Shows
Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: Rush studio albumsThis week Tim ranked the Rush studio albums, from 19 to 1. Topics covered include: Tim’s Rush autobiography, Rush’s exceptional arrangement skills, the quality of Rush’s lyrics, whether Rush work better in minor or major keys, and why Rush sound like a string quartet. Also, was Lady Gaga influenced by Rush? What’s the difference between synchrony and diachrony in the social sciences? Did Rush invent thrash metal? What would Walter Benjamin have thought of the band? Why did Neil Peart keep going on about Ayn Rand? And crucially, which will be number one?
2026-01-0557 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: Our favourite songs about animalsThis week, Peter and Tim discussed their favourite songs about animals. Which produce the best material, vertebrates or invertebrates? Which period produces the best animal songs? What do animals mean in art? What did Kant think of animals? Who really runs the planet, humans or insects? And can you get double points if both the song and the band name make reference to animals? Find out all this and more in this week’s (sort of Christmas special) episode.
2025-12-301h 08Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacWhen prog bands do punk and punk bands do prog: Peter Hammill and DEVOThis week Tim discussed the connection or otherwise between prog and punk, with particular reference to Peter Hammill’s album Nadir’s Big Chance and Devo’s album Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo! Topics for discussion this week include: the connection between Van der Graaf Generator and Nadir’s Big Chance, Devo’s connection with the musical scene in Germany, whether punk music sounds more European or American and how each group deals with the ‘schizoid position’. Also, what’s a Moebius strip? What did Johnny Rotten think of Peter Hammill? Did George Orwell really see a hanging? A...
2025-12-2230 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRenaissance - Scheherazade And Other Stories: The greatest symphonic rock album ever made?This week, Shaun and Tim discussed the sixth studio album by Renaissance, Scheherazade And Other Stories. Topics discussed include: whether the album could be made today; whether Renaissance can be considered prog rock or symphonic rock; how many musical references to Rimsky-Korsakov the band include in this album (and others); whether or not the band were considered cool at the time; and how many octaves Annie Haslam can sing. Also, what’s the connection between Renaissance and Jilted John? What’s it like to go on a date with Roy Wood? What language do they speak in Cornwall? And how...
2025-12-151h 06Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacSteve Hackett - Voyage Of The Acolyte: A lost Genesis album?In this week’s episode, Shaun discusses Steve Hackett’s debut solo album Voyage Of The Acolyte. Topics covered include: the extent to which Genesis was the genesis of this material, the Christian echoes on the album, whether the final title of the LP was the optimal choice, Steve Hackett’s use of dynamics and how the cover matches up to other Kim Poor material. Also, should Steve Hackett be considered the George Harrison of Genesis? Why didn’t Shaun go and watch John Hackett playing live? Why are there both crows and owls in Shaun’s wood? What happened w...
2025-12-0839 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacIMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE PODCAST!Hi folks! Just a little note on an imminent rebrand of the podcast!
2025-12-0500 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacVan der Graaf Generator - H to He Who Am The Only One: A body without organs?This week, Tim did a monologue about H to He Who Am The Only One, by Van der Graaf Generator. Topics covered include: whether VdGG are really heavy metal without guitars, whether H to He can be considered a pop album, the extent to which the album precipitates the band’s later work, and how the dialectic between voice and sax works in the band. Also, how did VdGG influence Iron Maiden? Do the wind parts represent the Freudian drives? Is the ‘hit’ song Killer a comic or a tragic piece? Is there a schizoid element in the band’s work...
2025-12-0142 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: The Top Five albums of 1967This week Tim, Peter and Shaun discussed their favourite albums from “the summer of love”, 1967. Topics covered include: whether ’67 was the beginning of the postmodern period, what relation the period had to subsequent developments in music, what influence folk, blues and jazz had on the period, and whether the period was predominantly optimistic or pessimistic. Also, couldn’t “the highest paid act in America” get someone to tune their guitars? Which band hated each other the most? What did Steve Jobs actually invent? Should we have chosen a different year to discuss? And most importantly of all, who will be number on
2025-11-241h 06Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: Genesis OuttakesIn this week’s episode, Shaun and Tim discussed their top ten favourite Genesis outtakes. Topics covered include: the difference between outtakes from the classic and contemporary periods of the band, why Genesis didn’t write psychedelic pieces, how the Banks-Rutherford dialectic affected the sound of the band, and the influence of Phil Collins’ love life on the lyrics. Also, why did Steve Hackett keep getting quieter? What’s the essence of Stoic philosophy? Should some of the single albums have been doubles? Should some of the double albums have been singles? And was Mick Barnard the secret genius behind G...
2025-11-171h 06Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacGentle Giant - The Power And The Glory: Gentle's Giant's Leviathan?This week Tim did a monologue about the sixth studio album by Gentle Giant, The Power And The Glory. Topics covered include: whether the band had read Graham Greene, George Orwell or Thomas Hobbes; the extent to which the lyrics are reflected in the music and vice versa; the unique style and sound of Gentle Giant; and whether the album should be considered political or anti-political. Also, should the ending of the album actually have gone at the beginning? Was Cogs In Cogs influenced by Charlie Chaplin? Did the album lead to the demise of Nicolae Ceaușescu? Was W...
2025-11-1051 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacYes - Drama: The last great prog album?This week, Tim and Shaun had a chat about the tenth studio album by Yes, Drama. Topics covered included: the relative success of this rock-new wave mash-up; what the nature of the Yes-Horn/Downes collaboration was; whether the cover of the album was based on the songs; and whether this line-up should have made another album. Also, would the album have been better if Chris Squire had sung it? What were Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman drinking when they decided to leave the group? What is it like to go on your honeymoon with Steve Howe? Is Trevor Horn...
2025-11-0353 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacPlanxty - Planxty: The greatest Irish band of all time?This week Tim did a monologue on the first album by Planxty. Topics covered include: whether Planxty are really the greatest Irish band of all time, whether prog fans would like this album, the mythological nature of the group’s songs, the carefully programmed nature of the album, and the connection between Planxty and the band Kneecap. Also, how did the band Elbow get their name? How do you make an English person feel Irish? Was the Jolly Beggar really a beggar or not? And did Christy Moore invent rap music on The Raggle-Taggle Gypsy?
2025-10-2746 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacTOP(OGRAPHIC) TRUMPS: Tommy vs. QuadropheniaThis week, Tim and Peter did an album-off, between Tommy and Quadrophenia by The Who. Topics covered include: whether both albums deserve to be doubles, in what sense Quadrophenia is a response to Tommy, how important Kit Lambert’s influence was, how each album deals with the question of sexual identity, and whether Underture is too long or not. Also, what would Freud have thought of the band? Which is the most offensive line on the two albums? Was Tommy actually finished or not? Are mods male or female? And which is better, Keith Moon’s drumming or his scre...
2025-10-201h 25Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: The greatest progressive rock albums of all timeThis week, Shaun and Tim ranked their top ten favourite progressive rock albums. Which of your favourite bands will be in there? And how will they be represented? Find out in this bumper episode!
2025-10-131h 36Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Incredible String Band - The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion: An alternative Sgt. Pepper?This week Peter did a monologue about the second album by The Incredible String Band, The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion. Topics covered include: the String Band’s unusual harmonic sense, the Eastern influence on their music, their importance to the 60s music scene in the U.K., why the band weren’t better known and the uniqueness of the Edinburgh folk scene. Also, who was the best sitar player in the 60s? Why don’t the band do any middle eights? What are the politics of turning an album over? And is you is or is you ai...
2025-10-0641 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Nice - Five Bridges: The first real progressive rock album?This week Tim did a monologue on Five Bridges by The Nice. Topics covered include: whether Five Bridges is the first stage in the development of the progressive rock "paradigm"; where the album stands in the band’s catalogue; how The Nice compares to ELP; and whether the dialectic between band and orchestra is successful. Also, why don’t bands get Arts Council grants any more? What does the band have to do with the philosophy of science? Was the introduction influenced by tantric sex? Was Lee Jackson a Maoist? How do you say “ars” without causing offence? And most imp...
2025-09-2938 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: Live progressive rock albumsThis week Shaun, Peter and Tim rank their top five favourite live prog rock albums. Who will be number one?
2025-09-221h 15Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacSPECIAL EPISODE: Shaun's Shed (Caravan: Girls That Grow Plump In The Night)In this episode - potentially one of an occasional series - Shaun reviews sections of Caravan's fifth studio album: Girls That Grow Plump In The Night, whilst sculpting a bust of Richard Sinclair and arguing with the postman and a charity worker.
2025-09-2046 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacThin Lizzy - Jailbreak: The hard rock Ulysses?This week Tim discussed the classic sixth album by Thin Lizzy, Jailbreak. Topics covered are: whether Lizzy is the greatest Irish group of all time, whether they are Iron Maiden avant la lettre, what the essential ingredients of their sound are, and the role that the Irish literary and poetic tradition play in the mix. Also, how many references to brothers are there on the album, and who exactly are they? What do the French say about gambling? Is Don Juan secretly gay? And there may be about to be a Jailbreak somewhere in the town, but presumably it...
2025-09-1554 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacPeter Gabriel - 3 (Melt): A concept album about apartheid?This week Shaun and Tim discussed the third album by Peter Gabriel: 3 (Melt). Themes covered include: whether this is a psychological or a political album (or both), whether it’s a concept album about apartheid, the status of the album within Gabriel’s discography, the psychological resonances of the cover and the influence of world music on the album. Also, are some of the lyrics based on Freud’s analysis of the Schreber case? Was the track Intruder about the Milk Tray man? Are there too many songs on side one? Did Lee Harvey Oswald kill JFK? And what happen...
2025-09-081h 08Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacMike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day: A Genesis album in a parallel universe?This week Tim discussed side one of Mike Rutherford’s first solo album, Smallcreep’s Day. Topics covered include: the playing on the album, the programmatic implications of the Smallcreep’s Day Suite, the differences between Smallcreep’s Day and Supper’s Ready by Genesis, and the decisive use of suspended chords on the album. Also, why is the cover better than the source material? Is Rutherford a romantic or a transcendental idealist? What exactly is the problem with the Marxist concept of alienation? How many apotheoses are required in a 24-minute piece? How is Smallcreep like James Bond? And how do...
2025-09-0145 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacSimon and Garfunkel - Bookends: The anti-Summer of Love album?This week, Peter and Tim discussed the fourth album by Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends. Topics considered include: whether the album was an attack on hippy ideals and culture, whether it was a New York broadside against California, what connects Simon and Garfunkel and The Kinks, the nature of Paul Simon’s writing process and whether the album would be considered “meta” today. Also: what does “America” mean? Who was “Kathy”? Was Mrs. Robinson really Mrs. Roosevelt? Is it pronounced “Hazy Shade Of Winter” or “Whiter Shade Of Pale”? And is all the world really a stage?
2025-08-251h 24Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacGenesis - And Then There Were Three: Selling America by the pound?This week Shaun and Tim discussed the ninth studio album by Genesis, And Then There Were Three. Themes discussed include: whether this was Genesis’ least experimental album, what Steve Hackett’s absence meant to the band, whether the unexpected is a necessary but insufficient condition for artistic creation and whether the album should have been called “Selling America By The Pound”. Also, was there any instrument on the album that couldn’t have been played by Tony Banks? Was Ballad of Big about Steve Hackett? Did Shaun get off the Genesis bus before or after Tesco’s? What the hell is Snow...
2025-08-161h 08Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacFrank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti: The unicorn of a perfect double album? (WARNING: Contains adult themes!)This week, Tim discussed Frank Zappa’s 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti. Issues discussed are the artistic status of the rock double album, the role of humour in music, what to make of the accusation of racism, whether Frank Zappa had read Freud, the musical eclecticism one finds on the album and the role of aleatory music in Zappa’s oeuvre. Also: how are the musique concrète pieces like a Japanese restaurant? Is the character of Bobby Brown a metaphor for today’s culture? Who’s funnier: Frank Zappa or the Bonzo Dog Band? Is the closing track a veiled threat to...
2025-08-0945 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: YES SOLO DEBUT ALBUMSThis week Tim and Shaun ranked the first eight (or is it seven?!) Yes solo debut albums. Issues which emerge are: what the thinking was in putting these albums together; who has the best musicianship on their album; how the sound of these albums relates to the Yes sound; and how the onstage dynamic might affect the group dynamic as a whole. Also, what would King Crimson have sounded like with Phil Collins on drums? Is the phrase Alan White a metaphor? Which exactly are the two sides of Peter Banks? Who plays pervy sax on Fish Out Of...
2025-08-041h 25Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: PINK FLOYD STUDIO ALBUMSThis week, Peter and Tim ranked the 15 Pink Floyd studio albums. Topics covered included: Hipgnosis cover art, the transition from psychedelia to prog, or art rock, whether we can separate our views of Pink Floyd from their cultural significance and the relative merits of the different members of the band. Also: who has the best joke about Momentary Lapse of Reason? Is anyone prepared to watch an entire Barbet Schroeder film? How does Piper At The Gates Of Dawn resemble a chocolate box? Why is Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast so long? And which is the bravest 9 minutes in Pink Fl...
2025-07-251h 31Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacGodley and Creme - Consequences: The longest resignation letter in history?This week Tim did a monologue on the first album by Godley and Creme, Consequences. The discussion includes: the extensive artistic talents of the duo, the nature of the split with 10cc, what Deceptive Bends would have been like if Godley and Creme had stayed, and the environmental theme. Also, was the album a hello or a goodbye? Should it really have been a triple? Can it be described as the weirdest album in the history of rock? What was the Gizmotron? How on earth did they get Peter Cook and Sarah Vaughan involved? And is the answer to...
2025-07-1851 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: GENESIS SOLO DEBUT ALBUMSThis week, Shaun and Tim did a ranking of the first six solo albums by the key members of Genesis. Topics included: the difference between band writing and solo writing, the difference between instrumental writing and songwriting, the punk-prog dialectic, the prevalence of journeying themes in the albums, and sexual difference when it comes to choosing your favourite Genesis member. Also, where is the Mick Barnard album? How many wine glasses did Steve Hackett actually crush? What kind of trade union member is Phil Collins? And how many members of Genesis does it take to fit cannons and tympanis...
2025-07-071h 02Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacVan der Graaf Generator - Godbluff: The sound of a nervous breakdown set to music?This week, Tim discussed the fifth album by Van der Graaf Generator, Godbluff. Topics covered are: where the album sits in the band’s trajectory, the band’s unusual line-up, whether they can be considered prog rock, the European influences on the band and the meaning of the album title. Also, what was their influence on Iron Maiden? Were the band influenced by romantic literature? Were they really obsessed with the wars of religion? Are the band “heavy metal without guitars”? And does the word “George Harrison-y” constitute an acceptable use of the English language?
2025-06-3030 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacTOP(OGRAPHIC) TRUMPS: Tales From Topographic Oceans vs. The Lamb Lies Down On BroadwayPeter, Shaun and Tim compare and contrast the two classic prog rock double albums: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway by Genesis and Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes. The discussion includes: why the bands decided to do double albums at this point; the role of jamming on both albums; the religious character of the two themes; and who’s better: Roger Dean or Hipgnosis? Also, are Jon Anderson’s words wonderful or terrible? Was The Lamb based on The TV show The Prisoner? Why did Alan White play a tree? Who was Lilith? And is Shaun using a micr...
2025-06-231h 12Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacFairport Convention - Liege And Lief: Their last great album, or their first great album?This week, Shaun and Tim did a review of the folk-rock classic, the fourth album by Fairport Convention, Liege And Lief. The discussion included: what the album title means; whether this was the band’s last great album, or their first great album; how close to romanticism folk music is; and whether the album is optimally sequenced. Also, how do you pronounce ‘Hutchings’? What is that object on the back cover? What’s the difference between Matty Groves and Titanic? Is Shaun qualified to join the cast of Time Team? And is Jacob Rees-Mogg a were-fox?
2025-06-1757 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: Is it as good as they say?This week Tim did a monologue on Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. He attempted to answer the question as to whether it is as good as everybody says it is. Did he manage it? Listen and find out!
2025-06-1428 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacGentle Giant - In A Glass House: Their existentialist masterpiece?This week, Tim discussed the fifth album by Gentle Giant, In a Glass House. Topics covered are: the band being dropped by their record label, whether the band is a prog band or a ‘sublimated pop band', the complexity of the band’s playing and writing and their relationship with the missing brother and how it affected the theme of the album. Also, had the band read Jean-Paul Sartre? What happened when the band supported Black Sabbath? Why the hell did they make Giant For A Day? How did Kant define the Enlightenment? And finally, who were The Moles?
2025-06-0447 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE TOP TEN U.S. BANDS OF ALL TIMEThis week, Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their Top Ten favourite US bands of all time. The discussion includes: the difference between bands and solo artists; whether a subjective analysis is the same as an opinion; who the most influential bands were; and which decade produced the best music? Also, why was there a fetish for misspelling animal names? Why doesn’t Shaun listen to anything that was released after 1993? Why did noone mention The Doobie Brothers? And who will be number one?
2025-05-281h 35Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacCaravan - In The Land Of Grey And Pink: ReviewThis week, the first of an occasional series: “Pods from the wood”, in which Shaun goes back to nature and discusses one of his favourite albums whilst moving around in the Essex countryside. Today’s topic is the third album by Caravan, In The Land Of Grey And Pink. Themes discussed include: the influence of Chaucer on the band, where the album stands in the Canterbury canon, the Tolkeinesque nature of the cover, and how Caravan relates to its successor bands. Also, is that wind, or an earthquake in the Home Counties? Can you think of another band with cousin...
2025-05-1939 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE BEACH BOYS ALBUMSThis week, Shaun and Tim did a marathon ranking of the 28 albums by The Beach Boys. The discussion included: the difference between a great album and a favourite album; who the best songwriter was after Brian; whether Pet Sounds is really that good; whether the Beach Boys discography is a curate’s egg or jam sandwich; and how many of The Beach Boys albums are concept albums. Also, how bad does one song have to be to ruin an album? What happened to Shaun when he was in the bath while listening to 20/20? And how many references to Stalin ca...
2025-05-161h 51Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacCurved Air - Air Conditioning: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue, on the first album by Curved Air, Air Conditioning. Topics that come up are: Curved Air’s role in the English rock scene post-psychedelia and pre-prog rock, the nature of the writing committeee they mobilised, how the album fits into the band’s career trajectory, and the extent to which they can be considered a fusion band. Also: how do Curved Air relate to French philosopher Alain Badiou? What would Kant have said? What would Stumpy have said? How does the band incorporate quantum mechanics in their work...
2025-05-0950 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacStrawbs - From The Witchwood: ReviewShaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Strawbs, From The Witchwood. The discussion includes: whether it should be thought of as a concept album, where it stands in the Strawbs canon, why we can’t find any information on the cover, whether Wordsworth was an influence on the lyrics, and how important the Christian influence was on the band. Also, does Rick Wakeman ever stop playing? Can we trust Artificial Intelligence? Does the animatronic Oliver Cromwell have a Norfolk accent? And which is better, the English Civil War or the Norman Invasions? There’s only one...
2025-04-301h 21Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE TOP FIFTEEN BEATLES OUTTAKESPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite Beatles outtakes. The discussion includes: the ratio of John songs to Paul songs and of John and Paul songs to George songs; why there are so many early outtakes and late outtakes; who did the best solo album; and why they gave so many songs to Billy J. Kramer. Also, are there any Ringo songs on the list? Is there anything that shouldn't have been on the White Album? Is ‘Every Night’ brilliant or awful? And why did Cilla Black sound like that?
2025-04-211h 51Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Electric Light Orchestra - The Electric Light Orchestra: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did the second part of his ‘Birmingham Beatles’ duology: the first album by the Electric Light Orchestra. The ‘conversation’ included: the Move connection, the differences between ELO and the later prog movement, the incredibly high quality of ELO’s musicianship and the nature of the creative relationship between Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood. Also, why did so many of the songs have two titles? Why was the album called ‘No Answer’ in the U.S. (as opposed to, say, ‘Press one for hold’)? Where would one cry from if not from one’s eyes? A...
2025-04-1445 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Move - Move: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue about the debut album by The Move, Move. The ‘conversation’ included: the multicultural nature of The Move’s music, the ELO connection, whether this is the best UK album of the 1960s and why this was both the beginning and the end for the band. Also, why didn’t they make a concept album about gardening? Who the hell is singing each song? How did the album tapes end up in a bin in central London? And who was Mr. Chad?
2025-04-0759 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE TOP TEN UK BANDS OF THE 70SPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite Top Ten UK Bands of the 1970s. The discussion includes: the difference between cultural importance and musical importance, punk versus pre-punk genres, whether we trust one band to write better than another, and why we had so many honourable mentions. Also, who were the real heirs to The Beatles? Why did Phil Collins play on everybody’s records? Did Shaun preempt early US rap music? And what does lampooning mean?
2025-03-311h 32Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacBlack Sabbath - Paranoid: ReviewShaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the second album by Black Sabbath, Paranoid. The discussion includes: whether Black Sabbath started heavy metal, who the most important member of the band was, the influence of drugs on their performance, what their influences were and what the relationship is between jazz and heavy metal. Also, what would Kant have made of Black Sabbath? Why did they keep setting the drummer on fire? Who can do the best Birmingham accent? And why does Shaun keep throwing salt over his shoulder?
2025-03-261h 29Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacMike Oldfield - Tubular Bells: ReviewTim and Peter were busy this week, so Shaun had a conversation with himself, about the debut album by Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells. The following topics were covered: how Tubular Bells relates to the rest of the Oldfield catalogue, the relationship between Tubular Bells and early minimalism and how Oldfield's early life affected his compositional processes. Also, did Oldfield exclusively write his music down on the back of cigarette packets? Why hasn’t Shaun seen The Exorcist? And how good is Viv Stanshall?!
2025-03-2250 minClassic Rock And Prog Almanac10CC - 10CC: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue, on the first album by 10cc. ‘We discuss’ the history and pre-history of the band, the gap between 10cc’s talent and the way they’re remembered, the nature of the band’s harmonic and creative gifts, as well as the poor quality of 10cc reissues. Also, are 10cc the Beatles of the 70s? Why did they open the album with what is objectively the worst track? Who's funnier, 10cc or Frank Zappa? And what would Stalin have made of the band?
2025-03-171h 03Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacYes - The Yes Album: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Yes, The Yes Album. The discussion includes: the rebirth of Yes as a group, why they decided to get rid of Tony Kaye and Peter Banks, why the band sounds so American, whether Jon Anderson’s lyrics are good or not, and whether this is an example of a perfectly programmed album. Also, we know what Tony Banks thought of this album, but what about Peter Kay? What did Heraclitus think about rivers? Who is Ray Cooper? And was the cover photo taken in an outpatient clinic?
2025-03-101h 36Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE TOP 10 WOMEN IN ROCKShaun, Peter and Tim discuss their favourite female rock artists. On the agenda for today: is cultural importance relevant to musical importance? Which is the best period for female rock stars? How do we distinguish an individual contribution from a collective one? And do women appreciate certain female artists more than men, and vice versa? Also, how many of the contributors owned a dansette? Can we get through one episode without discussing Doctor Who? And why does a fight break out every time a member of the team tries to play a Whitney Houston song in public?
2025-02-241h 48Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacHawkwind - Warrior On The Edge Of Time: ReviewTim and Peter were busy this week, so Shaun had a debate with himself, about the fifth studio album by Hawkwind, Warrior On The Edge Of Time. The ‘discussion’ includes the following topics: where ‘Warrior’ stands in the Hawkwind canon, Hawkwind’s relationship to the British counterculture and whether ‘the Warrior’ was a metaphor for the band itself. Also, is it pronounced Elrich, or Elrich? What happened when the Anglo-Saxons broke ranks at Senlac Hill? And how many member of Hawkwind has Shaun actually met (while playing cricket)?
2025-02-1748 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacPink Floyd - Animals: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the tenth album by Pink Floyd, Animals. The discussion includes: whether the album was an attempt to fit in with the punk aesthetic, whether Roger Waters is a genius or not, to what extent is the band channeling George Orwell and what role love has to play in the album’s theme. Also, what is the band’s problem with the animals? Who was Mary Whitehouse? Is it pronounced Battersea or Battersea? And what happened when Shaun bumped into Dave Mattacks in the toilets?
2025-02-121h 37Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacThe Beach Boys - Smile: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a conversation with himself, about the unreleased album by The Beach Boys, Smile! The ‘discussion’ includes: the myth versus the reality of Smile!, whether it really would have changed the course of rock history if it had been released, how it relates to the following album Smiley Smile and how The Beach Boys and The Beatles saw each other. Also, why did Capitol Records print 400,000 album covers for an album that didn’t exist? What happened to the missing chorus of Heroes and Villains? And did Brian Wilson really start...
2025-02-0146 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE TOP 10 UK BANDS OF THE 60S, NOT INCLUDING THE BEATLES AND THE STONESPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their favourite 60s bands, minus ‘the big two’. How does the British rock and pop scene stand up without its two most famous elements? The guys discuss: the difference between musical contributions and cultural contributions, the influence of folk and blues, what it means to say that a band made its key contributions in the 60s (if they continued into the 70s) and whether the musicianship at the time matched the songwriting. Also, which 60s pop drummer was the best? Which band looked coolest on the Ed Sullivan show? And which 60s musicians would play...
2025-01-241h 39Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacCream - Wheels Of Fire (Studio): ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Cream, Wheels Of Fire (Studio). The discussion includes: whether the band can be considered psychedelic or not, why they are masters of the art of syncopation and why they hated each other so much. Also, was Cream really a jazz band but noone had bothered to tell Eric? Is Pressed Rat And Warthog really like Wind in the Willows on acid? Is Ginger Baker doing satirical drumming on Politician? And were things really so great in the lost city of Atlantis?
2025-01-061h 46Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacIron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a conversation with himself, about the third album by Iron Maiden, The Number Of The Beast. The ‘discussion’ includes: the programmatic nature of Maiden’s music, why this album is considered their best, why they always use the same chords, and which their best line-up was. Also, was Hallowed Be Thy Name based on a book by Dostoyevsky? Is this Iron Maiden’s most woke album? Is 22 Acacia Avenue based on Roxanne by The Police? And did the title track ultimately lead to Brexit?
2024-12-311h 14Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: THE BEATLES BROWN ALBUMThis week, Peter, Shaun and Tim discuss their least favourite songs by possibly the greatest band of all time, thus providing a potential track listing for a third mythical album to add to “The White Album” and “The Black Album”: “The Brown Album”. Topics discussed include the following. Will George and Ringo be over-represented in the list? Are later bad Beatles songs worse than early bad Beatles songs? Is ‘over-McCartneyish’ a legitimate criticism? And: is ‘the greatest Beatles song of all time’ actually their worst? Also: on how many levels can a bad song be bad? What was Paul McCartney really doi...
2024-12-211h 42Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacKing Crimson - Red: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the seventh studio album by King Crimson, Red. The discussion includes: the band’s incredible musicianship, the relative merits of the albums in the Mark III period, whether the group sounds better with or without violin, and whether Starless is the greatest King Crimson track of all time. Also, can Robert Fripp play the blues? Does Phil Collins sound like a seal? Does time literally slow down when the band is doing an over-long improvisational passage? And what would it sound like if cardboard could sing?
2024-12-091h 49Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacCamel - The Snow Goose: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the third album by Camel, The Snow Goose. The discussion includes: the quality of Camel's musicianship, why they decided to do an instrumental album, where does the band stand in the British prog canon and to what extent can music represent images? Also, were the band influenced by 70's game show music? Why did they choose duck sounds to represent a goose? Why didn't the Nazis finish off the British army at Dunkirk? And does Canterbury really exist?
2024-11-251h 36Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacQueen - 1: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim did a monologue about the newly-rereleased Queen 1. The monologue includes: the uneven development between Queen’s songwriters, the brilliance of Brian May’s guitar playing, whether Queen’s singles are better than their albums, and is the cover an early example of ‘queering’? Also, was Freddie a Christian? Did Roger Taylor really need a drum solo? And would Leon Trotsky have liked Bohemian Rhapsody?
2024-11-1454 minClassic Rock And Prog AlmanacLed Zeppelin - 2: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinons of the second album by Led Zeppelin. The discussion includes: the British blues explosion of the sixties, the difference between English folk and American folk, why couldn’t the band think of proper names for their albums?, and did John Bonham write Whole Lotta Love? Also: are the lyrics on this album good or not? Did they understand that the name Led Zeppelin was a metaphor? And which is better: Toad by Cream or Moby Dick by Led Zeppelin? There’s only one way to find out…
2024-11-041h 46Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRANKING: GENESIS STUDIO ALBUMSPeter, Shaun and Tim rank the Genesis studio albums. There's a few surprises, and one or two good rants. Also, how many ways are there to count to 15? And what does Shaun's brother Steve think?
2024-10-211h 49Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacJethro Tull - Aqualung: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth album by Jethro Tull, Aqualung. The discussion includes: Jethro Tull’s innovative lyrics, whether their style precipitated prog rock and heavy metal, why the album was so big in America, and, most crucially, was it a concept album or not? Also, did Ian Anderson really threaten to do a flute solo if the band didn’t nail their solos in two takes? What's the English word for pants? And what’s it like to share a bathroom with John Bonham?
2024-10-071h 44Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacRush - 2112: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth album by Rush, 2112. The discussion includes: Rush’s career swerve, the band’s fascination with Ayn Rand, why the album was considered better than Caress of Steel, and whether the whole concept for the album actually came from Tchaikovsky. Also, what actually happens in the title track? Would it really be so bad to live under the rule of the Priests? And is the postcode for The Temples of Syrinx SY or SX?
2024-09-161h 40Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacMarillion - F.E.A.R.: ReviewPeter and Shaun were busy this week, so Tim had a debate with himself, about the eighteenth studio album by Marillion, F.E.A.R.. The ‘discussion’ includes: whether Marillion owe more to Genesis or to Pink Floyd, why the band’s abstract compositional technique is so difficult to discuss conceptually, and whether ultimately they are writing tracks or albums. Also, did they read Thomas Pikkety’s Capital in the 21st. Century? Can the band be considered political catastrophists? And who is that at the door?
2024-09-051h 16Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacE.L.P. - Brain Salad Surgery: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fourth (or fifth?) album by Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Brain Salad Surgery. The discussion includes: ELP's astonishing musical talent, whether this was supposed to be a concept album or not and the question of why the band chose to do so many cover versions. Also, why was everyone so keen to go to Switzerland? Can we put together a crowd funder to reclaim Carl Palmer's drum kit? And what exactly did Greg Lake need a ladder for?
2024-08-261h 49Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacKing Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the debut album by King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King. The discussion includes: King Crimson as singularity, what makes Michael Giles such a good drummer and why the heavy reliance on the mellotron? Also, should Mirrors be used on Strictly Come Dancing? And how do you pronounce Judy Dyble's surname?
2024-08-061h 46Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacPink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the eighth album by Pink Floyd, Dark Side Of The Moon. The discussion includes: Pink Floyd's musical ability, whether it truly works as a concept album and whether the cover was based on the Black Magic chocolate box or Milk Tray. Also, is the opening of 'Money' the sound of someone paying Clare Torry her 60 quid session fee? And who on earth is Barry St. John?
2024-07-251h 45Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacYes - Close To The Edge: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fifth studio album by Yes, Close To The Edge, as well as Jon Anderson's early work, as a milkman in Accrington, Lancashire.
2024-07-121h 27
Classic Rock And Prog AlmanacGenesis - Selling England By The Pound: ReviewPeter, Shaun and Tim discuss their opinions of the fifth studio album by Genesis, Selling England By The Pound.
2024-07-021h 33