Right down to the Roger Dean-designed sleeve, this five-CD box set overview of 1967-1976 progressive rock is as grandiose as the music itself, which is not necessarily an unconditional recommendation. But give the compilation points for diversity and thoughtful selection. The expected superstars (Yes, Genesis, ELP, Procol Harum) are usually represented by unexpected cuts that haven't been played to death on FM radio. A lot of ground is covered, from Krautrock (Can, Amon Düül II) and symphonic keyboards (Rare Bird, Argent, the Nice's "America") to the Canterbury sound (Caravan, Hatfield & the North) and pop hits with prog overtones (Traffic's "Paper Sun," Golden Earring's "Radar Love," Roxy Music's "Virginia Plain"). A lot of the Continental bands -- like Le Orme, Lard Free, Wigwam, Ange, and Samla Mammas Manna -- will be fuzzy or unfamiliar names even to progressive rock fans, making cult faves like Van Der Graaf Generator, Curved Air, the Pretty Things, Savage Rose, and Gong (all here as well) famous by comparison. Will the music cause those who dislike prog rock to re-evaluate their feelings? Absolutely not; the more accessible and poppy cuts are balanced by flashy instrumental workouts that -- as even the musicians themselves may admit -- do not exhibit a trace of humor. And no box that fails to include selections by Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Soft Machine, Kraftwerk, Mike Oldfield, early Brian Eno, and Kevin Ayers (in at least some cases for licensing reasons) can claim to be comprehensive. It is an interesting, carefully assembled, and extremely wide-ranging and catholic survey of the much-maligned genre. It's just a bit too much to take in all at once, and its very eclecticism ensures that many listeners (even dedicated prog fans) will feel the urge to skip around to concentrate on the subgenres they find most appealing. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Klaus Schulze (Organ), Klaus Schulze (Drums), Klaus Schulze (Vocals), Klaus Schulze (Electronic Sounds), Klaus Schulze (Producer), Klaus Schulze (Performer), Klaus Schulze (Electronics), Rick Wakeman (Keyboards), Jan Akkerman (Guitar), Jon Anderson (Vocals), Jon Anderson (Producer), Argent (Performer), Bill Bruford (Percussion), Bill Bruford (Drums), Can (Producer), Can (Performer), Jim Capaldi (Percussion), Jim Capaldi (Drums), Jim Capaldi (Vocals), Phil Collins (Percussion), Phil Collins (Drums), Phil Collins (Vocals), Dave Cousins (Guitar), Dave Cousins (Vocals), Dave Cousins (Guitar (12 String)), Dave Cousins (Producer), Arthur Brown (Vocals), Electric Light Orchestra (Performer), Emerson, Lake & Palmer (Performer), Bryan Ferry (Piano), Bryan Ferry (Vocals), Focus (Performer), Peter Gabriel (Flute), Peter Gabriel (Drums (Bass)), Peter Gabriel (Tambourine), Peter Gabriel (Vocals), Genesis (Producer), Genesis (Performer), Gentle Giant (Producer), Gentle Giant (Performer), Golden Earring (Producer), Golden Earring (Performer), Gong (Producer), Gong (Performer), Steve Hackett (Guitar), Steve Hackett (Guitar (Electric)), Steve Hackett (Guitar (12 String)), Peter Hammill (Guitar (Acoustic)), Peter Hammill (Vocals), Justin Hayward (Bass), Justin Hayward (Guitar), Justin Hayward (Percussion), Justin Hayward (Piano), Justin Hayward (Harpsichord), Justin Hayward (Vocals), Justin Hayward (Mellotron), Henry Cow (Producer), Henry Cow (Performer), Steve Hillage (Guitar), Steve Howe (Guitar), Steve Howe (Vocals), Steve Howe (?), Kingdom Come (Producer), Kingdom Come (Performer), John Lodge (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Lodge (Bass), John Lodge (Percussion), John Lodge (Cello), John Lodge (Vocals), Jeff Lynne (Guitar), Jeff Lynne (Vocals), Jeff Lynne (Producer), Phil Manzanera (Guitar), Dave Mason (Bass), Dave Mason (Guitar), Dave Mason (Sitar), Dave Mason (Vocals), Dave Mason (Tamboura), Dave Mason (Mellotron), Dave Mason (Shakkai), The Moody Blues (Performer), The Nice (Producer), The Nice (Performer), PFM (Performer), Michael Pinder (Guitar (Acoustic)), Michael Pinder (Bass), Michael Pinder (Piano), Michael Pinder (Cello), Michael Pinder (Harpsichord), Michael Pinder (Mellotron), Procol Harum (Performer), Renaissance (Performer), Chris Squire (Bass), Chris Squire (Vocals), The Strawbs (Performer), Ray Thomas (Flute), Ray Thomas (Vocals), Traffic (Performer), Robin Trower (Guitar), Van der Graaf Generator (Performer), Steve Winwood (Organ), Steve Winwood (Bass), Steve Winwood (Guitar), Steve Winwood (Percussion), Steve Winwood (Piano), Steve Winwood (Harpsichord), Steve Winwood (Vocals), Steve Winwood (Performer), Yes (Producer), Yes (Performer), George Duke (Synthesizer), George Duke (Keyboards), George Duke (Vocals), Magma (Producer), Magma (Performer), Pete Lemer (Synthesizer), Pete Lemer (Piano (Electric)), Chris White (Producer), François Jeanneau (Synthesizer), François Jeanneau (?), Phil Miller (Guitar), Pekka Pohjola (Bass), Quiet Sun (Producer), Quiet Sun (Performer), Chester Thompson (Drums), Daevid Allen (Guitar), Daevid Allen (Vocals), Graeme Edge (Percussion), Graeme Edge (Piano), Graeme Edge (Drums), Dagmar Krause (Trumpet), Dagmar Krause (Vocals), Rare Bird (Performer), Darryl Way (Violin), Ange (Performer), Coste Apetrea (Guitar), Aphrodite's Child (Performer), Rod Argent (Organ), Rod Argent (Piano (Electric)), Rod Argent (Vocals), Rod Argent (Producer), Ash Ra Tempel (Performer), Mark Ashton (Drums), Mark Ashton (Vocals), Atomic Rooster (Producer), Atomic Rooster (Performer), Russ Ballard (Guitar), Russ Ballard (Vocals), Tim Blake (Synthesizer), Tim Blake (?), Tim Blake (Mellowdrone), Peter Blegvad (Clarinet), Peter Blegvad (Vocals), Christian Boule (Guitar), Christian Boule (?), Gary Brooker (Piano), Caravan (Performer), Curved Air (Performer), Brian Davison (Drums), Roger Dean (Artwork), Roger Dean (Design), Roger Dean (Illustrations), Roger Dean (Paintings), Keith Emerson (Organ), Keith Emerson (Synthesizer), Keith Emerson (Vocals), Faust (Performer), Matthew Fisher (Organ), John Greaves (Bass), John Greaves (Piano), Hatfield and the North (Producer), Hatfield and the North (Performer), Chris Karrer (Guitar), Chris Karrer (Vocals), Sonja Kristina (Vocals), Greg Lake (Bass), Greg Lake (Guitar), Greg Lake (Vocals), Greg Lake (Producer), Lard Free (Performer), Le Orme (Performer), Phil May (Vocals), Francis Monkman (Synthesizer), Francis Monkman (Guitar), Francis Monkman (Piano), Francis Monkman (Mellotron), Nektar (Producer), Nektar (Performer), Jim Pembroke (Vocals), Nic Potter (Bass), The Pretty Things (Performer), Samla Mammas Manna (Performer), Savage Rose (Producer), Savage Rose (Performer), Irmin Schmidt (Keyboards), Seventh Wave (Performer), Slapp Happy (Producer), Slapp Happy (Performer), Supersister (Performer), Christian Vander (Synthesizer), Christian Vander (Drums), Christian Vander (Keyboards), Christian Vander (Vocals), Christian Vander (?), Cyrille Verdeaux (Organ), Cyrille Verdeaux (Synthesizer), Cyrille Verdeaux (Piano), Cyrille Verdeaux (Conga), Cyrille Verdeaux (Gong), Cyrille Verdeaux (Producer), Cyrille Verdeaux (Mellotron), Mike Vernon (Producer), Wigwam (Producer), Wigwam (Performer), Cesar Ascarrunz (Drums), Thijs Van Leer (Organ), Thijs Van Leer (Flute), Thijs Van Leer (Harmonium), Thijs Van Leer (Vocals), Dick Taylor (Guitar), Dick Taylor (Vocals), Gianni Nocenzi (Synthesizer), Gianni Nocenzi (Clarinet), Gianni Nocenzi (Piano), Manuel Göttsching (Guitar), Demis Roussos (Bass), Demis Roussos (Vocals), Richard Hudson (Cymbals), Richard Hudson (Drums), Richard Hudson (Producer), Chris Cutler (Drums), Chris Cutler (Radio), Lindsay Cooper (Bassoon), Lindsay Cooper (Oboe), Mongezi Feza (Trumpet), Mark Edwards (Cello), Mark Edwards (Producer), Tom Fowler (Bass), Jimmy Miller (Producer), Jim McCarty (Percussion), Jim McCarty (Drums), Jim McCarty (Vocals), John Alder (Drums), John Alder (Vocals), Tom (Colonel) Allom (Producer), Annisette (Vocals), John Anthony (Producer), Gilbert Artman (Percussion), Gilbert Artman (Drums), Gilbert Artman (Art Direction), Wishbone Ash (Performer), Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (Performer), Tony Banks (Organ), Tony Banks (Keyboards), Tony Banks (Piano (Electric)), Tony Banks (Vocals), Tony Banks (Guitar (12 String)), Tony Banks (Mellotron), Hugh Banton (Organ), Hugh Banton (Synthesizer), Hugh Banton (Piano), Hugh Banton (Vocals), Hugh Banton (?), Mireille Bauer (Percussion), Phil Becque (Producer), Bev Bevan (Drums), Klaus Blasquiz (Vocals), Bob Boisadan (Organ), Bob Boisadan (Synthesizer), Bob Boisadan (Piano (Electric)), Philippe Bolliet (Saxophone), Jean Michel Brezovar (Guitar), Jean Michel Brezovar (Vocals), Napoleon Murphy Brock (Vocals), Julian Brown (Synthesizer), Hans Bruniusson (Drums), Richard Brunton (Guitar), John Burns (Producer), Pier Luigi Calderoni (Drums), John Cann (Guitar), John Cann (Vocals), Louis Cennamo (Bass), Chris Clarke (Remastering), Tony Clarke (Producer), Mel Collins (Flute), Mel Collins (Saxophone), Rod Coombes (Drums), Denny Cordell (Producer), Richard Coughlan (Drums), Vincent Crane (Organ), Vincent Crane (Piano), Vincent Crane (Vocals), Vincent Crane (Keyboard Bass), Charles Cronk (Synthesizer), Charles Cronk (Bass), Holger Czukay (Bass), Holger Czukay (Electronic Sounds), Holger Czukay (Electronics), Renato d'Angelo (Bass), Andy Dalby (Guitar), Christian Décamps (Organ), Christian Décamps (Piano), Christian Décamps (Vocals), Christian Décamps (Clavinet), Francis Decamps (Organ), Francis Decamps (Vocals), Franz di Cioccio (Drums), Franz di Cioccio (Vocals), Francesco DiGiacomo (Vocals), Didier Malherbe (Flute), Didier Malherbe (Vocals), Werner Diermaier (Drums), Steve Dolan (Bass), Joel Dugrenot (Bass), Tony Elliot (Vocals), Ken Elliott (Synthesizer), Ken Elliott (Percussion), Ken Elliott (Keyboards), Ken Elliott (Vocals), Harmut Enke (Bass), Brian Eno (Synthesizer), Kalle Eriksson (Trumpet), Guy Evans (Drums), Herve Eyhani (Synthesizer), Herve Eyhani (Bass), Frank Zappa (Guitar), Frank Zappa (Vocals), Frank Zappa (Producer), Graham Field (Organ), Mike Finesilver (Producer), Fred Frith (Guitar), Fred Frith (Violin), Fred Frith (Xylophone), Desmond Fisher (Bass), Gregory Fitzpatrick (Producer), John Ford (Bass), John Ford (Producer), Allan Freeman (Keyboards), Allan Freeman (Vocals), Eelco Gelling (Slide Guitar), Rinus Gerritsen (Synthesizer), Rinus Gerritsen (Bass), Rinus Gerritsen (Keyboards), Wilfred Gibson (Violin), Gilli Smyth (Poetry), Gilli Smyth (Space Whisper), Mick Glossop (Producer), Giorgio Gomelsky (Producer), Brian Gould (Organ), Brian Gould (Synthesizer Strings), Steve Gould (Bass), Steve Gould (Vocals), Gary Green (Guitar), Mans Groundstroem (Producer), Jukka Gustavson (Organ), Jukka Gustavson (Synthesizer), Jukka Gustavson (Piano), Jukka Gustavson (Vocals), Daniel Haas (Bass), Harris Halkitis (Bass), Harris Halkitis (Saxophone), Harris Halkitis (Vocals), Paul Hammond (Drums), Rudolf Hansen (Bass), Pye Hastings (Guitar), Pye Hastings (Vocals), Peter Hauke (Producer), Cyril Havermanns (Bass), Cyril Havermanns (Vocals), John Hawken (Synthesizer), John Hawken (Piano), Barry Hay (Vocals), Charles Hayward (Drums), Robby Heibl (Bass), Robby Heibl (Vocals), Robert Henrit (Drums), Dan Hersch (Remastering), David Hitchcock (Producer), Tim Hodgkinson (Organ), Tim Hodgkinson (Clarinet), Tony Hooper (Guitar (Acoustic)), Tony Hooper (Producer), Ron Howden (Bass), Ron Howden (Drums), Ron Howden (Vocals), Mike Howlett (Bass), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Hans Joachim Irmler (Organ), Dave Jarrett (Organ), Dave Jarrett (Piano (Electric)), Gerald Jelsch (Drums), Phil Jump (Piano (Electric)), Phil Jump (Synthesizer Strings), Dave Kaffinetti (Piano (Electric)), Michael Karoli (Guitar), Tony Kaye (Organ), Tony Kaye (Synthesizer), Tony Kaye (Piano), Rik Kenton (Bass), Renate Knaup-Kroetenschwanz (Vocals), David Knights (Bass), George Kooymans (Guitar), George Kooymans (Vocals), Anders Koppel (Organ), Anders Koppel (Percussion), Thomas Koppel (Percussion), Thomas Koppel (Piano), Thomas Koppel (Harmonium), Silver Koulouris (Guitar), Olaf Kubler (Producer), Derek Lawrence (Producer), Geoff Leigh (Saxophone), Peter Leopold (Drums), Bill MacCormick (Bass), Andy Mackay (Oboe), Andy Mackay (Saxophone), Rodolfo Maltese (Guitar), Rodolfo Maltese (Trumpet), Francois Mativet (Guitar), David McLees (Compilation), David McLees (Compilation Producer), Min (Drums), Kerry Minnear (Keyboards), Benoit Moerlen (Percussion), Pierre Moerlen (Drums), Ole Molin (Guitar), Anthony Moore (Piano), Anthony Moore (Electronic Sounds), Anthony Moore (Electronics), Derek Moore (Bass), Derek Moore (Vocals), Roxy Music (Performer), Francone Mussida (Guitar), Francone Mussida (Vocals), Uwe Nettelbeck (Producer), Vittorio Nocenzi (Organ), Vittorio Nocenzi (Synthesizer), Vittorio Nocenzi (Producer), Kieran O'Connor (Percussion), Kieran O'Connor (Drums), Kieran O'Connor (Vocals), Davy O'List (Guitar), Davy O'List (Vocals), Eddie Offord (Producer), Ronnie Osterberg (Drums), Patricia Paay (Vocals), Mauro Pagani (Reeds), Mauro Pagani (Violin), Antonio Pagliuca (Keyboards), Carl Palmer (Drums), Vangelis (Keyboards), Vangelis (Vocals), Vangelis (Producer), Jean Hervé Peron (Bass), Jean Hervé Peron (Guitar), Jean Hervé Peron (Vocals), Gary Peterson (Liner Notes), Gary Peterson (Compilation), Giorgio Piazza (Bass), Florian Pilkington Miksa (Drums), Pip Pyle (Drums), John Povey (Organ), John Povey (Percussion), John Povey (Sitar), John Povey (Vocals), Andy Powell (Guitar), Andy Powell (Vocals), Flavio Premoli (Keyboards), Flavio Premoli (Vocals), Keith Relf (Guitar), Keith Relf (Vocals), Jane Relf (Percussion), Jane Relf (Vocals), Gian Piero Reverberi (Producer), Neil Richmond (Producer), Alex Riel (Percussion), Alex Riel (Drums), Michel Ripoche (Trombone), Michel Ripoche (Saxophone), Jim Rodford (Bass), Jim Rodford (Vocals), Falk U. Rogner (Keyboards), Mike Rutherford (Bass), Mike Rutherford (Vocals), Mike Rutherford (Guitar (12 String)), Mike Rutherford (Sitar (Electric)), Mike Rutherford (Bass Pedals), Mike Rutherford (Electric Sitar), Paul Samwell-Smith (Producer), Derek Shulman (Bass), Derek Shulman (Vocals), Ray Shulman (Guitar), Ray Shulman (Keyboards), Lucas Sideras (Drums), Lucas Sideras (Vocals), Graham Simpson (Bass), Dave Sinclair (Organ), Dave Sinclair (Piano), Dave Sinclair (Vocals), Dave Sinclair (Mellotron), Richard Sinclair (Guitar (Acoustic)), Richard Sinclair (Bass), Richard Sinclair (Vocals), Peter Sinfield (Synthesizer), Peter Sinfield (Vocals), Peter Sinfield (Guitar (12 String)), Peter Sinfield (Producer), Peter Sinfield (Performer), Norman Smith (Producer), Rudolf Sossna (Guitar), Martin Steer (Drums), Robert Jan Stips (Keyboards), Robert Jan Stips (Vocals), Robert Jan Stips (Vibraphone), Damo Suzuki (Vocals), Aldo Tagliapietra (Bass), Richard Tandy (Synthesizer), Richard Tandy (Guitar), Richard Tandy (Piano), Paul Thompson (Drums), Jannick Top (Bass), Jannick Top (Cello), Jannick Top (?), Martin Turner (Bass), Martin Turner (Vocals), Ted Turner (Guitar), Ted Turner (Vocals), Ruth Underwood (Percussion), Ruth Underwood (Marimba), Ruth Underwood (Vibraphone), Steve Upton (Percussion), Steve Upton (Drums), Pierre van der Linden (Drums), Ron VanEck (Bass), Ron VanEck (Harmonica), Sacha VanGeest (Flute), Sacha VanGeest (Vocals), Hans VanOosterhout (Producer), Bruno Verdeaux (Synthesizer), Marco Vrolijk (Percussion), Marco Vrolijk (Conga), Marco Vrolijk (Drums), Marco Vrolijk (Vocals), Blue Weaver (Producer), Blue Weaver (Mellotron), Colin Walker (Cello), Ulf Wallander (Saxophone), Wally Allen Waller (Bass), Wally Allen Waller (Guitar), Wally Allen Waller (Piano), Wally Allen Waller (Reeds), Wally Allen Waller (Vocals), John Weathers (Drums), John Weinzierl (Guitar), John Weinzierl (Vocals), B.J. Wilson (Drums), Gunther Wusthoff (Drums), Gunther Wusthoff (Keyboards), Gunther Wusthoff (Saxophone), Dave Stewart (Keyboards), Simon Heyworth (Producer), Peter Ker (Producer), Mike Alberquerque (Bass), Toni Paglicua (Keyboards), Clearlight (Performer), The Mothers of Invention (Performer), Amon Düül II (Producer), Amon Düül II (Performer), Patrick Milligan (Project Director), Vincent Creane (Organ), Vincent Creane (Bass), Vincent Creane (Piano), Vincent Creane (Keyboards), Vincent Creane (Vocals), Archie Patterson (Compilation), Archie Patterson (Compilation Producer), Brian Schuman (Compilation), Barry E. Eames (Art Direction), Jaki Liebezeit (Drums), Roye Albrighton (Guitar), Roye Albrighton (Vocals), Michi Deirossi (Drums), Didier Gouinochet (Producer), Mans Grounstroem (Producer), Robby Heibi (Bass), Robby Heibi (Vocals), Gerard Helsch (Drums), Martyn Dean (Design), Christos Stapinopoulos (Conga), Christos Stapinopoulos (Drums), Dave Lambert (Guitar), Dave Lambert (Vocals), Chris Wood (Organ), Chris Wood (Flute), Chris Wood (Saxophone), Chris Wood (Vocals), Michael Johnson (?), Michael Johnson (Liner Notes), North (Producer), Bobby Martin (Bass), David Jackson (Saxophone), David Jackson (Vocals), Michael Harris (Organ), Premiata Forneria Marconi (Performer), Job Maarese (Horn Arrangements), J. Scott (Design), Lee Jackson (Bass), Lee Jackson (Vocals), Steve Hochman (Liner Notes), Mike Edwards (Cello)
