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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!

Hölderlins Traum > Hoelderlin

Artist: Hoelderlin
Label: Pilz
Catalog#: 20 21314-5
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1972
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Formed in 1970, Hoelderlin initially occupied a unique space in German rock music, combining the influences of British folk with musical romanticism—obviously, a nod to their namesake, the 19th century German poet Friedrich Hölderlin. Formed in Wuppertal, the core of the band included the von Grumbkow brothers, Christian and Joachim, and Christian's wife, Nanny de Ruig, on vocals.

Matching Mole > Matching Mole

Artist: Matching Mole
Label: CBS
Catalog#: S 64850
Format: Vinyl
Country: United Kingdom
Released: 1972-04
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Matching Mole was Robert Wyatt's post-Soft Machine group, its name a play on the French translation of Soft Machine, "machine molle." Wyatt first managed to draw keyboardist and fellow Cantabrian Dave Sinclair from Caravan, then continued to recruit a first-rate band: bassist Bill MacCormick was previously in Quiet Sun and guitarist Phil Miller came from Delivery, while Nucleus' pianist David MacRae rounded out the lineup as a second keyboardist.

Waterloo Lily > Caravan

Artist: Caravan
Label: London Records
Catalog#: XPS 615
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-04
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Caravan's fourth album was a bit of a departure: Richard Sinclair brought in new keyboard player Steve Miller, previously in Delivery, to "jazz" up the Caravan sound. "Waterloo Lily," a song about a heavy-set hooker, would be one of the last songs Sinclair would sing with the band. It's a simple number, but Miller's extended electric piano solo signals the change.

Thick As A Brick > Jethro Tull

Artist: Jethro Tull
Label: Reprise Records
Catalog#: MS 2072
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
In protest over the misconception of Aqualung (he claimed it wasn't a concept album), Ian Anderson delivered what might be the mother of all concept albums: the wryly-titled Thick As A Brick. Based on a "poem written by eight-year-old Gerald Bostock and set to musical accompaniment by rock group Jethro Tull," the album contains a single "song" spanning both sides of the vinyl. So much for the approach pioneered on Aqualung!

Grave New World > Strawbs

Artist: Strawbs
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP-4344
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-02
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
The Strawberry Hill Boys were a bluegrass trio founded by Dave Cousins, Tony Hooper and Ron Chesterman in 1967. Sandy Denny briefly passed through the band, recording an unreleased album (1973’s All Our Own Work) before joining Fairport Convention. In 1969 the band shortened their name and landed a recording contract with A&M. The Strawbs recorded two early albums with production heavyweights Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti, respectively. In 1970, Chesterman left, and Cousins and Hooper added the rhythm section of John Ford and Richard Hudson.

Storia Di Un Minuto > Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)

Artist: Premiata Forneria Marconi
Label: Numero Uno
Catalog#: ZSLN 55055
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-02
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
English progressive rock was hugely popular in Italy during the early 70s, so it was only a matter of time before the Italians themselves decided to create progressive music as well. Premiata Forneria Marconi ("Award Winning Marconi Bakery") were at the forefront of this movement. Originally the beat group I Quelli, the members had enjoyed relative success in Italy as both a support band for others and as session musicians.

Flash > Flash

Artist: Flash
Label: Sovereign
Catalog#: SMAS 11040
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1972-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Ex-Yes guitarist Peter Banks was enlisted for a (very) short stint in Blodwyn Pig before forming Flash. True to their name, Flash appeared quickly, released three albums for Capitol Records and vanished. Banks recruited vocalist Colin Carter, bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough, with ex-Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye filling in on their debut.

The Inner Mounting Flame > Mahavishnu Orchestra

Artist: Mahavishnu Orchestra With John McLaughlin
Label: Columbia
Catalog#: KC 31067
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1971-8
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Though fusion could be described as the combination of jazz and rock, it may be more accurate to acknowledge its rise as “when jazz got electric.” Mahavishnu Orchestra was definitely electric, perhaps even manic at times.

Camembert Electrique > Gong

Artist: Gong
Label: BYG Records
Catalog#: 529.353
Format: Vinyl
Country: France
Released: 1971
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Gong had now solidified from a loose amalgamation of Paris fringe musicians to a relatively stable touring unit. Daevid Allen, accompanied by partner Gilli Smyth and saxophonist Didier Malherbe, added Pip Pyle on drums and Christian Tritsch on bass; and the band completed their first return to England with a performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June 1971. Kevin Ayers also served a six-month tour duty around this time, leaving a John Peel Session as his recorded legacy with the band. Gong recorded three albums in 1971.

Islands > King Crimson

Artist: King Crimson
Label: Atlantic
Catalog#: SD 7212
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1971-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Beginning on April 12th, 1971, at the Zoom Club in Frankfurt, Germany, King Crimson returned to live performance with a lineup comprised of Robert Fripp, Mel Collins and newcomers Ian Wallace (ex-The Warriors) on drums and Boz Burrell on vocals, with Pete Sinfield back-of-the-house on VCS3 synthesizer and lights. Per legend, auditions for bassists proved so unsuccessful that Fripp eventually taught Burrell how to play the instrument. The band toured extensively, breaking only to record their fourth album, Islands.