Polyphony, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is probably the earliest American progressive rock band. Released on the Eleventh Hour label, the cover artwork was by Betty Cherry, which was very untypical for her, as she basically did album covers for rockabilly and country artists and they were hardly psychedelic. Make no doubt the ELP influence is rather obvious. Craig Massey really goes hog wild on the organ, although he does provide some Moog. Guitar, from Glenn Howard-Palmer is more dominant than on ELP. The music is full of intense playing from all around. The ELP comparisons is more notable with the occasional Tarkus-type organ moves. Also the vocals are pretty good, but sparsely used allowing room for extended instrumental passages. Despite the ELP comparison, it's surprisingly more psych leaning than symphonic, so I imagine The Nice is another good reference. "40 Second Thing in 39 Seconds" is some weird messing about on the Moog synthesizer, but the rest of the album is full-band interaction. Unlike so many other American prog bands, like Kansas and Styx that had obvious commercial leanings, Polyphony never went that way. I got the feeling they weren't interested in scoring hit singles, and there isn't a single moment on this album that sounded like it could be a radio hit. Also this group wasn't to be confused with the UK group Poliphony who released a self-entitled album in 1973, that one was more jazz-rock/fusion and nothing to do with Polyphony. Really worth having for those who like that organ-driven prog and psych sound!

That's true too, but I mean of the keyboard-driven variety more in the ELP variety, Polyphony was likely the first, but unlike ELP, I can't call Polyphony symphonic prog. I know Touch, I own the US pressing on the Coliseum label, but blues and straight rock has itself felt (like on "Misses Teach") but the lengthier material is undeniably prog.

Though, the first American prog-rock album may be that Portland, Oregon band Touch's sole record from from 1969, on the Deram label. And obviously Zappa records from the same period are in that department.

Personnel:- Craig Massey - organ, Moog synthesizer, vocals.- Glenn Howard - lead guitar, slide guitar, vocals.- Martin Ruddy - bass, backing vocals.- Christopher Spong - drums.- Chatty Cooper - congas, timbales, percussion.+- Chuck Taylor - producer.