Search - Various Artists :: Best of Progressive Rock

Good Compilation of Live Performances

Robert Huggins | Suburban Philadelphia, PA United States | 03/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This budget release from the St. Clair Entertainment Group is very similar to Laser Light's "Art Rock Live" CD for a very good reason. Both companies have licensed the tracks from Pet Rock Records, the music-releasing unit of the King Biscuit Flower Hour radio show. In fact, six of the tracks on this CD are identical to the tracks on "Art Rock Live." They include all of the Rick Wakeman and Gentle Giant cuts, as well as Renaissance's "Midas Man" and Emerson, Lake and Palmer's "Tiger in a Spotlight." There's a bit more music on this release (including a killer version of "21st Century Schizoid Man" performed by Greg Lake's band) so "The Best of Progressive Rock" gets a slight nod over "Art Rock Live." On the downside, there's no information about the bands or the concerts from which these performances were taken which, at least, Laser Light includes on their CD insert. Also, the Rick Wakeman songs (that appear on both CDs) are weak and are not as well recorded as the other tracks. With the exception of The Dixie Dregs, all of the bands are British and most of them had their heyday in the 1970s. This CD is very definitely for fans of 1970s progressive rock music, though the short-lived GTR (with Steve Howe from Yes and Steve Hackett from Genesis) recorded their only studio album in the mid-1980s and their version of Yes' "Roundabout" was taken from a 1986 concert in Los Angeles. All in all, "The Best of Progressive Rock" will satisfy devotees of progressive rock who are looking for live performances."

Don't buy this thinking you're getting the BEST of progressi

Johnny Boy | Hockessin, DE | 07/18/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"While as the previous reviewer pointed out, this is a solid live performace. Greg Lake, Rick Wakeman, and Gentle Giant all appear on this set.



The music, of course, is five stars, but the title in packaging isn't. I give this two stars because while this is great progressive rock from some of the premier names, you shouldn't get fooled into thinking it's the BEST of progressive rock.



From what I've seen, there is no perfect prog rock compilation. But, I give this set SOME pointers: It's the best one I've seen.



Buy it if you really love progressive rock like I do. It's not a bad CD; it's just not the best. Great music, wrong title."