Some time in the past I started counting up to the best of the year show. That meant going back across the decades, maybe to compare years. Well, 1984 in prog holds no comparison to last year whatsoever. Many will argue that there is much more prog to pull from than I pulled from here, that is likely true, but this was an endeavor to give you some of 1984 that I found the most meaning and joy in. That means that new wave rears up along with other genres, but I always tried to make the connection to prog rock. There were a few misses. For instance, I could have been more careful with the break in Roger Waters- it is hard to find a stopping point in the album as it all bleeds together. The best way is to listen to Pros and Cons is all the way through, with headphones, in a blacklit room. There is also that the Russ Ballard song I chose is not in fact from 1984- my mistake.

The next show will be help on March 26th and we will feature jam bands and improvisational prog.

Here is the 1984 setlist:

ArtistTitleDurationAlbumYearCraftAries5:48Craft1984Deep PurplePerfect Strangers5:11Perfect Strangers1970XTCWake Up4:29The Big Express1984King CrimsonSleepless5:04Three of a Perfect Pair1984Laszlo BenkoMambo2:30Lexikon 21970OsirisWho Remembers4:44Myths And Legends (Vinyl)1984The FixxLess Cities, More Moving People3:27Phantoms1984CamelCloak and Dagger Man3:43Stationary Traveller1984Russ BallardVoices5:30Anthology1986Planet P ProjectPower4:14Pink World [Definitive Edition]1985Jefferson StarshipLayin' It On The Line4:07Nuclear Furniture (Vinyl)1984SolarisM'ars poetica6:21The Martian Chronicles1983GerardOrpheus8:34Gerard (Vinyl)1984Jerome LangloisLE BALLON I7:24THEMES, solo piano2011Anthony PhillipsFebruary4:24Private Parts and Pieces, Part V 'Twelve'1985Weird Al YankovicKing Of Suede4:07In 3-D1984Michael ShrieveTransfer Station Blue11:41Transfer Station Blue (With Kevin Shrieve & Klaus Schulze)1984Jean-Michel JarreBlah-Blah Cafe3:20Zoolook1984Howard JonesEquality4:18Human's Lib1984Oingo BoingoGratitude5:11So Lo1988Billy Squier(Another) 19844:45Signs Of Life1984Iron MaidenBack in the Village5:01Powerslave1984Yngwie J. MalmsteenIcarus' Dream Suite Op.48:17Rising Force1984QueensrycheNo Sanctuary5:48The Warning1984MetallicaMetallica / For whom the Bell Tolls4:52Ride The Lighting1985ScorpionsComing Home4:48Love at First Sting1984David GilmourMurder4:50About Face1984Roger Waters4:33 AM (Running Shoes)4:05The Pros & Cons Of Hitch Hiking1984Roger Waters4:37 AM (Arabs With Knives & West German Skies)2:16The Pros & Cons Of Hitch Hiking1984MarillionEmerald Lies5:01Fugazi1984RushThe Body Electric4:56Grace Under Pressure1984Paul MccartneyNo More Lonely Nights (Ballad)5:05Give My Regards To Broad Street