Greatest Prog albums of all time

[progdirjim]

as selected by Greg Walker at Synphonic. One album per band limit.

Alphataurus - same (Italy)
Amenophis - same (Germany)
Ange - Au Dela Du Delire (France)
Anglagard - Epilog (Sweden)
Anyone’s Daughter - Adonis (Germany)
Arachnoid - same (France)
Area - Crac! (Italy)
Artcane - Odyssey (France)
Asia Minor - Between Flesh & Divine (France)
Atila - Reviure (Spain)
Atoll - Tertio (France)
Bacamarte - Depois Do Fim (Brazil)
Balletto Di Bronzo, Il - YS (Italy)
Banco - Io Sono Nato Libero (Italy)
Biglietto Per L’Inferno - same (U.K.)
Birth Control - Backdoor Possibilities (Germany)
Bubu - Anabelas (Argentina)
Camel - Moonmadness (U.K.)
Campo Di Marte - same (Italy)
Canarios - Ciclos (Spain)
Caravan - In The Land Of Grey & Pink (U.K.)
Carpe Diem - En Regardant Passer Le Temps (France)
Cathedral - Stained Glass Stories (USA)
Celeste - same (Italy)
Cid, Jose - 10000 Anos Depois Entre Venus E Marte (Portugal)
Circus - Movin’ On (Switzerland)
Collage - Moonshine (Poland)
Comus - First Utterance (U.K.)
Corte Dei Miracoli - same (Italy)
Crack - Si Todo Hiciera Crack (Spain)
Crucis - Los Delirios Del Mariscal (Argentina)
Devil Doll - Dies Irae (Italy)
Dun - Eros (France)
Earth & Fire - Song Of The Marching Children (Netherlands)
Earthrise - same (USA)
East - Huseg (Hungary)
Easter Island - same (USA)
Echolyn - As The World (USA)
Eloy - Floating (Germany)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery (U.K.)
England - Garden Shed (U.K.)
Enid, The - Aerie Faerie Nonsense (U.K.)
Epidaurus - Earthly Paradise (Germany)
Epidermis - Genius Of The Original Force (Germany)
Flame Dream - Elements (Switzerland)
FM - Black Noise (Canada)
Focus - Hamburger Concerto (Netherlands)
Formula 3 - Sognando E Risognando (Italy)
Fusioon - Minorisa (Spain)
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (U.K.)
Gentle Giant - Octopus (U.K.)
Gnidrolog - Lady Lake (U.K.)
Gong - You (U.K.)
Granada - Valle Del Pas (Spain)
Grobschnitt - Rockpommel’s Land (Germany)
Gryphon - Midnight Mushrumps (U.K.)
Hackett, Steve - Voyage Of The Acolyte (U.K.)
Halloween - Merlin (France)
Happy The Man - Crafty Hands (USA)
Hatfield & The North - same (U.K.)
Hirayama, Terutsugu - Castle Of Noi (Japan)
Harmonium - Les Cinque Saisons (Canada)
Hillage, Steve - Fish Rising (U.K.)
IQ - Subterranea (U.K.)
Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (U.K.)
Julian’s Treatment - A Time Before This (U.K.)
Khan - Space Shanty (U.K.)
King Crimson - In The Wake Of Poseidon (U.K.)
Landberk - Indian Summer (Sweden)
Latte E Miele - Passio Secundum Mattheum (Italy)
Locanda Delle Fate - Forse Le Lucciole Non Si Amano Pui (Italy)
Los Jaivas - Alturas De Macchu Picchu (Chile)
Machiavel - Jester (Belgium)
Magma - Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh (France)
Mandalaband - same (U.K.)
Marillion - Clutching At Straws (U.K.)
Maxophone - same (Italy)
Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (U.K.)
Memoriance - L’Ecume Des Jours (France)
Metamorfosi - Inferno (Italy)
Mezquita - Recuerdos De Mi Terra (Spain)
MIA - Cornonstipicum (Argentina)
Mirthrandir - For You The Old Women (USA)
Mona Lisa - Le Petit Violin De Mr. Gregoire (France)
Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra (Italy)
Nektar - Remember The Future (U.K.)
Nexus - Perpetuum Karma (Argentina)
New Trolls - UT (Italy)
Novalis - same (Germany)
Nuova Era - Io E Il Tempo (Italy)
Oktober - Uhrsprung (Germany)
Opus 5 - Contre Courant (Canada)
Orme, Le - Felona E Sorona (Italy)
Osanna - Palepoli (Italy)
Pablo “El Enterrador” - same (Argentina)
Parson’s Project, Alan - Tales Of Mystery & Imagination (U.K.)
PFM - Per Un Amico (Italy)
Phillips, Anthony - Wise After The Event (U.K.)
Pink Floyd - Animals (U.K.)
PLJ Band - Armageddon (Greece)
Pollen - same (Canada)
Polyphony - Without Introduction (USA)
Pulsar - Halloween (France)
Quella Vecchia Locanda - Il Tempo Della Gioia (Italy)
Ragnarok - Nooks (New Zealand)
Renaissance - Scheherazade & Other Stories (U.K.)
Rovescia Della Medaglia, Il - Contamanazione (Italy)
Sandrose - same (France)
SBB - Follow My Dream (Poland)
Semiramis - Dedicato A Frazz (Italy)
Shylock - Ile De Fievre (France)
Solaris - Marsbeli Kronikak (Hungary)
Spock’s Beard - The Light (USA)
Step Ahead - same (France)
Stern Combo Meissen - Weisses Gold (Germany)
Synopsis - Gamme (France)
Trace - Birds (Netherlands)
Triana - same (El Patio) (Spain)
Triumvirat - Illusions On A Double Dimple (Germany)
Twelfth Night - Fact & Fiction (U.K.)
UK - same (U.K.)
Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts (U.K.)
Wakeman, Rick - Journey To The Center Of The Earth (U.K.)
White Willow - Sacrament (Norway)
Wobbler - Hinterland (Norway)
Yes - Close To The Edge (U.K.)
Yezda Urfa - Sacred Baboon (USA)

[sharcnorris]

I could live on an Island with just this list.........

[ErikM]

Very nice selection, but ..... not any sign of Procol Harum, Moody Blues, Kayak, Electric Light Orchestra, Supertramp, Barclay James Harvest, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Saga, Vangelis, Finch, Curved Air, The Strawbs ..... just to name a few more imported and well known bands.
Strange !

[eloy1964]

For the bands I know well then this is an excellent list. But, I agree with Erik, there is a huge amount of classic prog bands missing which is very suprising.

[PeterG]

I could live on an Island with just this list.........

Having a CD player would be nice too. R)

[OverHillandDale]

Very nice selection, but ..... not any sign of Procol Harum, Moody Blues, Kayak, Electric Light Orchestra, Supertramp, Barclay James Harvest, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Saga, Vangelis, Finch, Curved Air, The Strawbs ..... just to name a few more imported and well known bands.
Strange !

Sure there are a lot of "famous" names missing, but a lot of their works, while pleasant and high quality, were really not outstanding, IMNSHO. Especially since most of the above named bands were 'followers' and not leaders (with an exception or two).

I think these examples of bands are all very radio friendly. That can't be denied. That made them more crossover prog to me. If I were to make an exception or plea for inclusion, I would try to add Finch to the list.

Would I make any other substitutions? Sure. But then it would be Dale's top 100 and not Greg's. :D

But that's what makes personal preferences so much fun to discuss. Opinions are as varied as the music we listen to. And no one is wrong or right.

I look forward to listening to many of the albums on the list that I do not know.

[progdirjim]

I was talking about this list in shout last night and several people asked about it, so I posted it. Where there is real value in this list is in the gems that you may not have heard of. I've been trying to pick all of them up (I think I have 5 left), so they are on the Moon. Give one you haven't heard of a shot...

[gr8sho92]

Jim also mentioned last night that the list is not considered complete. About the value statement, I agree this way. You might think of the list as a hall of fame situation. You can't get into the hall until a waiting period is completed for a historical perspective on passing judgement if the band/work is considered worthy. And finally, it is one person's subjective view.

[Ramon Porta]

From Catalonia are Fusion but Iceberg and Pegasus?

[Yesspaz]

It's interesting some of the picks, like "In the Wake of Poseidon" and the lack of Oldfield and Rush.

[Mike413]

Great list but as was mentioned there is some bands who seem strangely missing not to mention the fact that 90 percent of the albums on the list seem to be pre 1980.

Also, some of the selections are odd in my opinion: Wise after the event and not Geese and Ghost by Anthony Phillips? Lamb and not SEBTP? Hamburger and not Moving Waves or 3 by Focus. Probably others. Also, someone mentioned Finch. Beyond Expression by them is curiously absent. That album just smokes. Oh well. It's still a really good list. It just needs another 50-100 albums on it. ;)

[PFD]

An interesting list for sure; well worth debating.

I think though some of his picks are deliberately controversial. Like Crimso's Wake of Poseidon for instance-- I'd question that as being their best album.

Or Floyd's Animals....not normally picked as a top fave from that band. But then he picks obvious ones like Yes's Close to the Edge or Brain Salad Surgery.

So I'll give him this: It's a very mixed list; one that won't please everybody and bound to generate discussion which is what a good list does.

Who is this dude, anyways?

[jtmckinley]

It's a good list. We'd all have our own. There's stuff on his list I haven't heard so I'll check it out as time permits.

[podakayne]

Kewl list, will have to try to listen to the mysteries of it

...as for that Island peter

Originally Posted by PeterG

Originally Posted by sharcnorris
I could live on an Island with just this list.........
Having a CD player would be nice too. R)


...my ipod is solar powered :neener:

[Mike413]

An interesting list for sure; well worth debating.

I think though some of his picks are deliberately controversial. Like Crimso's Wake of Poseidon for instance-- I'd question that as being their best album.

Or Floyd's Animals....not normally picked as a top fave from that band. But then he picks obvious ones like Yes's Close to the Edge or Brain Salad Surgery.

So I'll give him this: It's a very mixed list; one that won't please everybody and bound to generate discussion which is what a good list does.

Who is this dude, anyways?


Greg Walker runs and maintains Synphonic(www.synphonic.8m.com) which sells many prog cds and other related merchandise. He is a very enthusiastic and knowledgable prog vendor. He sells his merchandise at a lot of the festivals. He's very friendly and approachable so if you ever want recommendations based on what you already like he's good at that.

I'd say this list is very good for at least displaying some of the better lesser known prog albums. It does'nt hurt to do your own research but if you want the opinion of someone who has heard thousands of recordings here you have it.

If anyone wants a more definitive list or one that takes many different reviewers and raters into consideration then you can find some on either www.progarchives.com or www.gnosis2000.net.


I too find it strange that in the wake of poseidon and Animals are listed by both KC and PF respectively. Both are still good but I'd place at least two or three(if not more)by both bands ahead of those. Most of the stuff on his list I have heard(even those two actually)are still very good to say the least.

Mike

[progdirjim]

I have to admit that most of the comments along the lines of "band (fill in the blank) should be on the list" are unsupportable in my opinion, but that is just my opinion. BUT, more importantly, again: I stated the biggest value of this list is in identifying bands you've never heard of to check out. Trust me on this, you will find some incredibly good music if you explore this list.

Finally, who is Greg? It's already been answered re: Synphonic, but I will add this. I hope by now you know that I know a LOT about prog. Greg is one of the few people on the planet who knows WAY more about prog than I do. Doesn't mean you have to agree with him re: Crimson or Floyd, but at danger of being repetitious, trust me, check out the bands you haven't heard. You'll be glad you did, as will I, as that is the main reason I posted it

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

[Mike413]

I think that when people say such and such a band isn't on the list it just tells me they should make their own list. ;) Not only that but usually those bands people mention are all bands we already know about anyway. :) Like Jim suggests there are many hidden prog treasures on that list that deserve more attention.

[OverHillandDale]

I hope by now you know that I know a LOT about prog. Greg is one of the few people on the planet who knows WAY more about prog than I do.

So, Jim. What is Prog? :aua:

:neener:

[dinosaur]

According to Webster:
prog, vi progged; progging; [origin unknown] (1624) chiefly dialectic; to search about; especially; FORAGE.

In other words, To search out new life, new civilizations, to boldly listen to bands you haven't heard before....

[Mike413]

Hey, he's Jim the director of aural moon not Captain James T. Kirk. ;) Different Jim. Lol.

[Michael]

Solaris - Marsbeli Kronikak(The Martian Chronicles) Is a great Album..whats funny is how i came to get it was in a bargain bin at a local Record Shop still have it I feel like i got the deal of the century i never see this anywere anymore.

[PFD]

Thanks for the info Mike and for the link; very informative.

[PFD]

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

Doing that Jim. Thanks for the heads up.

[KingRat]

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

Is this not what is the best thing about The Moon.

Hey, pun intended, ther are also far far mor than 100 albums. Hell there are more than 100 artists.

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

[cribguy]

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse
check out the bands you haven't heard

:aua: :deadhorse

I think I understand what your trying to say. But could repeat it once more...for clarity. 8-)

[OverHillandDale]

Hey, is it too late to get in on this? Sorry I was late. Someone beat my horse and I had to call a cab. :notsure:

[KingRat]

Hey, is it too late to get in on this? Sorry I was late. Someone beat my horse and I had to call a cab. :notsure:

And then, I supose, the roads where full of Animal Anti Cruelty League and SPCA vehicles