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Latest news: Work has begun on The Strawberry Bricks Companion, a curated and annotated discography of the artists and groups from the timeline, 1967 to present. Due sometime in 2025.

Buy the book: The third edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide To Progressive Rock is available for individual purchase through your country's Amazon website, including local shipping and Prime benefits: Amazon.com (US) | Amazon.co.uk (UK) | Amazon.ca (CA) | Amazon.de (DE) | Amazon.fr (FR) | Amazon.es (ES) | Amazon.it (IT) | Amazon.jp (JP) | Amazon.com.au (AU)

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Reviews for the Third Edition

Reviews for the third edition of The Strawberry Bricks Guide to Progressive rock (will be updated).

Totally missed this review! Thank you Pete Pardo and Sea of Tranquility!

A Dream Without Reason > Heldon

Artist: Heldon
Label: Inner City Records
Catalog#: IC 1021
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Heldon's fourth album (also carrying the subtitle of Richard Pinhas's then-girlfriend, Agneta Nilsson) was released in early 1976, and offered a more polished production than previous efforts. The big change though was the middle section of the album's side-long piece, "Perspective IV." Aided by Coco Roussel on drums, Alain Bellaïche on bass guitar and Patrick Gauthier on Mini-Moog synthesizer, Heldon delivers very aggressive rock ‘n' roll.

Phos > Socrates (Drank the Conium)

Artist: Socrates Drank The Conium
Label: Phonogram
Catalog#: PILPS-9013
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Phos was, in fact, the Greek band's fourth album, and represented a significant change in style from their earlier releases. Originally named Socrates Drank the Conium, the band centered their heavy, blues-based psychedelic rock on John Spathas's guitar work, influenced greatly by Jimi Hendrix. Not that much had changed by their third album, 1973's On The Wings, which was their first to see release outside of Greece. In the US, it was the first of two records from the band to see release on the Peters International Cosmos label.

Dawn > Eloy

Artist: Eloy
Label: Electrola
Catalog#: 1C 064-31 787
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1976-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Since we last left Eloy, the band had added a second guitarist, Detlev Schwaar, for 1975's Power And The Passion. The sprawling concept album displayed a marked progression from the band's previous efforts; their writing was more demonstrative, and Manfred Wieczorke's use of synthesizers added considerable texture. But despite the success of the album in their native Germany, problems with management led to the band's breakup, with founding member Wieczorke joining German hard rockers Jane.

Wind & Wuthering > Genesis

Artist: Genesis
Label: ATCO Records
Catalog#: SD 38-100
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976-12-31
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
During the year since their last release, Genesis had not only transitioned to Phil Collins as vocalist, but they also found time to tour America and record their next album. Wind & Wuthering picks up where their previous album left off, though offering a little more empathy to their past spirit; and in particular the Selling England By The Pound album. The lively "Eleventh Earl of Mar" opens; it's a rocker, but the gentle break is stuffed with detail. "All in a Mouse's Night" is similar, again driven by Mike Rutherford's bass pedals.

Stratosfear > Tangerine Dream

Artist: Tangerine Dream
Label: Virgin Records America, Inc.
Catalog#: PZ 34427
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Following closely in the direction first offered on Phaedra, Tangerine Dream released Rubycon and the live Ricochet in 1975; the former rose to No. 12 on the UK charts, the band's highest position yet. Both were excellent releases that featured one single composition split over each of the album's sides, again with heavy accents on mood and atmosphere. Stratosfear, however, reflects a paradigm shift for the band: Augmented by acoustic instruments, including harmonica, guitar, piano and harpsichord, Tangerine Dream's constructions now move toward actual composition.

Leftoverture > Kansas

Artist: Kansas
Label: Kirshner
Catalog#: PZ 34224
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Kansas' third album, Masque, pointedly displayed the two sides to the band. They still contained "Two Cents Worth" of boogie-rock; however, with Kerry Livgren's songwriting, the band also delivered two classics from their "symphonic" side: "Icarus-Borne on Wings of Steel" and "The Pinnacle." Sales for the album, however, were as stagnant as their previous releases, and the band reached a supposedly do-or-die scenario with their label.

World Record > Van Der Graaf Generator

Artist: Van Der Graaf Generator
Label: Mercury
Catalog#: SRM-1-1116
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
After rehearsals in the famed Headley Grange venue and a few UK concerts, Van der Graaf Generator were back at Rockfield Studios to record their third album in less than a year. Peter Hammill even found time to record a solo album, the subject of which was the breakup of his relationship. His cathartic Over was quite a wrenching matter; but, thankfully, World Record is another story. The album attempts to be the most straightforward that VdGG would deliver, though ultimately it may be their most perplexing.

L > Hillage, Steve

Artist: Steve Hillage
Label: Atlantic
Catalog#: SD 18205
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1976
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Steve Hillage's second album, recorded at Bearsville Studios in New York, featured a different group of guest musicians—this time, all were Americans. Todd Rundgren took over the production duties and his Utopia compatriots subbed as the backing band: Roger Powell manned the keyboards, while Kasim Sulton and John Wilcox filled the rhythm section. Evidently Hillage and flat mate Chris Cutler were big fans, so he jumped at the chance to work with the American. The album, L, opens with a cover of Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," though Hillage's signature is all over it.

As In A Last Supper > Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso

Artist: Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
Label: Manticore Records
Catalog#: 28004 XOT
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1976-11
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Banco concluded the year by recording a soundtrack, Garofano Rosso ("Red Carnation"), based on Elio Vittorini's novel of the same name. Released on the Manticore label in early 1976, the instrumental album is a showcase for both Vittorio and Gianni Nocenzi's compositions, and the band's performance. They next took to the studio to record an even headier concept, based roughly on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Issued in Italy as Come In Un' Ultima Cena, the English version carried the title As In A Last Supper and was again released on Manticore Records.

Backdoor Possibilities > Birth Control

Artist: Birth Control
Label: Brain
Catalog#: 60.019
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1976-08
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Now signed to the Brain label, Birth Control headed to Conny Plank's studio with English producer David Hitchcock, best known for his work with Camel and Caravan. Yes, it was for another foray into progressive rock, here with a concept to boot. Penned by Zeus B. Held, the story revolves around the life of everyman Adam Striver, who at his death confronts "backdoor possibilities." Sporting more complicated arrangements than the previous record, the suites "One First of April" and "Beedeepees" fill the first side.