by Will Romano
Wigwam: Being (Love Records, LRCD 92), 1974
Gryphon: Red Queen to Gryphon Three (Talking Elephant/Sanctuary Records, TECD112), 1974
Hawkwind: Space Ritual (EMI Records, 7243 5 30032 2 7), 1973
Popol Vuh: Brüder des Schattens ~ Söhne des Lichts (Brain, 0060.167), 1978
Caravan: Waterloo Lily (Decca/Deram, 8829822), 1972
Fates Warning: Perfect Symmetry (Metal Blade, 14048), 1989
White Willow: Ex Tenebris (The Laser’s Edge, LE1029), 1998
Frank Zappa: Apostrophe (’) (Ryko, RCD 10519), 1974
Bruford: One of a Kind , 1979
Eno: Another Green World (EG Records, EGCD 21), 1975
Can: Tago Mago (Spoon/Mute, 9273-2), 1971
Opeth: Blackwater Park , 2001
No-Man: Flowermouth (K Scope/Snapper Music, KSCOPE111X), 1994
Supertramp: Crime of the Century (A&M, 3936472), 1974
Renaissance: Turn of the Cards (BTM Records/Repertoire, REP 4491-WY), 1974
Roxy Music: Stranded (Virgin/EG Records, 47451 2), 1973
Glass Hammer: The Inconsolable Secret (Sound Resources, SR1320), 2005
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (MCA, MCAD 10895), 1968
Electric Light Orchestra: On the Third Day (United Artists Records/Anne Rachel Music/Yellow Dog Music, UA-LA188-F), 1973
Gentle Giant: In a Glass House (DRT Entertainment, RTE 00351), 1973
Grobschnitt: Rockpommel’s Land , 1977
Eloy: Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (Harvest/EMI, 7243 5 63774 2 4), 1978
Mutantes: Tudo Foi Feito Pelo Sol (Som Livre, 4179-2), 1974
The Moody Blues: On the Threshold of a Dream (Deram/Decca, 42284 4769-2), 1969
Renaissance: Scheherezade and Other Stories (BTM Records/Repertoire, REP 4490-WY), 1975
801: Live (EG Records, EGCD 26), 1976
Rick Wakeman: The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Almo Music/A&M Records, SP-4515), 1975
Barclay James Harvest: s/t (Harvest, 1C 064-04 372), 1970
Van der Graaf Generator: Godbluff (Virgin, 00946 311393 2 1), 1975
Greenslade: Spyglass Guest (Warner Bros./Wounded Bird Records, WOU 8672), 1974
Van der Graaf Generator: Still Life (Charisma, CAROL 1641-2), 1976
Ekseption: Trinity (Philips, 6423056), 1973
Tonton Macoute: s/t (Neon Records/RCA, NE-4), 1971
Barclay James Harvest: Octoberon (Universal/Polydor, 80100133), 1976
Frank Zappa: Roxy & Elsewhere (Ryko RCD 10520), 1974
Spring: s/t (Neon Records/Akarma Records/Comet Records, AK 213), 1971
Rush: A Farewell to Kings (Mercury/Polygram, 822 546-2), 1977
Electric Light Orchestra: ELO II (Jet Records/CBS, BL 35533), 1973
Colosseum: Those Who Are About to Die Salute You (Fontana, STL 5510), 1969
The Strawbs: Ghosts (A&M, 540 937-2), 1975
Rush: Hemispheres (Mercury, 822 547-2), 1978
Caravan: For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (Decca/Deram, 8829802), 1973
Queensrÿche: Operation: Mindcrime (EMI/Capitol, 72435-81068-2-4), 1988
Captain Beefheart: Trout Mask Replica (Reprise, 2027-2), 1970
Brian Eno: Before and After Science (EG Records, EGCD 32), 1977
Transatlantic: SMPT:E (Radiant/Metal Blade, 3984-14290-2), 2000
Robert Fripp: Exposure (EG, EGLP 101/PD-1-6201 (2310 661), 1979
Pain of Salvation: Remedy Lane (InsideOut Music, 2031), 2002
Curved Air: Air Conditioning (Warner Bros., K 56004), 1970
McDonald and Giles: s/t (Virgin, CDV 2963), 1971
Renaissance: s/t (Paradox Music BMI/Collector’s Choice Music, CCM-272-2), 1969
The Enid: In the Region of Summer Stars (BUK Records, BUK INS 3005), 1976
Omega: 200 Years After the Last War (Bellaphon, BAC 2022), 1974
OSI: Office of Strategic Influence (InsideOut, SPV 089-65400), 2003
Roxy Music: s/t (Virgin, 47447), 1972
Greenslade: s/t (Warner Music/WEA, 7599-26812-2), 1973
Espers: II , 2006
Spock’s Beard: V (Radiant, 3984-14335-2 ), 2000
Supersister: Present from Nancy (Polydor, 843 231-2), 1970
Ash Ra Tempel: Schwingungen (Ohr, OMM 556020), 1972
Samla Mammas Manna: Maltid (Silence, SRSCD 3604), 1973
Trance: s/t (Musea, 4144), 1974
Between the Buried and Me: Colors (Victory Records, VR351), 2007
National Health: s/t (Esoteric, 2129), 1977
U.K.: Danger Money (EG Records/Editions EG/JEM Records, EGLP 39), 1979
Symphony X: The Odyssey (InsideOut/SPV, 693723 65342 6), 2002
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Christmas Eve and Other Stories (Lava/Atlantic, 92736), 1996
Focus: Hamburger Concerto (ATCO/Atlantic/Radio Tele Music/Canadian Radmus, SD 36-100), 1974
Pendragon: The Masquerade Overture (Toff Records, PEND7CD), 1996
Osanna: Palepoli (Warner Fonit, 3984 28279-2), 1973
King Crimson: Discipline (Warner Bros/EG Records, BSK 3629), 1981
Nektar: A Tab in the Ocean (Passport Records/ABC/Bellaphon Records, PPSD-98017), 1972
Anthony Phillips: The Geese & the Ghost (Passport Records/ABC/Run It Music, PP-98020), 1977
Il Rovescio della Medaglia: Contaminazione (Sony Music, ND 74511), 1973
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: Roaring Silence (Warner Bros., 3055), 1976
Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra (Ricordi, 74321531842), 1973
It Bites: The Big Lad in the Windmill (Virgin, CDV2378), 1986
The Incredible String Band: The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter (Elektra, 7559-60835-2), 1968
Sylvian/Fripp: Damage (Virgin, 7243 8 39905 2 8), 1994
Semiramis: Dedicato a Frazz (Trident Records, TRI 1004), 1973
Fripp & Eno: Evening Star (Opal/Inner Knot, DGM0516), 1975
Sfinx: Zalmoxe (Electrecord, ELCD 135), 1978
Various artists: Peter and the Wolf (Viceroy, VIC 6006-2), 1976
David Bowie: Low (Virgin, 52190706), 1977
Radiohead: Kid A (Capitol, CDP 7243 5 29684), 2000
Soft Machine: Bundles (Harvest, SHSP4044), 1975
Latte e Miele: Passio Secundum Mattheum (Polydor, 2448 011), 1972
Jan Akkerman: Tabernakel (Wounded Bird, WOU 7032), 1974
Egg: s/t (Deram, 18039), 1970
Steve Hillage: L (Caroline/Blue Plate, CAROL 1801-2), 1976
Matching Mole: s/t (Sony Music, 618), 1972
Henry Cow: Unrest (East Side Digital, 80492), 1974
Miriodor: Mekano (Cuneiform, Rune 148), 2001
King Crimson: Three of a Perfect Pair (EG/Warner Bros., 1-25071), 1984
Umphrey’s McGee: Mantis (Sci Fidelity, 1117), 2009
Echolyn: As the World (Sony/550, BK 57623), 1995
Phideaux: Chupacabras (Bloodfish, zyz-1777), 2005
Alamaailman Vasarat: Maahan (Nordic Notes, 02911), 2007
Upsilon Acrux: Galapagos Momentum (Cuneiform, Rune 245), 2007
Sigur Rós: () (Fat Cat Records, 22), 2002
Don Caballero: 2 (Touch & Go, 143), 1995
Godspeed You Black Emperor!: Lift Yr. Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven! (Krank, 043), 2000
Tortoise: Millions Now Living Will Never Die (Thrill Jockey, 25), 1996
Cynic: Focus (Roadrunner, 9169-2), 1993
Bo Hansson: Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings (Charisma, CAS-1059), 1972
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band: Solar Fire (Bronze, ILPS 9265), 1973
Threshold: Critical Mass (InsideOut Music, IOMACD 2041), 2002
Chris Squire: Fish out of Water (Wounded Bird, 8159), 1975
Amon Düül: Tanz der Lemminge (Warner Music/Liberty Records/Repertoire, 0630 17780-2), 1971
Can: Ege Bamyasi (Mute, 69056), 1972
Espiritu: Crisalida (Sony Music, 509130), 1975
Asia: Aura (Spitfire, 13003), 2001
Riverside: Anno Domini High Definition (CMA, 310005
), 2009
Cathedral: Stained Glass Stories (Delta Records, DRC 1002), 1978
Nektar: Remember the Future (Passport Records/Famous Music/Bellaphon Records, PPS-98002), 1973
Slapp Happy/Henry Cow: Desperate Straights (Vivid Sound, 2081), 1975
Coheed and Cambria: Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness (Equal Vision/Columbia, 93989), 2005
Gilgamesh: Another Fine Tune You’ve Got Me Into (Esoteric, 2126), 1978
Jean Michel Jarre: Oxygene (Polydor, 800 015-2), 1976
Supertramp: ... Even in the Quietest of Moments (A&M, 3297), 1977
Frank Zappa: Hot Rats (Ryko, RCD 10508), 1969
Muse: The Resistance (Warner Bros., 521130-2), 2009
Henry Cow: Western Culture (East Side Digital, 80852), 1979
Rush: Caress of Steel (Mercury/PolyGram, 822543), 1975
Steve Hillage: Fish Rising (Virgin, 2031), 1975
Hatfield and the North: The Rotters’ Club (Virgin, CAROL 1834-2), 1975
Caravan: If I Could Do It All Over Again, I’d Do It All Over You (Mantra, 001), 1970
Aphrodite’s Child: 666 (One Way, OW 31375), 1972
Steve Howe: The Steve Howe Album (Topographic Music/Atlantic/WB Music, SD 19243), 1979
Emerson, Lake and Palmer: Trilogy (Cotillion/Atlantic, SD 9903), 1972
Genesis: Trespass (MCA, MCAD 1653), 1970
Dream Theater: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Elektra, 62742), 2002
Gentle Giant: Three Friends (Columbia/Malibu Records, CK 31649), 1972
Camel: Mirage (Deram/Decca/Universal, 8829292), 1974
Étron Fou Leloublan: Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent (Au Pays Des . . .) (Musea, 8660), 1978
National Health: Playtime (Cuneiform, Rune 145), 2001
Fripp & Eno: (No Pussyfooting) (Opal/Inner Knot, DGM5007-B), 1973
Far Corner: s/t (Cuneiform, Rune 194), 2004
Bozzio Levin Stevens: Situation Dangerous (Magna Carta, MA-9049), 2000
Kansas: Masque (Kirshner/CBS, PZ33806), 1975
Centipede: Septober Energy (RCA, BGOCD485), 1971
Mike Oldfield: Ommadawn (Caroline, CAR 1855), 1975
Be Bop Deluxe: Sunburst Finish (EMI, 7947272), 1976
Allan Holdsworth: Allan Holdsworth, i.o.u. (Enigma, ST-73252), 1982
Area: Arbeit Macht Frei (Cramps, CRSLP 5101), 1973
1 “The idea that Sgt. Pepper’s is somehow a concept album is quite difficult to defend, because the title song of Sgt. Peppers doesn’t quite bookend the album,” says Simon Warner, who teaches in the school of music at the University of Leeds in the U.K. “Let’s not forget that A Day in the Life’ ends the recording. The Beatles seem to hint at live performance during the course of the recording, but it’s a kind of constructed liveness. Maybe in that sense there’s a concept at work?”
2 Prior to the release of Ummagumma, Floyd had composed two long pieces, “The Man” and “The Journey,” for a live performance dubbed “The Massed Gadgets of Auximenies—More Furious Madness from Pink Floyd,” which contained bits that were used in other capacities.
3 Disc and Music Echo, February 5, 1972.
4 The cover imagery for Wish You Were Here was further commentary on the business: The front shows two men entering a business agreement, one poor chap burning up the instant he’s shaken hands on the deal. The Magritte-esque back cover shows a semi-invisible label executive holding up a see-through record (indicating music as commodity?) with his shoe resting on a well-worn suitcase plastered with The Dark Side of the Moon stickers, echoing the them of the band’s on-the-go lifestyle.
5 Liner notes, Robert Fripp, Absent Lovers Live in Montreal 1984.
6 Http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Spiro_Agnew.htm)
7 Fripp diary, March 11, 2001.
8 The Great Deceiver book liner notes: Robert Fripp diary July 1, 1974; Red: 40th Anniversary Series liner notes by Sid Smith.
9 Http://www.gurdjieff.org
10 NME, Sept. 28, 1974; Record Mirror, Oct. 5, 1974.
11 Liner notes reissue Exposure, 2006.
12 The cover of In a Glass House features cellophane overlays of band members playing more than one instrument; for example, Ray appears to harness a bass guitar on one layer and bow a violin on another. “The Eloi, like the Carlovingian kings, had decayed to a mere beautiful futility.”—Wells, H. G. (Herbert George). The Time Machine. Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library.
