Close to the Edge: How Yes and Genesis Took Progressive Rock to Its Furthest Reaches

Get in touch! It seems like every ten years or so, society experiences a great reset. The end of the ‘60s was like that. The idealism and teen-culture of the ‘60’s was ten years older and moving into adult life. Just like everything else in life that was questioned and re-invented. Some musicians began pushing the boundaries of what rock music could become. Across the Atlantic, and as Ian Anderson, of Jethro Tull put it, English rockers “were trying to be originators and not simply relying on American music." Some of the most ground-breaking ‘60s albums led directly to the rise of prog, most prominently, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This album set a whole new expectation for what bands could do, and for what rock could become. In this second episode on Progressive Rock, we're going deep into 'prog rock'. So, "Welcome back, my friends to the show that never ends!" Come explore progressive rock with me! Themes In this Episode: Some of the concepts in the biggest prog rock "Concept Albums" The roots of Yes Some of Yes' greatest work: Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans Time and a Word: The lyrics in progressive rock songs Having dinner with the band: Genesis - Supper's Ready The classic Genesis line-up: Steve Hackett and Phil Collins join the band Tracks Rush - 2112 Yes - The Revealing Science of God The Beatles - Within You Without You Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks - True Messenger The Syn - Flowerman Yes - Giants Under the Sun David Bowie - Life on Mars Yes - Excerpts; Roundabout, South Side of the Sky Yes - Close to the Edge Yes - Ritual; Nous Sommes du Soleil The Beatles - Golden Slumbers Jethro Tull - My God Genesis - Excerpt; Watcher of the Skies Genesis - Supper's Ready Genesis - Excerpt; Firth of Fifth Genesis - Los Endos Genesis - Phil Collins & Chester Thompson drum duet from Mama Tour (1984)