I made a couple of mistakes on this video so before I get shot down in the comments: Mistakes: Phaedra is not a double album!!! What a mistake to make, so in 10th place I have Sing To God by Cardiacs, The Astonishing by Dream Theater is actually the third album Mike Mangini played on.
@@ericarmstrong6540 Andy said he didn't want to put live albums on this list. But TD did indeed make a double studio album, even long before they made Encore. It's the one that Steven Wilson often says is amongst his favourite albums, in which absolutely nothing happens, yet one that he listens to at least once a month: Zeit! But that one is even less prog than Phaedra, which imho is not prog at all. Ricochet and Stratosphere are more prog (but less interesting!) but Zeit was definitely their most ground breaking album.
Interesting, just shows how different people's taste can be even when they like the same genres of music. For me it's: 1. Yes-Topographic Oceans 2. Mike Oldfield-Incantations 3. Genesis-Lamb lies down on Broadway 4. Pink Floyd-The Wall 5. The Who-Quadrophenia 6. Motorsphyco-Death defying Unicorn 7. Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti 8. Frank Zappa-Joe's Garage part 2 9. Peter Gabriel-Passion 10. Klaus Schulze-X 11. Motorpsycho-The All is One These could be in any order depending on my mood but Topographic Oceans is my desert island disc.
I meant I think topographic oceans is brilliant too. I don’t know why more early. Yes aficionado don’t dig it. It is the Bible of Prague. Laugh out loud.
Good choice for number one. When TLLDOB came out, I was 16 and Genesis, whom I'd discovered a year earlier, were already my favorite band. I loved their new album to an unhealthy degree, despite its single flaw, that the verse melody of "Lilywhite Lilith" was uncomfortably close to that of Harry Chapin's saccharine ballad "The Cat's In the Cradle," which had come out around the same time and was omnipresent on the radio. Tony Banks is fond of saying that the album suffers under a mediocre story, but I couldn't agree less. It's the story that gives it much of its great strength and that evokes so many rare and bizarre emotions, all of which are perfectly carried by the music. I don't listen to it every day like I did as a teen, but I still consider it one of the great masterpieces of rock, and an album that's pretty much unsurpassed for taking the listener on a sweeping emotional odyssey.
My list would include several of from your list and also: Aphrodite’s Child’s 666 Mike Oldfield’s Incantations Kate Bush’s Aerial Pink Floyd’s Endless River (definitely not a popular opinion, but I don’t care) Renaissance’s Live at Carnegie Hall (I know it’s live, I don’t care, it’s my list)
The Lamb always NUMBER 1, seen it live twice AMAZING in the 70s and seen it live 2 months ago by the Musical Box AMAZING in the same venue Usher Hall Edinburgh, some days its great to be old and turn back the clock. Andy keep up the good work CHEERS.
The show by Musical Box was a superb show ... well worth the trip down / overnight stay from Aberdeen ... so many "moving parts" to enjoy on the album and it was great to see it brought to life .... live ... with the theatrics .... CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
In no particular order: Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Dream Theater - The Astonishing Spock's Beard - Snow The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute I.Q. - Road Of Bones Pink Floyd - The Wall Frank Zappa - Uncle Meat Haken - Aquarius Jeff Wayne - War Of The Worlds Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
1- Magma : Kobaia 2- The Flower Kings : Stardust we Are 3- Spock's Beard : Snow 4- Neal Morse : Testimony 5- IQ : Subterranea 6- Ayreon : Into the Electric Castle 7- Yes : Tales From Topographic Oceans 8- Genesis : The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 9- Dream Theater : Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence 10- Soft Machine : Third
Andy thank you for mentioning Tangerine Dream you should listen to Zeit this is a double album it takes you on a journey through the universe on a spaceship being totally alone like the film alien where all the crew are dead. Fantastic album a true prog masterpiece. The rest of your list totally bang on glad you put Genesis. The lamb no 1 epic 🎼🎼🎶🎶👍👏🎹
Zeit, probably more than any other album, got me to listen to music in totally new ways and it expanded my realization of what music could be. It's one of my favourite albums of all time.
I'm good with your top three (in no particular order). Never heard Focus 3, so can't say. Rounding out my top five with Amon Duul II - Tanz Der Lemminge, and Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
The Who’s Tommy (double album) gets labeled rock opera or art rock or concept album, but I’ve always viewed it as very proggy, at very least a precursor to prog. How about a top ten reasons why Tommy is/isn’t prog? Thanks for the nod to Tangerine Dream, much deserved.
No harm ‘blowin your own trumpet’ occasionally Andy.. Not many prog musos can say they’ve played on a double album, let alone a really good one. I played on a (single) album for an artist in the 80’s and she sent a copy to Robert Wyatt.. and he said he liked the drumming.. Was well chuffed I can tell you…I think Kata, the artist/singer managed to sell, or at least give away, all 50 albums that were published! Look forward to your next exciting UA-cam vid.. thanks ✌️
It's a good list. Personally, I would include, "Similitude of a Dream," "Marbles," "Snow" & "Road of Bones." And of course, your correction of "Sing to God."
No quibble about your top two. A little surprised though that Tull didn't appear in your list. Also, pardon my ignorance, Andy, - and I do like the band I'm about to mention - but ... I never knew you were a former member of IQ !
Andy, Alan Holdsworth appeared on the first Tempest album, which was before Bundles I think, so that might be worth a look on your channel. Also the second Tempest album where he was replaced by Ollie Halsall a hugely underated guitarist.
I am so glad you put an uncle meat over freak out. I have dozens of zApp albums I just love him. But to me, freak out and never did much for me, and certainly not in the progressive, or a avant garde sort of way. But uncle meet I would agree is Zappa‘s greatest album maybe Grand Wazoo. The king Kong suite on site for still makes my head spin. It is so amazing. What’s interesting is I bought the album when I was a teenager because Rolling Stone records guide said it was a five star album. And my young brain absolutely hated it. But overtime it went from being my least favorite album in my collection two being in my top 10 in a massive collection.
I bought the Subterranea live DVD some time ago but held off watching it until I knew the album better. Watching Andy's video prompted me to buy the album. Tonight I am finally watching the DVD and it is incredible, if a little of it's time. I first saw them supporting Wishbone Ash in the early 80s and liked them but found Nicholl's voice a little too much. Must be a Peter thing! Like Hammill and early Gabriel I have grown to love his unique singing. The musicianship in this line-up is incredible, must check them out with that other drummer 😂
100% agreement on the No.1 position Andy. I am a massive Genesis fan, but like yourself my tastes are legit really broad and I feel I’m being as objective as I possibly can when I say that this album really does cover a lot of ground and tick a lot of boxes over and above any personal bias that I may have on the subjective level. When I first heard it I was taken aback as I was already very familiar with ‘the Genesis sound’ running from ‘Trespass’ and up to the later 70’s albums. This album really sounds like nothing they did before or after and is an anomaly in their arc as far as I’m concerned. People criticise the lyrical/narrative aspects but I think they’re as unique as the music itself. There’s obviously a lot of metaphor and allegory in there and when Gabriel appears to break the fourth wall in ‘It’,( many seem to miss this, or maybe it’s projection on my part, either way the lyrics are sufficiently ambiguous to leave this kind of interpretation open), and reveal a kind of Post-Modern exercise that has played out, I feel that contrary to a lot of criticism, it’s almost perfection on display. A kind of 70’s musical version of the 21st century TV series ‘Lost’,( which seemed to draw ‘exactly’ the same kind of criticism for it’s finale). To add to my assertion that I believe I’m being as objective as possible,( as opposed to just being a Genesis fanatic), I’ve noticed that many music publications,( and I’m as critical as anyone regarding ‘music journalism’), over the years have started to revise their opinions on it, with many citing it as being almost proto-punk in spirit and ahead of it’s time. So many epic musical moments and genuine experimentation whilst still keeping their eye on musicality. I think it’s a great work in British music history and beyond. Fully endorse your rating.
'I made a couple of mistakes on this video...Phaedra is not a double album!!!' That's ok, Andy. Substitute 'Zeit' and you're sorted... Plus there's 'L'heptade' by Harmonium (Montreal) - a beautiful album you really should seek out...
Groovy choices, Andy! *War of the Worlds* was a modest seller in the US, but Columbia thought enough of it to release an audiophile version in '79. It's an "experience" in sound! (Produce Like a Pro's channel has a cool "making of" documentary recently posted.) Jeff's *Spartacus* in 1993 was pretty spectacular as well. How can anybody not think *The Wall* is progressive music? It breaks into little radio plays at various points ("What a fa-abulous apartment!"), the closing section shifts dramatically from rock band to full orchestration & the LP includes all sorts of experimentation with sounds all in support of its overarching theme.
Of course, what with the technological changes over the years, most notably the change from vinyl to CD (and then streaming), the big question that hangs over videos like this is what constitutes a "double album." A double album, technically, makes up double of what is accepted as an "album." But since CDs can hold 80 minutes of music and a double vinyl album was usually 70-80 minutes in total, are these two formats comparable? Some albums that were released as double vinyl albums - like The Wall - were re-released as double CD partly because, at a tickle over 80 minutes, they wouldn't quite fit on one CD, but that doesn't necessarily make it a double CD album when comparing it to, say, the Dream Theater album. Another reason some double vinyl albums get released on 2 CDs is to continue the kind of "format recognition," so buyers can still accept it as a double album even if it isn't in CD terms. So I would argue for a separate list of double vinyl albums and one for double CD albums. That being said, take out the Dream Theater and IQ albums, and you've got pretty much the accepted list of prog double albums. By the way, back to The Wall, it IS a prog album, no question, but I was surprised to see it in your list if you don't consider it to be prog. Why put it in and then say, well, it's not really prog is it because it doesn't feature much in the way of soloing or noodling in the same way a Yes or Genesis album might? You might as well put in a single album even though it's not really a double album, or put in Out of the Blue by ELO even though it's too pop to be prog. Ah well, I'll keep this brief, but well done for making this list so that we can all discuss it and giving us the benefit of your knowledge and experience. x
I agree with you about The Wall. It's more like a Roger Water post-punk-pop solo album. Doesn't have any of the qualities of their music that I find interesting.
I’ll have to check out these albums…we’ll except for Franks..I’ve had that one for decades. Great video. Oh, and congrats on approaching 9000 subscribers…very C👀L!
the following are double albums and are all classics .can-tago mago,amon duul ii -yeti ,tangerine dream-zeit,klaus schulze-cyborg,walter wergmuller-tarot,magma-first album.
Yeah!!!! FOCUS 3......total masterpiece!! Sounds even better in the remastered box set!! Love their European take on JazzRock and Prog. One over my desert island discs!!!! They are still touring....go see them!!!!!
Soft Machine was fusion before fusion was recognized as fusion. Personally, I think they were a better fusion band than Mahavishnu Orchestra and what came after. Even SM 4, 5, and 6 are unique works and they outpaced everyone, including KC, MO, and even the Jenkins period was unique. SM had three incredible drummers (Marshall is incredibly underrecognized; his work on 7 is incredible), incredible bassists (Hopper and Babbington), and soloists like Ratledge, Dean, Jenkins, Holdsworth, and Etheredge, all with unique voices. Zappa actually did advise them directly to use suites on Volume 2 for song writing credits and Hugh Hopper readily admitted Zappa's influence on his extended themes, like Facelift on Third. But they were a unique and extremely undervalued band. They were true pioneers of prog and jazz fusion, equal to Zappa, Davis, McLaughlin, Fripp. That's how I view them, anyway. Hopper was the Hendrix of the bass; Ratledge was the most unique organist (along with Larry Young/Khalid Yasin) of his time. (I don't view the first two SM albums as psychedelic, or any of the Nice albums, as psychedelic.) Really agree about Uncle Meat! And Lamb! I saw the Lamb tour and the album works as a whole
LOL, I had to come to see what you did with such a click-bait-y video. Not a bad list, although we all have our own faves. I do consider Tangerine Dream a prog group, just because you can hear much of their influence in the electronic music of later prog bands. And I do think it's right to include The Wall on the list. Just ask Steven Wilson if it's not prog. And nice of you to tip the hat to your former band-mates.
I love seeing the Lamb topping your list. There may have been some reissue of Phaedra which is a double album but the LP I have is not. Same thing with Soft Machine : Third. But Six is a double album.
I think almost all double studio albums in rock, including prog, would have benefitted from a tighter cutting room edit, aka should have been released as a single album. That also applies to TFTO and the Lamb. And to the Wall as well, although that would have been my no. 1 choice. A strong double album is also Ayreon’s Into The Electric Castle.
Cool video ... some choices I need to check out ... War of the Worlds is a great pick .... awesome album .... Question - does Weltschmerz by Fish count as a double prog album?... just checking / curious ... or is it just a collection of songs? CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Definitely an objective list, I guess. I do have a completely different list, of course. Tales would be there, Lamb would be there (quite far away from being no.1. It's was 1974 and I don't think this was their peak anymore), Uncle meat would be there. The Wall would probably not be there. I do love War of the Worlds from when I was a kid as well (It was super popular here although I'm not from the UK), but most of the picks here are very well desrved and well explained. My list would include Tago Mago by Can.
All the punk kids I knew (and I was one of them) secretly loved War of the Worlds. Funny how your mind plays tricks- Rush's Hemispheres was a double in my memory but it's a single, and a very short one at 36 minutes.
I would totally have chosen 6DOIT over The Disappointing as far as representing DT is concerned. I think the comments you (mistakenly) make regarding the latter - that the band had something to prove following Portnoy's departure and pulled something special out of the bag - very much apply to the actual first post-Portnoy album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events but none of their subsequent releases have really grabbed me. Other more recent doubles that do it for me include; The Octopus by Amplifier, Marbles by Marillion. Totally concur re The Lamb... Unsurpassed in the double album stakes - no weak tracks for me; although I do think that the live take on In The Cage that they've performed over the years blows the studio version away. Thompson and Stuermer take it to another level.
I found a copy of Phaedra at a Goodwill in Alice Texas (of all places). When I got it home I found a handful of explicit homemade Polaroid photos of the former owner (presumably) and his girlfriend in the cover. Party on.
While I haven't spent much time thinking about it, I'd want to add _"Marbles"_ (2-disc version) from Marillion, _"The Similitude of a Dream"_ by the Neal Morse Band, _"Office of Strategic Influence"_ (special edition, with the extra disc) by OSI, and _"Lost in the New Real"_ by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Although that last one is kinda cheating, because the second disc includes covers of some songs by other artists.
This probably belongs in a different category because it's a double live album by a Neo-Prog band, but Heaven's Bright Sun by Iona is a favorite of mine.
Iona did record a double CD album (I haven't yet checked whether it would qualify as a double vinyl album but I think it would) called ANOTHER REALM in 2011, as it would turn out it was their final studio album to date. It's a FAB record and would be bubbling under my top ten if not just popping in at the bottom. x
Lately I've been revisiting Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken - The Death Defying Unicorn (A Fanciful And Fairly Far-Out Musical Fable) from 2012. This has concept, whimsy, rock heft, a full jazz orchestra and the remarkable Kenneth Kapstad on drums. Motorpsycho are steeped in rock history knowledge but also their own thing. They've actually released three more epic double albums since 2017, but TDDU probably remains the most prog.
I just want to thank you for recommending subterranean by IQ. I gave it a listen tonight and actually was in love with it. It was a beautiful wonderful engaging record that I’d put up there with topographic oceans and the lamb lies down on Broadway so now I have stuff by big big train Haken the tangent and also the flower especially flower that I love thanks to God guys like you and the guy at sea of tranquility but absolutely love this IQ record. Don’t know if you played on it. I think you played on later version of the group right anyway excellent thank you for the recommendation brother. I dig it all right thanks.
I meant the flower kings flower power, and the song painter is specially makes me well up with tears because I am a painter and a cartoonist well anyway flower power damn iPad microphone messaging laugh out loud
Dear Andy, interesting as always. Sorry that you made a couple of mistakes: The first mistake of course was that Soft Machine "Third" is better than all of the other albums combined. Regarding Tangerine Dream, as was already mentioned “Zeit” was the double album and there greatest album was “Rubycon”. Also, when you spoke of Focus's greatest album, there was a slip of the tongue as I am sure that you meant to say that it was "Hamburger Concerto". Another slight slip was that you forgot to mention that "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" from "Uncle Meat" is by far the pinnacle of an otherwise tepid catalog. Of course the main error was in making clear that there were 11 albums on the list and that number 1 was Hawkwind "Space Ritual". Yes it was recorded live but of course as you know it is not a traditional live recording of other album tracks. It is just one of the greatest pieces of prog. space rock, heavy rock...or whatever you want to call it. Discuss. P.s. I am joking about one of the things in my list. Can you guess which one? Love as always
Andy, you say you don't like The Wall that much and that you don't know if it's prog...so why is it on your Top Ten Greatest Prog Rock Double Albums? I agree with both those points. Comfortably Numb is prog but probably not the rest.
Your lack of enthusiasm for soft machine third and Pink Floyd the wall. It’s very obvious. But I’m glad you overcame your personal taste to recognize just how important those two albums are. For me those are the two albums prog double albums, that I played the most. Two bands that started off at the same time in the same scene, and yet evolved off into a completely different directions. I do think soft machine hit another very High Point with Allan Holdsworth on bundles in 1975 as a classic Prog Fusion album.
I'd say Zeit by Tangerine Dream is more of a landmark album. It's was probably the first ambient/electronic album of its kind. Very unique even for 1972. Plus it's a double album. And honestly, i think The Astonishing is an absolute disaster (coming from a big Dream Theater fan). Even if someone considers The Astonishing good, it should absolutely NOT feature in list of greatest ever double albums.
Some really interesting points and new music to get in to. The lamb, I just can’t get into it. I find it painful, though I completely accept there are some good moments on it, maybe it’s the subject matter.
Seeing The Astonishing was a surprise. I would have gone with Six Degrees personally, but it was a huge undertaking that just about pays off. My only real complaint is that the scream the character does in his grief and rage was… pathetic.
Spock's Beard's "Snow" is an amazing double album....personally, I think critics ignore this because Neal Morse was now a Christian and it is a Christian metaphoric tale. I've noticed that some critics will poo poo anything spiritual, which is ironic, since so much prog is about mythical and magical lands, wizards, aliens, pseudo-spiritualized stories, fantasies, etc. But mention the name "Jesus" - uh oh, now you're getting personal....no worries....I love prog - whether it's Neal's solo stuff (and with the Neal Morse Band), Spock's Beard, IQ, Genesis, Floyd, Flower Kings....it's all amazing!
I got that record as a gift when I was a kid. Listened maybe 3 times, every time the "this is so profoundly un-hip and dated/forced", that vibe never left me regarding the Neal Morse universe of stuff. Ala Beavis and Butthead scowling at bad music videos back in the day. Couldn't care less about the worldview he brings, it's something else that makes me go "huh?!" with that band and Neal solo. Alot of the prog that's sort of in the Genesis/Peter Gabril discount isle is too derivative for me. (who cares though..)
The Lamb by Genesis does not lag anywhere. Tony Banks's best work is on this album. I told Steve Hackett this album was as important as Sgt. Peppers. I can't think of one track I would cut from this masterpiece, especially the interludes. TFTO by Yes is also brilliant. I don't know why it has a bad rep. Side 2, The Remembering, could be their best work along with CTTE and Awaken.
Andy, you are the BEST. I can't even tell you how nice it is to have someone so insightful delving so deeply into jazz, prog, fusion etc with such panache. Oh, and no thank you to Frank Gamble kissing your ass 😁
@@lupcokotevski2907 i am almost through forvthe first time. Sure a second listen this week. And a few more times. It's not progrock but a masterpiece.
It's an opera tacked on the 3 or 4 tunes that have shaped FM rock radio is what it is. If you love Waters conceptual side, you love The Wall. If you don't, you like parts of The Wall, maybe find the concept it's self interesting-ish if over indulgent and would have liked more songs.
They never sounded like Foreigner or Styx and they didn't call Classic Rock, Classic Rock in 1980. This is a bad take. You're allowed to have it, but it's wrong.
They nearly did with AFTK and Hemispheres with the Cygnus/Hemispheres saga.Neil had the sense to reign in his sci-fi dungeon and dragons ramblings to shorter concise offerings as did the band with their music.All credit to them for restricting 2112 to 20 minutes or thereabouts and not waffling on forever like DT’s Astonishing.
the single greatest strength of a single vinyl album is the time limit, i.e. we were limited to the best 45 or so minutes they could do. That's why there are so many 'great' albums from the pre-cd era and so few after and similarly why there are so few great double albums. 'Filler' becomes allowed by nature of the new medium and the music is watered down. Having said that I have grown to love Topographic Oceans over the years, I spent a few holiday weeks 10 years ago playing it over and over in the car driving through France and Italy. I wouldn't have it any differently now.
Interesting list....but The Astonishing is probably the weakest Dream Theater album (It is certainly one I am not keen on) , let alone in a top 10 prog double albums. And it was not Mike Mangini's first with them, it was the third one. With Soft Machine Third only Facelift is recorded live. The other 3 sides are studio. The one thing with the old double albums is they fit on one CD. Lots of modern prog albums would be doubles in this respect, and a lot of newer ones are triples on vinyl. One of my favourites is Viljan Oga by Anglagard. But it is a double 45 RPM album..does this count?
a controversial one maybe - The Black Album by the Damned. ok it's "pronk" and only 3 sides with 1 side live. but side 3 is a side-long epic and it's a very grown up record. a new genre maybe???
I made a couple of mistakes on this video so before I get shot down in the comments:
Mistakes:
Phaedra is not a double album!!! What a mistake to make, so in 10th place I have Sing To God by Cardiacs,
The Astonishing by Dream Theater is actually the third album Mike Mangini played on.
Tangerine Dream did do a double album: "Encore", a live album recorded in the USA. Pretty good album.
You’re not completely wrong about Phaedra. I have the 2020 Record Store Day vinyl release and it’s a double album.
@@albarton7189 with bonus tracks, right? otherwise one side would be 2:18 long
@@ericarmstrong6540 Andy said he didn't want to put live albums on this list. But TD did indeed make a double studio album, even long before they made Encore. It's the one that Steven Wilson often says is amongst his favourite albums, in which absolutely nothing happens, yet one that he listens to at least once a month: Zeit! But that one is even less prog than Phaedra, which imho is not prog at all. Ricochet and Stratosphere are more prog (but less interesting!) but Zeit was definitely their most ground breaking album.
Honest mistake, maybe you juxtaposed Zeit for Phaedra? 🤔For what it’s worth, Phaedra is an astonishing album, despite its singularity. 👍🏻
I would have include Aphrodites Child "666" in that list, especially because it a concept album and is so unique.
1 - Joe’s Garage - Frank Zappa
2 - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - Genesis
3 - The Wall - Pink Floyd
4 - Tales from Topographic Oceans - Yes
The Lamb is an excellent choice by far and away the best double album. A masterpiece indeed!
I second your emotion,,friend!!!!
Interesting, just shows how different people's taste can be even when they like the same genres of music.
For me it's:
1. Yes-Topographic Oceans
2. Mike Oldfield-Incantations
3. Genesis-Lamb lies down on Broadway
4. Pink Floyd-The Wall
5. The Who-Quadrophenia
6. Motorsphyco-Death defying Unicorn
7. Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
8. Frank Zappa-Joe's Garage part 2
9. Peter Gabriel-Passion
10. Klaus Schulze-X
11. Motorpsycho-The All is One
These could be in any order depending on my mood but Topographic Oceans is my desert island disc.
I wouldn't have some of yours in my list, but like what you added
I love your list, but I don't know if all of your selections are Prog in the strictest sense of the word.
Shins to and I don’t know why more yes fans look a scan at it. I think it’s brilliant.
I meant I think topographic oceans is brilliant too. I don’t know why more early. Yes aficionado don’t dig it. It is the Bible of Prague. Laugh out loud.
Phaedra was a single LP in its original release. 1st track on side 1 (17:45) and the other 3 tracks on side 2 (9:55 + 8:01 + 2:18)
Yes and although it is very good I think ricochet is better, :-)
Glad to see Soft Machine in the list. I saw them 4 or 5 times in the Seventies a great band.
Agreed about including Third. It's true that Facelift was recorded live.... but so were most of the songs included in Starless and Bible Black.
Can’s Tago Mago - if Zappa’s Uncle Meat can be called prog, I think Can’s experimental opus qualifies.
Tago Mago is a great album that most prog fans haven’t heard.
It most certainly does, doesn't quite make my top 10 though, as good as it is. As far as Can albums go I always preferred Future Days myself.
Great psychedelic freakout album. Oh yeah.
Good choice for number one. When TLLDOB came out, I was 16 and Genesis, whom I'd discovered a year earlier, were already my favorite band. I loved their new album to an unhealthy degree, despite its single flaw, that the verse melody of "Lilywhite Lilith" was uncomfortably close to that of Harry Chapin's saccharine ballad "The Cat's In the Cradle," which had come out around the same time and was omnipresent on the radio. Tony Banks is fond of saying that the album suffers under a mediocre story, but I couldn't agree less. It's the story that gives it much of its great strength and that evokes so many rare and bizarre emotions, all of which are perfectly carried by the music. I don't listen to it every day like I did as a teen, but I still consider it one of the great masterpieces of rock, and an album that's pretty much unsurpassed for taking the listener on a sweeping emotional odyssey.
Proud that you listed Focus 3 in the top 5. Much of that album is “live in the studio”. I have their albums and they’re great to listen to.
Focus 3 is great but my fave is the odd Mother Focus. (childhood nostalgia)!
Love this era of Focus.
Brilliant, brilliant band, went to see them in Shepherds Bush last week !
My list would include several of from your list and also:
Aphrodite’s Child’s 666
Mike Oldfield’s Incantations
Kate Bush’s Aerial
Pink Floyd’s Endless River (definitely not a popular opinion, but I don’t care)
Renaissance’s Live at Carnegie Hall (I know it’s live, I don’t care, it’s my list)
good call on Kate Bush Aerial, what a stunning album
Oh yes! Incantations is a masterpiece!
Definitely Incantations and The Endless River!
The Lamb always NUMBER 1, seen it live twice AMAZING in the 70s and seen it live 2 months ago by the Musical Box AMAZING in the same venue Usher Hall Edinburgh, some days its great to be old and turn back the clock. Andy keep up the good work CHEERS.
The show by Musical Box was a superb show ... well worth the trip down / overnight stay from Aberdeen ... so many "moving parts" to enjoy on the album and it was great to see it brought to life .... live ... with the theatrics .... CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Very cool. I'm too young to have experience the real Lamb, but have seen Musical Box several times. I hope to see them do Lamb next month.
It was all so much more 'intelligence included' back then. I grew up 80's 90's.
In no particular order:
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Dream Theater - The Astonishing
Spock's Beard - Snow
The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
I.Q. - Road Of Bones
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Frank Zappa - Uncle Meat
Haken - Aquarius
Jeff Wayne - War Of The Worlds
Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans
1- Magma : Kobaia
2- The Flower Kings : Stardust we Are
3- Spock's Beard : Snow
4- Neal Morse : Testimony
5- IQ : Subterranea
6- Ayreon : Into the Electric Castle
7- Yes : Tales From Topographic Oceans
8- Genesis : The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
9- Dream Theater : Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
10- Soft Machine : Third
Andy thank you for mentioning Tangerine Dream you should listen to Zeit this is a double album it takes you on a journey through the universe on a spaceship being totally alone like the film alien where all the crew are dead. Fantastic album a true prog masterpiece. The rest of your list totally bang on glad you put Genesis. The lamb no 1 epic 🎼🎼🎶🎶👍👏🎹
Zeit, probably more than any other album, got me to listen to music in totally new ways and it expanded my realization of what music could be. It's one of my favourite albums of all time.
Hi Andy - just discovered your channel, and I love it! I also love your work with IQ! Keep rockin'!
I'm good with your top three (in no particular order). Never heard Focus 3, so can't say. Rounding out my top five with
Amon Duul II - Tanz Der Lemminge, and Pink Floyd - Ummagumma
The Who’s Tommy (double album) gets labeled rock opera or art rock or concept album, but I’ve always viewed it as very proggy, at very least a precursor to prog. How about a top ten reasons why Tommy is/isn’t prog?
Thanks for the nod to Tangerine Dream, much deserved.
And Quadrophenia!
No harm ‘blowin your own trumpet’ occasionally Andy.. Not many prog musos can say they’ve played on a double album, let alone a really good one. I played on a (single) album for an artist in the 80’s and she sent a copy to Robert Wyatt.. and he said he liked the drumming..
Was well chuffed I can tell you…I think Kata, the artist/singer managed to sell, or at least give away, all 50 albums that were published!
Look forward to your next exciting UA-cam vid.. thanks ✌️
CAN WE PLS HAVE THE TOP10 ANDY EDWARDS TOP 10 VIDS
1. Captain Beefheart - Trout Mask Replica (Oh yes it's prog!)
2. Soft Machine - Third
3. Mothers - Freak Out!
3. Mothers - Uncle Meat
4. Tangerine Dream - Zeit
5. Can - Tago Mago
It's a good list. Personally, I would include, "Similitude of a Dream," "Marbles," "Snow" & "Road of Bones." And of course, your correction of "Sing to God."
I bought Phaedra when it came out, and it was a single album.
I don't know how I made this mistake, I have it on vinyl too! See comment at the top
No quibble about your top two. A little surprised though that Tull didn't appear in your list.
Also, pardon my ignorance, Andy, - and I do like the band I'm about to mention - but ... I never knew you were a former member of IQ !
Tull who?? What a Joke
IQ is such a great band. And this album is a masterpiece
Andy, one album I love and many may argue it's indie/alt rock instead of prog but Everything Picture by Ultrasound is one of my favs
Andy, Alan Holdsworth appeared on the first Tempest album, which was before Bundles I think, so that might be worth a look on your channel. Also the second Tempest album where he was replaced by Ollie Halsall a hugely underated guitarist.
I am so glad you put an uncle meat over freak out. I have dozens of zApp albums I just love him. But to me, freak out and never did much for me, and certainly not in the progressive, or a avant garde sort of way. But uncle meet I would agree is Zappa‘s greatest album maybe Grand Wazoo. The king Kong suite on site for still makes my head spin. It is so amazing. What’s interesting is I bought the album when I was a teenager because Rolling Stone records guide said it was a five star album. And my young brain absolutely hated it. But overtime it went from being my least favorite album in my collection two being in my top 10 in a massive collection.
Glad you put in Soft Machine 3rd. Big part of my very early days
Amazing album and quite influential too. It's my favorite album from my runner-up favorite band.
Love the list, especially the first three albums. I look forward to your follow-up videos on "Tales" and "Lamb"
Wonderful Video as always Andy
Wow, IQ Subterranea surely deserve a place throughout this great list.
I bought the Subterranea live DVD some time ago but held off watching it until I knew the album better. Watching Andy's video prompted me to buy the album. Tonight I am finally watching the DVD and it is incredible, if a little of it's time.
I first saw them supporting Wishbone Ash in the early 80s and liked them but found Nicholl's voice a little too much. Must be a Peter thing! Like Hammill and early Gabriel I have grown to love his unique singing.
The musicianship in this line-up is incredible, must check them out with that other drummer 😂
100% agreement on the No.1 position Andy. I am a massive Genesis fan, but like yourself my tastes are legit really broad and I feel I’m being as objective as I possibly can when I say that this album really does cover a lot of ground and tick a lot of boxes over and above any personal bias that I may have on the subjective level. When I first heard it I was taken aback as I was already very familiar with ‘the Genesis sound’ running from ‘Trespass’ and up to the later 70’s albums. This album really sounds like nothing they did before or after and is an anomaly in their arc as far as I’m concerned. People criticise the lyrical/narrative aspects but I think they’re as unique as the music itself. There’s obviously a lot of metaphor and allegory in there and when Gabriel appears to break the fourth wall in ‘It’,( many seem to miss this, or maybe it’s projection on my part, either way the lyrics are sufficiently ambiguous to leave this kind of interpretation open), and reveal a kind of Post-Modern exercise that has played out, I feel that contrary to a lot of criticism, it’s almost perfection on display. A kind of 70’s musical version of the 21st century TV series ‘Lost’,( which seemed to draw ‘exactly’ the same kind of criticism for it’s finale). To add to my assertion that I believe I’m being as objective as possible,( as opposed to just being a Genesis fanatic), I’ve noticed that many music publications,( and I’m as critical as anyone regarding ‘music journalism’), over the years have started to revise their opinions on it, with many citing it as being almost proto-punk in spirit and ahead of it’s time. So many epic musical moments and genuine experimentation whilst still keeping their eye on musicality. I think it’s a great work in British music history and beyond. Fully endorse your rating.
War of the Worlds fits in Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Arthur. Great stuff all 🎉
'I made a couple of mistakes on this video...Phaedra is not a double album!!!' That's ok, Andy. Substitute 'Zeit' and you're sorted... Plus there's 'L'heptade' by Harmonium (Montreal) - a beautiful album you really should seek out...
and 'L'heptade' is where Harmonium finally get a drummer, so there's that
Hi Andy! 👍👊😊
Groovy choices, Andy! *War of the Worlds* was a modest seller in the US, but Columbia thought enough of it to release an audiophile version in '79. It's an "experience" in sound! (Produce Like a Pro's channel has a cool "making of" documentary recently posted.) Jeff's *Spartacus* in 1993 was pretty spectacular as well.
How can anybody not think *The Wall* is progressive music? It breaks into little radio plays at various points ("What a fa-abulous apartment!"), the closing section shifts dramatically from rock band to full orchestration & the LP includes all sorts of experimentation with sounds all in support of its overarching theme.
Of course, what with the technological changes over the years, most notably the change from vinyl to CD (and then streaming), the big question that hangs over videos like this is what constitutes a "double album." A double album, technically, makes up double of what is accepted as an "album." But since CDs can hold 80 minutes of music and a double vinyl album was usually 70-80 minutes in total, are these two formats comparable? Some albums that were released as double vinyl albums - like The Wall - were re-released as double CD partly because, at a tickle over 80 minutes, they wouldn't quite fit on one CD, but that doesn't necessarily make it a double CD album when comparing it to, say, the Dream Theater album. Another reason some double vinyl albums get released on 2 CDs is to continue the kind of "format recognition," so buyers can still accept it as a double album even if it isn't in CD terms. So I would argue for a separate list of double vinyl albums and one for double CD albums. That being said, take out the Dream Theater and IQ albums, and you've got pretty much the accepted list of prog double albums. By the way, back to The Wall, it IS a prog album, no question, but I was surprised to see it in your list if you don't consider it to be prog. Why put it in and then say, well, it's not really prog is it because it doesn't feature much in the way of soloing or noodling in the same way a Yes or Genesis album might? You might as well put in a single album even though it's not really a double album, or put in Out of the Blue by ELO even though it's too pop to be prog. Ah well, I'll keep this brief, but well done for making this list so that we can all discuss it and giving us the benefit of your knowledge and experience. x
I agree with you about The Wall. It's more like a Roger Water post-punk-pop solo album. Doesn't have any of the qualities of their music that I find interesting.
I’ll have to check out these albums…we’ll except for Franks..I’ve had that one for decades. Great video.
Oh, and congrats on approaching 9000 subscribers…very C👀L!
the following are double albums and are all classics .can-tago mago,amon duul ii -yeti ,tangerine dream-zeit,klaus schulze-cyborg,walter wergmuller-tarot,magma-first album.
Yeah!!!! FOCUS 3......total masterpiece!! Sounds even better in the remastered box set!! Love their European take on JazzRock and Prog.
One over my desert island discs!!!!
They are still touring....go see them!!!!!
They reissued Focus 3 but i just cant get over the rearranged track otder. Why? I have the original and wouldnt feel same listening to the reissue.
If you do a double live album version, please consider Renaissance Live at Carnegie Hall and 10CC Live
Cardiacs are God Tier. Sing to God is phenomenal (as is their entire catalogue)
Soft Machine was fusion before fusion was recognized as fusion. Personally, I think they were a better fusion band than Mahavishnu Orchestra and what came after. Even SM 4, 5, and 6 are unique works and they outpaced everyone, including KC, MO, and even the Jenkins period was unique. SM had three incredible drummers (Marshall is incredibly underrecognized; his work on 7 is incredible), incredible bassists (Hopper and Babbington), and soloists like Ratledge, Dean, Jenkins, Holdsworth, and Etheredge, all with unique voices.
Zappa actually did advise them directly to use suites on Volume 2 for song writing credits and Hugh Hopper readily admitted Zappa's influence on his extended themes, like Facelift on Third. But they were a unique and extremely undervalued band. They were true pioneers of prog and jazz fusion, equal to Zappa, Davis, McLaughlin, Fripp. That's how I view them, anyway. Hopper was the Hendrix of the bass; Ratledge was the most unique organist (along with Larry Young/Khalid Yasin) of his time. (I don't view the first two SM albums as psychedelic, or any of the Nice albums, as psychedelic.)
Really agree about Uncle Meat! And Lamb! I saw the Lamb tour and the album works as a whole
I do have The Astonishing on vinyl, and it is a four LP box set.
Interesting and good choice with Focus 3 👍🏻
I would definitely include The Thieving Magpie and Marbles both from Marillion
LOL, I had to come to see what you did with such a click-bait-y video. Not a bad list, although we all have our own faves. I do consider Tangerine Dream a prog group, just because you can hear much of their influence in the electronic music of later prog bands. And I do think it's right to include The Wall on the list. Just ask Steven Wilson if it's not prog. And nice of you to tip the hat to your former band-mates.
Awesomeness!!!
I love seeing the Lamb topping your list.
There may have been some reissue of Phaedra which is a double album but the LP I have is not.
Same thing with Soft Machine : Third. But Six is a double album.
If you got a single LP of Third you were conned 4 tracks all fit full LP side
Don’t apologize for Subterranean in my opinion the 2nd best prog concept album next to the lamb.
I think almost all double studio albums in rock, including prog, would have benefitted from a tighter cutting room edit, aka should have been released as a single album. That also applies to TFTO and the Lamb. And to the Wall as well, although that would have been my no. 1 choice. A strong double album is also Ayreon’s Into The Electric Castle.
Round Goes the Gossip is Track 1, Side 1 of Focus 3 - which is a mega stonking album and if people haven't heard it, you need to!
Cool video ... some choices I need to check out ... War of the Worlds is a great pick .... awesome album .... Question - does Weltschmerz by Fish count as a double prog album?... just checking / curious ... or is it just a collection of songs? CMcG, Aberdeen, Scotland
Definitely an objective list, I guess. I do have a completely different list, of course. Tales would be there, Lamb would be there (quite far away from being no.1. It's was 1974 and I don't think this was their peak anymore), Uncle meat would be there. The Wall would probably not be there. I do love War of the Worlds from when I was a kid as well (It was super popular here although I'm not from the UK), but most of the picks here are very well desrved and well explained. My list would include Tago Mago by Can.
All the punk kids I knew (and I was one of them) secretly loved War of the Worlds. Funny how your mind plays tricks- Rush's Hemispheres was a double in my memory but it's a single, and a very short one at 36 minutes.
I would totally have chosen 6DOIT over The Disappointing as far as representing DT is concerned. I think the comments you (mistakenly) make regarding the latter - that the band had something to prove following Portnoy's departure and pulled something special out of the bag - very much apply to the actual first post-Portnoy album, A Dramatic Turn Of Events but none of their subsequent releases have really grabbed me. Other more recent doubles that do it for me include; The Octopus by Amplifier, Marbles by Marillion. Totally concur re The Lamb... Unsurpassed in the double album stakes - no weak tracks for me; although I do think that the live take on In The Cage that they've performed over the years blows the studio version away. Thompson and Stuermer take it to another level.
Hardly wait the discussion on the Lamb!
I found a copy of Phaedra at a Goodwill in Alice Texas (of all places). When I got it home I found a handful of explicit homemade Polaroid photos of the former owner (presumably) and his girlfriend in the cover.
Party on.
While I haven't spent much time thinking about it, I'd want to add _"Marbles"_ (2-disc version) from Marillion, _"The Similitude of a Dream"_ by the Neal Morse Band, _"Office of Strategic Influence"_ (special edition, with the extra disc) by OSI, and _"Lost in the New Real"_ by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Although that last one is kinda cheating, because the second disc includes covers of some songs by other artists.
10 out of 10 for Lucassen! (But too late.....only valid 1970 -1980 ) ;-)
@@scoop1178 - All my examples were post-1990 🙂
Wish OSI would put out some new stuff.
I'm sure you meant "Encore" instead of Phaedra. Great album, likely my favorite.
What about ELO Out of the Blue
This probably belongs in a different category because it's a double live album by a Neo-Prog band, but Heaven's Bright Sun by Iona is a favorite of mine.
Iona did record a double CD album (I haven't yet checked whether it would qualify as a double vinyl album but I think it would) called ANOTHER REALM in 2011, as it would turn out it was their final studio album to date. It's a FAB record and would be bubbling under my top ten if not just popping in at the bottom. x
Lately I've been revisiting Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken - The Death Defying Unicorn (A Fanciful And Fairly Far-Out Musical Fable) from 2012. This has concept, whimsy, rock heft, a full jazz orchestra and the remarkable Kenneth Kapstad on drums. Motorpsycho are steeped in rock history knowledge but also their own thing. They've actually released three more epic double albums since 2017, but TDDU probably remains the most prog.
The Death Defying Unicorn is often overlooked. Great album.
you or someone else mentioned Motorpsycho here a few month ago. since then I dived in and days ago I ordered tickets for Utrecht/NL in Oct. TY
@@scoop1178 I don’t recall. Could’ve been. Glad you’re enjoying it. Excellent album.
I just want to thank you for recommending subterranean by IQ. I gave it a listen tonight and actually was in love with it. It was a beautiful wonderful engaging record that I’d put up there with topographic oceans and the lamb lies down on Broadway so now I have stuff by big big train Haken the tangent and also the flower especially flower that I love thanks to God guys like you and the guy at sea of tranquility but absolutely love this IQ record. Don’t know if you played on it. I think you played on later version of the group right anyway excellent thank you for the recommendation brother. I dig it all right thanks.
I meant the flower kings flower power, and the song painter is specially makes me well up with tears because I am a painter and a cartoonist well anyway flower power damn iPad microphone messaging laugh out loud
Dear Andy, interesting as always. Sorry that you made a couple of mistakes:
The first mistake of course was that Soft Machine "Third" is better than all of the other albums combined.
Regarding Tangerine Dream, as was already mentioned “Zeit” was the double album and there greatest album was “Rubycon”.
Also, when you spoke of Focus's greatest album, there was a slip of the tongue as I am sure that you meant to say that it was "Hamburger Concerto".
Another slight slip was that you forgot to mention that "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" from "Uncle Meat" is by far the pinnacle of an otherwise tepid catalog.
Of course the main error was in making clear that there were 11 albums on the list and that number 1 was Hawkwind "Space Ritual". Yes it was recorded live but of course as you know it is not a traditional live recording of other album tracks. It is just one of the greatest pieces of prog. space rock, heavy rock...or whatever you want to call it.
Discuss.
P.s. I am joking about one of the things in my list. Can you guess which one?
Love as always
thank you so much for the education
Andy, you say you don't like The Wall that much and that you don't know if it's prog...so why is it on your Top Ten Greatest Prog Rock Double Albums? I agree with both those points. Comfortably Numb is prog but probably not the rest.
Your lack of enthusiasm for soft machine third and Pink Floyd the wall. It’s very obvious. But I’m glad you overcame your personal taste to recognize just how important those two albums are. For me those are the two albums prog double albums, that I played the most. Two bands that started off at the same time in the same scene, and yet evolved off into a completely different directions. I do think soft machine hit another very High Point with Allan Holdsworth on bundles in 1975 as a classic Prog Fusion album.
I'd say Zeit by Tangerine Dream is more of a landmark album. It's was probably the first ambient/electronic album of its kind. Very unique even for 1972. Plus it's a double album.
And honestly, i think The Astonishing is an absolute disaster (coming from a big Dream Theater fan). Even if someone considers The Astonishing good, it should absolutely NOT feature in list of greatest ever double albums.
Great watch! Perhaps unsurprisingly I would have included Blomljud by Moon Safari 😊
Ooo, interesting choice!
@@garanceadrosehn9691 I love Moon Safari!
Some really interesting points and new music to get in to.
The lamb, I just can’t get into it. I find it painful, though I completely accept there are some good moments on it, maybe it’s the subject matter.
I agree Uncle Meat is a discreet masterpiece
No “Steven Wilson” ‘Grace For Drowning’ Album?
🤔
Seeing The Astonishing was a surprise. I would have gone with Six Degrees personally, but it was a huge undertaking that just about pays off. My only real complaint is that the scream the character does in his grief and rage was… pathetic.
Spock's Beard's "Snow" is an amazing double album....personally, I think critics ignore this because Neal Morse was now a Christian and it is a Christian metaphoric tale. I've noticed that some critics will poo poo anything spiritual, which is ironic, since so much prog is about mythical and magical lands, wizards, aliens, pseudo-spiritualized stories, fantasies, etc. But mention the name "Jesus" - uh oh, now you're getting personal....no worries....I love prog - whether it's Neal's solo stuff (and with the Neal Morse Band), Spock's Beard, IQ, Genesis, Floyd, Flower Kings....it's all amazing!
I got that record as a gift when I was a kid. Listened maybe 3 times, every time the "this is so profoundly un-hip and dated/forced", that vibe never left me regarding the Neal Morse universe of stuff. Ala Beavis and Butthead scowling at bad music videos back in the day. Couldn't care less about the worldview he brings, it's something else that makes me go "huh?!" with that band and Neal solo. Alot of the prog that's sort of in the Genesis/Peter Gabril discount isle is too derivative for me. (who cares though..)
Good top 10. UmmaGumma instead of The Wall, would make it perfect.
Tales #1
The lamb is the ultimate and mine 🤘🏻
I would call Tangerine Dream "new age"
Call it electronic music. They are pioneers but zero points on the progometer
Ayreon?
How about a show on dbl live prog albums?
The Lamb by Genesis does not lag anywhere. Tony Banks's best work is on this album. I told Steve Hackett this album was as important as Sgt. Peppers. I can't think of one track I would cut from this masterpiece, especially the interludes.
TFTO by Yes is also brilliant. I don't know why it has a bad rep. Side 2, The Remembering, could be their best work along with CTTE and Awaken.
There's an insider's tale sic about Topographic Oceans I'd be willing to share in private cos of the subject matter.
Consequences by godley and cream is another great one
Andy, you are the BEST. I can't even tell you how nice it is to have someone so insightful delving so deeply into jazz, prog, fusion etc with such panache. Oh, and no thank you to Frank Gamble kissing your ass 😁
don't worry...he turned me down...bigger asses to kiss I spose
Nice list
Video could lead to another video:
HOW I do Top Ten Ranking Videos
The Lamb, Oceans, Works, er ... Past, er....Tommy err Wall
Interesting pronunciation of Phaedra?
Phaedra…are you seeing double😂
I am missing Seconds Out by Genesis.
As a triple, where does Consequences (1977) by Godley and Creme fit in ? In some ways its like War of the Worlds.
In some way you are the greatest of us all!
Just startet listening to it. I'll get back to you in about 2hours
@@narosgmbh5916 Nah. I just fluke it. You never stop learning. Andy has discussed quite a few bands I've never heard of before.
@@lupcokotevski2907 i am almost through forvthe first time. Sure a second listen this week. And a few more times.
It's not progrock but a masterpiece.
@@narosgmbh5916 I'm glad you like it. It can be quite a polarising album. Yeah probably more arty experimental.
The Wall is not Prog but a concept album 😉
I am surprised there is no Mike Oldfield album in your list. Incantations is double and a masterpiece IMHO
It's an opera tacked on the 3 or 4 tunes that have shaped FM rock radio is what it is. If you love Waters conceptual side, you love The Wall. If you don't, you like parts of The Wall, maybe find the concept it's self interesting-ish if over indulgent and would have liked more songs.
To their credit, Rush had the good sense to never release a double studio LP.
They also had the good sense to stick to AOR/Classic Rock and not enter the Prog arena.
@@merlinman7300 Rush are prog and if you don't think so then you don't know what prog is. Simple as that.
They never sounded like Foreigner or Styx and they didn't call Classic Rock, Classic Rock in 1980. This is a bad take. You're allowed to have it, but it's wrong.
They nearly did with AFTK and Hemispheres with the Cygnus/Hemispheres saga.Neil had the sense to reign in his sci-fi dungeon and dragons ramblings to shorter concise offerings as did the band with their music.All credit to them for restricting 2112 to 20 minutes or thereabouts and not waffling on forever like DT’s Astonishing.
the single greatest strength of a single vinyl album is the time limit, i.e. we were limited to the best 45 or so minutes they could do. That's why there are so many 'great' albums from the pre-cd era and so few after and similarly why there are so few great double albums. 'Filler' becomes allowed by nature of the new medium and the music is watered down. Having said that I have grown to love Topographic Oceans over the years, I spent a few holiday weeks 10 years ago playing it over and over in the car driving through France and Italy. I wouldn't have it any differently now.
Interesting list....but The Astonishing is probably the weakest Dream Theater album (It is certainly one I am not keen on) , let alone in a top 10 prog double albums. And it was not Mike Mangini's first with them, it was the third one.
With Soft Machine Third only Facelift is recorded live. The other 3 sides are studio.
The one thing with the old double albums is they fit on one CD. Lots of modern prog albums would be doubles in this respect, and a lot of newer ones are triples on vinyl. One of my favourites is Viljan Oga by Anglagard. But it is a double 45 RPM album..does this count?
Prism - sugino kodo is a double album
a controversial one maybe - The Black Album by the Damned. ok it's "pronk" and only 3 sides with 1 side live. but side 3 is a side-long epic and it's a very grown up record. a new genre maybe???
Love the Damned !