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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!

Crime Of The Century > Supertramp

Artist: Supertramp
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP-3647
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-09
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Founded in 1969 by Rick Davies, Supertramp initially had the luxury of being funded by a Dutch millionaire, Stanley August Miesegaes. Davies teamed with Rodger Hodgson and recorded two albums, the first of which was an interesting progressive record, reminiscent of Genesis or Caravan in places; the second was known for its cover. But by 1972, they had run out of favor with both their benefactor and their record label. The pair eventually assembled another lineup and set to record their breakthrough album, Crime Of The Century.

Rock Bottom > Wyatt, Robert

Artist: Robert Wyatt
Label: Virgin
Catalog#: VR 13-112
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-07
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Robert Wyatt spent the beginning of 1973 in Venice, idling his time and writing the songs that would eventually comprise his second solo record. Upon returning to England, the spring saw Wyatt playing in WMMW- with saxophonist Gary Windo, keyboardist David MacRae and bassist Ron Mathewson. He then attempted to revive Matching Mole one final time, with Windo, Curved Air's Francis Monkman and a returning Bill MacCormick. In June, however, at a party for Lady June and Gilli Smyth, an inebriated Wyatt fell from a fourth-story window.

Köhntarkösz > Magma

Artist: Magma
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP-3650
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-06
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
With the Theusz Hamtaahk trilogy complete, Christian Vander here offers the second part of a new trilogy, Köhntarkösz. Once again filled with Magma's dramatic music, the album Köhntarkösz is mostly comprised of the two parts of its title track. "Part One" is built around a relatively simple refrain, pounded into several mutations over the course of the album side. Much of Magma's sonic enormity from the previous record is replaced with sparser musical arrangements and a great use of space.

Journey To The Centre Of The Earth > Wakeman, Rick

Artist: Rick Wakeman
Label: A&M Records
Catalog#: SP-3621
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-05
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
In early 1974, Rick Wakeman took a break with Yes to complete the even more ambitious Journey To The Centre Of The Earth with the London Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall on January 18th, 1974 with full choir, narrator David Hemmings and Wakeman's own English Rock Ensemble, his interpretation of Jules Verne's classic tale had little to do with prog rock, let alone rock music. That hardly mattered: By the time the keyboardist announced his departure from Yes, the album was a UK No. 1 and US No. 3, and even earned himself a Grammy Award nomination.

Hamburger Concerto > Focus

Artist: Focus
Label: ATCO Records
Catalog#: SD 36-100
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-05
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
At the end of 1973, Pierre van der Linden left Focus to form Trace with Rick van der Linden from Ekseption; British drummer Colin Allen, previously with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Stone The Crows, was flown in as a replacement. Although it had been over two years since the band's last album, Hamburger Concerto again offers another installment of classic Focus music. The brief "Delitiae Musicae" opens, confirming both Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman's love of classical music—something they also pursued in contemporaneous solo works.

Mirage > Camel

Artist: Camel
Label: Janus Records
Catalog#: JXS 7009
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Despite being relative latecomers to the scene, Camel eventually earned a considerable reputation as a progressive rock band. Their modest commercial success kept the band busy, but just outside of the big league. Hailing from Surrey, guitarist Andy Latimer formed The Brew in the late 60s. Bassist Doug Ferguson brought in drummer Andy Ward and the band landed a gig in 1971 backing singer-songwriter Phillip Goodhand-Tait. However, this proved unsatisfactory; so in a bid to make it on their own, the band secured the services of Pete Bardens on organ from a Melody Maker advertisement.

Hatfield And The North > Hatfield And The North

Artist: Hatfield And The North
Label: Virgin
Catalog#: VR-13-110
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
The roots of Hatfield and the North go back to the Miller brothers-guitarist Phil and keyboardist Steve-and the final days of Delivery in mid-1972. In early 1973, keyboard player and Dave Stewart replaced Steve, joining the core of Phil, bassist Richard Sinclair (ex-Caravan) and drummer Pip Pyle (ex-Gong). Stewart had previously been in Egg and replaced keyboard player Dave Sinclair, who returned to Caravan. The band spent most of 1973 touring, including several visits to the Continent.

Phaedra > Tangerine Dream

Artist: Tangerine Dream
Label: Virgin Records America, Inc.
Catalog#: VR 13-108
Format: Vinyl
Country: United States
Released: 1974-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Tangerine Dream had recorded five albums before signing to Richard Branson's fledgling Virgin Records label in 1973. Upon arriving at The Manor Studio in late 1973, their lineup was the classic, triple-keyboard one, with Edgar Froese and Chris Franke complimented by Peter Baumann. Using their sizable advance, the band purchased a Moog modular synthesizer and set out to record Phaedra.

The World Became The World > Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)

Artist: Premiata Forneria Marconi
Label: Manticore Records
Catalog#: MC 66673
Format: Vinyl
Country: Canada
Released: 1974-03
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
PFM traveled to Advision Studios in London to record their third album, with Claudio Fabi producing both an English and Italian version (Isola di Niente), and with Pete Sinfield again providing the English-language lyrics. Bassist Patrick Djivas, previously with Italian fusion protagonists Area, was new to the band. The World Became The World presents a significantly harder edge than previous efforts, due in part to Franco Mussida stepping to the fore on electric guitar; the result is certainly one of PFM's best.

Ballermann > Grobschnitt

Artist: Grobschnitt
Label: Brain
Catalog#: BRAIN 2/1050
Format: Vinyl
Country: Germany
Released: 1974-04
Strawberry Bricks Entry: 
Hailing from Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Grobschnitt was formed by drummer Joachim "Eroc" Ehrig in 1971. Eroc was previously in a beat-era band called The Crew, with lead guitarist Gerd-Otto "Lupo" Kuhn and vocalist/guitarist Stefan "Wildschwein" Danielak. An interim group Charing Cross added bassist Bernhard "Bär" Uhlemann and a second drummer Axel "Felix" Harlos, but by May, they had changed their name to Kapelle Elias Grobschnitt, later shortened to Grobschnitt ("rough cut") after a brand of tobacco.