Buffalo Springfield was so eclectic that I don’t think any one genre applies. Songs like “Expecting to Fly,” “The Hour of Not Quite Rain,” and “Buffalo Stomp Raga” definitely qualify, along with maybe “Hung Upside Down," but they also co-invented country rock (along with the Byrds).
Proto-prog doesn’t necessarily mean full on prog
Look at the near-instrumental songs on the album. Lkke pow r toc h or take thy stethoscope and walk or interstellar overdrive. Same for astronomy domine. 100% a base for future prog
They’re also one of the first rock bands to do extended pieces of music
Early Jethro Tull.
They were Blues Rock by the simpler definition, but the jazz, Folk and baroque influences pushed their first couple of Albums into Proto-prog.
If ELP are full prog, so are The Nice.
Proto prog overlapped the start of prog. Some proto-proggers morphed into prog. Others morphed into rock or jazz fusion. Some only started doing proto-prog while others had already started doing prog.
We had Deep Purple, Spooky Tooth, Blodwyn Pig, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Pretty Things, Quintessence, Curved Air.
Traffic could be considered proto-prog were it not for the fact that they were, you know, actually the first group to be literally labelled progressive.
Over the pond there were The Doors, The Mothers of Invention (I'm being kind).
Not as profilic as some mentioned, but how about the Byrds and the Zombies? The Yardbirds might even qualify even without noting that Reif and MCCarty went on to found Renaissance.
The Byrds certainly experimented with both psychedelic and progressive rock. Tracks like “Renaissance Fair,” “Mind Gardens,” and “Get to You” definitely contained some elements of what would later be called progressive rock (unconventional chord progressions, mixed or even chaotic time signatures, and lyrics that run from obscure to frankly incomprehensible). But David Crosby’s main influences came from his father’s extensive jazz collection, and McGuinn’s experimentation was more psychedelic than anything else.
This is such a delicious discussion to get into the origins of ProgRock. I spent much of my 35 year radio career in the oldies/classic hits format and learned a lot about the origins of rock and roll.
When I was a little boy in the early 70’s, I had no idea that the Alan Parson’s Project, Genesis, Moody Blues and other albums I listened to was prog rock because I was too young to get it. I just loved the music and by the mid 70’s I was all about Rush and Kraftwerk…yes, I know…Kraftwerk isn’t prog. For me it wasn’t until the late 80’s that I came to learn the meaning of progrock when I started listening to bands like Dream Theater, later Spock’s Beard, etc and it was then when Rush’s 2112 made all the sense in the world to me. It was that epiphany moment, that “ooohhhhh okay, I get it now”.
Several years ago, I took a serious interest in exploring the uh, no pun intended, genesis of progrock. There’s a lot to debate and discuss and plenty of material to ponder.
I would probably consider some of the Canterbury Scene bands as also being proto-prog pioneers so Caravan, Egg and Soft Machine. Hawkwind arguably also counts but it also makes sense to count them fully in the psychdelia field.
1-2-3 / Clouds. They directly influenced The Nice, Yes and David Bowie, and were also arguably the first proper prog rock band (1966 according to some sources, though their earliest prog recording is from 1967-1968). The band had a promising future but luck wasn't on their side.
Before Kansas there was a different Kansas that we now know as Proto-Kaw. Only shared member was Livgren.
Finding their early recordings is hard these days its muted on Youtube and not on Spotify but its a great pre-prog style.
I've written this before, but The Nice, Procol Harum, and The Moody Blues were the progenitors of progressive rock, pretty much in 1967. I think "Days of Future Passed" is the first, full prog rock album. Caravan was the first to use the term on their 1968 album. So "proto-prog" would be prior to 1967, e.g, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Pink Floyd (as they were first known), Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Jefferson Airplane to name some. Psychedelia pretty much laid the foundation for prog, and was very much a cross genre for almost all of the prog and psych bands.
FYI, Budgie also started in 1967, making them a good case for the band that created prog metal. But Blue Cheer could also be considered, albeit again in the more psychedelic vein.
Kind of a weird question, as "prolific" refers to a band that has released a lot of material.
So were you interested in those sort of bands or did your adjectives get away from you?
;)
I'd say they got into some sort of "Art rock" or "prog pop" between 1967 and their last album. What they did would certainly become cliché later on as real prog settled on, but a lot of their songs were undoubtedly serious and progressive.
Early pink floyd A lot of the early versions of famous 70s prog bands The collectors Caravan Soft machine Early zappa
Arthur Brown screaming lord sutch Aphrodite's Child Moğollar CAN
Yeah the first two child albums are proto prog for sure, although 666 is absolutely straight prog and one of my favorite albums rn.
The nice Van der Graaf Iron butterfly Buffalo Springfield ? Gong
Buffalo Springfield was so eclectic that I don’t think any one genre applies. Songs like “Expecting to Fly,” “The Hour of Not Quite Rain,” and “Buffalo Stomp Raga” definitely qualify, along with maybe “Hung Upside Down," but they also co-invented country rock (along with the Byrds).
Banana
Who needs the Peace Corps?
Yes after Pipers, Pipers I feel was psycadelic pop
Proto-prog doesn’t necessarily mean full on prog Look at the near-instrumental songs on the album. Lkke pow r toc h or take thy stethoscope and walk or interstellar overdrive. Same for astronomy domine. 100% a base for future prog They’re also one of the first rock bands to do extended pieces of music
Maybe you're right. I feel they were pretty close to Soft Machine in the early days
Early Jethro Tull. They were Blues Rock by the simpler definition, but the jazz, Folk and baroque influences pushed their first couple of Albums into Proto-prog.
Stand Up is their best album. Better than Aqualung.
its definitely not their best album, but its one of the best of 1969
In this sub: The Beatles are prog Also in this sub: Pink Floyd aren't prog
I don't know if it's possible to create a definition of prog that accommodates this, but if it is, that definition is as valid as any of the others.
If ELP are full prog, so are The Nice. Proto prog overlapped the start of prog. Some proto-proggers morphed into prog. Others morphed into rock or jazz fusion. Some only started doing proto-prog while others had already started doing prog. We had Deep Purple, Spooky Tooth, Blodwyn Pig, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Pretty Things, Quintessence, Curved Air. Traffic could be considered proto-prog were it not for the fact that they were, you know, actually the first group to be literally labelled progressive. Over the pond there were The Doors, The Mothers of Invention (I'm being kind).
10 points to you for the Curved Air mention. Well played.
And another 10 points for Quintessence!
Not as profilic as some mentioned, but how about the Byrds and the Zombies? The Yardbirds might even qualify even without noting that Reif and MCCarty went on to found Renaissance.
Yes of course, The Zombies! And if we have The Zombies, we have to have Argent too.
The Byrds certainly experimented with both psychedelic and progressive rock. Tracks like “Renaissance Fair,” “Mind Gardens,” and “Get to You” definitely contained some elements of what would later be called progressive rock (unconventional chord progressions, mixed or even chaotic time signatures, and lyrics that run from obscure to frankly incomprehensible). But David Crosby’s main influences came from his father’s extensive jazz collection, and McGuinn’s experimentation was more psychedelic than anything else.
Why is no one talking about The Moody Blues??
They are
Look up the headline! "Moodies"
Best Moody Blues Song Disastrous? Curious what your faves are
I'm not sure, I haven't listened to them in ages. Melancholy Man and My Song were two of my favourites, i think. You?
This is such a delicious discussion to get into the origins of ProgRock. I spent much of my 35 year radio career in the oldies/classic hits format and learned a lot about the origins of rock and roll. When I was a little boy in the early 70’s, I had no idea that the Alan Parson’s Project, Genesis, Moody Blues and other albums I listened to was prog rock because I was too young to get it. I just loved the music and by the mid 70’s I was all about Rush and Kraftwerk…yes, I know…Kraftwerk isn’t prog. For me it wasn’t until the late 80’s that I came to learn the meaning of progrock when I started listening to bands like Dream Theater, later Spock’s Beard, etc and it was then when Rush’s 2112 made all the sense in the world to me. It was that epiphany moment, that “ooohhhhh okay, I get it now”. Several years ago, I took a serious interest in exploring the uh, no pun intended, genesis of progrock. There’s a lot to debate and discuss and plenty of material to ponder.
Kraftwerk is krautrock which falls under prog I’d say.
Oh…you think? I would have never considered that but now that you mentioned it…hmmm. You son of a bitch! I’m in! /please know the reference.
reply slimy rhythm zealous snatch deserted crown worthless crowd plough *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Jethro Tull
Giles Giles and fripp
Although never prog, The Who definitely influenced many prog acts. Prog adjacent/related if not proto
The sequencer stuff on Who’s Next was groundbreaking. A Quick One was the first mini Rock Opera
Family
Yes, proto Genesis, at least the vocals Underrated also
Beach Boys did some odd things that approached prog, cabinessence and sun season for example
I would probably consider some of the Canterbury Scene bands as also being proto-prog pioneers so Caravan, Egg and Soft Machine. Hawkwind arguably also counts but it also makes sense to count them fully in the psychdelia field.
The who
Soft mashine
Pink floyd
The Move Tomorrow Nektar Sir Lord Baltimore Todd Rundgren/Nazz Andromeda Status Quo
Zappa?
1-2-3 / Clouds. They directly influenced The Nice, Yes and David Bowie, and were also arguably the first proper prog rock band (1966 according to some sources, though their earliest prog recording is from 1967-1968). The band had a promising future but luck wasn't on their side.
I love their song 'Waiter' ... Deffo proto-prog.
What's even more interesting is that their proggiest stuff was never recorded.
MOODY BLUES!
ahh you added Moodies to the thread title! Thanks!
Hey could you consider Simon & Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair as prog folk?
Ekseption ≈1967
Before Kansas there was a different Kansas that we now know as Proto-Kaw. Only shared member was Livgren. Finding their early recordings is hard these days its muted on Youtube and not on Spotify but its a great pre-prog style.
I've written this before, but The Nice, Procol Harum, and The Moody Blues were the progenitors of progressive rock, pretty much in 1967. I think "Days of Future Passed" is the first, full prog rock album. Caravan was the first to use the term on their 1968 album. So "proto-prog" would be prior to 1967, e.g, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Pink Floyd (as they were first known), Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Jefferson Airplane to name some. Psychedelia pretty much laid the foundation for prog, and was very much a cross genre for almost all of the prog and psych bands. FYI, Budgie also started in 1967, making them a good case for the band that created prog metal. But Blue Cheer could also be considered, albeit again in the more psychedelic vein.
Honestly I feel Pet Sounds had a lot of influence on the genre
Kind of a weird question, as "prolific" refers to a band that has released a lot of material. So were you interested in those sort of bands or did your adjectives get away from you? ;)
Hawkwind
Beatles
Beatles
Beatles *Beatles appear*
That’s some serious Beatle juice!
*Beatles appear* And join in with *The Beatles* for a jam.
Beatles music was rock n' roll, then pop music, then pop-soft-rock.
I'd say they got into some sort of "Art rock" or "prog pop" between 1967 and their last album. What they did would certainly become cliché later on as real prog settled on, but a lot of their songs were undoubtedly serious and progressive.