Grapefruit/Cherry (label)
20 January 2025 (released)
2 h
In 1975 we were on the fringe of the Punk revolution, the midst of the Pub Rock scene and seeing Progressive Rock disappearing up its own fundament.
This collection purports to cover the Progressive Rock scene of 1975 but I would suggest that about 25% of the music here is from Progressive Rock artists. What there is here is 65 tracks that show an incredible variety of musical styles and content. All very well mastered and presented, and a really good picture of the more interesting elements of the singles released that year.
Bands such as Stray, Hatfield And The North, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Stackridge, Jethro Tull, Peter Hammill, Ivor Cutler, Be Bop Deluxe would definitely fit into the category, but I really don’t think that Fox or Pilot or Brian Protheroe would really be considered Progressive - and The Shadows!
There is also nothing here from the Prog heavyweights – no Yes or Moody Blues or King Crimson although Barclay James Harvest do have one entry.
All that having been put out there, the music on this set is brilliant.
It was possibly the most unrestricted period in Pop history. The record labels were signing any band that had an original sound and the listeners were responding by buying singles in their droves. When else would an artist such as Ivor Cutler have been able to release 'Go And Sit Upon The Grass' as a single.
Punk was always claimed as an antidote to the heavy and over-produced ‘Progressive’ music, but there was a wonderful brightness to the pop scene in the years before Punk, and this shows much of it.
It all opens with Bad Company ‘Good Lovin’ Gone Bad’ – a terrific rocker and the rock side of bands such as Sweet – ‘Fox On The Run’ – Heavy Metal Kids, Mott, Hawkwind is great to hear.
Sparks, 10cc, ELO, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel all show the incredibly varied sounds of 1975.
There are tracks from all sides that might surprise, but they bear repeated listens.
All told, it is a brilliant collection and a must for anyone of an age or simply a lover of pop in all its forms.
