Prog Rock, Complex Art, & Cultivating a Discerning Ear: Neal Morse’s Epic Journey
We finally scale the misty mountain of PROG ROCK on the True Tunes Podcast – with none other than the venerable Neal Morse as our guide! As a founding member of Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, and his own Neal Morse Band, he has been setting the standard in modern prog rock for decades. He has also developed his own streaming app to deliver his entire catalog (over 80 albums!) and curates his own Morsefest – an annual gathering of progressive rock fans from around the world. His personal and musical journey is as inspiring as his epic music.
We also ponder the backlash “prog” received in the punk / new wave movement of the 70s and what complex, intricate art might offer us as we strive to become deeper thinkers, better discerners, and more imaginative humans. Break out the capes!
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Neal Morse Song List
Opening segment
Yes – Yours Is No Disgrace
Kansas – Carry On Wayward Son
Neal Morse – Overture No. 1 (Testimony)
Transatlantic – Kaleidoscope, Pt. 1 (Overture II-Feel the Lightning) (Kaleidoscope)
Neal Morse – The Way Home (Lifeline)
Set One
Spock’s Beard – The Healing Colors of Sound, Pt. 1 (Day For Night)
Neal Morse – Momentum / Question Mark Suite: The Temple of the Living God
(Live Momentum)
Neal Morse – Guitar Improv #2
The Beatles – All My Loving (Ed Sullivan show)
Yellow Matter Custard – Flying (One More Night in New York City)
Yes – Roundabout
Neal Morse – The Glory of the Lord (Sola Gratia)
Yes – I’ve Seen All Good People
The Beach Boys – I’m Waiting for the Day
Neal Morse – Bluesy Guitar Improv
Isaac Joel – Vogti
Neal Morse – Piano Improv #2 in Eminor
Neal Morse – The Land of Beginning Again (Testimony)
God’s Theme 2 (Testimony)
Spock’s Beard – Open Up The Gates Part 2 (Snow)
Spock’s Beard – The Doorway (The First Twenty Years)
Spock’s Beard – The Light (Neal’s Home Demo)
Spock’s Beard – Walking On The Wind (ProgFest ’97)
Spock’s Beard – Made Alive / Overture (Snow)
Transatlantic – Owl Howl (tag) (from forthcoming album)
Set Two
Morse Portnoy George – Can’t Get It Out of My Head (Cover to Cover)
Transatlantic – And You and I (Kaleidoscope)
Transatlantic – We All Need Some Light (SMPTe)
Transatlantic – Pieces of Heaven (The Whirlwind)
Neal Morse – Oh Lord My God (Testimony)
Transatlantic – Dance with The Devil (Bridge Across Forever)
The Neal Morse Band – The Call (The Grand Experiment)
Transatlantic – All of the Above, Pt. 1 (SMPTe)
Flying Colors – Love Is What I’m Waiting For (True Colors)
Flying Colors – Infinite Fire (Flyting Colors)
Flying Colors – Waiting for the Sun (Unreleased Bonus Studio Track) (Third Degree)
Flying Colors – Last Train Home (Third Degree)
The Neal Morse Band – Not Afraid, Pt. 1 (Innocence & Danger)
Set Three
The Neal Morse Band – Freedom Song (The Similitude of A Dream)
Neal Morse – Guitar Improv #1
Neal Morse – Overture No. 1 (Testimony)
Spock’s Beard – Open Wide The Flood Gates (Snow)
Neal Morse – The Creation (One)
Transatlantic – Rose Colored Glasses (The Whirlwind)
Transatlantic – The Whirlwind (The Whirlwind)
Sock’s Beard – I Will Go (Snow Live)
The Neal Morse Band – Reunion (One Live)
Neal Morse – Love Has Called My Name (Jesus Christ the Exorcist Live at Morsefest 2018)
The Neal Morse Band – Overture No. 2 (The Great Adventour – Live in BRNO 2019)
The Neal Morse Band – Waterfall (The Grand Experiment)
Neal Morse – Piano Improv #1 in Gmajor
Spock’s Beard – Made Alive Again / Wind At My Back (Snow Live)
Soapbox
The Neal Morse Band – The Mask (The Similitude of A Dream)
The Neal Morse Band – Emergence (Innocence & Danger)
Neal Morse – Warmer Than The Sunshine (Solo Gratia)
Morse Portnoy George – No Opportunity Necessary-No Experience Needed (Cover to Cover)
Closing
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (True Tunes podcast theme version)
(Easter egg – Yes – Yours Is No Disgrace)
If you liked this episode, don’t miss these:
Eric Earley (Blitzen Trapper) + Sacred Psychedelia on the Jukebox (w David Bunker)
DOE (plus Stevie Wonder on the Jukebox!)
Royce Lovett (plus Gospel Hip Hop on the Jukebox)
Audiofeed Festival Lineup Announcement and Interview
Terry Scott Taylor’s Beautiful Mystery
Natalie Bergman’s Jesus Music for a New Generation
Myron Butler and the Legacy of Andrae Crouch!
Andy Zipf Solo Acoustic Performance on True Tunes @45RPM
45RPM: Phil Madeira and Love Songs
Bruce Cockburn: Kicking at the Darkness for Fifty Years (and counting!)
From The Vault: Michael Been of The Call
Marc Byrd (Hammock, God of Wonders, etc)
Phil Madeira on Expanding Horizons
Kevin Max Considers Boundaries
See the full list of previous episodes HERE