What Is The Best Prog Album Of All Time?

Tell us which album you believe is
best prog album of all time and
why you believe it is so.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Capndad on December 24, 2009 at 7:19pm

This album represents a time when I first met my lovely wife. She had never heard of Genesis before and we spent one night playing all heir albums u to that point. We've enjoyed many replays since then.

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Permalink Reply by Survival on December 26, 2009 at 12:50am

Tarkus by Emerson, Lake & Palmer for sure. Fantastic Keyboards, great vocals, complex rhythm structures and.....lots of Hammond.
The first of its kind. Keyboard Prog Paradise.

Second: Trace debut album (no title), with more complex Keyboard parts by Rick v/d Linden, amazing drumming by Pierre v/d Linden. A real Masterpiece!
and.....lots of Hammond.

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Permalink Reply by Robbson on January 12, 2010 at 1:58pm

When I first heard In the court of the Crimson King - an observation by King Crimson, I didn't notice that I had known one of the best albums of all the times. Surely, for me, this is, perhaps, the best prog album of my life.

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Permalink Reply by Dynamo Bliss on January 17, 2010 at 4:18pm

Yes - Close to the Edge and Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus share the top spot on my list. Can't say enough good things about them so I won't even start. :)

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Permalink Reply by Carlo D'Anna on January 17, 2010 at 6:18pm

Yes, I agree with Major Snagg. The very BEST Prog album is the one I am working on now!!

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Permalink Reply by Tony Arnold on January 18, 2010 at 3:01pm

Has to be Yes' "Going for the One." At a time when prog (and melodic rock in general) was taking a critical beating, it successfully integrated the muse of new wave and put some balls back into progressive rock. What other track has so successfully wedded prog, new wave and new age as "Awaken"?

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Permalink Reply by Xvektor on January 18, 2010 at 3:35pm

Hey Tony, Going For The One is one of my favorite Yes albums and the live show was one of the greatest and most beautiful I've ever seen. Definitely one of my top 10 all time concerts. BUT, I can't agree that there is even a hint of new wave in Awaken. It is an epic composition with beautiful soft, even transcendent passages and very powerful orchestral passages... but not even a tiny bit of anything remotely new wave. Good call on the album in general though. It is a great one. Later...

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Permalink Reply by Tony Arnold on January 18, 2010 at 3:55pm

I should've specified that at the time it was released, it was a huge step away from "Relayer" toward more accessible, energized tracks like "Parallels." Not that they started sounding like Duran Duran, but the music press at the time did take note that the song "Going for the One" seemed to take note of the energy of changing musical directions. "90125" was a close second, for all the same reasons.

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Permalink Reply by Xvektor on January 18, 2010 at 4:26pm

OK, I agree. It was far more accessible than Relayer. And Parallels was one bombastic song to be sure. As for Relayer, I love the album, as it was such a bizarre departure from some of their earlier and even later stuff. The Relayer tour was my first Yes show and watching Patrick Moraz with his 'mad scientist' look and racks of synthesizers and the very cool stage design is one of my favorite concert experiences for many reasons. It was an intense performance.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Dade on January 19, 2010 at 6:32pm

Really interesting answers.
I don't believe that the 'best' prog album has been recorded yet, which is why there are so many of you striving to make your next album your 'best'.
My personal choices so far though---
Meddle--Pink Floyd - if only for the wonderful 'Echoes'. 'One Of These Days', 'Pillow Of Winds', 'Fearless' (featuring the Kop chorus) , the jaunty 'St. Tropez', 'Seamus'---"I was in the kitchen,
Seamus, that's the dog, was outside.
well I was in the kitchen-
Seamus, my own hound, was outside.
well you know the sun was sinking slowly
and my own hound-dog sat right down and cried"
Every track a gem!
Yes---Close To The Edge--- 'And You And I', 'Siberian Khatru'--stunning.
Genesis--Foxtrot---'Watcher Of The Skies', 'Supper's Ready'--sublime.
Moody Blues (controversial)---In Search Of The Lost Chord'
Jethro Tull--'Thick As A Brick'---written as a send-up of concept albums, ironically was their classic proggie masterpiece.

Wish You Were Here, DSOTM, Animals, Nursery Cryme, Selling England..., The Lamb...,, Topographic Ocean, Fragile, The Yes Album......all part of my teenage musical education. All classic albums, known and loved by most here.
Now I'm on an endless search for my next favourite, and the next...and the next----which is where you guys come in...!

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Permalink Reply by COLD FLAME on January 21, 2010 at 2:41pm

Either Passion Play by Jethro Tull or In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson...classics for ever!!!

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Permalink Reply by HENRI STRIK/BACKGROUND MAGAZINE on January 23, 2010 at 2:14pm

My all time favourite has been for a very long time: England-Garden Shed. The music on this album is a fine mix of Genesis & Yes and was released in the seventies.