Various Artists – Wind Of Change – Progressive Sounds of 1973 (Esoteric Records, 2023)
The fantastic 4CD boxed set “Wind Of Change – Progressive Sounds of 1973” is a must-have musical anthology that celebrates the genre-defying sounds of “Progressive” rock, focusing on the exceptional year of 1973. This was a time when progressive music in all its forms continued to reign supreme with avid record collectors. It permeated through the airwaves of radio channels such as BBC Radio One’s Sounds of the Seventies and Top Gear, as well as the beloved TV show, The Old Grey Whistle Test.
The progressive music of 1973 was a creative melting pot of musical influences, seamlessly mixing jazz, blues, folk, rock, and classical genres, produced by imaginative artists. These talented artists were signed to independent labels like Charisma, United Artists, and Island Records, and major record labels like EMI’s Harvest, Decca’s Deram, and Philips Records’ Vertigo.
This explosion of underground music resonated deeply with students and rock fans alike. And live music continued to thrive on the burgeoning UK music circuit, with universities and colleges serving as regular venues for these musical masterminds, who earned loyal followings through captivating live performances across the UK and Europe.
The collection features choice cuts by familiar, established progressive rock luminaries such as symphonic rock royalty Yes; Emerson, Lake and Palmer, the first superband of progrock; the wonderful keyboard and guitar progressions of Camel; Curved Air, a group with a distinct sound, using of violin and featuring iconic female vocalist Sonja Kristina.
Also featured psychedelic prog masters Nektar; Canterbury wizards Caravan presenting memorable keyboard and violin work; the iconic Italian band PFM, pioneers of rock progresivo italiano; psychedelic experimentalists Gong; the gorgeous symphonic rock of Renaissance featuring one of the best progressive rock singers of all time, Annie Haslam; violin-led prog by Daryl Way’s Wolf; famed space rockers Hawkwind; and the stunning synth work of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.
However, the album also introduces the listener to many other artists that made groundbreaking progressive music such as the novel psychedelic guitar work of Kevin Ayers; the progressive folk of Al Stewart and John Martyn; lesser known progressive rock bands like the Mellotron rich Jonesy; the jazz infused rock of Badger and Traffic; the unexpected, flavorful organ of John Leees.
And there is lots more underground music from 1973 to explore and enjoy.
The ‘Wind Of Change – Progressive Sounds Of 1973’ is a carefully curated collection of music that transports you back to a truly unforgettable year in the history of music. The boxed set includes a 58-page book that provides abundant details about the era, essays about the artists and credits. This is the kind of information you will not get from the mainstream media about the year 1973.
Highly recommended.