVE.

I have really enjoyed reading "The Progressive Rock Files". I have read the recent narrative books by Macan, Stump and Martin... all very informative and insightful... I liked Macan's the best because it is the most complete and best organized. This is more of a reference book... I also have the Billboard Guide to Progressive Music and it is good, but I like Lucky's book better because of the great timeline History section, the Definitions section and also the timeline Map. And of course the A-Z listing is a great guide for band info. and discographies. It has become an invaluable resource for me in researching bands and artists. It is best suited to the intermediate or advanced prog fan who does not need a lot of opinions thrown at them. The author is very clear on his intentions to be factual and complete without succumbing to personal preferences. He is also striving to make a complete definition of prog rock, not in an effort to 'box in' the genre, but to settle the argument so that we can go on and just enjoy the music. With this as a guide, I know I will for many years to come.

I read another on-line review of this book that criticized it for lacking any genuine critical judgement. I approach this book from an entirely different perspective. As a musician who has labored on the edge of that obscure realm known as "progressive rock," I was thrilled to see the book and doubly thrilled to see that it contained some mention of bands that are totally ignored elsewhere, such as Univers Zero, Samla Mamma Mannas and ZNR. And I was triply thrilled to see my band mentioned! Is this book the definitive tome on progressive rock? Maybe not, but how many other writers are A) knowledgeable enough to approach the subject B) concerned enough to bother and C) willing to spend their time discussing a musical genre that the public and the media have wilfully ignored for decades? I say, until something to compare it to arrives, Lucky's book stands as THE definitive work on this subject.

I have really enjoyed reading "The Progressive Rock Files". I have read the recent narrative books by Macan, Stump and Martin... all very informative and insightful... I liked Macan's the best because it is the most complete and best organized. This is more of a reference book... I also have the Billboard Guide to Progressive Music and it is good, but I like Lucky's book better because of the great timeline History section, the Definitions section and also the timeline Map. And of course the A-Z listing is a great guide for band info. and discographies. It has become an invaluable resource for me in researching bands and artists. It is best suited to the intermediate or advanced prog fan who does not need a lot of opinions thrown at them. The author is very clear on his intentions to be factual and complete without succumbing to personal preferences. He is also striving to make a complete definition of prog rock, not in an effort to 'box in' the genre, but to settle the argument so that we can go on and just enjoy the music. With this as a guide, I know I will for many years to come.

Jerry Lucky has written what could have been a good book on progressive rock, but which falls apart based on his inability to criticize any of it. Music -- all music -- has its flaws, and any authoritative book on the subject has to acknowledge these. Lucky does not do this. In addition the year-by-year description reads like a discography; band after band is listed with their release for the year but no description is made of the band or album in most cases. The definition of progressive rock used in this book is not strong either -- for example the insistence on the use of a mellotron. The section on critical reaction to progressive rock is the redeeming section of the book but while the author raises some interesting points he still refuses to admit that progresive rock had any weaknesses. The A-Z Band Listing at the back of the book is of some use because while the author still refuses to say anything critical about any of the bands he at least states bands with similar sounds which can help indicate good purchases or sound warning alarms depending on the reader's opinion of the related band. In the end, some more opinion would have made this book much stronger; at least the CD that comes with it was a good listen. There's better stuff out there to slake your progressive rock thirst.

I can only echo the positive reviews I've read in this section. His history of prog is interesting and wide in scope without being pedantic. And the A-Z band guide has helped me spend more money on mailorder cds than I ever thought possible. I also enjoyed the chapter where he took on the daunting task of defining "progressive rock". Well done, Jerry! I'm looking forward to the 5th edition.

This is an authoritative and comprehensive book covering all aspects of the complex musical movement known as progressive rock. It is 304 pages long and generously illustrated with vintage concert posters, band photos, album covers, etc. It is divided in these sections:

1. The History 2. The Definition 3. The Critics 4. Progressive Rock Today 5. The A-Z Listing

There is something here for both the newcomer and the veteran proghead. The A-Z listing is specially useful as it lists over 1,4000 artists, from the 60s all the way to the 90s, with a discography and description of the style. You're sure to find a band you'll want to check out.

As the "icing on the cake", the book includes a CD with about 30 minutes of rare vintage Pink Floyd (circa 1968), taken from the soundtrack of the movie "Tonite Let's All Make Love In London". The tracks smoke!

In summary, this is a very important work and comes highly recommended to all lovers of good music.