I have never understood why some people like FOXTROT more than SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND. For me SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND is one of 10. best albums of all time in all group of music.
I AM a huge YES fan but i love too Pink Floyd, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant is hard to choose but i put 3 Best 1 ) Tales from Topografic Oceans of YES 2 ) The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 3) Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull....cheers from Lisbon 🇵🇹💚
I’m so glad you are having so much fun doing these lists, Andy. We absolutely love your opinions, enthusiasm and feelings towards music fandom. Thank you, sir. It has been a pleasure and I love your picks ❤
Anybody can throw a video up ranking prog albums. I come here specifically for your opinion as a fan and professional musician. I’m glad you have your preferences and change your mind as you see fit. Your videos aren’t just dry technical lectures about theory.
RUSH is not American. They are 3 Canadian boys. 🇨🇦 Also, I just can’t quite consider Moving Pictures to be a Prog Rock album. By the time of Moving Pictures, Rush were moving on to a more New Wave sound to modernize their music. Moving Pictures is more synth keyboard heavy and sounds rock/new wave-ish. For me, 2112 and A Farewell to Kings more accurately personify prog rock.
Actually "Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean." Canada is not part of the U.S.A. Common mistake.
I agree although I would add their most progressive album, Hemispheres. I consider their last album Clockwork Angels as prog also. Not as Prog as Kings or Hemispheres but as much as 2112.
@@rocketshiptoaltair, when people say "American," they generally mean the United States. The entire western hemisphere is "American" in some form. Canada is Canada, and most Canadians are happy that it is that way.
I am so happy you have Close to the Edge by Yes.! I have always been a huge Yes fan and Close to the Edge is without a doubt their ultimate album. I saw Yes live in 1975 .
And my pick would be _Permanent Waves._ But those three consecutive studio albums certainly represent the climax, and eventual end of their full-on classic prog phase, before_Signals_ transitioned them into an embrace of the '80s sound. For prog fans like me then, I will always come back to them far more than I do to any other albums from other time periods.
Marillion were an early 80's band & prog rock wasn't a thing then. Neo -prog maybe. They certainly weren't looking forward. Regressive perhaps not progressive.
I admit I haven't heard an album by Marillion but thought tracks I did hear were a weak version of Genesis but I'm willing to be proved wrong, so which should be a starter album? Considering I'm pretty much a Gabriel's Genesis lover..
@Anton Malkov All good - but the threads about 10 greatest prog albums, therefore Marillion and neo-prog shouldn't feature , nor Rush if we're beiung picky - imho.
@@therodski1 "Script For a Jester's Tear" is probably Marillion's best album, but overall they are just a weak imitation of Genesis with dashes of Van Der Graaf Generator thrown in. I like a couple of there songs, but not that many.
My Personal Top 10 Prog Albums by 10 Different Artist: 1) Steven Wilson: Raven That Refused to Sing 2) Porcupine Tree: Fear of the Blank Planet 3) Genesis: Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 4) Yes: Close to the Edge 5) Jethro Tull: Thick As a Brick 6) Pink Floyd: Darkside of the Moon 7) King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King 8) ELP: ELP 9 Riverside: Love, Fear and the Time Machine 10) Gentle Giant: Octopus
The top 10 are all by Van der Graaf/Peter Hammill - but if I only allow one entry per artist the list is as follows - 10) Io Sono Nato Libero Banco del Mutuo Soccorso 09) Show After Crying 08) Mirage Camel 07) In The Court Of..... King Crimson 06) Uomo di Pezza Le Orme 05) Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd 04) The Lamb Lies ... Genesis 03) Thick As A Brick Jethro Tull 02) Silent Corner .... Peter Hammill 01) Pawn Hearts Van der Graaf Generator Honorable Mention Three Friends - Gentle Giant Brain Salad Surgery - ELP Fugazi - Marillion Close To The Edge - Yes Sing To God - Cardiacs Per Un Amico - PFM The Long Hello - The Long Hello The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome - Van der Graaf Trip In The Light Of The World - Egoband Cold Steel - Cliffhanger Al-Bandaluz - Cast If I Could Do It All OverAgain I'd Do It All Over You - Caravan Deadwing - Porcupine Tree Force Majeure - Tangerine Dream Third - Soft Machine
I'll give you an unknown and let you judge for yourself, this ones on my rotation constantly, and you may have never heard of them: ua-cam.com/video/RYHrto5U5MY/v-deo.html
@@michaelkeudel8770 Thx Michael! I don't know Mystery. Listening to it right now. One note however - most of the artists on my above list are WELL KNOWN to us prog fans. Maybe with the exception of Cliffhanger and Egoband. If you don't know those two - check them out - all their albums are very good + !
@@vdggmouse9512 Their 1st album is half great, takes time to grow on you, the nxt 6 are brilliant, with another expected anytime now, the released a single from the new album about 3 months ago, song called Behind the Mirror, incredible drumming, very Rush sounding.
I think that the only band that is missing is The Moody Blues : they were synonymous with progressive music before "In The Court Of The Crimson King". And maybe also Renaissance.
Yes "Our Children's..." has some kind of "epics" with "Eyes Of A Child" and "I've Never Thought I'd Live To Be A Million" that are in two parts, and Beyond which has 5 parts !
Wow, I can't argue with your list! To pick 10 albums is no small feat! I checked out the comments and would like to add Saga's "Worlds Apart" as an honorable mention. I did see one commenter mention Fates Warning's "Parallels" and another cited UK's "UK". Glad I am not the only person who thinks they are Prog! This was a lot of fun! Great work!
I'm so happy to see you're coming around on Benny. It actually does fit the tone of this album in that it is insanely violent and perverse. "He'd slash your granny's face up given half a chance. He'd sell you back the pieces, all for less than half a quid." It's incredibly grim and yet contains that perfect ironic ending their novelty songs always do. Add to that Keith's de-tuned piano solo with a fight in the background and Greg's gravely cockney, and I'm sold.
I'm trawling my way through your videos. I've a long weekend ahead! Thanks Andy, this is a winderful video. I'm off to make my own lists now. You've started a trend! Pretty much in agreement with your top ten.
Great list. Here are some honorable mentions: Utopia (1974) - Utopia Warrior on the Edge of Time (1975) - Hawkwind Hemispheres (1978) - Rush UK (1978) - UK Images and Words (1992) - Dream Theater
1. Close to the Edge (timeless) 2. Selling England by the Pound 3. The Dark Side of the Moon 4. A Passion Play 5. Thick as a Brick 6. Relayer 7. So 8. Foxtrot 9 Argus 10. Fragile HM Songs from the Wood A Trick of the Tail Aja Chicago 2 Pet Sounds Birds of Fire (I know stretching the category but you get it)
Great list! My top 10 would be: 1.Yes-Tales From Topographic Oceans 2.Genesis-Foxtrot 3.Pink Floyd-Atom Heart Mother 4.Emerson, Lake & Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery 5.Jethro Tull-Minstrel In The Gallery 6.Rush-Hemispheres 7.Camel-Mirage 8.King Crimson-Islands 9.Van Der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts 10.Porcupine Tree-In Absentia
When you say ‘a true prog’s prog band,’ the same can be said of your lists; the depth and nuance of your lists escape the common list fan. Your lists are for true list aficionados. As a list head myself, this particular list is one of the best and would easily make my Top 10 Lists of All Time list. I do like how you balance objective assessment with subjective taste, which keeps such prog lists fluid and evolving, yet anchored in hard truths about the genre. Bravo, sir. 👏
Looking through the comments I noticed no one mentioned The Moody Blues their 2nd album 'Days of Future Past' (1967) is definitely Prog rock and one of the 1st at that. I think they should be on the list somewhere. Talking about the Moody Blues reminded me of Justin Hayward in War of the Worlds, I don't know if WOTW is considered prog rock but I do like it.
The first Renaissance album, with Keith Relf and Jim McCarty from The Yardbirds. It's brilliant and beautiful. Have a listen if you haven't already. It's a little known masterpiece that deserves to be appreciated. It wasn't just the guitarists that produced great work after they left The Yardbirds. Apocalypse by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Close To The Edge comes as close to a perfect prog album as there's ever been.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm not sure how "unrealized" the first Renaissance album was. The Yardbirds had always had medieval, Gregorian strands woven through their music. Renaissance, with Relf and McCarty, along with Samwell-Smith as producer, added a much more mystical element to their first offering. To me, they truly blended Western classical, folk and rock together into something that has become the norm nowadays. In the late 1960s, how many bands were combining Beethoven with rock elements? The album also highlights Keith Relf's lyric writing, which if one listens carefully, are quite profound. Their contribution may have been unrealized, because the band broke up shortly after the first album, but the ideas and direction of the music live on in a hundred tv and film scores. 🙂
Gong's 'You' is a masterpiece, and among the top three most influential albums on this list. It may not have been as influential as some of the other ones on the prog scene itself, but it's been more influential on a far wider spectrum of music than just about any of the others on the list.
I loved Gong and the VDGG selections. VDGG is the closest to free jazz outside of Soft Machine. I think H to He is not a good album, but Pawn Hearts is great! (I would not listen to VDGG for forty years after hearing H to He... Until I took a chance on Pawn Hearts!)
Some solid choices. Glad you squeezed JT in there. And in my view, "Time" is one of the greatest songs ever composed on, yes, one of the greatest albums ever. Thx.
You did pretty well, but the actual order is as follows: 1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 2. Court of the Crimson King 3. Close to the Edge 4. Ummagumma 5. Pictures at an Exhibition 6. Thick as a Brick 7. Selling England by the Pound 8. Starless and Bible Black 9. Birds of Fire 10. In Search of the Lost Chord
Does 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' qualify as prog rock? It can definitely be argued to be an early forerunner of a concept album. But most situate prog rock's birth with 'In the Court of the Crimson King', released two years later.
@@barrymoore4470 I too found it strange, when BBC pinned it on Sgt. Pepper (classical, Indian, allsorts) soon followed by In the Court of the Crimson King, and then HCE (Here Comes Everybody). I gave extra weight to being pioneers.
Sgt Pepper's????? Hardly. Now if you want the only Prog Beatles song, try Revolver, with the song, Tomorrow Never Knows. A ton of Prog artists created that song with leading them down the road to Prog.
@@AG-6969 It was a BBC documentary that pegged it all on the Sarge. I agree that Revolver was the real deviation point. Sarge was more concepty that Revolver.
I`m really happy, because when I saw your video, i paused it and, I do my own list of progresive albums, and i noticed that I agree with you with Octopus, Pawn Hearts and of course Close to the edge is the number one for me. thanks a lot.
Near perfect list Andy. You truly completely almost nailed it. Just need to replace Rush with Zappa, but your list extraordinarily approaches greatness.
1 - The Piper At The gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd - psicodelic , but progressive too/ 2 - Seargent peppers (beatles, the same)/ 3 - In the court of the crimson king (king crimson)/ 4 - The dark side of the moon (pink floyd)/ 5 - Close to the edge (Yes)/ 6 - Pawn hearts (Van the graaf generator)/ 7 - Tago Mago (Can)/ 8 - Tubular bells (mike oldfield, simphonic but progressive too)/ 9- Foxtrot (Genesis)/ 10- The Wall (pink Floyd, an opera rock, but progressive too) /11- The past, the presente, the future (Mooby Blues) /12 -Larks tongue in aspic (king crimson)/ 13 - Red (King Crimson)/ 14 - Alphataurus (Alphataurus)/ 15 -Selling England by the Pound (Genesis)/16 -Brain Salad Surgery (ELP)/ 17 -Fragile (Yes)/ 18- Animals (Pink Floyd) / 19.- The lamb lies of Broadway (Genesis) / 20 - Wish you were here (Pink Floyd) / 21 -Magma (udu wudu)/ 22 -Discipline (King Crimson) / 23-Tommy (The who)/ 24-Medley (Pink Floyd)/25 - Tarkus (ELP)/ 26 - Movng Pictures (Rush)/ 27 - Lizard (King Crimson) - (I never heard Gentle Giant, a entire disc of tool, the disc Aqualung and many others)
Nice to discover this, Andy. Love to see my old guiltiest pleasure “You” in there hehe plus you’ve motivated me to give Van Der Graaf, Rush and Crimson another go. Bit surprised you managed to do all the Floyd stuff without mentioning “Meddle” - you should really check it out for Echoes and One of These Days. A bit patchy for this list, but you’ll appreciate it.
Extremely cool list. My god! Love that Gong cover. Immediately bought it. So much cooler than the pyramid cover. Congrats on two fantastic Rain albums. I have no right...but I'm proud of you Andy. Plan to give positive Progarchive reviews on both albums. Crazy thing? I purchased the first Rain album a week before I knew the next one would be released in four days. When it RAINS it pours.
I thoroughly enjoy your channel Andy . Your humour and delivery is spot on. I connect which is really important as that is what is all about. As as a professional musician you speake with authority but as a friend you have a pint with. Your humour is so infectious and so natural . Thank you for everything you do, as its pick me up and keeps me motivated and enthusiastic about music in general. I often re visit albums. Sorry to correct you but rush are Canadian and not American sorry to be a pratt but I couldn't resit it. Any thankyou tim
i can't believe i found someone who appreciates gong as much as i do. "you" is still one of my favorite albums. most of the albums you listed i never heard of. but in terms of selling the progressive rock genre to the public you have to choose from a different list. albums that sold well and tended to recieve decent airplay on the radio. these are the albums that i think best fit this criteria and turned me onto progressive rock. in no particular order here's my list: ELP - "trilogy." pink floyd - "dark side of the moon." king crimson - "in the court of the crimson king." genisis - "the lamb lies down on broadway." yes - "close to the edge." tod rundgren - "utopia." the moody blues - "a question of balance." aphrodites child - "666." nektar - "remember the future." and then you have yes' "yessongs" which the movie, and the album, was a favorite among midnight movie goers here in the states. i think these are the most important progressive rock albums because they best represented the genre to the general public. thanks for the video.
Some excellent choices. Andy. Thanks for the video; however, we would all be remiss if we didn't include Kansas-whom you do briefly mention early on-and especially "Leftoverture," Kansas's 4th album and , in my mind, a masterpiece of prog rock. I do feel that Kansas do not get their fair share of accolades and that is a shame, for this band truly had a distinctive sound highlighted by Robbie S's magical electric violin and flawless harmonies(sort of like Yes's vocal synchrony between Chris Squire and Jon Anderson) with the soaring voice of Steve Walsh. Kansas found a way to bridge the gap from their uniquely prog approach in the early to mid-70s into the more traditional rock genre as audiences' tastes changed. They did so with songs like "Point of No Return", "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on My Wayward Son." Rush, Genesis and Yes were able to successfully accomplish that same reinvention. Unfortunately ELP and others struggled when trying to leave their roots in prog rock in the early 80s.
I was just wondering if this was a reupload and yes it is haha. I've been binging your videos since I found your channel as of late. Lots of great recommendations! Thank you so much!
Wonderful video and coda...love your candor! Great how it takes a "serious" subject about masterpiece albums and incorporates a good bit of lightheartedness and humour. Your defense of Gong "You" is well justified and appreciated - it truly does feel 20+ years ahead of its time. The way you feel about VdGG is kind of how I feel about mid-70s Chick Corea/RTF, sans the foreboding darkness. BTW if VdGG comes off the list I would very strongly recommend Brian Eno 'Another Green World' to replace it. Not a weak moment & I think it has proven to be far more influential than 'Tubular Bells'. I need to check out Cardiacs immediately!
Songs of the Woods is my favorite JT album. However, my favorite flute music is Jade Warrior...no one has made a video about Tony Duhig, Jon Field, and Glynn Havard...
This is very strong list indeed. It might be the best top ten prob rock albums list on UA-cam.. I would choose the same number one, YES Close to the Edge.
Your top 3 are definitely in my top 3, Close to the Edge is possibly my favorite album period. Any genre. Tubular Bells is must to any collection. Brilliant.
Close To The Edge by Yes Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull Selling England By The Pound by Genesis Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson Lake and Palmer Wish You Here Here by Pink Floyd Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd Court Crimson King by King Crimson Tarkus by Emerson Lake and Palmer Moving Pictures by Rush Leftoverture by Kansas
Andy: Benny is The tribute to all the old pubs with a pianist, both UK and USA. KE solo is a big nod to the UK pubs and the honky tonks of America. I don't thonk of it as joke or throwaway.
Just the vid for a Friday night after a tough week at work. Thoroughly agree with your about-turns with your rankings. Anybody who’s open to experience should continually re-evaluate their opinions. After all, we each wake up a different person potentially, every single day.
You by Gong is indeed a wonderful album, thank you for supporting it this way! And Van der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts is also a magnificent album - on that 'subjective' judgement side of things, I rate Pawn Hearts the highest of Prog.
VdGG has always been an acquired taste for a lot of prog fans. For so many, it is as cutting edge and out there as a band could possibly be. For others, it is street construction with a jackhammer. Many consider Pete Hamill's voice to be operatic, while many others consider his voice to be nails on a chalkboard. Personally, it reminds me of King Crimson from side two of In The Wake of Posiedon through Islands. Not horrible and certainly not untalented, but discordant.
Baker Street Muse is my absolute favorite Jethro Tull track, which features IMHO Anderson's best guitar work. It also features arguably the greatest string arrangement on a rock record. The end of Starless on KC's Red when the Mellotron kicks back in cannot be played under 110 decibels to truly be appreciated. I told Steve Hackett that I thought TLLDOB was as important an album as Sgt. Peppers. He didn't agree, but hell...what does Steve know? lol.
i agree about baker street muse! is today and was in 1975 when i got the album. steve hackett is a humble guy. kc is a band that has never resonated with me. accept for the red album 1991.
Radiohead's OK Computer was as important an album as Sgt Peppers. And Baker Street Muse is also one of my favorites. Anderson played a lot of acoustic like that in the live shows back then.
Strong list hitting most that must be included. Fun discussion. A couple of quibbles: Rush was Canadian. This list might be called classic prog. More recent possibilities might include Tool, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater.
You want a masterpiece??? I will give you 3: _"La grasa de las capitales" by Serú Girán _ "Bicicleta" by Serú Girán _ "Películas" by La máquina de hacer pájaros. You've never heard of them before because they are from Argentina. Check them out and after that you'll see what I mean. Serú Girán: Charly García (piano and keyboards, and voices), David Lebón (electric and acoustic guitars, and voices), Pedro Aznar (fretless bass and voices) and Oscar Moro (drums and percussion).
My ten (in no order ) would be at this point would be… 1) Genesis- Trick of the Tail 2) Dream Theater- Images & Words 3) IQ - Ever 4) Fates Warning- Parallels 5) Pink Floyd- The Wall 6) Arena- Songs from the lions cage 7) Peter Gabriel-- Security 8) Jethro Tull- Thick as a Brick 9) Rush- permanent waves 10) Collage- Moonshine
TOP TEN LISTS should be revisited and revised on a regular basis. I agree with you in substituting TUBULAR BELLS for PAWN HEARTS, especially because of how singular the former was and how willfully difficult the latter is. I stand by OCTOPUS because it's the GG album I know the best (besides the live album) but you certainly can't go wrong with anything from their peak. IN A GLASS HOUSE was a killer follow-up and, in a perfect world, would have catapulted them to the top ranks of the prog rock pantheon. I think the issue with prog rock is that it's so varied and the best progenitors are so unique that a TOP TWENTY LIST would be in order. Now the challenge is, what ten albums would you add and, if so, would you repeat artists or limit it to a single artist/album; would you include compilations or live albums; and can you broaden the search beyond England's green and pleasant land? (Does Rush need company?) There are some great suggestions in the comments below
Great original top 10. I have been listening to Pawn Hearts for 34 years and love the band. This was before I had heard 70"s Rush or Cardiacs as Little Man etc had not been released. Really like Tubular Bells, but Mike's next two albums are better.
I just came across your podcast. I'm say happy and impressed that you included ,,Gong You". They are/were quite amazing band. Eccentric yes, but outstanding nevertheless.
I stand with you on YOU! But, VDGG MUST stand there!!! Tubular thing on the 2e side is less interesting than Pawn hearts. So, i stand with VDGG... but if you prefer Still life, it's good to me. Your list is perfect for me, everything is there!
There are some suggestions here that are food for thought. I will certainly check out You by Gong. I saw them live at that time but regard their body of work to be rather hippie dippy and twee. I will also check out Pawn Heads by Van Der Graaf Generator. As you are doing alternative lists I would recommend: Gong- Shamal, Curved Air- AirCut, Photos Of Ghosts-Premiata Fornaria Marconi, Nuclear Nightclub- Wigwam and Tago Mago- Can.
Bill Bruford is on your list twice as he should be….Bill is the underrated GOAT of the kit never mentioned in best drummer lists….Finally Bill Bruford remember his name!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for at least a mention of Kansas. I think they are the greatest prog band to come out of the U.S., but their sound is so decidedly American that I think they fly under the radar in the British-European dominated prog genre. Also, their music is extremely accessible even at its prog-est, so its depth of genius and flawless execution gets overlooked. One of the greatest prog bands ever, but they will mostly only be known for three songs. Carry On Wayward Son and Point of Know Return are both extremely prog, but are so catchy that it feels like pop.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I can’t argue that because of my ignorance. I’ll have to investigate them further, as I’m admittedly sorely lacking in Utopia knowledge.
If I can barge in to the conversation, I'd argue that Kansas was (at least from where I sit) a more influential and "greater" band than Utopia. Not that I mean to put down Todd and the boys, but it's hard to deny that, here in North America, Kansas was THE home-grown prog band. They had simply HUGE radio hits that were unapologetically prog, and did more than any other US band to bring Prog to the masses. Was Utopia a BETTER band? More groundbreaking? The argument could be made, but I don't believe it's blindingly self evident. One must admit that Utopia was more hit-or-miss at times. Personally, I believe the "BEST" American prog band was the Dixie Dregs. They did at least three "perfect" albums, and both their guitarist and bassist stand as two of the greats of any era. But sadly, they didn't have the most influential career. (A friend of mine from England, a massively knowledgable music aficionado, had never even heard of them until I played some for him. Which was a shock, but there you go!)
10 Favourite Prog Albums, some of which would surely make the cut in any 'definitive' list: Yes: Close to The Edge ELP: Trilogy Genesis: Selling England By the Pound PFM: Photos of Ghosts Strawbs: Grave New World King Crimson: Lark's Tongues in Aspic Gentle Giant: Free Hand Harmonium: L' eptade Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother Jethro Tull: Aqualung
@@brianfergus839 I agree 100% IMO the title track is PF's major prog statement. Even though I knew their earlier stuff I didn't actually hear Atom Heart Mother until '73. It's been a favourite since, and it always surprises me that so many PF fans trash it.
I agree with many of these choices, but one of them should be booted for Zappa's One Size Fits All. Ditto for Phish's first album, Junta, which is definitely a prog record, and is a masterpiece. So I guess my other 8 would be : Relayer, Octopus, Thick as a Brick, Brain Salad Surgery, Dark Side of the Moon, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Permanent Waves, and Camel's Moonmadness.
Unpopular opinion: Trick of the Tail is the best Genesis album. I know, I know, Genesis isn't Genesis without Peter. But my God, what a wonderful album, and every track is great! As much as I love all of their "Peter albums", I have a special, deep affection for TotT!
Tubular Bells is a great choice but I much preferred Omadawn. Both good. Have to agree with you on Vandergraff Generator. Never got into them but blamed it on my need for great guitar. Thanks
Since you mentioned sales a few times, it would be interesting to know what the top 10 looks like purely in terms of sales. Your description of VDG in the coda matches my description of Rush, the one difference being that Rush, rather than being depressing, are hilarious, so if you do add Cardiacs, keep Rush in to make it 11 (for obvious reasons).
My attempt at a definitive top 10 10) Gong - You 9) Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure 8) Jethro Tull - A Passion Play 7) Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts 6) Gentle Giant - Free Hand 5) Genesis - Foxtrot 4) Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery 3) King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King 2) Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon 1) Yes - Close to the Edge
1 - Close to the Edge - Yes 2 - Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 3 - Foxtrot - Genesis 4 - Moving Pictures - Rush 5 - Minstrel in the Gallery - Jethro Tull 6 - Red - King Crimson 7 - The Power and the Glory - Gentle Giant 8 - Misplaced Childhood - Marillion 9 - Images and Words - Dream Theater 10 - Remember the Future - Nektar
It's my channel is a worthy mantra Andy, it is why I would rather listen to an opionated Brummie than a self important New Yorker! I have a love / hate relationship with VDGG since, when I am in the right mood it really hits the spot.
10- A Farewell to Kings - Rush ... 9- Trespass - Genesis ... 8- Si on avait besoin d'une 5e Saison - Harmonium ... 7- In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson ... 6- Hemespheres -Rush ... 5- Selling England by the Pound - Genesis ... 4- Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd ... 3- L'Heptade - Harmonium ... 2- Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull ... 1- Animals- Pink Floyd
Great choices, yet it's very weird having only a Top 10, since some bands would easily have 3 or 4 great albums ranking very high. My Top 25 in no particular order: Yes: Close To The Edge Genesis: Selling England By The Pound ELP: Brain Salad Surgery Gentle Giant: In A Glass House Focus: Moving Waves Pink Floyd: Animals Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells Rush: Hemispheres Jade Warrior: Way Of The Sun VDGG: Pawn Hearts Gong: You Jethro Tull: Thick As A Brick PFM: Per Un Amico Kansas: Song For America Nektar: Remember The Future King Crimson: Red Khan: Space Shanty Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra Happy The Man: Happy The Man Los Canarios: Ciclos Samla Mammas Manna: Maltid Banco: Darwin Eloy: Ocean Steve Hillage: Fish Rising Crucis: Los Delirios Del Mariscal
I love getting suggestions for new music, will start at the top and see how I like each one. I am here with an open mind! I feel that, although it is not technically of the same time period or genre, the album SIX by Mansun is as close as I have come to finding inventive, 'progressive' rock by accident. I would highly recommend anyone to give it a listen. It is a complete masterpiece and quite unlike anything else I have ever heard.
Well just as a little word of advice before diving in I have found the best progressive rock out there are bands who play their instruments really well which is the definition of being progressed (at instrumentation) and not just give fancy flashy sounds like Gong seems to give you at times like they can make with synthesizers and stuff like that but some of these bands do a combination of both which is the best of both worlds. And I think those bands are Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd, Yes, Kansas, King Crimson, Rush and Jethro Tull. In fact I think Jethro Tull is one of the most progressively technically sound rock bands of all time and that's evident on Thick as a brick, Minstrel In The Gallery, Roots To Branches and Aqualung.
Again, great list! However, I'm curious how you feel about the following three albums: 1) A Scarcity of Miracles, by Jakszyk, Collins and Fripp (a King Crimson ProjeKct from 2016). 2) 666, by Aphrodites Child (the great prog album from Vangelis's Greek pop band) 3) Earth, by Vangelis O. Papathanassiou (his first solo album, a sort of continuation of 666).
There is no right answer. Prog rock is a Rorschach Test for many. I always considered Rush more prog metal, while Pink Floyd is more slow, blues-based rock (which I and millions of others love). In the seventies, we saw Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, and Jethro Tull as rock bands who competed with the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Stones and The Who, rather than the smaller niche bands we now call prog...
Please, Rush, are Canadian!!!! ~ Permanent Waves for me! I never add Dark Side to Any List. I don't classify it as an album anymore. It is a world heritage work of art!
Pretty much agree with your picks. I love Gong, but I would put Gong Live, Etc over You, and it would be higher up the list. And definitely Selling England By the Pound over Foxtrot, despite Suppers Ready being peak prog Genesis. Selling England is, for me, just a much better and more cohesive album. Also, Starless and Bible Black would definitely be on there somewhere.
I particularly like the inclusion of Red and Brain Salad Surgery on here. I don't love Close To the Edge as much as everyone else seems to. I've always been drawn to The Yes Album more than any of the other classic era records. Still, a very solid and thoughtful list. Now, I have to check out Gong.
Likewise my personal fave Yes albums are The Yes Album and Fragile. There’s a good argument that Yessongs should make this list (live triple, includes the whole of CTTE, all the earliest bests and much more. But I think Andy probably called it right to pick CTTE as the zenith of proggy Yesness
That's a great list , with many of my favourite progressive rock albums on it . Here's mine in order of preference : Dark Side of the Moon Thick as a Brick ( just ahead of Aqualung and A Passion Play ) Fragile. ( just edging out Close to the Edge ) Selling England by the Pound. ( just edging out Foxtrot ) Signals. ( on another day it would be Moving Pictures ) Tarkus. ( just ahead of Brain Salad Surgery ) In the Court of the Crimson King. ( Red and Discipline are close behind ) Crime of the Century Moonmadness Leftoverture Honourable Mentions : Free Hand Hero & Heroine , and , Ghosts On the Threshold of a Dream Misplaced Childhood Deadwing Transatlantic ( debut album ) Thanks !!!
Gentle Giant live album (double ) is a master piece . Better than studio . Sad I never saw them Live - I saw King Crimson Last Year . Strangely I like to listen to their live album more ! Great group . Bill Bruford is my favorite drummer
I have never understood why some people like FOXTROT more than SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND. For me SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND is one of 10. best albums of all time in all group of music.
It's up there, but it has the IMO, the annoying I Know What I Like and the sappy More Fool Me. Foxtrot isamazing!
Foxtrot hasn't got The Battle of Epping Forest on it.
Suppers Ready
'Selling' is on another level as an album. It's remained my favourite of theirs through 40+ years of loving Genesis.
Yeah Selling has better production value and as musicians they improved but Suppers Ready is their definitive golden age song. Their masterpiece.
I AM a huge YES fan but i love too Pink Floyd, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant is hard to choose but i put 3 Best 1 ) Tales from Topografic Oceans of YES 2 ) The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 3) Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull....cheers from Lisbon 🇵🇹💚
I’m so glad you are having so much fun doing these lists, Andy. We absolutely love your opinions, enthusiasm and feelings towards music fandom. Thank you, sir. It has been a pleasure and I love your picks ❤
Anybody can throw a video up ranking prog albums. I come here specifically for your opinion as a fan and professional musician. I’m glad you have your preferences and change your mind as you see fit. Your videos aren’t just dry technical lectures about theory.
RUSH is not American. They are 3 Canadian boys. 🇨🇦
Also, I just can’t quite consider Moving Pictures to be a Prog Rock album. By the time of Moving Pictures, Rush were moving on to a more New Wave sound to modernize their music. Moving Pictures is more synth keyboard heavy and sounds rock/new wave-ish. For me, 2112 and A Farewell to Kings more accurately personify prog rock.
Actually "Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean." Canada is not part of the U.S.A. Common mistake.
Rush IS (North) American.
I agree although I would add their most progressive album, Hemispheres. I consider their last album Clockwork Angels as prog also. Not as Prog as Kings or Hemispheres but as much as 2112.
@@rocketshiptoaltair, when people say "American," they generally mean the United States. The entire western hemisphere is "American" in some form. Canada is Canada, and most Canadians are happy that it is that way.
I am so happy you have Close to the Edge by Yes.! I have always been a huge Yes fan and Close to the Edge is without a doubt their ultimate album. I saw Yes live in 1975 .
Lucky you!!!☮
For the Rush album-My pick is Hemispheres
It's the peak of their PROG era IMO
Great stuff! Keep it coming
And my pick would be _Permanent Waves._ But those three consecutive studio albums certainly represent the climax, and eventual end of their full-on classic prog phase, before_Signals_ transitioned them into an embrace of the '80s sound. For prog fans like me then, I will always come back to them far more than I do to any other albums from other time periods.
Just my opinion but I agree with Hemispheres as Rush’ best LP, but I feel side one of 2112 is the best thing they did.
I agree, Rush's Hemispheres defines their top prog album imho.
Hemispheres actually starts on the last track of "Farewell to Kings" with Cygnus X-1
Caress of Steel is my favorite
Tales from Topographic oceans is the #1 masterpiece!!
The Moody Blues preceded King Crimson by 3 years… The Core 7 albums are incredible…
Moody Blues. Days of Future Passed to Seventh Sojourn. Enough said!
@@RockyDave nailed it! case closed.
a great artistic achievement
Thank you Andy for this very fun and insightful episode. Thank you for including Van der Graaf Generator inclusion. Cheers, Sal.
Glad you enjoyed it
Agreed. I also very much enjoyed this.
I can't believe nobody mentioned Marillion. Misplaced Childhood and Script for a Jester's Tear's are both amazing albums.
I seen Marillion open for Rush in Buffalo NY in 85 I think. With age l got that CRS disease (Can't Remember Shit disease.)
Marillion were an early 80's band & prog rock wasn't a thing then. Neo -prog maybe. They certainly weren't looking forward. Regressive perhaps not progressive.
I admit I haven't heard an album by Marillion but thought tracks I did hear were a weak version of Genesis but I'm willing to be proved wrong, so which should be a starter album? Considering I'm pretty much a Gabriel's Genesis lover..
@Anton Malkov All good - but the threads about 10 greatest prog albums, therefore Marillion and neo-prog shouldn't feature , nor Rush if we're beiung picky - imho.
@@therodski1 "Script For a Jester's Tear" is probably Marillion's best album, but overall they are just a weak imitation of Genesis with dashes of Van Der Graaf Generator thrown in. I like a couple of there songs, but not that many.
My Personal Top 10 Prog Albums by 10 Different Artist:
1) Steven Wilson: Raven That Refused to Sing
2) Porcupine Tree: Fear of the Blank Planet
3) Genesis: Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
4) Yes: Close to the Edge
5) Jethro Tull: Thick As a Brick
6) Pink Floyd: Darkside of the Moon
7) King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King
8) ELP: ELP
9 Riverside: Love, Fear and the Time Machine
10) Gentle Giant: Octopus
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery ! Album
The top 10 are all by Van der Graaf/Peter Hammill - but if I only allow one entry per artist the list is as follows -
10) Io Sono Nato Libero Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
09) Show After Crying
08) Mirage Camel
07) In The Court Of..... King Crimson
06) Uomo di Pezza Le Orme
05) Wish You Were Here Pink Floyd
04) The Lamb Lies ... Genesis
03) Thick As A Brick Jethro Tull
02) Silent Corner .... Peter Hammill
01) Pawn Hearts Van der Graaf Generator
Honorable Mention
Three Friends - Gentle Giant
Brain Salad Surgery - ELP
Fugazi - Marillion
Close To The Edge - Yes
Sing To God - Cardiacs
Per Un Amico - PFM
The Long Hello - The Long Hello
The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome - Van der Graaf
Trip In The Light Of The World - Egoband
Cold Steel - Cliffhanger
Al-Bandaluz - Cast
If I Could Do It All OverAgain I'd Do It All Over You - Caravan
Deadwing - Porcupine Tree
Force Majeure - Tangerine Dream
Third - Soft Machine
That's why Andy gave you Pawn Hearts to fullfill your oktett
Lol
I'll give you an unknown and let you judge for yourself, this ones on my rotation constantly, and you may have never heard of them: ua-cam.com/video/RYHrto5U5MY/v-deo.html
@@michaelkeudel8770 Thx Michael! I don't know Mystery. Listening to it right now. One note however - most of the artists on my above list are WELL KNOWN to us prog fans. Maybe with the exception of Cliffhanger and Egoband. If you don't know those two - check them out - all their albums are very good + !
@@vdggmouse9512 Their 1st album is half great, takes time to grow on you, the nxt 6 are brilliant, with another expected anytime now, the released a single from the new album about 3 months ago, song called Behind the Mirror, incredible drumming, very Rush sounding.
I think that the only band that is missing is The Moody Blues : they were synonymous with progressive music before "In The Court Of The Crimson King". And maybe also Renaissance.
Agree. What would be their greatest album? Tough one, but I might say To Our Children's Children's Children, overall. What would you pick?
Yes "Our Children's..." has some kind of "epics" with "Eyes Of A Child" and "I've Never Thought I'd Live To Be A Million" that are in two parts, and Beyond which has 5 parts !
Agree. I tell my daughter there is no bad Moody Blues album. I don’t have all but alot.
Very good point. Thanks
I saw them one time when sadly there was a very small crowd. They played a great full show. Extremely professional.
out of the classic seven albums it's hard to pick one but mine is In Search Of The Lost Chord
this is a flawless list. I also completely agree about nursery crime, it was my first too and I fell in love with it. well done!
Great list mate…thanks a lot!
Wow, I can't argue with your list!
To pick 10 albums is no small feat!
I checked out the comments and would like to add
Saga's "Worlds Apart" as an honorable mention.
I did see one commenter mention Fates Warning's "Parallels"
and another cited UK's "UK".
Glad I am not the only person who thinks they are Prog!
This was a lot of fun! Great work!
I'm so happy to see you're coming around on Benny. It actually does fit the tone of this album in that it is insanely violent and perverse. "He'd slash your granny's face up given half a chance. He'd sell you back the pieces, all for less than half a quid." It's incredibly grim and yet contains that perfect ironic ending their novelty songs always do. Add to that Keith's de-tuned piano solo with a fight in the background and Greg's gravely cockney, and I'm sold.
ELP always have a touch of Chas n Dave in their and on that one it really shows...I think it's the drums, bass piano sound
I'm trawling my way through your videos. I've a long weekend ahead! Thanks Andy, this is a winderful video. I'm off to make my own lists now. You've started a trend! Pretty much in agreement with your top ten.
Great list. Here are some honorable mentions:
Utopia (1974) - Utopia
Warrior on the Edge of Time (1975) - Hawkwind
Hemispheres (1978) - Rush
UK (1978) - UK
Images and Words (1992) - Dream Theater
1. Close to the Edge (timeless)
2. Selling England by the Pound
3. The Dark Side of the Moon
4. A Passion Play
5. Thick as a Brick
6. Relayer
7. So
8. Foxtrot
9 Argus
10. Fragile
HM
Songs from the Wood
A Trick of the Tail
Aja
Chicago 2
Pet Sounds
Birds of Fire
(I know stretching the category but you get it)
Great list!
My top 10 would be:
1.Yes-Tales From Topographic Oceans
2.Genesis-Foxtrot
3.Pink Floyd-Atom Heart Mother
4.Emerson, Lake & Palmer-Brain Salad Surgery
5.Jethro Tull-Minstrel In The Gallery
6.Rush-Hemispheres
7.Camel-Mirage
8.King Crimson-Islands
9.Van Der Graaf Generator-Pawn Hearts
10.Porcupine Tree-In Absentia
Respect the list. Mine different but the taste pretty much the same.
Finally someone mentions Porcupine Tree! My favorite band of the last 30 years!
We could add Camel's " Moonmadness" which IS a really good prog album.
And the title "lunar sea" for me contains the best Moog solo ever.
Camel only made one truly great album, and that is "Mirage."
I love your channel! It's so edifying!
Thank you so much!
When you say ‘a true prog’s prog band,’ the same can be said of your lists; the depth and nuance of your lists escape the common list fan. Your lists are for true list aficionados. As a list head myself, this particular list is one of the best and would easily make my Top 10 Lists of All Time list. I do like how you balance objective assessment with subjective taste, which keeps such prog lists fluid and evolving, yet anchored in hard truths about the genre. Bravo, sir. 👏
My ambition is to do a top ten UA-cam lists and place myself at number one and yet the world does not think a narcissist. My work will be done then.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer 😆
Focus Moving Waves anyone?
I was in my teens when my brother, 10 years older, went OS. He left me his albums and I discovered this, still love it.
Looking through the comments I noticed no one mentioned The Moody Blues their 2nd album 'Days of Future Past' (1967) is definitely Prog rock and one of the 1st at that. I think they should be on the list somewhere. Talking about the Moody Blues reminded me of Justin Hayward in War of the Worlds, I don't know if WOTW is considered prog rock but I do like it.
Yes!!...I mean "right!"
Good list. Thanks for tarting things up at the end.
perfect ranking for sure ..thanx for posting ...
The first Renaissance album, with Keith Relf and Jim McCarty from The Yardbirds. It's brilliant and beautiful. Have a listen if you haven't already. It's a little known masterpiece that deserves to be appreciated. It wasn't just the guitarists that produced great work after they left The Yardbirds. Apocalypse by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Close To The Edge comes as close to a perfect prog album as there's ever been.
Was listening to that recently, interesting as an early example of prog but very unrealised in it's conception
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I'm not sure how "unrealized" the first Renaissance album was. The Yardbirds had always had medieval, Gregorian strands woven through their music. Renaissance, with Relf and McCarty, along with Samwell-Smith as producer, added a much more mystical element to their first offering. To me, they truly blended Western classical, folk and rock together into something that has become the norm nowadays. In the late 1960s, how many bands were combining Beethoven with rock elements? The album also highlights Keith Relf's lyric writing, which if one listens carefully, are quite profound. Their contribution may have been unrealized, because the band broke up shortly after the first album, but the ideas and direction of the music live on in a hundred tv and film scores. 🙂
Gong's 'You' is a masterpiece, and among the top three most influential albums on this list. It may not have been as influential as some of the other ones on the prog scene itself, but it's been more influential on a far wider spectrum of music than just about any of the others on the list.
It might be the best album on this list!
I loved Gong and the VDGG selections. VDGG is the closest to free jazz outside of Soft Machine. I think H to He is not a good album, but Pawn Hearts is great! (I would not listen to VDGG for forty years after hearing H to He... Until I took a chance on Pawn Hearts!)
Correct
'You' is absolutely astounding. Nice to see it get some well deserved praise.
One of the greatest albums with The isle of everywhere on top!
Some solid choices. Glad you squeezed JT in there. And in my view, "Time" is one of the greatest songs ever composed on, yes, one of the greatest albums ever. Thx.
You did pretty well, but the actual order is as follows:
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. Court of the Crimson King
3. Close to the Edge
4. Ummagumma
5. Pictures at an Exhibition
6. Thick as a Brick
7. Selling England by the Pound
8. Starless and Bible Black
9. Birds of Fire
10. In Search of the Lost Chord
ain’t no way
Does 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' qualify as prog rock? It can definitely be argued to be an early forerunner of a concept album. But most situate prog rock's birth with 'In the Court of the Crimson King', released two years later.
@@barrymoore4470 I too found it strange, when BBC pinned it on Sgt. Pepper (classical, Indian, allsorts) soon followed by In the Court of the Crimson King, and then HCE (Here Comes Everybody). I gave extra weight to being pioneers.
Sgt Pepper's????? Hardly. Now if you want the only Prog Beatles song, try Revolver, with the song, Tomorrow Never Knows. A ton of Prog artists created that song with leading them down the road to Prog.
@@AG-6969 It was a BBC documentary that pegged it all on the Sarge. I agree that Revolver was the real deviation point. Sarge was more concepty that Revolver.
I`m really happy, because when I saw your video, i paused it and, I do my own list of progresive albums, and i noticed that I agree with you with Octopus, Pawn Hearts and of course Close to the edge is the number one for me. thanks a lot.
An amazing American prog album that should get more attention is "What If" by Dixie Dregs.
Near perfect list Andy. You truly completely almost nailed it.
Just need to replace Rush with Zappa, but
your list extraordinarily approaches greatness.
1 - The Piper At The gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd - psicodelic , but progressive too/ 2 - Seargent peppers (beatles, the same)/ 3 - In the court of the crimson king (king crimson)/ 4 - The dark side of the moon (pink floyd)/ 5 - Close to the edge (Yes)/ 6 - Pawn hearts (Van the graaf generator)/ 7 - Tago Mago (Can)/ 8 - Tubular bells (mike oldfield, simphonic but progressive too)/ 9- Foxtrot (Genesis)/ 10- The Wall (pink Floyd, an opera rock, but progressive too) /11- The past, the presente, the future (Mooby Blues) /12 -Larks tongue in aspic (king crimson)/ 13 - Red (King Crimson)/ 14 - Alphataurus (Alphataurus)/ 15 -Selling England by the Pound (Genesis)/16 -Brain Salad Surgery (ELP)/ 17 -Fragile (Yes)/ 18- Animals (Pink Floyd) / 19.- The lamb lies of Broadway (Genesis) / 20 - Wish you were here (Pink Floyd) / 21 -Magma (udu wudu)/ 22 -Discipline (King Crimson) / 23-Tommy (The who)/ 24-Medley (Pink Floyd)/25 - Tarkus (ELP)/ 26 - Movng Pictures (Rush)/ 27 - Lizard (King Crimson) - (I never heard Gentle Giant, a entire disc of tool, the disc Aqualung and many others)
Nice to discover this, Andy. Love to see my old guiltiest pleasure “You” in there hehe plus you’ve motivated me to give Van Der Graaf, Rush and Crimson another go. Bit surprised you managed to do all the Floyd stuff without mentioning “Meddle” - you should really check it out for Echoes and One of These Days. A bit patchy for this list, but you’ll appreciate it.
Extremely cool list. My god! Love that Gong cover. Immediately bought it. So much cooler than the pyramid cover.
Congrats on two fantastic Rain albums. I have no right...but I'm proud of you Andy. Plan to give positive Progarchive reviews on both albums.
Crazy thing? I purchased the first Rain album a week before I knew the next one would be released in four days. When it RAINS it pours.
Thanks for supporting me...I really appreciate it. Maybe I will me make my mark on prog after all!!! (or maybe not....)
50K views, congrats Andy. But only 1.1K Likes? Come on guys, get with the program 🙂
I thoroughly enjoy your channel Andy . Your humour and delivery is spot on. I connect which is really important as that is what is all about. As as a professional musician you speake with authority but as a friend you have a pint with. Your humour is so infectious and so natural . Thank you for everything you do, as its pick me up and keeps me motivated and enthusiastic about music in general. I often re visit albums. Sorry to correct you but rush are Canadian and not American sorry to be a pratt but I couldn't resit it. Any thankyou tim
Canada, America, same thing!
In fairness he has specified continental America
Canada is in North America. Brazil is in South America. But for some reason American means person who lives in the United States of.
i can't believe i found someone who appreciates gong as much as i do. "you" is still one of my favorite albums. most of the albums you listed i never heard of. but in terms of selling the progressive rock genre to the public you have to choose from a different list. albums that sold well and tended to recieve decent airplay on the radio.
these are the albums that i think best fit this criteria and turned me onto progressive rock. in no particular order here's my list:
ELP - "trilogy."
pink floyd - "dark side of the moon."
king crimson - "in the court of the crimson king."
genisis - "the lamb lies down on broadway."
yes - "close to the edge."
tod rundgren - "utopia."
the moody blues - "a question of balance."
aphrodites child - "666."
nektar - "remember the future."
and then you have yes' "yessongs" which the movie, and the album, was a favorite among midnight movie goers here in the states. i think these are the most important progressive rock albums because they best represented the genre to the general public.
thanks for the video.
Some excellent choices. Andy. Thanks for the video; however, we would all be remiss if we didn't include Kansas-whom you do briefly mention early on-and especially "Leftoverture," Kansas's 4th album and , in my mind, a masterpiece of prog rock. I do feel that Kansas do not get their fair share of accolades and that is a shame, for this band truly had a distinctive sound highlighted by Robbie S's magical electric violin and flawless harmonies(sort of like Yes's vocal synchrony between Chris Squire and Jon Anderson) with the soaring voice of Steve Walsh. Kansas found a way to bridge the gap from their uniquely prog approach in the early to mid-70s into the more traditional rock genre as audiences' tastes changed. They did so with songs like "Point of No Return", "Dust in the Wind" and "Carry on My Wayward Son." Rush, Genesis and Yes were able to successfully accomplish that same reinvention. Unfortunately ELP and others struggled when trying to leave their roots in prog rock in the early 80s.
I was just wondering if this was a reupload and yes it is haha. I've been binging your videos since I found your channel as of late. Lots of great recommendations! Thank you so much!
I did add a ton of pics and a new end section...its not just a reupload
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer yes yes I did see that and thank you for your work.
Wonderful video and coda...love your candor! Great how it takes a "serious" subject about masterpiece albums and incorporates a good bit of lightheartedness and humour. Your defense of Gong "You" is well justified and appreciated - it truly does feel 20+ years ahead of its time. The way you feel about VdGG is kind of how I feel about mid-70s Chick Corea/RTF, sans the foreboding darkness. BTW if VdGG comes off the list I would very strongly recommend Brian Eno 'Another Green World' to replace it. Not a weak moment & I think it has proven to be far more influential than 'Tubular Bells'. I need to check out Cardiacs immediately!
Thats a good point about Another Green World...it is a bit of a masterpiece
Great list mate
Songs of the Woods is my favorite JT album. However, my favorite flute music is Jade Warrior...no one has made a video about Tony Duhig, Jon Field, and Glynn Havard...
This is very strong list indeed. It might be the best top ten prob rock albums list on UA-cam.. I would choose the same number one, YES Close to the Edge.
I would have included "Seventh Sojourn" from the Moody Blues on my personal list.
Yay! My favourite album... Followed very closely by Children's Children.
Your top 3 are definitely in my top 3, Close to the Edge is possibly my favorite album period. Any genre. Tubular Bells is must to any collection. Brilliant.
Good to see some love for Oldfield. Way too underrated.
Close To The Edge by Yes
Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
Selling England By The Pound by Genesis
Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson Lake and Palmer
Wish You Here Here by Pink Floyd
Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Court Crimson King by King Crimson
Tarkus by Emerson Lake and Palmer
Moving Pictures by Rush
Leftoverture by Kansas
Andy: Benny is The tribute to all the old pubs with a pianist, both UK and USA. KE solo is a big nod to the UK pubs and the honky tonks of America. I don't thonk of it as joke or throwaway.
It's a novelty song, but The Beatles did those, as well. So they were in good company.
Just the vid for a Friday night after a tough week at work. Thoroughly agree with your about-turns with your rankings. Anybody who’s open to experience should continually re-evaluate their opinions. After all, we each wake up a different person potentially, every single day.
You by Gong is indeed a wonderful album, thank you for supporting it this way! And Van der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts is also a magnificent album - on that 'subjective' judgement side of things, I rate Pawn Hearts the highest of Prog.
VdGG has always been an acquired taste for a lot of prog fans. For so many, it is as cutting edge and out there as a band could possibly be. For others, it is street construction with a jackhammer. Many consider Pete Hamill's voice to be operatic, while many others consider his voice to be nails on a chalkboard. Personally, it reminds me of King Crimson from side two of In The Wake of Posiedon through Islands. Not horrible and certainly not untalented, but discordant.
Baker Street Muse is my absolute favorite Jethro Tull track, which features IMHO Anderson's best guitar work.
It also features arguably the greatest string arrangement on a rock record.
The end of Starless on KC's Red when the Mellotron kicks back in cannot be played under 110 decibels to truly be appreciated.
I told Steve Hackett that I thought TLLDOB was as important an album as Sgt. Peppers. He didn't agree, but hell...what does Steve know? lol.
i agree about baker street muse! is today and was in 1975 when i got the album. steve hackett is a humble guy. kc is a band that has never resonated with me. accept for the red album 1991.
Radiohead's OK Computer was as important an album as Sgt Peppers. And Baker Street Muse is also one of my favorites. Anderson played a lot of acoustic like that in the live shows back then.
Strong list hitting most that must be included. Fun discussion. A couple of quibbles:
Rush was Canadian.
This list might be called classic prog. More recent possibilities might include Tool, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater.
He said America which is the continent 😆
Gentle Giant has no bad albums. My favorite is all of them. Some groups had one album contained on many...
Agreed!
I agree wholeheartedly. I even like Civilian.
You want a masterpiece??? I will give you 3:
_"La grasa de las capitales" by Serú Girán
_ "Bicicleta" by Serú Girán
_ "Películas" by La máquina de hacer pájaros.
You've never heard of them before because they are from Argentina. Check them out and after that you'll see what I mean.
Serú Girán: Charly García (piano and keyboards, and voices), David Lebón (electric and acoustic guitars, and voices), Pedro Aznar (fretless bass and voices) and Oscar Moro (drums and percussion).
My ten (in no order ) would be at this point would be…
1) Genesis- Trick of the Tail
2) Dream Theater- Images & Words
3) IQ - Ever
4) Fates Warning- Parallels
5) Pink Floyd- The Wall
6) Arena- Songs from the lions cage
7) Peter Gabriel-- Security
8) Jethro Tull- Thick as a Brick
9) Rush- permanent waves
10) Collage- Moonshine
Some non-prog albums in there, and some non-albums too :o)
@@BookimCrocker I corrected the Rush. It is permanent waves. ✌️
@@Nephilim-81 👍
TOP TEN LISTS should be revisited and revised on a regular basis. I agree with you in substituting TUBULAR BELLS for PAWN HEARTS, especially because of how singular the former was and how willfully difficult the latter is. I stand by OCTOPUS because it's the GG album I know the best (besides the live album) but you certainly can't go wrong with anything from their peak. IN A GLASS HOUSE was a killer follow-up and, in a perfect world, would have catapulted them to the top ranks of the prog rock pantheon.
I think the issue with prog rock is that it's so varied and the best progenitors are so unique that a TOP TWENTY LIST would be in order. Now the challenge is, what ten albums would you add and, if so, would you repeat artists or limit it to a single artist/album; would you include compilations or live albums; and can you broaden the search beyond England's green and pleasant land? (Does Rush need company?)
There are some great suggestions in the comments below
For me the greatest prog rock album of the seventies was 'Relayer'. I can't comment on other decades.
I’m always torn between Relayer and Close. Relayer never gets the respect it deserves. It’s pretty flawless.
Ohh I love Relayer, although Mr Wakeman is my fav keyboard player, Pat Moraz did a phenomenal job!
Great original top 10.
I have been listening to Pawn Hearts for 34 years and love the band. This was before I had heard 70"s Rush or Cardiacs as Little Man etc had not been released.
Really like Tubular Bells, but Mike's next two albums are better.
I'm glad we atleast got some albums from the Anglosphere! It's easy to forget about that part of the world!
Thanks for the list. Nice. I Put them in a playlist for work. Although begining the day with You then Pawn Hearts is ..interesting.
I just came across your podcast. I'm say happy and impressed that you included ,,Gong You". They are/were quite amazing band. Eccentric yes, but outstanding nevertheless.
I stand with you on YOU!
But, VDGG MUST stand there!!! Tubular thing on the 2e side is less interesting than Pawn hearts. So, i stand with VDGG... but if you prefer Still life, it's good to me.
Your list is perfect for me, everything is there!
Excellent!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you!!
There are some suggestions here that are food for thought. I will certainly check out You by Gong. I saw them live at that time but regard their body of work to be rather hippie dippy and twee. I will also check out Pawn Heads by Van Der Graaf Generator.
As you are doing alternative lists I would recommend: Gong- Shamal, Curved Air- AirCut, Photos Of Ghosts-Premiata Fornaria Marconi, Nuclear Nightclub- Wigwam and Tago Mago- Can.
Bill Bruford is on your list twice as he should be….Bill is the underrated GOAT of the kit never mentioned in best drummer lists….Finally Bill Bruford remember his name!!!!!!!!!!
ua-cam.com/video/rbFQJxUCR5Y/v-deo.html
Thanks for at least a mention of Kansas. I think they are the greatest prog band to come out of the U.S., but their sound is so decidedly American that I think they fly under the radar in the British-European dominated prog genre. Also, their music is extremely accessible even at its prog-est, so its depth of genius and flawless execution gets overlooked. One of the greatest prog bands ever, but they will mostly only be known for three songs. Carry On Wayward Son and Point of Know Return are both extremely prog, but are so catchy that it feels like pop.
Surely Utopia are the greatest US prog band?
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I can’t argue that because of my ignorance. I’ll have to investigate them further, as I’m admittedly sorely lacking in Utopia knowledge.
@@stevesheroan4131 check out the debut...
If I can barge in to the conversation, I'd argue that Kansas was (at least from where I sit) a more influential and "greater" band than Utopia. Not that I mean to put down Todd and the boys, but it's hard to deny that, here in North America, Kansas was THE home-grown prog band. They had simply HUGE radio hits that were unapologetically prog, and did more than any other US band to bring Prog to the masses.
Was Utopia a BETTER band? More groundbreaking? The argument could be made, but I don't believe it's blindingly self evident. One must admit that Utopia was more hit-or-miss at times.
Personally, I believe the "BEST" American prog band was the Dixie Dregs. They did at least three "perfect" albums, and both their guitarist and bassist stand as two of the greats of any era. But sadly, they didn't have the most influential career. (A friend of mine from England, a massively knowledgable music aficionado, had never even heard of them until I played some for him. Which was a shock, but there you go!)
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer See above, Steve. I agree!
10 Favourite Prog Albums, some of which would surely make the cut in any 'definitive' list:
Yes: Close to The Edge
ELP: Trilogy
Genesis: Selling England By the Pound
PFM: Photos of Ghosts
Strawbs: Grave New World
King Crimson: Lark's Tongues in Aspic
Gentle Giant: Free Hand
Harmonium: L' eptade
Pink Floyd: Atom Heart Mother
Jethro Tull: Aqualung
Yes, PFM!
My man! And you gave some love to the underrated Strawbs.
I love your inclusion of the much maligned Atom Heart Mother- it’s arguably the most Prog thing PF did.
@@brianfergus839 I agree 100% IMO the title track is PF's major prog statement. Even though I knew their earlier stuff I didn't actually hear Atom Heart Mother until '73. It's been a favourite since, and it always surprises me that so many PF fans trash it.
On King Crimson, I’d have Larks’ Tongues in there too. Red is glorious, but Larks’ Tongues offers something new with every listen.
I agree with many of these choices, but one of them should be booted for Zappa's One Size Fits All. Ditto for Phish's first album, Junta, which is definitely a prog record, and is a masterpiece. So I guess my other 8 would be : Relayer, Octopus, Thick as a Brick, Brain Salad Surgery, Dark Side of the Moon, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Permanent Waves, and Camel's Moonmadness.
Unpopular opinion: Trick of the Tail is the best Genesis album. I know, I know, Genesis isn't Genesis without Peter. But my God, what a wonderful album, and every track is great! As much as I love all of their "Peter albums", I have a special, deep affection for TotT!
Check out my overlooked prog masterpieces video. I make the same point
Tubular Bells is a great choice but I much preferred Omadawn. Both good. Have to agree with you on Vandergraff Generator. Never got into them but blamed it on my need for great guitar. Thanks
The Mars Volta's Deloused in the Comatorium deserves mention.
My Favorite Jethro Tull album is Minstrel in the Gallery. "Baker Street Muse" is hilarious!
You done good, partner!
Since you mentioned sales a few times, it would be interesting to know what the top 10 looks like purely in terms of sales. Your description of VDG in the coda matches my description of Rush, the one difference being that Rush, rather than being depressing, are hilarious, so if you do add Cardiacs, keep Rush in to make it 11 (for obvious reasons).
Great list ! Danger money is probably my favourite prog album though
My attempt at a definitive top 10
10) Gong - You
9) Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure
8) Jethro Tull - A Passion Play
7) Van der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts
6) Gentle Giant - Free Hand
5) Genesis - Foxtrot
4) Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
3) King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King
2) Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
1) Yes - Close to the Edge
1 - Close to the Edge - Yes
2 - Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
3 - Foxtrot - Genesis
4 - Moving Pictures - Rush
5 - Minstrel in the Gallery - Jethro Tull
6 - Red - King Crimson
7 - The Power and the Glory - Gentle Giant
8 - Misplaced Childhood - Marillion
9 - Images and Words - Dream Theater
10 - Remember the Future - Nektar
Marillion? Really? Better than You???
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer
Really, but I could put any Camel or Eloy or I Robot from Alan Parsons. Sorry, this is my list.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer
Really, but I could put any Camel or Eloy or I Robot from Alan Parsons. Sorry, this is my list.
It's my channel is a worthy mantra Andy, it is why I would rather listen to an opionated Brummie than a self important New Yorker! I have a love / hate relationship with VDGG since, when I am in the right mood it really hits the spot.
fantastic thanks
Every one of those LPs entered my collection shortly after their respective releases...except Rush. I'm American, and I still don't own anything Rush.
Excellent top 10. As prog fans, we can be proud of the wonderful body of work created for us to immerse ourselves in.
piece for piece Trilogy is i think ELP's best but BSS is their 'ultimate' work, truly classical grand Progressive rock music, very good list cheers
10- A Farewell to Kings - Rush ... 9- Trespass - Genesis ... 8- Si on avait besoin d'une 5e Saison - Harmonium ... 7- In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson ... 6- Hemespheres -Rush ... 5- Selling England by the Pound - Genesis ... 4- Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd ... 3- L'Heptade - Harmonium ... 2- Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull ... 1- Animals- Pink Floyd
Great choices, yet it's very weird having only a Top 10, since some bands would easily have 3 or 4 great albums ranking very high.
My Top 25 in no particular order:
Yes: Close To The Edge
Genesis: Selling England By The Pound
ELP: Brain Salad Surgery
Gentle Giant: In A Glass House
Focus: Moving Waves
Pink Floyd: Animals
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells
Rush: Hemispheres
Jade Warrior: Way Of The Sun
VDGG: Pawn Hearts
Gong: You
Jethro Tull: Thick As A Brick
PFM: Per Un Amico
Kansas: Song For America
Nektar: Remember The Future
King Crimson: Red
Khan: Space Shanty
Museo Rosenbach: Zarathustra
Happy The Man: Happy The Man
Los Canarios: Ciclos
Samla Mammas Manna: Maltid
Banco: Darwin
Eloy: Ocean
Steve Hillage: Fish Rising
Crucis: Los Delirios Del Mariscal
'Of Queues and Cures' by National Health is my fav. Hardly ever mentioned.
I love getting suggestions for new music, will start at the top and see how I like each one. I am here with an open mind! I feel that, although it is not technically of the same time period or genre, the album SIX by Mansun is as close as I have come to finding inventive, 'progressive' rock by accident. I would highly recommend anyone to give it a listen. It is a complete masterpiece and quite unlike anything else I have ever heard.
Well just as a little word of advice before diving in I have found the best progressive rock out there are bands who play their instruments really well which is the definition of being progressed (at instrumentation) and not just give fancy flashy sounds like Gong seems to give you at times like they can make with synthesizers and stuff like that but some of these bands do a combination of both which is the best of both worlds.
And I think those bands are Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd, Yes, Kansas, King Crimson, Rush and Jethro Tull. In fact I think Jethro Tull is one of the most progressively technically sound rock bands of all time and that's evident on Thick as a brick, Minstrel In The Gallery, Roots To Branches and Aqualung.
Again, great list! However, I'm curious how you feel about the following three albums:
1) A Scarcity of Miracles, by Jakszyk, Collins and Fripp (a King Crimson ProjeKct from 2016).
2) 666, by Aphrodites Child (the great prog album from Vangelis's Greek pop band)
3) Earth, by Vangelis O. Papathanassiou (his first solo album, a sort of continuation of 666).
I think it's harder to determine just what Progressive Rock is and who fits in to that genre then coming up with a list 🤔.
There is no right answer. Prog rock is a Rorschach Test for many. I always considered Rush more prog metal, while Pink Floyd is more slow, blues-based rock (which I and millions of others love). In the seventies, we saw Pink Floyd, ELP, Yes, and Jethro Tull as rock bands who competed with the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Stones and The Who, rather than the smaller niche bands we now call prog...
Please, Rush, are Canadian!!!! ~ Permanent Waves for me! I never add Dark Side to Any List. I don't classify it as an album anymore. It is a world heritage work of art!
Pretty much agree with your picks. I love Gong, but I would put Gong Live, Etc over You, and it would be higher up the list. And definitely Selling England By the Pound over Foxtrot, despite Suppers Ready being peak prog Genesis. Selling England is, for me, just a much better and more cohesive album. Also, Starless and Bible Black would definitely be on there somewhere.
what is the song that starts the show (intro). Also, Camel with Richard Sinclair are great albums
'Genau' off the album Radio Silence bt my band Rain.
Nine out of 10 is not bad mate. I was a bit tentative about watching this. Many thanks.
I particularly like the inclusion of Red and Brain Salad Surgery on here. I don't love Close To the Edge as much as everyone else seems to. I've always been drawn to The Yes Album more than any of the other classic era records. Still, a very solid and thoughtful list. Now, I have to check out Gong.
Likewise my personal fave Yes albums are The Yes Album and Fragile. There’s a good argument that Yessongs should make this list (live triple, includes the whole of CTTE, all the earliest bests and much more. But I think Andy probably called it right to pick CTTE as the zenith of proggy Yesness
That's a great list , with many of my favourite progressive rock albums on it .
Here's mine in order of preference :
Dark Side of the Moon
Thick as a Brick ( just ahead of Aqualung and A Passion Play )
Fragile. ( just edging out Close to the Edge )
Selling England by the Pound. ( just edging out Foxtrot )
Signals. ( on another day it would be Moving Pictures )
Tarkus. ( just ahead of Brain Salad Surgery )
In the Court of the Crimson King. ( Red and Discipline are close behind )
Crime of the Century
Moonmadness
Leftoverture
Honourable Mentions :
Free Hand
Hero & Heroine , and , Ghosts
On the Threshold of a Dream
Misplaced Childhood
Deadwing
Transatlantic ( debut album )
Thanks !!!
Gentle Giant live album (double ) is a master piece . Better than studio . Sad I never saw them Live - I saw King Crimson Last Year . Strangely I like to listen to their live album more ! Great group . Bill Bruford is my favorite drummer
I saw Gentle Giant in Central Park in June of 1976. Great show. Geez, that's almost 47 years ago!
Kraftwerk-Autobahn; JMJ- Zoolook; Mike Oldfield-Ommadawn; Switch Going for the one for CTTE imo!