Some prog lists.

To start this off, here is a list of my top 25 prog albums (probably). The order is a rough, but I put one there anyway.

It excludes electronic prog (Tangerine, Redshift. etc) of which I am a huge fan.

1. Pawn Hearts (1971) - Van Der Graaf Generator
2. Close to the Edge (1972) - Yes
3. Lateralus (2001) - Tool
4. Godbluff (1974) - Van Der Graaf Generator
5. Chris Squire (1975) - Fish out of Water
6. Animals (1977) - Pink Floyd
7. Wind and Wuthering (1976) - Genesis
8. Relayer (1974) - Yes
9. Signify (1997) - Porcupine Tree
10. Wish You Were Here (1975) - Pink Floyd
11. Chamelion in the Shadow of the Night (1972) - Peter Hammill
12. Spectral Mornings (1979) - Steve Hackett
13. Minstrel in the Gallery (1975) - Jethro Tull
14. Red (1975) - King Crimson
15. Permanent Waves (1980) - Rush
16. The Quiet Dome, The Pleasure Dome (1977) - Van Der Graaf
17. One of a Kind (1978) - Bruford
18. Fragile (1971) - Yes
19. Drama (1980) - Yes
20. Foxtrot (1972) - Genesis
21. Going for the One (1977) - Yes
22. Stand Up (1969)- Jethro Tull
23. The Great Deceiver (live) (1973-4) - King Crimson
24. Benefit (1970) - Jethro Tull
25. Hemispheres (1978) - Rush

I am waiting for Seagul to post a complete list of Van Der Graaf Generator and Peter Hammill albums, which would be a tempting choice for me too.

Jamie - I'll exclude progressive jazz such as E.S.T/Bad Plus (who did an album called Prog)

1. Genesis - Trick of the Tail
2. Genesis - Seconds Out
3. Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte
4. Genesis - Foxtrot
5. Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
6. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
7. Pink Floyd - Animals
8. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
9. Genesis - Wind and Wuthering
10. Peter Gabriel 1
11. Steve Hackett - Please Don't Touch
12. Steve Hackett - Spectral Mornings
13. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
14. Pink Floyd - The Wall
15. Peter Gabriel 3
16. Peter Gabriel 4
17. Steve Hackett - Defector
18. Yes - Going for the One
19. Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost
20. Genesis - Duke (pop prog)

Did not include much Yes, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree etc, they would be in the 21-40 section.

OK my Prog collections is smaller than you more "mature" proggers, but here goes.

1. The Wall (1979) - Pink Floyd
2. Animals (1977) - Pink Floyd
3. Relayer (1974) - Yes
4. Script For a Jesters Tear (1983) - Marillion
5. Brain Salad Surgery (1973) - ELP
6. Tales From Topographical Oceans (1973) - Yes
7. Force Majeure (1979) - Tangerine Dream
8. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974) - Genesis
9. Nursery Cryme (1971) - Genesis
10. Atom Heart Mother (1970) - Pink Floyd
11. Amputechture (2006) - The Mars Volta
12. Hemispheres (1978) - Rush
13. Songs From The Woods (1977) - Jethro Tull
14. Hail To The Thief (2003) - Radiohead
15. Going For The One (1977) - Yes
16. Wish You Were Here (1975) - Pink Floyd
17. Fragile (1971) - Yes
18. Close Too The Edge (1972) - Yes
19. Trespass (1970) - Genesis
20. Fugazi (1984)- Marillion
21. Larks Tongues In Aspic (1973) - King Crimson
22. The Six Wives Of Henry VIII (1973) - Rick Wakeman
23. The Spirit Of Eden (1988) - Talk Talk
24. The Laughing Stock (1990) - Talk Talk
25. Mirrored (2008) - Battles
26. Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1994) - Underworld one for Jamie.


As my collection expands it would inevitably change as I have no Van Der Graff much King Crimson and Rush and many other bands and maybe Porcupine Tree, so watch this space.



Dean...

Good list Dean. Looking at yours, I probably should have put Marillion - Script for a Jesters Tear into my list. Think I am going to focus on expanding my Prog collection in 2011 as it really is, for me, some of the very best music.

Yes it is Adrain, I'd like to investigate the lesser known Prog bands as well like Spocks Beard, Camel, Focus, Dream Theatre and more modern prog bands as well.



Dean..

This arrived yesterday - Classic Prog magazine's prog album of 2010. Mixed by Steve Wilson. On first listen sounds interesting.

My best of progrock:

Pictures at an exhibiton | Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Epithaph | King Crimson (live 1969)
In the court of | King Crimson
Solar music live | Grobschnitt
Solar fire | Manfred Mann s Earth Band
Atom heart mother | Pink Floyd
Seeling England by the pound | Genesis
Anyway | Family
Minstrel in the galery | Jethro Tull
Aqualung | Jethro Tull
Salisbury | Uria Heep
Out of the tunnels mouth | Steve Hackett
In to the everflow | Psychotic waltz
Misplaced childhood | Marillion
The sky move sideways | Porcupine tree
John Barleycorn must die | Traffic

Just two to go in that I can think of that haven't been covered already. Plenty of other candidates but I believe these don't need to use their elbows:

The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes - Fruupp
Song Of The Marching Children - Earth And Fire

I never thought of putting Talk Talk in as prog rock, 'Laughing Stock' and 'Spirit of Eden' are two of my very favourite albums. Brilliantly described on the Progarchives website.

"The defining sound finally emerged on their subsequent two releases, "Spirit of Eden" (1988) and "Laughing Stock" (1991). These albums are truly unique statements; seemingly free-form and abstract, the songs reveal themselves to be delicately constructed soundscapes where each note - or even each moment of silence - is necessary and powerfully emotional. Instruments and vocals weave in and out of the mix, sometimes contributing only one quiet sound before disappearing, sometimes building to a wrenching climax. " James Lee.

Progressive House is a term that has been applied to bands like Underworld and Orbital. Looking at the 'progarchives' website, they do cast their net pretty wide, even including Kraftwerk. Prog it seems is a term that can be applied to a very wide swathe of music away from tradition blues based rock and pop music.

Dean, Van Der Graaf Generator can be quite an acquired taste, although 'Pawn Hearts' is the favourite of many fans, it is probably the hardest of their album to appreciate. 'Godbluff' is probably their most accessible album, although 'H to He: Who Am The Only One' is quite accessible too.

I must admit I had completely for gotten about Mike Oldfield too, he may have got in my oiginal list, but it was just a list.

Thanks for Van Der Graaf suggestions Jamie they are next to investigate for me, and Peter Hammill, so don't worry about "accessible" you see what I play and I always work with albums I don't dismiss on first hearing. Took me about 6 plays to start getting Tales and my first Autechre album was Chiastic Slide.



Dean...

I don't listen to a lot of prog rock these days, but there are two albums I'd mention here:



Arena: The Visitor





Transatlantic: The Whirlwind



Actually, everything by these bands is very highly recommended.

Here are ten albums by bands I wouldn't immediately think of as prog, but certainly have many of the characteristics of prog. Long tracks with sections that change greatly, use of time signatures other than four time, etc.

A very arbitrary list, some may consider some of these are pure prog, but it is just another list.

'Laughing Stock' (1991) - Talk Talk
'Man Machine' (1978) - Kraftwerk
'Autobahn' (1975) - Kraftwerk
'OK, Computer' (1997) - Radiohead
'Spirit of Eden' (1988) - Talk Talk
'Queen II' (1974) - Queen
'Houses of the Holy' (1972) - Led Zeppelin
'Station to Station' (1976) - David Bowie
'Second Toughest in the Infants' (1996) - Underworld
'Middle of Nowhere' (1999) - Orbital

Maybe artists like Autechre and Aphex Twin could have been included in thee too.

Krautrock seems a close cousin to prog to me too.

Where do people think Frank Zappa and his various collaborations stand with regard to prog?

I have tried some of the American prog bands like Spocks Beard, Transatlantic and Dream Theatre. Their musicianship is superb, but being English, I find prog must have some basis in the melodies of English, or at least European, classical music, and indeed through that, back to the folk music of the same area. It is a very personal preference I suspect.

I will post a list of Electronic prog albums soon.

Jamie

Not sure some of the stuff listed is 'proper Prog, IMHO. Here's some which I have no doubt about (in no particular order, other than as I thought of them...):

Close To The Edge - Yes
Nursury Cryme - Genesis
In The Court Of.. - King Crimson
Meddle - Pink Floyd
Six Wives of Henry V111 - Rick Wakeman
Relayer - Yes
Foxtrot - Genesis
Tales From Topographic Oceans - Yes
Trick Of The Tale - Genesis
Time & Tide - Greenslade
DSOM - Pink Floyd
Queen 11 - Queen


IanM
(old enough to have bought some - but definitely not all - of the above when originally released...)

Sorry, late to the party, again

quote:

I am waiting for Seagul to post a complete list of Van Der Graaf Generator and Peter Hammill albums, which would be a tempting choice for me too

I could, but I won't suffice tio say that many fine albums are to be found here and here


Not sure I can come up with 25 (non VdGG) prog albums that I really REALLY REALLY like but here goes ...

Van der Graaf
Pawn Hearts
Godbluff
Still Life

If you only buy 3 prog albums it should be these three.

Peter Hammill
Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night
The SIlent Corner and the Empty Stage
In Camera

Or these three. Not all of PH's 70s output was prog - Nadir was proto punk, Over was full of love songs.

King Crimson
Lizard
Larks Tongues in Aspic
Red

The 70s revolving door policy with Crim settled on the Fripp/Bruford/Wetton axis - superb

Caravan
In the Land of Grey and Pink
If I could do it all over again I'd do it all over you
For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night

Surprised no-one has mentioned them yet. But then Gary Shaw hasn't commented yet.

Jethro Tull
Aqualung
Thick as a Brick

My other favourite Tull albums I wouldn't class as "Prog" - 'Benefit' and 'Stand Up' are blues rock, 'Songs from the Wood' and 'Heavy Horses' more folk rock...

Camel
Mirage
(Music Inspired by) The Snowgoose

Yes
Close to the Edge

Peter Gabriel
II

The one produced by Fripp.

Steve Hillage
Fish Rising
L

Prog or pysche? Not sure but I like these and most of his other stuff from the 70s.

Pink Floyd
Meddle
Wish You Were Here

If I never hear DSotM again...done to death therefore not on my list

Blondie
Parallel Lines

Well Fripp plays guitar on "Fade Away and Radiate" so it must be prog

What no Genesis and only one by Yes? Afraid so.

About time someone mentioned ELO ~ Electric Light Orchestra (especially... Eldorado)

A list of electro prog albums worth hearing:

Equinox (1978) - Jean Michel Jarre
Rubycon (1975) - Tangerine Dream
Oxygene (1976) - Jean Michel Jarre
Redshift (1996) - Redshift (Mark Shreeve)
Arcturus (2002) - Arc (Mark Shreeve & Ian Boddy)
Moyland (2005) - Free System Project
Encore: Live (1977) - Tangerine Dream
Logos: Live (1982) - Tangerine Dream
Analogue Overdose 3 (2006) - Fanger & Schonwalder
Faultline (2002) - Redshift
People would really like spacerock if only they would give it a try (2003) - Radio Massacre International
British Aisles: Live (2008) - Free System Project

I keep trying to like Vangelis, but he just doesn't match up to he above for me, 'Albedo 0.39' and 'Heaven and Hell' are good though. I am getting into Brendon Pollard though, but couldn't pick a specific album yet, and The Omega Syndicate are getting very good live as they become more experienced.

My top ten prog bootlegs, all are complete recordings, or near complete.

Tangerine Dream - Brussels 1976 (Tangerine Tree, excellent audience recording)
Yes - Wembley 1978 (BBC pre-FM recording)
Genesis - Hammersmith Odeon 1976 (BBC pre-FM + soundboard tape) - with Bruford on drums!
Van Der Graaf Generator - Leverkusnen 2005 (WDR TV broadcast)
Van Der Graaf Generator - Thames Polytechnic 1975 (OK audience tape, but worth it to hear the whole band play Feint-Heart
Tool - Denver 2002 (Soundboard)
Yes - Boston Gardens Dec 1974 - Relayer tour (Pre-FM)
Pink Floyd - Earls Court 1974 (BBC pre-FM + audience)
Steve Hackett - Reading Festival 1981 (BBC pre-FM)
Porcupine Tree - Nearfest 2001 (FM broadcast)

plus
Led Zeppelin - Earls Court 25 May 1975 (Soundboard) - not quite prog, but when they let go on No Quarter it is, and I think it is the best live performance I have ever heard anyway.

King Crimson were brilliant live, but they have released their best live stuff officially.

Three rather good albums from Focus:-

Moving Waves
Live at the Rainbow
Hamburger Concerto

I think defining “prog” is perhaps the most contentious subject in rock music. There are all sorts of whacky theories going round: does it include mellotrons, hobbits, concepts, tracks with more than just 4/4 time signatures, tracks that are long, songs that attempt to ape classical music etc. etc.

If you believe the most excellent Prog Archives site, the almost everything is prog to some degree!

I’ve gone fairly straight for the traditional early giants and their modern offspring. Debated long As to whether Caravan were prog (yes, in these cases), and if so were Camel (the ones I really like – Rain Dances and Breathless – probably aren’t)?

My internal consistency probably isn’t that great either – whilst Voyage Of The Acolyte is definitely prog, I admit to being on thin ice with Hackett’s Wild Orchids.

And finally Tales From Topographic Oceans. When this came out I simply didn't get it at all, and spent the next35 or so years ridiculing it as a fine example of prog disappearing up it's own fundament, but a number of people kept telling me it was good if I'd give it another chance....so I did and I now think it's excellent. Not as ggod as Close To The Edge or The Yes Album, but it's up there.


BRITISH

Van Der Graaf Generator

The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other (1970)
H to He, Who am the Only One (1970)
Pawn Hearts (1971)

Peter Hammill
Fools’ Mate (1971)

Yes
The Yes Album (1971)
Close To The Edge (1972)
Tales From Topographic Oceans (1973)

King Crimson
In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)
Red (1974)
Thrak (1995)
The Power To Believe (2003)

Caravan
If I Could Do It All Over Again I’d Do It All Over You (1970)
Land Of Grey And Pink (1971)
For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night (1973)

Colosseum
Valentyne Suite (1969)

Gentle Giant
Acquiring The Taste (1971)
Octopus (1973)

Pink Floyd
Atom Heart Mother (1970)
Meddle (1971)

Porcupine Tree
Up The Downstair (1993)
The Sky Moves Sideways (1994)
Moonloop (1994)
Signify (1996)
Coma Divine 1997)
Voyage 34 (1998)

Steve Hackett
Voyage Of The Acolyte (1975)
Wild Orchids (2006)

Pure Reason Revolution
The Dark Third (2006)


SCANDINAVIAN

Wigwam
Fairyport (1971)

Anekdoten
Vemod (1995)

Änglagård
Hybris (1992)

Wobbler
Hinterland (2005)

White Willow
Ignis Fatuus (1995)

Isildurs Bane
MIND – Volume 1 (1997)

In The Labyrinth
The Garden Of Mysteries (1996)
Walking On Clouds (1999)
Dryad (2002)

ITALIAN

La Maschera di Cera
Il Grande Labirinto (2003)
Petali Di Fuoco (2010)

Picchio dal Pozzo
Picchio dal Pozzo (1976)

Premiata Forneria Marconi
Storia Di Un Minuto (1972)
Per Un Amico (1972)
L'Isola Di Niente (1974)

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
Io Sono Nato Libero (1973)

Il Balletto Di Bronzo
YS (1972)

Celeste
Principe di un Giorno (1976)

La Zona
La Notte Difficili (2003)


NORTH AMERICAN

Cathedral (US version)
Stained Glass Stories (1978)

Harmonium
Si On Avait Besoin D'une Cinquième Saison (1975)

REST OF EUROPE

Focus
Moving Waves (1972)
Focus III (1973)

Magma
Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (1973)
Köhntarkösz (1974)
Wurdah Itah (1974)

P.F.M. but no E.L.P.???

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
P.F.M. but no E.L.P.???

They're very different! But besides, I confess that I only like some parts of ELP's output and no one album nails it for me. The first one almost made the list.

Great lists - but missing my prog album of 2010:

Haken - Aquarius
Definitely worth a listen by all prog fans.

quote:

They're very different!

They were called the Italian, ELP. I listened to 1 or 2 tracks of theirs and decided to stick to ELP as I detected very little difference.
Still each to their own.

You can decide if they are prog or not (some are dubious) or if they are any good (none are dubious IMHO), but I like all of the following albums and a lot I haven't mentioned - I don't think of Led Zep as being prog, but if they are then include 1 or III or The Runes (as they are my favourite LZ records) - I also haven't included Fairport. the Beatles or the Kinks. I'm sure I've left out others as well.

My favourite prog-rock band are, of course, Emerson Lake and Palmer and the best (IMO) two albums on the list are Eldorado and Oddessey & Oracle with Valentyne Suite and ELP's first run of elpees close behind.

I've tried one album per artist, but there may be duplications - especially the great Roy Wood, but no sane man can object to some extra Roy Wood.

Best prog vocalist - Annie Haslam by a country mile.

Best male prog vocalist - Richard Sinclair: best singer Steve Winwood.

Sheet Music by 10CC
England by Amazing Blondel
Winds of Change by Eric Burdon and the New Animals
Arzachel by Arzachel
Death Walks Behind You by Atomic Rooster
Andromeda by Andromeda
The House on the Hill by Audience
Whatevershebringswesing by Kevin Ayers and the Whole World
Barclay James Harvest and Other Short Stories by Barclay James Harvest
Odessa by The Bee Gees
Beggars Opera by Beggars Opera
Ahead Rings Out by Blodwyn Pig
Breathless by Camel
Captain Beyond by Captain Beyond
If I Could Do It All Over Again by Caravan
Swallow Tales by Cochise
CCS by Collective Consciousness Society
Valtentyne Suite by Colosseum
Strange New Flesh by Colosseum II
First Utterance by Comus
Songs From The Acid by Sonja Kristina
Air Conditioning by Curved Air
Concerto for Group and Orchestra by Deep Purple
Heavy Petting by Dr Strangely Strange
Streetnoise by Julie Driscoll & the Brian Auger Trinity
Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra
Boulders by Roy Wood
Wizzard Brew by Roy Wood's Wizzard
Tarkus by Emerson Lake and Palmer
Trilogy by Emerson Lake and Palmer
Works by Emerson Lake and Palmer
Everything as Nice as Mother Makes It by Keith Emerson and the Nice
Music from a Doll's House by Family
The Pious Bird of Good Omen by Fleetwood Mac
Second Chapter by Danny Kirwan
Peter Gabriel 3 by Peter Gabriel
Trespass by Peter Gabriel and Genesis
Acquiring the Taste by Gentle Giant
L by Steve Hillage
Solid Bond by The Graham Bond Organisation
Bedside Manners are Extra by Greenslade
Thank Christ for the Bomb by The Groundhogs
Red Queen to Gryphon Three by Gryphon
Gun by Gun
Afters by Hatfield and the North
Smiling Men with Bad Reputations by Mike Heron
Hard Rope and Silken Twine by The Incredible String Band
Stand Up by Jethro Tull
From Home to Home by Kaleidoscope as Fairfield Parlour
The Cheerful Insanity of Giles Giles and Fripp by Giles Giles and Fripp
In The Court of The Crimson King by King Crimson
Nicely Out of Tune by Lindisfarne
Ages by Magna Carta
Angel Station by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Heavy on the Drum by Medicine Head
Every Good Boy Deserves Favour by The Moody Blues
Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
The Bits Between the Bits by Ozric Tentacles
What a Bunch of Sweeties by The Pink Fairies
Atom Heart Mother by Pink Floyd
In Search of the Amelia Earheart by Plainsong
A Salty Dog by Procal Harum
Pussy Plays by Pussy
Ashes are Burning by Renaissance
Annie in Wonderland by Annie Haslam and Roy Wood
Sad Cafe by Sad Cafe
Death May Be Your Santa Claus by Second Hand
Land of Cockayne by Soft Machine
Fifth by Soft Machine
Street Singer by Mick Softley
Spooky Two by Spooky Tooth
Supernatural Fairy Tales by Art
Friendliness by Stackridge
Junior's Wailing by Steamhammer
Steelers Wheel by Steelers Wheel
Bursting at the Seams by The Strawbs
Machine That Cried by String Driven Thing
Breakfast in America by Supertramp
Tempest by Tempest
A Space in Time by Ten Years After
Candle for Judith by The Way We Were
Alchemy by Third Ear Band
Tractor by Tractor
Traffic by Traffic
Flying (One Hour Space Rock) by UFO
Look At Yourself by Uriah Heep
Fool's Mate by Peter Hammill
Aerosol Grey Machine by Van Der Graaf Generator
An Electric Storm by White Noise
Rock Bottom by Robert Wyatt
Matching Mole by Matching Mole
The Yes Album by Yes
Oddessey and Oracle by The Zombies
Ring of Hands by Argent
Journey by Colin Blunstone

I haven't listed non-UK bands, but I'd certainly recommend Burning Red Ivanhoe and Focus - Golden Earring and Aphrodite's Child (666) were pretty good too as were Eloy and whole host of German groups.

Has anyone else noticed how nobody can stick to a short list on this thread?

I wonder if a thread of 'best minimalist albums' would be more terse?

Bruce