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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!

Tempest > Tempest

Artist: Tempest
Label: Island Records
Catalog#: ILPS 9220
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1973-01
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Following Colosseum's demise after their US tour in 1971, drummer Jon Hiseman retained bassist Mark Clarke for his next project: the considerably hard-rocking Tempest. With Paul Williams providing lead vocals, the ace in the hole was guitarist Allan Holdsworth. He had previously played in 'Igginbottom, a band that recorded an obscure (and unexciting) album for Deram Records in 1969, and had just played on Ian Carr's Belladonna album. Their self-titled debut, Tempest, opens with "Gorgon," revealing the band's heavy mix of blues and rock.

Pollution > Battiato, Franco

Artist: Franco Battiato
Label: Bla Bla
Catalog#: BBXL 10002
Format: Vinyl
Country: Italy
Released: 1972
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
One of the few solo artists from Italy during the progressive era, Sicilian Franco Battiato was first heard as a beat singer in the 60s, as were many others of his generation. Battiato then signed to Bla Bla Records with Osage Tribe—defecting, however, for a solo career after just one single. His debut solo record, Fetus (with matching cover), was released in 1972. Primarily an acoustic affair, Battiato's songs were for the most part simple and almost folk in structure, albeit with a keen sense of melody.

Greasy Truckers Live At Dingwalls Dance Hall

Artist: Various
Label: Greasy Truckers
Catalog#: GT 4997
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1973
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
This double-album has three things that make it legendary: An early live recording of Camel, a totally improvised set from Henry Cow and an example of Gong’s free form concert format. (The fourth side featured Global Trucking Village Company).

Focus 3 > Focus

Artist: Focus
Label: Sire Records Company
Catalog#: SAS 3901
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
1972 saw Focus, now with Bert Ruiter on bass, back in the studio recording the formidable and lengthy double-album Focus 3. The record begins with the lively "Round Goes the Gossip..." then slides into the pastoral "Love Remembered." The bulk of the album, however, is two sprawling improvisations: "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" and "Anonymus II" (sic). Both showcase the band's talents, namely, Jan Akkerman's guitar heroics and one tight rhythm section; be sure to check out Ruiter's funky bass solo on side three.

Octopus > Gentle Giant

Artist: Gentle Giant
Label: Columbia
Catalog#: KC 32022
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
On their second release of the year, Gentle Giant delivers a more discrete and diverse record. Previously in the Welsh band Eyes of Blue and Pete Brown & Piblokto!, John Weathers was the newcomer; his hard-hitting drumming and a huge bass line launch "The Advent of Panurge" (again a nod to François Rabelais) into a hypnotic groove, from which the song switches back and forth from its chorus. The Moog on "A Cry For Everyone" squawks proudly, here the lyrics are under the influence of Albert Camus.

Prologue > Renaissance

Artist: Renaissance
Label: Capitol
Catalog#: SMAS-11116
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-10
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Renaissance first appeared in the timeline back in the late 60s, as a group formed by ex-Yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty. Quite incredibly, the same band reappeared years later with no original members. Their auspicious "re-debut" Prologue, the first of two albums for Capitol Records, builds on the premise of their predecessors, but with some changes: The title track bangs open with John Tout's grand piano, copping a quote straight from one of the Russian Kuchka ("mighty handful").

Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come > Kingdom Come

Artist: Kingdom Come
Label: Polydor
Catalog#: R 154082
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-10
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
By the time Kingdom Come had gotten around to recording their second album, the band had slimmed down to guitarist Andy Dalby, organist Michael "Goodge" Harris and drummer Martin "Slim" Steer—all retained from their first album, Galactic Zoo Dossier. Bassist Phil Shutt, however, was new. Frontman Arthur Brown hadn't changed; and while the tracks approach a more linear presentation, the resulting self-titled album contains the same bizarre cut-up weirdness as their debut.

Made In England > Atomic Rooster

Artist: Atomic Rooster
Label: Elektra
Catalog#: EKS-75039
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-10
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Rather than rest his fate on Vincent Crane's whim, vocalist Pete French took an offer to join Cactus after a US tour in early 1972. Undeterred, Crane called a recently ex-Colosseum Chris Farlowe to join Atomic Rooster. The new band previewed material from the album on a particularly excellent set for the BBC in June, recorded at the Paris Theatre. The resulting Made In England album is again another strong effort, and one quite novel in the timeline. Here Crane ups the mixture of soul, something almost unheard of in progressive circles.

Foxtrot > Genesis

Artist: Genesis
Label: Charisma
Catalog#: CAS 1058
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-10
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Peter Gabriel's appearance began to (literally) blossom during the summer prior to this album's release. After he debuted his partially shaven head at the Lincoln Festival in May, the costumes weren't far behind. His between song chatter—ostensibly done to allow time for the band to tune up—was as cryptic and incredible as his lyrics; and indeed, Foxtrot gave him the material to back it up.

A Tab In The Ocean > Nektar

Artist: Nektar
Label: Bacillius
Catalog#: BLPS 19118
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1972-09
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Nektar was a group of British expatriates that, like many bands during the mid-60s, made a living by working and touring in Europe. Initially, bassist Derek "Mo" Moore, drummer Ron Howden and keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman formed a band called Prophesy. By 1969, with guitarist and vocalist Roye Albrighton on board, the band changed their name to Nektar. They made Hamburg their base, and signed to Peter Hauke's Bacillus label.