rec.music.progressive Frequently Asked Questions 7/8

Last-modified: Thu Jan 10 23:09:06 2008

Summary: Brief information on how to find recordings of and information about progressive music. A less detailed but more consolidated version of information in other FAQs.

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How To Find Rare And/Or Obscure Recordings

While much progressive music is rare and/or obscure, most newcomers are used to finding Genesis and Yes CDs in their local shops. By far the majority of discussed artists however are not generally stocked by normal outlets. FAQ 6 lists some shops worldwide that do stock the more esoteric material but generally you have to be rather lucky to have one of these oulets near to you. If you are serious about exploring progressive music, you simply must use mail order. This is by far the best way of obtaining the music. Many of the sources in FAQ 2 are reputable outlets and have been used for many years by people who read r.m.p. Simply post and ask about an outlet you are not sure about. Some are used regularly and have good reputations. You will notice them being mentioned quite often. Here is a list of some of the most well-known and trusted outlets that people on r.m.p have had a good releationship with in the past. You can find more information on them in FAQ 2 and FAQ 6. There are, of course, many more reputable outlets. This is just a small sample of outlets people have found particularly satisfactory.

Syn-phonic (Greg Walker)

Symphonic and Yes/Genesis influenced prog, neo-prog, emphasis on European and US prog/fusion. Some RIO and experimental.

Laser's Edge (Ken Golden)

Most prog and fusion, including some Italian and a lot of rarer psych. Has net access (lasercd AT aol.com).

http://www.jersey.net/~lasercd/

Doug Larsen

All types of prog, but mostly symphonic, 70's British prog and Italian. Some experimental.

Wayside

Experimental, RIO, world, ambient, electronic and unclassifiable musics (and "normal" progressive music as well). If no one else has heard of it or it is very rare or strange, Wayside probably carries it or at least knows about it.

ZNR (Steve Roberts)

Rare and US material, much obscure vinyl.

Forced Exposure

Experimental, electronic etc. http://www.forcedexposure.com/

Ultima Thule

Situated in the UK, has excellent catalogue and caters for most tastes. Many special offers, the owners are very knowledgeable and produce Audion magazine (see FAQ 3). They undertake international orders and accept all major credit cards by phone.

GFT

Based in the UK. They accept credit card orders by phone. Some of the best prices in the UK and the exclusive outlet for Cyclops releases.

How To Find Information On Progressive Music

Often you'd like to know more about a band or to read reviews before you buy CDs. Here's a few places to look for reviews, info on bands, and general info on prog and related musics:

The Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock

This is a huge project, originating from the Gibraltar mailing list (see below) whereby reviews and discographies of thousands of progressive, experimental and new music bands have been synthesised and edited into a large book. It is available on the Web and is also published periodically in hard copy form. The hard copy is currently sold out.

The Web version can be found at its new home:

http://www.gepr.net/

Gibraltar

An Internet mailing list focusing on more obscure music. Mail to gib AT mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu to subscribe. Moderated by Mike Taylor. Famous as it has existed for quite a few years. See FAQ 5. It now has Web pages at

http://www.museum.tulane.edu/pub/gibraltar/gibraltar.html

Magazines

There are many, many prog related magazines and fanzines. FAQ 3 lists any of them with brief descriptions. English language magazines that most people recommend are Audion (published in the UK) and I/E (published in the USA). All cover many forms of progressive, electronic, ethnic, experimental, and fusion music. For a newsletter that focuses mainly on progressive rock, there is Exposé. It is published by John Szpara (wings AT holonet.net) and edited by Peter Thelen (ptlk AT netcom.com). You can send them mail for more information or mail exposure AT ix.netcom.com. For subscription information see FAQ 3. An easy way to get copies of current and back issues of these magazines (and others) is to get them from mail order outlets. Some listed above (in particular, Ranjit) carry magazines.

The Main Progressive Music Site

Adam Levin keeps the main progressive music site that anyone with net access can get information from. You can access via anonymous ftp (if you do not know what anonymous ftp is, ask someone at your site)

ftp://www.progrock.net/pub/music/prog/

or via the Web

http://www.progrock.net/

It contains an ascii version of the GEPR, links to all FAQ files, reviews, interviews, contact listings, trading lists, discographies and much more information.

rec.music.progressive Newsgroup

Obviously. Most new resources are announced here first.

Social Activity

Find people with similar interests as yours and discuss music with them. Trade tapes with people. Attend prog listening events and concerts. Use your ears intelligently. Read FAQ 8 for a guide to recommended current artists.

Please take the time to read the rest of the FAQ as you may well find it informative and it will save you posting questions that are answered therein. The entire FAQ is available via anonymous ftp to

ftp://ftp.kime.org.uk/RMP

and on the Web at

http://www.kime.org.uk/PK/rmp_faqs.html