Mike Portnoy & Neal Morse: Ranking The Albums

Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy first hooked up in 1999 to record the debut Transatlantic album. Since then they have gone on to release a total of 24 records together so I have to rank them!!!!
#prog #progressiverock #progrock

[@MrBenMcLean]

Neal Morse and Mike Portnoy are my generation's Lennon and McCartney.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes!!!!

[@Kevinhamradio]

I guess the elephant in the room about this is that I am concerned that their collaborations are coming to an end (or at least becoming a lot less). That makes me sad, but I really appreciate seeing the love here.

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m hopeful for the future.

[@PaulGear]

Looks like most of us can't agree on the rankings (One is #1 for me), but great to see us all agreeing that Morse & Portnoy are a duo worth celebrating!

[@PaulPhilp-pe5oe]

Great list. Glad to see you give Innocence and Danger a spotlight. Not Afraid Part 2 and Beyond the Years are some of the best prog epics since the '70''s. I wish more of this material was on Spotify.

[@TheProgCorner]

A good call. Neal has his Waterfall app so a lot doesn’t make it on Spotify…

[@VictorLazarov]

What a great episode! I know your love for Neal and absolutely share this! It's a great moment for me to remember the great Testimony 2 and my all time favourite song from Neal Jesus' Blood...

[@TheProgCorner]

Oh yeah!!!! T2 is special.

[@gorancabrajic3240]

Great episode, there are some fantastic albums on the list. Cheers.

[@PJprog]

Yeah , a friend had the second nature Flying Colors on repeat. Great great album. He's a huge Dream Theater fan. The Absolute Universe.. Transatlantic , I absolutely love that , so much I haven't heard though Scot. Happy New Year 🎊

[@TheProgCorner]

HNY!!!!

[@theswordofaces1222]

I just watched the Testimony of a Dream show last night. I was BLOWN AWAY!!

[@TheProgCorner]

So good!!!!!! Portnoy is magical.

[@drypepsiwall]

Awesome video Scot! 2023 will always be special for me because I discovered Neal Morse early in the year and the entire year became “The Great Awakening” for me as I explored most of his albums. Thank you for The Prog Corner that helped me along the way. You could rank and discuss Neal’s stuff every week and I’d watch it.

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!!! I love Neal!!!!

[@JacobRobergeQC]

The ranking I've been waiting for by you ! Awesome stuff as always Scott 🤘

[@TheProgCorner]

Aw sweet!!!

[@jordanpeacock8774]

Happy New Year!! Can’t wait to see what the prog world brings to us in 2024!

[@sidecardog5244]

Great list Scott! Spock's Beard and Transatlantic are my two favorite "modern" bands. They got me through the worst parts of the pandemic and reintroduced me to prog (after an almost forty year absence). I don't know much of NM's solo work but I"ll probably explore more of it in the upcoming years. My top 5 list of collaborations is: 1) Whirlwind 2)SMPTe 3)Similitude of a Dream 4)Sola Scriptura 5) Second Nature (probably my next album request at Jim Newstead's channel). Ps, the DVD of The Absolute Universe is stunning, and IMHO, is the best way to truly experience that album in all its glory.

[@TheProgCorner]

I agree!!!!! The visualizer by Christian Rios is stunning.

[@TerryKrysinski]

SD...just a huge THANKS for all your NM suggestions on the reaction channels! I love seeing a new one pop up wherever it is! Prog on,bro! T

[@bbchronicles736]

Really cool. I know (and love) all of the Transatlantic and NMB albums, but I haven't yet delved into most of the Neal Morse solo or Flying Colors albums, didn't realize Portnoy was on them as well. So, this will be a great guide for navigating through all those I haven't heard. Much Thanks.

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@garyjoyce2160]

I know the good bulk. Will, investigate the ones I have not heard. Thanks for this ranking Scot 👍💯

[@TheProgCorner]

Thanks, Gary.

[@jameshoey303]

Looking forward to all your work in 2024....Cheers from Ireland where we don't have any crappy king Charlie dudes needing saving.....lol...love and respect

[@TheProgCorner]

Save that sucker!!!!

[@ianhart1584]

Great ranking Scot! I can't afford to keep up with all of this duos output, but I will say the bonus discs these guys release are always worth the extra money, with Lifeline, The Whirlwind and One particularly containing great tracks. Well done!

[@TheProgCorner]

Absolutely!!!!!!

[@TheCountofToulouse]

I concur with your wisdom. I actually LOVE that Neal sings about the LORD, at the end of all this, we're gonna see him, so I think we don't consider him enough in the average daily life and I LIKE the way Neal does it, with sincerity and truth. He's not afraid to be vulnerable about it and I really respect Portnoy for helping Neal go though all of that. IMO, it's pound for pound some of the best music I've ever heard. I thank GOD for letting me live to hear it. GOD bless you, man!

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!!! I’ve got Neal coming on the channel next week!!!

[@TheCountofToulouse]

@@TheProgCorner Man, if you read my comment to him, I'd just die. Neal is/was a big help and inspiration for me because I was going though a similar calling at around the same time as him and his material was really hitting my heart. All praise to GOD but Iron sharpens Iron and Neal is a BIG chunk of that Iron.

[@747jono]

Happy New Year Scot Hoping for some more amazing prog in 2024 .

[@TheProgCorner]

You know it!!!

[@BrockwaysVinylBytes]

Oh yeah!!! This is what I’m talking about!!! 🤘

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Cody! Dude your CTTE vid was great!👍🥁😎

[@BrockwaysVinylBytes]

Thanks for your lovely comments Jeff!! ❤️☮️❤️☮️

[@jeffschielka7845]

@@BrockwaysVinylBytes 👍😎

[@georgemackay5735]

I like that you didn't just dump Sola Gratia at the bottom like The Wheel of Prog guys did. That album is really fantastic.

[@TheProgCorner]

I think it’s fantastic!!!!

[@brettstrausser3846]

Here's to hoping that NMB will find a new drummer, if Mike is done! I think Neal has enough pull or scouting ability to get a high caliber drummer to continue on. I really love "So Many Roads" on Lifeline - glad you gave it a nod! Great vid, Scot!

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m sure Mike will find some time (in 2025) for the NMB!!!

[@theswordofaces1222]

I appreciate what you said about Neal's 'conversion.' Whatever your own PERSONAL beliefs may be, it's always great to hear ANYONE defending someone else's right to express their faith.

[@TheProgCorner]

I believe we all should be allowed space to observe and/or worship whomever or whatever we want. What’s relevant is PASSION.

[@mythoflogic]

Nice Shirt!! Bridge Across Forever would be my own #1...

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@LightBeamer777]

Wow! That was surely a labor of love. That had to be difficult to rank all those releases. I won't rank them since I don't have all of them. I have most, but I only have the first Flying Colors, and I don't have The Grand Experiment. I guess you didn't include some of Neals earliest solo releases since they were pop, and not proggy at all, but I liked them for what they were. Anything Neal has done deserves at least 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I will say my favorite solo albums would be Lifeline and "?", but they're all great. My favorite Transatlantic would be Bridge Across Forever. Innocence and Danger may be my most favorite of all. It really blew me away. If that ends up as their swansong that was a wonderful way to go out. The emotional impact of that album just sends me over the moon.

[@TheProgCorner]

I didn’t include those earlier ones because Portnoy did not appear on them!!! Yeah, I don’t think he’s put out a bad record!!!

[@LightBeamer777]

I didn't realize Mike wasn't on those. Sorry!@@TheProgCorner

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s hard to keep it all straight!!!

[@richardwoodhouse8404]

Neal is my favourite solo artist in any genre and Mike is my favourite drummer ❤, put these together and you get magic, Bridge across and Innocence and danger are my top 2.

[@TheProgCorner]

Magic!!!

[@EdZeroProg]

What a nice pair of astonishing musicians

[@TheProgCorner]

Indeed!!!!!

[@kingcrim]

Frankenstein was a Bill Hubauer arrangement and I heard he played most of the instruments too. It's a beast

[@TheProgCorner]

So much fun!!!! I love Bill.

[@adamjj85]

My man! I've always said the best song on Third Degree didn't even make the first disc! Great minds think alike! Although, One not in the top 5 is blasphemy ;) Personally, I would swap it with ? in your ranking.

[@TheProgCorner]

This really was an impossible task: #1-20 are all 8.5/10 or higher…

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

Epic list. Bridge is #1 for me. Perfect Prog album... Stranger In Your Soul

[@TheProgCorner]

Thank you!!! (Senior moment on camera. Not cute…)

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

@@TheProgCorner don't worry about it. I do it all the time, lol.

[@AriasWeirdoServerInfinit-ci2ke]

I am curious tho how would the ranking go if the DT and SB albums were included

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@danielfuentes3226]

A great progresive duo Scot.Another great duo Steve Walsh & Robby Steinhardt from Kansas.

[@TheProgCorner]

For sure!!!

[@danielfuentes3226]

@@TheProgCorner 👍

[@CaryOn11]

I guess this is easily overlooked as just a cover album but 2003's Yellow Matter Custard qualifies as part of the duo's output and gets no love here. Saw the show live and it was a lot of fun!

[@TheProgCorner]

Studio albums only but I hear you!!!!!

[@jeniferallan6693]

Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson. Double BOOM! And. Fripp & Eno

[@TheProgCorner]

Excellent!!!!!! Supertramp is the right call.

[@grahamharley4895]

I'm an (old) novice Scot. I know the talent of Neal Morse mainly through Spock's 'The Light' and 'Snow'. Thanks for your ranking, I'll have to do some digging. How many Bands has Neal Morse performed in over the last 30 years FFS?

[@TheProgCorner]

Something about the bombastic power of Portnoy combined with Neal’s melodic ear - pure heaven to this boomer.

[@TerryKrysinski]

It's not really that dizzying an amount. Neal founded Spock's Beard and did the first 6 albums. Then he went solo and has done a few under his own name. In the meantime, he started Transatlantic. Then came The Neal Morse Band. And finally, Flying Colors was born and have done 3 albums. Most all his projects coincide with each other,hence the huge catalog. And amazingly,all of it is top tier GREAT! He's a genius muso! T

[@TheProgCorner]

A true genius.

[@markdaniels7174]

I was a Spock’s Beard fan and like some of Neal’s bandmates I was upset when he announced he was leaving Beard because “God told him to.” He then started releasing Christian-based solo albums and making fistfuls. It’s not for me; I’m into Prog but I’m an atheist.

[@TheProgCorner]

I hear you but I try not to let subject matter affect my enjoyment: I love Neal Morse. I love Venom. They’re just lyrics…

[@TigerMtnKing]

🤩

[@markspooner1224]

I don't know enough about some of those albums to give an opinion but you have a good track record so I agree!

[@TheProgCorner]

Yay!!!

[@theswordofaces1222]

What is the original reason behind that "God save the king" thing you do at the end of most of your videos?

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s a long story but it’s basically an audience retention trick: let’s see Scot freak out!!!

[@Mister_Jahn]

A personal fave was the guitar duo of Robert Fripp and Andy Summers... But here's one for the ages Fripp and Eno. Some important albums.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes!!!!! Fripp and Eno!!!!

[@michaelbenz8092]

For prog duos, I have to mention Babb & Schendel.

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!!!! I mentioned that other Tennessee duo. My bad!!!! I love Glass Hammer.

[@Czyszy]

1:47 greatest prog duos IMHO: ⭐✨vintage era✨⭐ Rustichelli & Bordini Neu! *Steely Dan [not considered prog by some] ⭐✨modern times✨⭐ Space Kitchen Jordsjø Zopp

[@TheProgCorner]

Nice!!!!

[@mellotronin54]

The combination of Morse and Portnoy was a genius meeting all the albums are great I would rate them in a different order but not by much.

[@TheProgCorner]

Incredible combo!!!

[@mellotronin54]

@@TheProgCorner Seen them in most iterations and amazingly seemed better each time. Do not know how they did it. Though on the last few tours they had Rich Mouser on the front of house so that made a difference. Keep up the good work Scot. Martin.

[@TheProgCorner]

Rich is a wizard.

[@mellotronin54]

@@TheProgCorner Oh yeah his mixes are so well tuned in. Vibrant and exciting like the old days when you would buy an album because of the production credit .😀🎸🎹

[@TheProgCorner]

👍👍👍

[@arnaudb.7669]

A great prog duo is Rick Eddy and Tim Drumheller of A Triggering Myth.

[@TheProgCorner]

Awesome!!! That’s what I’m talking about!!!

[@gkirms]

My favorite to this day is still SMPT:e by Transatlantic. Just an awesome album with one of my favorite tracks that Neal has done 'We All Need Some Light'. As far as 'Testimony' is concerned what Christian artist out there has ever done an album like Neal did with this? Answer - Absolutely no one. A prolific artist for sure.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, maybe SMPT:e could’ve been a bit higher…

[@gkirms]

@@TheProgCorner I just love that album. I feel through the years and as time has marched on a lot of his releases have just become redundant (Whirlwind and Kaleidoscope for example just too many similarities). That's why it was nice adding in Eric Gillette, especially vocally to the band. And after watching this video all of a sudden I remembered Yellow Matter Custard. Maybe they should have been featured since it was Morse & Portnoy also.

[@jeffschielka7845]

2 comments gone today and my replies to other comments. I'm done!😎

[@TheProgCorner]

Why does KZbin hate you???

[@domerust6899]

SMPT:e should be higher on that list. All of the Above is one of the best songs ever written, prog or otherwise.

[@TheProgCorner]

It’s a good one!!! 👍👍👍

[@bgmchrisc]

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but Neal has never recovered (to me) after forming the 'band'. They're good albums, but Eric's voice doesn't move me at all, and I don't think Bill or Mike should ever sing a lead when you have better singers in the band. So yeah, I'll almost always rank his true solo albums over the band records.

[@TheProgCorner]

I love them both but I hear you: I too prefer Neal’s voice!!!!

[@gjermundification]

Roger^2( Waters and Barrett, i e )

[@madjock-ig5bv]

I will be honest, I find a lot of Morse's stuff unlistenable due to the lyrics. It is so horribly preachy. There are so many interesting subjects that could be written about but he only writes about "Jesus" and or "God". Bores the arse out of me. No arguments the playing is good on most of his stuff but I can't make it through an entire album (I have tried but I get tired). I can handle some of Transatlantic but that is about it!

[@Czyszy]

I'm so glad I have the rare ability to separate the lyrics from the music. (being a non-native English speaker helps a bit too)

[@TheProgCorner]

Understandable.

[@TheProgCorner]

I have no problem with Christian lyrics, Satanic lyrics, whatever lyrics. Just make them good…

[@madjock-ig5bv]

@@TheProgCorner I have no issue with someone writing about imaginery characters but forcing their beliefs on the listener is not for me. I think most of the "Satanic" bands are actually non theist and just use the imagery for shock purpoese as opposed to trying to get you to sacrifice a goat to Beelzebub😂. I admit I do find some of the ones who really believe (in Satan) a bit boring and preachy too. Just makes me switch off. Shame again as some of the music is really good!

[@Czyszy]

@@madjock-ig5bv I personally don't see that as Neal shoving his religion down the audience's throats but rather as celebrating his genuine passion for his catholic shtick!