How is Music Chosen?

[Ted]

Hi! My first post....A new member.

I have been looking through some of the Albums in the Requestable list, and I am curious as to how the music was chosen? I was looking under ELP and on the 'In the Hot Seat' album there appear only a few songs, yet under 'Brain Salad Surgery' there are all the songs I remember being on the album.

Thanks for enlightening me.

Also, some of the artists are not "progressive rock" artists (like Michael W. Smith - who I really like) so again, how is the music chosen? Is it just the program directors likes and dislikes? Do members requesting, suggest music to add?

I appreciate being able to listen to the music!!!!

Regards,
Ted

[progdirjim(Admin)]

I (the owner and Program Director) am the ultimate arbiter of what does and does not go onto the station. I try to operate under the broadest possible definition of "prog", so many things that might not be strictly prog are included, if I feel there's enough "progginess" As far as certain tracks not making it, usually that happens if I feel a track or tracks are truly inferior in quality, as is the case with "In The Hot Seat" (which overall is a weak album IMO). I try to temper my opinion with listener feedback, and with an eye towards "generally accepted prog beliefs" A good example of this is the Strawbs, who bore me considerably, but most prog "experts" consider them essential. So I've added a few of their albums.

Hope this helps. It's basically a benevolent dictatorship...

[Rick and Roll]

Nice call about the Strawbs

Ted, is that a yellow beard or radiation?

[roger]

anybody that can use arbiter in a sentence (and correctly, at that!) can do whatever he wants.




welcome to the moon Ted! or should we call you Greenbeard?

[Ted]

Progdimjim, Rock & Roll, and roger,

Thank you all for the information. I appreciate the feedback. It is starting to make sense. I was a little suprised to see Jean-Michel Jarre on here as well, but by stretching the "prog" definition a little it starts to make sense.

The beard is "green". I am a Team Mentor to a Junior High & High School group of Homeschool Students for a Robotics Team here in the Round Rock/Georgetown area. This year's tee-shirt color was that "neon" green, and one of the kids found a washable dye - so I allowed them to spray my beard green as a part of Team Spirit. Fortunately the dye washed out later that day!

Viva la Keith Emerson!

Ted

[roger]

> Jean-Michel Jarre

and Philip Glass!

[VERNIXX]

I always wondered WHY the hell The Strawbs were on here!

Now, if only someone would explain Yanni's presence on the request list....

[Ted]

I am just happy to see the variety and the choices available - it is wonderful - expressive and joyous. Even if Yanni is on here!

Ted

[kirk]

Make ya a deal Jimbo- You never mention my reference to American Idol,
I'll keep quiet about Michael freaking W. Smith!! LOL!!

(hey Rog, Rick!)

K

[progdirjim(Admin)]

Originally Posted by kirk

Make ya a deal Jimbo- You never mention my reference to American Idol,
I'll keep quiet about Michael freaking W. Smith!! LOL!!

(hey Rog, Rick!)

K

Did I say a word?!

as vapid as MWSmith may be, it still beats the hell out of, um, what was that reference?

[rick_wakeman]

what's wrong with the strawbs?

[mossy]

Nothing's wrong with the Strawbs, Rick

[roger]

howdy, kirk!

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by mossy

Nothing's wrong with the Strawbs, Rick

You're right...they just bore me and they're not really prog. but they did headline Nearfest

Speaking of loved non-proggers, I think I'm going catch Robyn Hitchcock next week, and I noticed on his website he recently played a song called "I Saw Nick Drake"

[mossy]

Thanks for reminding me Rick. My twice yearly razz on Jim to include Nick on the Moon is just about due.

Just joshing Jim.

[VERNIXX]

I don't really like Strawbs that much either....I don't get how they are here and Fairport Convention isn't! And yes, I have seen The Strawbs before. Aren't they "folk"????? Just like Fairport?

But I digress.....I love the variety of non-prog and prog-art-rock that is here. Make this place quite interesting..

[Nersh]

The cool thing about the Strawbs is they took that English folk background and moved into a progressive direction. There are some great tunes on Hero and Heroine and Ghosts. They then wrestled with some pop tendencies due to some personnel changes. This is when they went into a tailspin. Dave Cousins is a great lyricist and has a very distinctive voice. Some time ago I requested something from Blue Angel and thought is sounded horrible. So, in summary, I'm glad there is a lot of room under the AM tent!

[RogorMortis]

It's basically a benevolent dictatorship..

Dictators usually are brought down in a bloody way..........VIVA LA REVOLUTION !

[rick_wakeman]

Wow... I'd never have thought you would said that the strawbs is not prog, man...

There's a a "edit" option on your messages you always can change it if you all don't want to be ridiculous

[mossy]

Yes, much as I detest labelling music, I think prog folk fits with the Strawbs.

Others I think fit the genre off the top of my head: Maneige, Harmonium, Ptarmigan, Pentangle, Fairport Convention as mentioned, Renaissance, John Martyn, Clannad, Nick Drake, Lindisfarne, Steeleye Span..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_folk

Wikipedia doesn't do that bad a job of defining the undefinable. Anyway, love this genre of music, whatever it is.