Compilation By Jon Dolan, Dan Epstein, Reed Fischer, Richard Gehr, Brandon Geist, Kory Grow, Will Hermes, Ryan Reed, Jon Weiderhorn (rolling stone)
For close to a half century, prog has been the breeding ground for rock's most out-there, outsized and outlandish ideas: Thick-as-a-brick concept albums, an early embrace of synthesizers, overly complicated time signatures, Tolkienesque fantasies, travails from future days and scenes from a memory. In celebration of Rush's first Rolling Stone cover story, here's the best of the deliciously decadent genre that the punks failed to kill.
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U.K.
''U.K.''
MARCH 1978
46:27
1 In The Dead Of Night (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 05:34
2 By The Light Of Day (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 04:27
3 Presto Vivace And Reprise (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 03:08
4 Thirty Years (John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford) 08:04
5 Alaska (Eddie Jobson) 04:39
6 Time To Kill (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, Bill Bruford) 04:56
7 Nevermore (Allan Hodsworth, Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 08:11
8 Mental Medication (Allan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson) 07:23
All Lyrics By John Wetton, Except 8 By Bill Bruford. The First Three Tracks Belong To A Suite Entitled ''In The Dead Of Night''.
Allan Holdsworth – guitar
Eddie Jobson – keyboards, electric violin, electronics
John Wetton – bass, lead and backing vocals
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
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ABOUT THE ALBUM/WIKIPEDIA
U.K. is the self-titled debut album by the progressive rock supergroup U.K., released in 1978 through E.G. Records and Polydor Records. It features John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, and Allan Holdsworth. "In the Dead of Night" and "Mental Medication" were both edited for single release.
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REVIEW/AMG
By Mike DeGagne
The debut album from amalgamated progsters John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson, and Allan Holdsworth has the edge over both Danger Money and Night After Night because of the synthesis of melody and rhythm that is inflicted through nearly every one of the eight tracks. While not as commercial sounding as Wetton's 1980s supergroup Asia, U.K. mustered up a progressive air by the use of intelligent keyboard and percussion interplay without sounding mainstream. Jobson's work with the electric violin and assorted synthesizers adds to an already profound astuteness carried by Wetton. Former Yes and Genesis drummer Bill Bruford is just as important behind the kit, making his presence felt on numbers like "Thirty Years" and "Nevermore." Without carrying the same rhythms or cadences through each song, U.K. implements some differentiation into their music, straying from the sometimes over-the-top musicianship that occurs with the gathering of such an elite bunch. The melodious finish of such tracks as "By the Light of Day" and "Alaska" showcases the overall fluency of each member, and shows no signs of any progressive tediousness that could have easily evolved. All three of U.K.'s albums are enjoyable, but the debut sports the most interest, since it spotlights their remarkable fit as a band for the first time.
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BIOGRAPHY/AMG
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Featuring members of Yes, King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Soft Machine, U.K. was one of the most prominent progressive rock supergroups of the late '70s. Various members of U.K. -- guitarist Allan Holdsworth, keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and drummer Bill Bruford -- had all played together in their previous bands, but when the group formed in 1977, it was the first time all of the musicians had played together. Although the lineup was unstable -- Holdsworth and Bruford left after one album, with former Frank Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio replacing Bruford -- and the group was short-lived, the band maintained a dedicated cult following years after their early-'80s breakup.
Prior to the formation of U.K., Bruford and Wetton had recently played together in King Crimson, and Holdsworth had played guitar on Bruford's debut album, 1978's Feels Good to Me. Shortly after the recording of Feels Good to Me, Bruford, Holdsworth, and Wetton formed U.K., adding former Roxy Music member Eddie Jobson to the lineup. 
U.K. released their eponymous debut in 1978 and the album captured the attention of progressive rock and jazz fusion fans, as did the record's supporting tour. At the conclusion of the tour, Holdsworth and Bruford left the group to form Bruford, leaving keyboardist Jobson as the band's leader. U.K. didn't hire another guitarist, but they did have Terry Bozzio replace Bruford. The new lineup of U.K. released Danger Money in 1979 and followed the album with a tour. Once the tour was completed, the group broke up. The posthumous live album Night After Night was released shortly afterward. Following the disbandment of U.K., Eddie Jobson became a member of Jethro Tull, Terry Bozzio formed Missing Persons, and John Wetton formed Asia with fellow progressive rock stars Steve Howe, Carl Palmer, and Geoffrey Downes.
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BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
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TO THE TOP
For close to a half century, prog has been the breeding ground for rock's most out-there, outsized and outlandish ideas: Thick-as-a-brick concept albums, an early embrace of synthesizers, overly complicated time signatures, Tolkienesque fantasies, travails from future days and scenes from a memory. In celebration of Rush's first Rolling Stone cover story, here's the best of the deliciously decadent genre that the punks failed to kill.
**********
U.K.
''U.K.''
MARCH 1978
46:27
1 In The Dead Of Night (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 05:34
2 By The Light Of Day (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 04:27
3 Presto Vivace And Reprise (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 03:08
4 Thirty Years (John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford) 08:04
5 Alaska (Eddie Jobson) 04:39
6 Time To Kill (Eddie Jobson, John Wetton, Bill Bruford) 04:56
7 Nevermore (Allan Hodsworth, Eddie Jobson, John Wetton) 08:11
8 Mental Medication (Allan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson) 07:23
All Lyrics By John Wetton, Except 8 By Bill Bruford. The First Three Tracks Belong To A Suite Entitled ''In The Dead Of Night''.
Allan Holdsworth – guitar
Eddie Jobson – keyboards, electric violin, electronics
John Wetton – bass, lead and backing vocals
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
**********
ABOUT THE ALBUM/WIKIPEDIA
U.K. is the self-titled debut album by the progressive rock supergroup U.K., released in 1978 through E.G. Records and Polydor Records. It features John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, and Allan Holdsworth. "In the Dead of Night" and "Mental Medication" were both edited for single release.
**********
REVIEW/AMG
By Mike DeGagne
The debut album from amalgamated progsters John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Eddie Jobson, and Allan Holdsworth has the edge over both Danger Money and Night After Night because of the synthesis of melody and rhythm that is inflicted through nearly every one of the eight tracks. While not as commercial sounding as Wetton's 1980s supergroup Asia, U.K. mustered up a progressive air by the use of intelligent keyboard and percussion interplay without sounding mainstream. Jobson's work with the electric violin and assorted synthesizers adds to an already profound astuteness carried by Wetton. Former Yes and Genesis drummer Bill Bruford is just as important behind the kit, making his presence felt on numbers like "Thirty Years" and "Nevermore." Without carrying the same rhythms or cadences through each song, U.K. implements some differentiation into their music, straying from the sometimes over-the-top musicianship that occurs with the gathering of such an elite bunch. The melodious finish of such tracks as "By the Light of Day" and "Alaska" showcases the overall fluency of each member, and shows no signs of any progressive tediousness that could have easily evolved. All three of U.K.'s albums are enjoyable, but the debut sports the most interest, since it spotlights their remarkable fit as a band for the first time.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Featuring members of Yes, King Crimson, Roxy Music, and Soft Machine, U.K. was one of the most prominent progressive rock supergroups of the late '70s. Various members of U.K. -- guitarist Allan Holdsworth, keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and drummer Bill Bruford -- had all played together in their previous bands, but when the group formed in 1977, it was the first time all of the musicians had played together. Although the lineup was unstable -- Holdsworth and Bruford left after one album, with former Frank Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio replacing Bruford -- and the group was short-lived, the band maintained a dedicated cult following years after their early-'80s breakup.
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BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
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TO THE TOP
