Classic Rock And Prog Almanac

This week Tim had a conversation with himself about the fourth David Bowie album, Hunky Dory. Topics covered include: whether this is Bowie’s best album, which Beatle he is closest to in style, Bowie’s exceptional lyrical gift, whether there are trans themes on the album and the importance of Rick Wakeman's contribution to the album. Also, what’s Bowie’s favourite chord sequence? Is ‘My Way’ any good? What did Bridget Jones mean by singleton? Did the Nazis misinterpret Nietzsche? And most importantly of all, is it pronounced Bowie, or Bowie?

This week, Shaun and Tim ranked their Top Ten side-long rock epics. Topics covered include: what constitutes a side-long track, how many different ways there are of structuring such a track, what differentiates normal art from working-class art, how many apotheoses you need in a side-long piece, and why all British side-longs seem to concern industrial development. Also, what’s the connection betwen Rick Wakeman and Paddington Bear? What does the Al-Hambra building have to do with the band Renaissance? What happened when Shaun’s art tutor met Vangelis? What’s the connection between Rush and Tom Jones? And most important of all, who will be number one?

This week Tim ranked the Rush studio albums, from 19 to 1. Topics covered include: Tim’s Rush autobiography, Rush’s exceptional arrangement skills, the quality of Rush’s lyrics, whether Rush work better in minor or major keys, and why Rush sound like a string quartet. Also, was Lady Gaga influenced by Rush? What’s the difference between synchrony and diachrony in the social sciences? Did Rush invent thrash metal? What would Walter Benjamin have thought of the band? Why did Neil Peart keep going on about Ayn Rand? And crucially, which will be number one?

This week, Peter and Tim discussed their favourite songs about animals. Which produce the best material, vertebrates or invertebrates? Which period produces the best animal songs? What do animals mean in art? What did Kant think of animals? Who really runs the planet, humans or insects? And can you get double points if both the song and the band name make reference to animals? Find out all this and more in this week’s (sort of Christmas special) episode.

This week Tim discussed the connection or otherwise between prog and punk, with particular reference to Peter Hammill’s album Nadir’s Big Chance and Devo’s album Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo! Topics for discussion this week include: the connection between Van der Graaf Generator and Nadir’s Big Chance, Devo’s connection with the musical scene in Germany, whether punk music sounds more European or American and how each group deals with the ‘schizoid position’. Also, what’s a Moebius strip? What did Johnny Rotten think of Peter Hammill? Did George Orwell really see a hanging? And who is the mysterious figure that connects prog and punk? Find out all this and more, in this week’s episode!