1974 Albums

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.

Forming in 1972, Atoll hailed from Metz, France, and was built around the trio of guitarist Luc Serra, bassist Jean-Luc Thillot and drummer Alain Gozzo. One of France's early proponents of rock progressif, Atoll's debut single from late 1973, "Je T'Aime Quand Je Te Vois" b/w "Change Ta Vie" sold quite well; and after a few changes in personnel, they released Musiciens-Magiciens in late 1974.

Before the end of the 60s, former Zombie Rod Argent and his bassist cousin Jim Rodford drafted drummer Bob Henrit and guitarist Russ Ballard from the pop band Unit 4 + 2 to form Argent. The band clearly centered on the keyboard talents of its namesake, but also had gifted songwriters in Ballard and ex-Zombie Chris White. "Lothlorien" and the second side of 1971's Rings Of Fire pointed to the progressive, but it would take the Argent a few more albums before they consummated the direction.

Back in the 60s, the Iron Curtain split the divide between what was known as Eastern and Western Europe. As much of a cultural border as it was a political one, little music drifted from one side to the other. Yugoslavia, a conglomeration of several republics held together by Marshal Tito since the end of WWII, fell somewhere in between, just beyond the shadow of the USSR.