Tag: beggars opera

This is a nice change from the randomizer picking a Prog album. I have a love of Prog and I have quite a few, but for some reason they don’t come out too often.

This is another album from my youth. A friend back then used to play this all the time. It was the cover and the poster that initially got my attention as the artwork of the spaceman on a horse is incredible.

Of course, the big production piece on the album is MacArthur Park. The song was a hit for actor Richard Harris in ’68, but this version is a 70’s Prog masterpiece and is head and shoulders above anything else the band ever did. It’s the instrumental sections of the piece that are fantastic, as the lyrics and melody are set in stone. The other track that stands out is the title track Pathfinder. The twin guitar wah wah groove is really cool, and the harmonies are very reminiscent of Wishbone Ash.

This was recorded in ’72 so it does sound a tad dated with that flat drum sound, but I have very fond memories of this record.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

In good old Prog style, this album as been called pretentious, overblown and a copycat album. I get the last reference as the album does remind me of The Nice and early Deep Purple, but isn’t pretentious and overblown what early Prog was all about?

The band also borrow heavily from every classical piece known to man, as they seem to squeeze them into every song. It wasn’t until the band released their 4th album that they found their stride, as that is considered somewhat of a masterpiece in Prog circles. But this album is far removed from that, as the vibe is very jam band. It’s when the Purple influences come out that they are at their most interesting to me. This one is for Prog purists and collectors.

6.5/10 from The Grooveman.