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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!

Illusion > Renaissance (Yardbirds)

Artist: Renaissance
Label: Island Records
Catalog#: 6339 017
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1970

From Genesis To Revelation > Genesis

Artist: Genesis
Label: London Records
Catalog#: PS 643
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1969-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Genesis' story begins at the Charterhouse public school in Godalming, Surrey. Tony Banks, Peter Gabriel and guitarists Mike Rutherford and Anthony Phillips were all classmates in two competing bands. Adding drummer Chris Stewart, they joined forces in 1967 with the hopes of becoming a songwriting collective. The band's earliest efforts were proffered through the old-school tie, when pop producer and fellow Carthusian Jonathan King agreed to produce some demos. The contact eventually led to a recording contract from Decca Records.

First & Illusion > Renaissance (Yardbirds)

Artist: Renaissance
Label: Line Records
Catalog#: LICD 9.21163 S
Format: CD
Country: Germany
Released: 1992

Renaissance > Renaissance (Yardbirds)

Artist: Renaissance
Label: Elektra
Catalog#: EKS 74068
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1969-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Following the demise of The Yardbirds, guitarist Keith Relf and drummer Jim McCarty opted for a completely different direction than the American blues of their former band: music that combined classical, jazz and folk influences - how progressive! With Relf's sister Jane on vocals, bassist Louis Cennamo and pianist John Hawken were the keys to this new direction of "classical interpretation." The lengthy "Kings & Queens" opens the album; Relf's guitar takes a back seat to Hawken's piano, which paces through hook and quotation with surprising imagination.

The Soft Machine > Soft Machine, The

Artist: Soft Machine
Label: Probe
Catalog#: CPLP 4500
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Originally from the provincial town of Canterbury, the Soft Machine split off from The Wilde Flowers in 1966. And by the time the Softs got around to recording this album, they had already undergone substantial changes: Daevid Allen, St. Tropez and the London underground were well behind them. That version of the Soft Machine released one single "Love Makes Sweet Music" b/w "Feelin' Reelin' Squealin'", recorded some demos with Giorgio Gomelsky, and alongside Pink Floyd, had become one of the pillars of the London underground.

S. F. Sorrow > Pretty Things, The

Artist: Pretty Things
Label: EMI Columbia
Catalog#: SCX 6306
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-12
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
An original member of the proto-Rolling Stones, bassist Dick Taylor hooked up with singer guitarist Phil May at London Central School of Art in 1963 to form The Pretty Things. Moving to London, their R&B-influenced rock was an instant success. In June 1964, "Rosalyn" b/w "Big Boss Man" scored the group the first of many hits in the UK, while their self-titled debut album, released in early 1965, would rise to No. 6.

Shine On Brightly > Procol Harum

Artist: Procol Harum
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP 4151
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-09
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Procol Harum's second effort starts off predictably: Gary Brooker's monochromatic wail over Matthew Fisher's swirling Hammond chords on the title track offer elegance, while the pitter-patter of the following "Skip Softly (My Moonbeams)" gives way to something deeper. "Wish Me Well" even attempts some blues, obviously at guitarist Robin Trower's suggestion. Although the first side of the record could have easily come from their debut, the second side, containing the epic "In Held ‘Twas in I," is the real accomplishment here.

Caravan > Caravan

Artist: Caravan
Label: Verve Forecast
Catalog#: FTS-3066
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1969-01
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Caravan's history begins as half of The Wilde Flowers, the original hotbed of musical proclivity that originated in Canterbury, Kent in 1965. Soft Machine, of course, was the other half. With its members drifting both in and out of the band, The Wilde Flowers ranks were constantly revolving. At some point, the reins were left to guitarist/singer Pye Hastings, drummer Richard Coughlan and organist Dave Sinclair. Adding Dave's cousin Richard Sinclair on bass, they became Caravan in early 1968.

This Was > Jethro Tull

Artist: Jethro Tull
Label: Reprise Records
Catalog#: RS 6336
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1968-10
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
The story of Jethro Tull begins with the John Evan Band in Blackpool during the mid-60s. Like most other bands from the era, they played soul covers before moving on to the blues. The summer of 1967 brought Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick to London.

Hawkwind > Hawkwind

Artist: Hawkwind
Label: Liberty
Catalog#: LBS 83348
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1970-08
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
In 1969, guitarist Dave Brock, guitarist Mick Slattery and drummer Terry Ollis gathered saxophonist Nik Turner and synthesist Michael "Dik Mik" Davies; and after a few name and personnel changes, they launched the ultimate underground band, Hawkwind. The band came to the attention of Doug Smith of Clearwater Productions (via DJ John Peel) after opening (as "Group X") for High Tide at a gig Smith organized at All Saints Hall in Notting Hill. Demos were then recorded at EMI Studios (as Hawkwind Zoo), and Huw Lloyd-Langton then replaced Slattery.