The 10 Greatest PROG ROCK ALBUMS Ranked

[@redscape]

Prepare to be absolutely lambasted by a bunch of very polite Canadians suggesting Rush are not American.

[@psbarrow]

"very polite Canadians" is a tautology, it has the same logical linguistic status as "ignorant selfish Americans".

[@vagabond197979]

Canada is America's tophat after all.

[@tszirmay]

Our Governor General will be contacting you shortly ....

[@thiagodias9061]

Hey! Here is my personal top ten Brazilian Progressive Rock Album! 10 - Tudo Foi Feito Pelo Sol (Os Mutantes) 09 - Milton (Milton Nascimento) 08 - Matança do Porco (Som Imaginário) 07 - Depois do Fim (Bacamarte) 06 - Lar de Maravilhas (Casa das Máquinas) 05 - Terreno Baldio (Terreno Baldio) 04 - Moto Perpétuo (Moto Perpétuo) 03 - Idade da Luz (14 Bis) 02 - Sagrado (Sagrado Coração da Terra) 01 - Criaturas da Noite (O Terço)

[@TheProgCorner]

Great picks!!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks

[@vordman]

I'm a recent convert to prog and I've been consuming the genre with an unbridled passion for the last year or so. Yep, Foxtrot and Close To The Edge are just fantastic. I can't believe I didn't get into this music earlier. Making up for lost time now. Thanks for the vid, you've given me some great suggestions to listen to next. Subscribed.

[@joewalker511]

Some of these bands were so good, you could easily have two of their albums on the list: Yes:Fragile,King Crimson: Larks Tongue, Genesis:Trick of the Tail,E.T.C.......great list!

[@Passion4Blue]

Great list! As always, wherever I venture and in a number of Prog books and Mags that I've read, the big 6 are always represented. Yes, King Crimson, Genesis, ELP, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull. Then Rush, Gentle Giant, Camel, VanDerGraaf Generator, Gong, Caravan, are added along the way. Marillion, Dream Theater, and Porcupine Tree, brought on a revival in the 90s and now there are so many diverse styles and bands contributing to the genre... Opeth, Pineapple Thief, Riverside, Katatonia, Anathema, and on and on. So much great stuff in the Prog Universe

[@BringingPsycheBacktoPsychiatry]

I was so pleased to see the inclusion of "You" by Gong. It is a spectacular collision of inspired psychedelic lunacy and blazing musicianship unlike any other album. I think the climax of "A Sprinkling of Clouds" sounds like staring into the terrifying/beautiful face of God. It's my favorite instrumental piece ever.

[@elfensteen5222]

amazing track !!

[@markziemba8522]

I like your list Andy. So glad that Gong made it. Caravan’s “Girls That Grow Plump in the Night” album is fabulous with what I consider the best of orchestra and prog band playing together.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks...I prefer Hatfield to Caravan. Mumps is astonishing...

[@Katehowe3010]

Hillage and Allen hated the term. Too many bands are labelled prog, but especially Gong, and the Krautrock movement. To Hillage, it's a dirty word!

[@swiftusmaximus5651]

Not One Album Cover...LMAO

[@sullyb23511]

The trio of albums that King Crimson made with Wetton are my favorites.

[@Malcolm1959]

I'd say Hemispheres over Moving Pictures as the pinnacle of Rush's Prog era.. Camera Eye is however my favourite track from MP though.. Just a quick criticism Rush are not American they hail from Toronto in Canada hence YYZed... The Morse Code call sign or Pearson International Airport in Toronto 👍👍👍👍

[@guywoznicki7847]

Hey Mal, I was turned on to Rush in college back in 1983. My friend played me 2112 and I was blown away. Then I heard A Farewell to Kings and became a Rush fan for life! There were many great albums from the Terry Brown era but that is still my favorite.

[@Whit-mh9nt]

Hemispheres for sure. Had it in red vinyl when it came out. Pretty sure it was red. For some unknown reason colours in general were variable at the time.

[@noumenon6923]

We're (Canadians) North American,.... but get your point.

[@prockrog5219]

Fucking hell! So glad I came by this channel. Your stuff is great. Keep it up !

[@bretttravis4698]

You are spot on with your assessment of Octopus. My only critique is I would have put it higher on your list but they are now more appreciated than ever before. My friends and I were Gentle Giant fanatics when these albums were released and would get in fights with those pop rock knuckleheads who believed that bands like Kiss, Sweet or Bay City Rollers blew them away. I felt better when I gave them a good whipping, but harsh as that might sound, you didn’t have to like them but you better respect them.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Well let's do the Classic Best !! All are so close together. 1, Genesis - Foxtrot 2, Yes - Close To The Edge 3, King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King 4, Jethro Tull - Aqualung 5, Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon 6, King Crimson - Starless And Bible Black 7, Genesis - Nursery Cryme 8, Gentle Giant - Playing the Fool (Yup it's Live so is most of KC Bible Black ! GG is just better Live !!) 9, Nektar - Remember The Future 10, Genesis - The Lamb 11, King Crimson - Red 12, Yes - Fragile 13, ELP - Tarkus 14, Genesis - Selling England By The Pound 15, Rush - 2112

[@keithf_]

Oh I really like your list. However, I'd have Rush's 'A Farewell To Kings' above '2112'. And I would defintely have to find a place for Camel ('Snowgoose' or 'Moonmadness') and maybe even the great Caravan album 'In The Land Of Grey And Pink'.

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

@@keithf_ Yes it's all good, like many of us I'm sure our favs are so close in a Top 10 or 20 by just 10ths !! And for me it always changes how I feel or memories of the bands I've seen etc I'm going on 66' now. Bottom line really is it was the Greatest time in Music the Classic Prog Era I believe, Great music and musicians and those Fantastic Gatefold covers to look at ! 👍🎶🎸🎹🎻🥁🎤🎼✌

[@kathyratino962]

I'm not English, but I adore Benny the Bouncer. Lake's gravely accent, the clever lyrics. ("They tried to put together all the bits that would fit.") The detuned piano, Emerson's little tag on the end, Palmer's saucy drum solo right before the tag, and the perfect end to the story.

[@Glornt]

Many music critics dislike ELP'S "fun" tracks, from which I conclude that music critics are a rather humorless lot. "Are You Ready Eddy" is another example; this is not a letdown, it's comic relief!

[@godbluffvdgg]

Benny was the bouncer at the Palais de Dance He'd slash your granny's face up given half a chance. He'd sell you back the pieces, all for less than half a quid He thought he was the meanest- Until he met with Savage Sid. Now Sidney was a greaser with some nasty roots He poured a pint of Guinness over Benny's boots Benny looked at Sidney: Sidney stared right back in his eye. Sidney chose a switchblade And Benny got a cold meat pie. Oh! what a terrible sight, Much to the people's delight. One hell of a fight. Sidney grabbed a hatchet, buried it, in Benny's head. The people gasped as he bled: The end of a Ted? Well, they dragged him from the wreckage of the Palais in bits. They tried to stick together all the bits that would fit. But some of him was missing And "part of him" arrived too late, So now he works for Jesus As the bouncer at St. Peter's Gate.

[@Glornt]

@@godbluffvdgg See? Just a harmless bit of fun! Not so much for Benny, though.

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@Glornt :)...I've loved it for half a century... ; )

[@wolftree3948]

A few years ago, hard to believe I only owned Moving Pictures, but I came from the classic rock genre. Now I own 6 of your top 10 so I'm slowly climbing the Prog ladder and now it is my most listened to genre by far. You're on a terrific roll of really exciting, insightful video topics and now are one of my favorite channels along with Pete. You're made to do this, Andy, so I for one am rooting you on.

[@pmoran7971]

Typing as I listen to you, not a fan of ELP but a big fan of The Nice! much more raw and authentic and not contrived! I hope you have got the best album of all time on your list or have you missed a 'Trick' here by not including this Genesis Album I also love Tull what a talent!

[@zelly8163]

Having immediately fallen in love with Genesis the moment I heard "the Musical box" in 1972: a year later YES playing "Close to the Edge" in concert blew my 17 year old mind. Now a 68 year old, I recently played "Suppers Ready" and "Close to the Edge" back to back. Let's face it they both appear on most of these prog masterpiece lists. The climax to "Suppers Ready is perfect: it emits a feeling of finally reaching a higher plane of existence wile "Close to the Edge", after Wakeman's organ solo, just doesn't give my heart the same air for my wings to soar as Genesis. On "Court of the Crimson King" of course "Moonchild" meanders yet, on the first listening, when the mellotron of the title track abruptly blasts out of nowhere it is unforgettable! Sadly on the second listening you are prepared. Still what a moment! "Pawn Hearts" side one IMHO is the masterpiece yet, as you intimated VDGG are a band to be reckoned with. "YOU" - I once asked Daevid Allen why I could never finish playing "YOU" all the way through. He replied , I had these hot young musicians and do you think I could control them." Still It is s great to see Gong on your list. ..thank you

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266]

I agree Supper's Ready has a longer crescendo, but musically for me nothing compares to the end of CTTE. Of course art is subjective, but both are amazing masterpieces nonetheless. Great bands, incredible runs putting out masterpiece after masterpiece.

[@zelly8163]

@@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266 Close to the edge, down by the river Down at the end, round by the corner Seasons will pass you by, Now that it's all over and done, Called to the seed, right to the sun Now that you find, now that you're whole Seasons will pass you by, I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up, I get down I get up OR Can't you feel our souls ignite? Shedding ever-changing colours In the darkness of the fading night Like the river joins the ocean As the germ in a seed grows We have finally been freed to get back home There's an angel standing in the sun And he's crying with a loud voice "This is the supper of the mighty one" Lord of Lords, King of Kings Has returned to lead his children home To take them to the new Jerusalem

[@guywoznicki7847]

What can I say, Andy. You nailed it! Not just token entries but the best of the best. Great job!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Wow, thanks!

[@sdrandazzo]

Thank you Andy for your definitive prog rock albums. Very happy that you included Van der Graaf Generator’s Pawn Hearts! Waiting to hear your top 10 European or Italian Prog greatest albums. Cheers! Sal Randazzo.

[@bertkarlsson1421]

That would be great!!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I wish I had the knowledge to do that one....I could do European prog I think at a push

[@dominicschaeffer909]

VDGG was the surprise of the list- thank you!

[@peterjezukiewicz7347]

Very few people reference VDGG or this incredible album which creates it's own unique soundscape. One of my all time fave works.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I'm no expert on VdGG so I had to do some research so I'm glad those who are proper fans of them seem to be in agreement. I love Peter Hammill on Exposure by Fripp which is where I first came across him. Astonishing vocals on there

[@bradroseth4549]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Hammill is one of the most underrated prog artists. Massive and diverse output over the years, early solo albums like Chameleon in the Shadow of Night and The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage are awesome too, and his early 80s K Group records as well.

[@kenneththompson8933]

Soft Machine??

[@OneMountainNine]

@@kenneththompson8933And later era Scott Walker. Bowie loved some of his stuff and clearly incorporated elements. As Walker did with all musics.

[@markvonwisco7369]

My first Genesis album was Trespass. Although it was recorded prior to Steve Hackett and Phil Collins joining the band, Trespass still has some excellent songs on it beyond the Knife.

[@Jarednhk]

I know this list is consisting of studio albums but King Crimson’s live compilation “The Great Deceiver” is my favorite work from them. Highly recommend listening to anyone who hasn’t heard yet.

[@Darrylizer1]

Absolutely! That is the best of the 70s iteration of the band for sure.

[@davidkoerner1565]

I agree Foxtrot is Prog at its best. The Yes Album is also brilliant.

[@DickWrath]

That album almost has to be listened to in it's entirely.

[@scottroberts7103]

Can't forget A Trick Of The Tail.

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros4419]

Genesis and Yes had some of the greatest runs in brilliance: Nursery Crime, Foxtrot, Selling England...,The Lamb..., WnW, ATOTT; The Yes Album, Fragile, CTTE, TFTO, Relayer, GFTO. The Beatles were phenoms, but boy these two bands + King Crimson at their peak were so brilliant!

[@DungeonBossTipsundTricks]

Where is Focus? Literally best prog band

[@pataldorr]

For me its foxtrot#2 and pawn hearts#1 you can have close to the edge number 3

[@marlachristensen2076]

Good to see you on camera again, Andy! I find it great you can take an objective step back on the top 10 prog albums. This is not something I could do. Though, I agree on your #5 choice, as subjectively speaking I believe my favourite Rush track is "Red Barchetta". However, you did not even mention 'Permanent Waves'? # 3 choice is one I believe the entire world population would agree to. #2 choice, I agree with what you had to say about it. #1 choice, I can't argue.

[@edljnehan2811]

Be lucky Rush is even on the list because technically they're not a true progressive rock band. They put out a couple progressive rock albums in the mid-to-late 70s however 95% of their music is Hard Rock fused with other types of music period talented yes extremely progressive rock n o t😮

[@stefane1915]

Rush Canadien band btw.

[@ericarmstrong6540]

Red is my favorite album of any kind. A great album. And I like Providence, too! I like the King Crimson improvs.

[@DavidLazarus]

The Wetton era improvs were true monstrosities in the best possible way! I've always loved Providence and Asbury Park among many others. Fantastic stuff! I like Belew era improvs too, but the Wetton era stuff is pure genius!

[@jamesjcazzman3007]

the court of the crimson king should be up there

[@portley777]

The Great Deceiver box set is a must for this era of Crimson: all live :)

[@danstigator]

Great list!! So glad to see Gong and Gentle Giant getting some love. I love TAAB by Tull, but personally I like A Passion Play as much or better. Same album-long concept but better done, IMO. Also, no discussion of North American prog is complete without including Ambrosia. Although mostly known for their Yacht-rock classics (How Much I Feel, You're the Only Woman, and Biggest Part of Me), everything else from their early catalog is hardcore prog and is amazing. Love it!

[@Katehowe3010]

Prog Rock is fundamentally a British concept. It started here and other countries followed. America has no one, even the awful Kansas!

[@alancyr]

Kansas?

[@joelliebler5690]

Good choices overall and being a lifelong YES fan I am happy to see you put it on top. You might want to add an early or prime time Kansas or Todd Rundgren album to that list. I need to listen to some of these albums which I have not listen to whole albums.You really should add Renaissance like The Ashes are Burning album orTurn if The Cars, or even A Man For All Seasons as they were unique and brilliant back in those early to mid 1970’s era!

[@carvcom2]

I agree with you in adding Renaissance to this album list. Your album titles are a little off though, it should be "Turn of the Cards" and "A Song For All Seasons". Truly outstanding albums. Looking forward to seeing Annie Haslam and Renaissance in concert in a month or so.

[@bluesoulpaul]

Can't really fault your choices but you have omitted bands from the Canterbury scene (apart from Genesis). Caravan, Hatfield and the North, Soft Machine, and Egg. Also an honourable mention for Camel, Marillion, Focus, Amon Duul II and, dare I say, Henry Cow. So difficult to decide when the Rock/Prog boundary is so ill defined. All in good humour.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I really did consider this and it would have been Caravan...Land of Grey and Pink...but I don't consider that greater than any of the albums of this list. My favourite is Hatfield and also that album by Khan is great if a little obscure.

[@modeltrainfan]

When I got into Genesis I got the Genesis Live album and completely obsessed over it. I probably played the album over 300 times during the next few months. The problem was the production quality was 10X better on the Live album than the Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, or Trespass albums such that that all the songs on the live album were un-listenable to me on the original albums. The funny thing is all the other songs on those albums sound fine to me because I never heard any other versions. Go figure.

[@stevecoscia]

I remember buying a new stereo turntable and speakers about 1975 and thinking my old Genesis albums would finally sound better. Nope. They sounded the same.

[@patbarr1351]

@@stevecoscia There is, in my non-humble opinion, something wrong with the 2-track master mix on those. The remix by Nick Davis in 2008 is superior.

[@ThomasLuongo]

Great List but any prog rock list without Marillion is i think a real shame: For me few albums compare to both Misplaced Childhood (with Fish) and Happiness is the Road (with H.) I think Happiness is simply an insanely moving collection of thematically braided songs. Sure, you could put Brave or Afraid of Sunlight in here as well, but don't let the release date (2008) of Happiness put you off. It's truly moving. Also, where do you put a masterpiece like Tori Amos' From the Choirgirl Hotel?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I don't get Marillion. They start off as a bad Genesis copy then turn into Dad rock. Tori Amos is a genius and in a completely different league.

[@foundfathrsweredeist]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer "a bad Genesis copy" That's a misconception. And their music in the 80s has much more in common with Scottish groups like the Sensational Alex Harvey Band or Thunderclap Newman than does it Genesis. And frankly, their albums are much better than 1980s Genesis. I would agree with the "dad rock" assesment for what they're doing now, though. But you're wrong about their early work.

[@tomyg2766]

Hi Andy, good list but would have suggested the debut album UK by UK should have been included together wth the likes of PFM (Photos of Ghosts) Focus (Moving Waves) Steve Wilson (To the Bone), Frank Zappa (One Size Fits All), Mike Oldfield (Tubular Bells)

[@lucienlachance9604]

Red is a fantastic album for sure but I’d like to point how I like Lizard, an album that even Robert Fripp didn’t like at all. A summit of bizarre but one of the most beautiful acoustic guitar tone ever recorded.

[@Darrylizer1]

This list is like the best of from my childhood and young adult years! It's really quite heartening to see Van Der Graaf Generator getting some love.

[@Whit-mh9nt]

Saw VDGG live in the 70s at a very small venue with great sound, was very impressed with the bass player.. Hamills voice is impressive as well, but not always spot on, I find their work a bit depressing, though it was a great set list.

[@andrewwilson711]

Great video great choice and explanation well done Andy again

[@glenndavidgoldsmith4194]

Daevid Allen (Gong) was one of the first Australian musicians to venture into Prog-Rock.

[@TheoZoffrok]

Just discovered your channel, and enjoying your list of overlooked prog albums. While I'm by no means a Prog aficionado, I've recently been discovering the catalogue of Renaissance, a band I hitherto only knew from their pop hit Northern Lights. Anyway, they stand out for me for a number of reasons: firstly, they're a rare Prog band of the 70s which had a female singer (or any female member come to that), the magnificent Annie Haslam; they were *superb* musicians and composers; and the subject matter of their songs was very unusual, probably because their lyrics were mostly written by poet Betty Thatcher, not a member of the band. Their run of albums from Ashes Are Burning through to A Song For All Seasons are absolutely outstanding. Are you a fan?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have never really listened to them tbh. What would be a good track to listen to first?

[@TheoZoffrok]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I would say a good place to dip a toe in the water would be one of these: Ashes Are Burning; Mother Russia; Running Hard; Ocean Gypsy; A Song For All Seasons. I hope you enjoy them, they're undeservedly forgotten I feel.

[@patbarr1351]

@@TheoZoffrok Renaissance seemed to be more popular here in the US, especially the eastern US. I remember a Melody Maker critic saying he didn't much like the band, but loved the track "Mother Russia!" (I like the Prologue album best myself.)

[@TheoZoffrok]

@@patbarr1351 I like Prologue, though it's not *quite* up to the standard of its successors IMO. Mother Russia is an amazing song.

[@piagine]

I agree fully about 4 of the albums: Pawn Hearts, Foxtrot, Close to the Edge and Red. Then there are 6 albums left. I am sorry, but I am not a fan of Rush or ELP. Dark Side of the Moon is acceptable, but not my Pink Floyd favourite. Thick as a Brick is a fine album, but is it really prog rock?? I have never heard the Gentle Giant or the Gong album, but I will surely look for them in the Danish library catalogue - thanks for telling me about them! Are something missing on the list? It could be an album by Camel or Caravan, but I think it would be more fair to pick an album no 2 from Yes or VDGG.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I would say Thick as a Brick is about as prog as it gets, it was actually Ian Anderson satirising prog,

[@owenstudley1971]

Really any of Peter Hammill’s solo albums from 73-75 could’ve been on this list for me. Especially “The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage” or “In Camera” both are really great, with several of the songs on both having most of all of the members of VDGG playing on them. You also get some more personal acoustic stuff from Hammill as well as reworked version of songs that were going to be on VDGG’s follow up to “Pawn Hearts” if they’d stayed together in 73. Highlights from “Silent Corner” definitely being Forsaken Gardens, The Lie, and A Louse Is Not A Home. For “In Camera” I’d say Sub Mariner and Gog are my favorites. Both of those albums in full are experiences in themselves.

[@AndalusianIrish]

Off the back of this I went back to listen to 'In The Court Of The Crimson King' again. One of the things that struck me was how good Michael Giles' drumming is on it. I know you highlighted Bruford in King Crimson and of course his contributions to prog drumming are legendary with Rush being fans but Michael's playing on the first album really augments the tracks in my opinion. And I know that's me as an amateur bedroom guitarist and music fan saying that to a pro drummer but I love listening to great drumming on albums.

[@dlsamson]

Great list, arguably the ten greatest groups among a genre that has produced much great music. Here's a suggestion for you. Try 10 greatest European (non-UK) prog or greatest N. American prog albums / groups. What I particularly like about your list is that it is going to get me to dig deeper into the groups that I have largely ignored over the years. Gong, Gentle Giant, VdGG are all groups of which I have heard & yet know almost nothing of their music. Even the inclusion of Rush, which I have largely ignored because of their huge popularity, is nudging me to dig deeper.

[@tixximmi1]

Arjen Lucassen to start with.

[@johnnypoker46]

I have many of these, no argument re 'Close to the Edge' and 'Foxtrot', that's for sure! I strongly recommend 'Garden Shed' by England, and 'Jumbo', 'Rockpommel's Land' and 'Merry-go-Round' by Grobschnitt

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I know England very well...

[@davidcohen821]

My 10: 1) Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull 2) Close to the Edge - Yes 3) In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson 4) Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 5) Selling England by the Pound - Genesis 6) In A Glass House - Gentle Giant 7) Brain Salad Surgery - ELP 8) A Question of Balance - Moody Blues 9) Foxtrot - Genesis 10) Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

[@barrymoore4470]

I think 'In the Court of the Crimson King' has to be there in any top-ten list, as it pioneered this subgenre and was its first masterpiece.

[@coyotecreekband236]

Hi Andy. Just to clarify, Rush isn't an American band, they are Canadian. That may not seem like a big deal to someone in the UK but as a proud Canadian, I needed to clarify. Good list, by the way.

[@davestr7031]

Rush are North Americans. 🙂

[@jimsanderson4180]

@@davestr7031 Technically, you are correct. But from a practical standpoint no one in North America thinks that way or speaks that way. You’re either proudly American or you are proudly Canadian. When I was younger he wise person told me “Never call a New Zealander an Australian, never call a Scotsman an Englishman, and never called a Canadian an American“.

[@chriskarley384]

If they were from Brazil he just as easily could and have said the South American band.In his way he's calling them THE BAND of North America!!!! Which they clearly are!!💜🧡💛💚💙❤👍👍👍👍👍

[@chriskarley384]

In his way he is calling Rush The North American Band!!! Which they obviously are!!!!💜❤🧡💛💚💙👍🍻

[@madu251]

C,mon folks, you would NEVER call Yes or King Crimson a “European” band. Give Rush and Canada their due - they are Canadian.

[@hermancharlesserrano1489]

Great list, mate, and every time you argued the case I thought, fair point, objectively so

[@vdggmouse9512]

I'll give it a go - before viewing your top 10. 10) Force Majeur - Tangerine Dream 09) In The Court Of The Crimson King _ King Crimson 08) Mirage _ Camel 07) Close To The Edge _ Yes 06) Io Sono Nato Libero _ Banco del Mutuo Soccorso 05) Foxtrot _ Genesis 04) Wish You Were Here _ Pink Floyd 03) Thick As A Brick _ Jethro Tull 02) The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage _ Peter Hammill 01) Pawn Hearts _ Van der Graaf Generator Notes - I had to make it one album per artist, otherwise my top 10 would be all Van der Graaf. Most prog fans rate Selling England By The Pound higher than Foxtrot. I can't because an album with 2 lower level songs (More Fool Me and I Know What I Like) knock SEBTP out of contention. ELP just doesn't have quite enough to make my top 10 though they are in my top 20 as are Gentle Giant, Le Orme, PFM, Klaus Schulze and Soft Machine. Finally - I just think Wish You Were Here is superior to Dark Side Of The Moon - both great but one has to be better and to me it is WYWH.

[@ironshoes1720]

Thanks for including The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage, one of my favorite albums too, too often ignored or neglected.

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

So very happy to see Gong and Gentle Giant here. My circle of friends and I have always loved both, but we've always been outliers, even back in the magical 70s. The only band that would have been even more surprising and satisfying to see here would be Greenslade, but that would really be asking a lot...

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Greenslade...that is deep into prog there

[@haeuptlingaberja4927]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer There's a real Greenslade gem I recently discovered from the Old Grey Whistle Stop, stitched together from two separate live in the studio performances in 1973. It is truly breathtaking. No guitars, just Dave Greenslade and Dave Lawson on keyboards, Andy McCullough fresh from King Crimson on drums, and the amazing Tony Reeves from Colosseum (like Greenslade) playing the most melodic lead bass you ever heard, especially on Melange, somewhere around 9 minutes in this stunning clip, which I will try to locate for you. I mean, it's prog, it's jazz, it's rock and even classical. The only other bands that even attempted such an expansive, subversively counter-trendy bending of genres (no guitars!) were Gryphon, which I loved but who sort of got lost in their krumhorns and electric bassoons, and then later the Dixie Dregs (but those guys did it with a red-hot young guitar god) and Rick Wakeman on his Journey to the Center of the Earth and Six Wives of Henry VIII records. Found it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2mxc3Z8hJh6qqs

[@delby66]

I really like your list Andy....very good choices...not all, but most. I'm sorry, but I can't believe, looking at all the comments, that nobody chose Hero and Heroine by Strawbs, except me. It's a brilliant album and considering Strawbs use to be more of a folk rock group, for them to jump into the prog rock scene was truly remarkable.

[@FaunNR1]

Thanks for mentioning Strawbs 🏅

[@delby66]

@@FaunNR1 You're welcome.

[@renevw5812]

What i mostly see are 70s bands and i sure agree with the list at a point. But i wonder if bands like Ayreon (Into the Electric Castle) should be a newcomers. We all love Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson, Rush, Genesis etc. But Also take a look at Ayreon, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater.

[@TheLastOilMan]

In the Cv scam I did a desert island discs with friends on best 12 . The Bible works of Shakespeare and Dark side were on the island. 1. The lamb 2. BSS 3. Topographic 4. Brick 5. Spartacus 6 The Captain and me 7. Banco 8.Argus 9.Fox trot 10. Caravanserai 11. The court 12. I ( Moraz) And for my sis , Garry bloody Nueman

[@rk41gator]

Your #1 might be the best rock album, period.

[@Tomurow]

Loved this! Loads of my faves on here! Octopus! The live version of Panurge GG did on that German TV show (see KZbin!) is brilliant and even more inventive. Blows my tiny mind! Floyd: I sometimes think that if Shine On pts 6-9 we’re a little more avant-garde and cut a bit harder (to offset the more conventional previous tracks) that it would elevate WYWH to a different level. Still a fave of mine though! 🤓 Cheers!🍺

[@rk41gator]

Loved listening to 'Trilogy' and saw ELP in concert, but I put them down because I so often heard the over the top flamboyance which came off as pompous. So I too will go back and give 'Brain Salad' a serious listen. 'Octopus' is a must. Not a Rush fan, but totally agree with your choice of 'Moving Pictures'. No argument with 'Red'. 'Starless' is so completely BLACK. Glad to have heard them live in 2021. 'Dark Side' is impossibly good and a must choice, but 'Animals' (saw that tour) and 'Wish You Were Here' are spectacular. 'Supper's Ready' is perhaps my favorite Genesis song, but 'The Lamb' is rock's best album.....flawed, slightly; but the concept, lyrics and scope are mind blowing. One of the 20th century's epic works of art. I have even grown to like 'Silent Sorrow'. AND I would put it at #1 with 'Close' a close #2. (sorry, a bad pun just seemed appropriate) Seeing Genesis in 1978 was the best concert of my life. Although Weather Report was very nearly the best! GREAT list. Now I must look up Gong and listen to 'You', thank you very much.

[@tomtrana3449]

For me for example: May Blitz, Quatermass, Egg, Bakerloo, Home (The Alchemist), Gentle Giant (Three Friends), Amon Düül II (Tanz der Lemminge), Van der Graaf Generator (Pawn Hearts), Annexus Quam (Osmose), Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come (Galactic Zoo Dossier).

[@allenarmstrong7435]

Would love to see reviews of some of these lesser known prog bands which produced some fabulous albums though never quite broke through to the premier league.

[@Steve-vl9ed]

Prefer A Passion Play over Thick everyday. Nailed it with Close to the Edge!

[@greganderson1681]

The sleeve of my Octopus has an octopus in a jar. Always wanted the Roger Dean version as well.

[@aleksandrknude]

Porcupine Tree, Pineapple Thief, Airbag and Riverside, theses is the super Prog Rock bands!!!!!!!!!

[@carljung9230]

Ruh is Canadian :). You made me laugh with your "confession" about why you chose Octopus as the GG album in this list :P

[@BenLittauer]

Overall I'm happy with your list. BSS is indeed the correct ELP album. Im a Tales guy for Yes, Selling England for Genesis, Wish You Were Here for Floyd, and I'd maybe replace VDGG with an 80's era Crimson. But your list is honorable indeed!

[@AntonXul]

I’m very new to prog. I’m more of a hard rock & metal guy. I’ve listened to a few of these recently and was genuinely excited when you mentioned “Red” by King Crimson. That album is fantastic. “Red”, “Starless” & “Fallen Angel” are beyond awesome! I finally got to listen to ”Closer to the Edge” by Yes and I clearly understand why it’s number 1. Those songs were great and the perfect length. “Thick as a Brick” by Jethro Tull is also great. I think side one is the best, most consistent side for its length, but side two loses me in the beginning, but then brings on the greatness. I would’ve preferred that song to be broken into smaller songs if possible so I can hear the sections I like. I’ve known Pink Floyd since I was a teen in the ‘90s. I think I was the only teenager at my school with a Pink Floyd T-Shirt. My personal favorite song of theirs is “Pigs (The Three Different Ones)”. My thoughts on Gentle Giant is they are like the Geeky LARPers of prog rock. That’s what I imagine when I listen to their music. They are great musicians for sure, though. That’s not in question, but they sound really geeky. I think I’ll stop there. I don’t want to ramble any further. I have listen to the other groups except the one you placed at 10.

[@Latexhandske]

Hey Andy - My Top 10 Prog Songs 1. Awaken - Yes 2. Supper`s Ready - Genesis 3. Further Away - IQ 4. Forgotten Sons - Marillion 5. YYZ - Rush 6. Leviathan - Pendragon 7. Cut and Run - Pallas 8. Starship Trooper - Yes 9. The Seventh House - IQ 10. The Crucifixion - Aragon Keep up the wonderful work you are doing and crash those drums of yours for another 100 years!

[@michaelkeudel8770]

try these guys on for size, Mystery from Quebec Montreal: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZSomI1vpM2Mfqc

[@delby66]

A great list Meinhart, but here's mine. Let me know what you think. I'm going first to tenth. 1. Supper's Ready-Genesis 2. Trilogy-ELP 3. And You and I- Yes 4.Firth of Fifth-Genesis 5. Echoes-Camel 6. Hero and Heroine- Strawbs 7. I Think of You-Renaissance 8. Yours Is No Disgrace-Yes 9. Cinema Show-Genesis 10. Celebration-Premiata Forneria Marconi

[@bertkarlsson1421]

The Roger Dean album cover to Octopus is amazing but I love the album cover to Acquiring the Taste even more!! It's hilarious!!!😂

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

That often gets voted one of the worst allbum covers ever!!!!

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer One album cover I love even more is Acid Motherhood by Gong!!! It's the best fucking album cover I've ever seen!!! It's absolutely hilarious!!!😂🤣🤣

[@jazzpunk]

I hadda look...and that cannot be u seen. Thanks a lot. ;-)

[@godbluffvdgg]

:)...I love Acquiring AND the cover is AWESOME...Best Giant album by far...

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@godbluffvdgg I wouldn't say by far but it might be my favorite!

[@simonsimon325]

I dont know very much about prog. Not sure even what qualifies. But I do often wonder why Zappa's stuff never gets mentioned. It's got the epic tracks, virtuoso musicianship, complex composition, a few themed albums... so what's the missing ingredient.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Zappa is prog....he actually helped create prog. But he is also more than prog.

[@interstellaroverdriven6450]

Love your jazz/jazz fusion contributions to Sea of Tranquility so this ought to be a real treat. Thanks for sharing! Curious if you are a big Rahssan Roland Kirk fan, hey?

[@TheMDJ2000]

Very very interesting list, Andy, and I now have a few albums to listen to. To me, Thick As A Brick is a wonderful example of a work of art that is unintentionally great. I k know it was intended to be a parody, but it works so well, and I find it, at times, profoundly moving, possibly due to the fact that I first heard it as an adolescent.

[@albertosilva1076]

Absolutely agree Andy. However I think kraut rock should be represented as being an important creative arm of prog! In the case I would choose either Phaedra from Tangerine Dream or Ege Bamyasi from Can, absolute gems in my view.

[@Katehowe3010]

None of the German bands saw themselves as progressive rock. They thought they had their own thing going on, and they should know.

[@patbarr1351]

@@Katehowe3010 Many bands rejected that label. It was applied by critics first, then fans came on board. I recall GGiant (probably Derek) declaring that "we're a rock band!"

[@Katehowe3010]

@Pat Barr Absolutely. One of the most misleading terms for a host of bands.

[@harryberry474]

I would be hard pressed to come up with a definitive top 10 list for progressive or any other genre of music, that said Genesis "Foxtrot" is my favorite album of all-time. One thing I noticed about it (and the earlier albums W/PG and Hackett) but mainly Foxtrot...I have never gotten tired of listening to it, turned it off part way through to listen too something different. it still is fresh and exciting as it was 50 years ago and I think that says volumes about MY #1 album for all time and I will add "Suppers Ready" my favorite #1song of all-time.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

In terms of prog history...Supper's Ready is a high point. Up there with Awaken by Yes...

[@gerryrafferty7500]

Brillant I bought 7 of those Albums by the age 16 and still Listening 40 years later

[@stevenkoski228]

Andy, give the “Black Noise” release by FM a listen, it’s a masterpiece you missed, & they’re a Canadian rock trio, stablemates to Rush also.

[@seesaw1969]

nice , i agree with you on all numbers...but i admit its so difficult to rank 10 ( only?) originals prog rock bands!! Caravan , Camel , Focus , Procol Harum , Triumvirat , Moody Blues , Premiatta Forneria Marconi , Mike Oldfield , and...so many ..

[@ColonelBagshott675]

Your choices wouldn't be mine but I really do appreciate how you have approached this and it's certainly a good list. For me personally it would have to be Tull at the number one position. Just love their stuff.

[@PauloCarnaxide]

Excellent list. But my problem is, I could do one hundred "10 best albums of all time" lists and always thinking I hadn't been fair to some...!

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

... this is exactly the problem with trying to come up with lists like this. I could come up with a new list every week. There are at least 200 albums which in some way "deserve" to be in a list of the top 10! 🙂

[@emergentform1188]

Yea Foxtrot and Close to the Edge are some of my all time favs as well. Also Relayer. I'm also a big fan of Floyd's Animals, which I think is super underrated, long, sweeping, thematic, epic get into your soul type stuff.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I'm working on a top ten underated prog albums list and Animals could be a contender...

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

Absolutely, Yes "Close to the edge" But for Genesis, I would pick "The lamb lies down on Broadway". It's a far more cohesive and modern album

[@KennCramerHanberg]

Agree!

[@bertkarlsson1421]

I love most of those albums! But my favorite 25 prog albums would be: 1. Shintokumaru by J. A. Seazer 2. Mekanik Destruktiv Kommandöh by Magma 3. Gusliar by Pesniary 4. Ecophony Gaia by Geinoh Yamashirogumi 5. Music inspired by lord of the rings by Bo Hansson 6. Hybris by Änglagård 7. 4visions by Eskaton 8. Ocean by Eloy 9. First Utterance by Comus 10. Haikara by Haikara 11. Flying Teapot by Gong 12. Måltid by Samla Mammas Manna 13. God says I can't dance by Tipographica 14. Univers Zero by Univers Zero 15. Thick as a brick 16. Being by Wigwam 17. Pawn Hearts 18. Satori by Flower Travellin Band 19. Anabelas by Bubu 20. Gunesh by Gunesh Ensemble 21. Angherr Shispa by Koenji Hyakkei 22. Kokkyou Junreika by J. A. Seazer 23. Rituale Alieno by Universal Totem Orchestra 24. Bondage Fruit by Bondage Fruit 25. Sky by Sky

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Very niche!!!

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer If you would have asked me 10 years ago my number one would have been the Lamb!!!

[@fredtello]

crap.... your not cool like you think...

[@DavidLazarus]

Interesting list. Never heard of some of them. Magma released some strange stuff for sure. Eloy is great!

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@DavidLazarus Thanks! Eloy has a lot of great albums! If you like some of the weirder bands like Magma and Gong I would highly recomend J.A.Seazer and Geinoh Yamashirogumi. If you like symphonic prog I would highly recomend Gusliar by Pesniary!!!

[@kzustang]

Yup. Great list. I agree with many many of your calls. My list would be different a bit, of course, but I keep doing the same thing. There are albums which are very subjective and they made me who I am. Then, there are the monumental albums which you just acknowledge. And there are those who are both. Like Red (and LTIA of course), Dark Side (My personal favorite will always be piper, Saucerful and Atom Heart), Foxtrot (Nursery too), Close to the Edge (Funny, but it's a tie for me with Fragile and Going for the one), Octopus, Brain Salad Surgery (I personally prefer Trilogy), Pawn Hearts (I'm really into World Record and Still Life. They are for me the absolute masterpieces from VDGG). Thick as a brick is a great choice for this list (but Stand-up and Benefit are really where JT hit me to the point of crying). and Gong.....Oh dear, so many albums to choose from. You is definitely right up there with Angel's Eggs. Just unexplainable bliss. Anyway, really love your channel. Watching it for the last few weeks and slowly picking up. I have so much to agree and challenge you at the same time, it's really fantastic. Thank you for doing this!!

[@ridethelapras]

I've generally considered Brain Salad Surgery a weak album, ergo I made my own more 'popular' version cutting Karn Evil 9 way back, and adding the 'outtakes' from Works Vol. II: Side One 1. Tiger In a Spotlight 2. Toccata 3. Still... You Turn Me On 4. Benny the Bouncer 5. Brain Salad Surgery Side Two 1. Jerusalem 2. Karn Evil 9: First Impression (only) 3. When the Apple Blossoms Bloom In the Windmills of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine I made the various tracks (from each side) segue into each other, and curiously enough (by iTunes timing anyway) both sides turned out to be exactly the same in length.

[@bema_seat]

Much debate can be had on such a topic. The 70s Prog pioneers deserve all of the credit bestowed upon them. Camel (albums 2 - 4) are my favorite of the lot. IQ will forever be my favorite of the Neo era.

[@dfstarborn]

Mansuns "Six" is the best prog album every and nothing can come close to it. The best album I've ever heard and will ever hear. It will never be bettered.

[@montytrucker]

It is a incredibly good album. Great choice👍

[@loucontino4804]

You, Pawn Hearts, TAAB, Brain Salad Surgery, Octopus, Moving Pictures, Red, Dark Side, Foxtrot, CTTE. An interesting list for sure. I'm good with most of them, though I have some "swap-outs" and would rank them differently. Ashes Are Burning, Moonmadness, Godbluff, Per Un Amico, In a Glass House, Dark Side, TAAB, ITCOTCK, Selling England, CTTE.

[@antoniodias4718]

Great choices Andy!!! It's almost a flawless selection!!!! "Aqualung", "In the Court Of The Crimson King", "Larks' Tongues' in Aspic, "Fragile", "Selling England By The Pound", "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway", "Trilogy", "Animals" could be there too but then it wouldn't be the 10 greatest but the 20 greatest! I never understood why all channels and Prog lovers always include only one album per band. Why not 2 or 3??!! IN rock and roll history surely The Beatles and The Rolling Stones must have 2 or 3 albums each on the list (top 15, top 20, perhaps even in top 10) !! See you !!!

[@lucianoperillo8876]

It is certainly a very balanced and very representative ranking. But instead of moving pictures by rush I would certainly insert Valentyne suite by C olosseum. There are at least 100 contenders for 10 places, such as BMS, Grobshnitt, Amon duul, Hatfield and the north, camel, caravan, Ange, Renaissance, the first marillion with fish, and so on. but I agree on the bands that have represented the most progressive

[@doopum1]

The guys in Bubblemath call a straight beat under a lot of weird stuff "Weathering The Storm!"

[@richardhines8622]

Relayer, Brain Salad Surgery. Who doesn’t know this?

[@grahamnunn8998]

Thick As A Brick is probably one of the most self aware prog albums and more importantly, done with a sense of humour. We expect it now but Progressive (big and small p) rock was quite po-faced. Gentle Giant were one of the few bands who got this, especially later.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I agree...this humility is part of what I call The English Aesthetic and is essential for great prog. I may do a video defining this...

[@ANTHONYCUSHEN]

This is not a criticism. I thought, in my teens, progressive music would continue. Optimistic youth eh! I just cannot even have a popular top anything. I just continue, in wonder, at the beauty.

[@edljnehan2811]

I was in my teens in the late sixties early seventies and we just didn't realize that there was such things as greedy music Corporation Executives with dollar signs in their eyes capable of guiding Our Heroes into the world of commercial bull s h i t😮

[@Sam_Utah]

It is a mistake I sometimes make to confuse a great song with a great album. That said, I see the "genesis" of Dark Side in the album Meddle, l refer to the song Echoes, where I hear feed forward movements that were realized in Dark Side. Also, the same with Pictures at an Exhibition with the Sage pulling our heartstrings to the Gates soaring extravaganza... and one final note, if YES Tales was only side one and two it might have made the list for me. Wakeman was said to dislike it but he sure gave it the orchestration it needed. 'nuf said. Good list, though, hard to argue and thanks for introducing me to Gong You. sub.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for watching Sam

[@ofiroman123]

Beautiful list. You got me going to my stereo now to listen to some prog…

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for listening

[@RIPMMD]

Are you the Andy that played drums on IQs frequency album?

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes....and on Frost Milliontown etc

[@justgimmesometruth1136]

In this case, the old saying if a little is good than more must be better applies. The albums of Yes and King Crimson would just about cover my top 10. Would probably throw in some Jethro Tull and Genesis and call it a day. Pink Floyd would have to be in a separate category called Slow-gressive.

[@Glornt]

Big thumbs up for Red! Everyone seems to pick the debut, which is an important album, but as you pointed out does have some lulls. Red is all great, as is Discipline. I might make the argument that, despite having two members in common, the Red KC was a different band than the one that made Discipline, and put them both on my list.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

There is a strong arument that Disciplne is a greater album and more influential than Red and should have replaced it ofn the list. I'm working on a 'Top 10 overlooked PROG masterpieces' and that might go on that...

[@jjrusy7438]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer discipline was the whole next era. i still remember when fripp killed the KC project after red. i was devastated. IMO, they were the best band that ever was. also the 1980's tour video from japan was totally amazing once they got the 2nd iteration going. i agree, the first album was great, but IMO, KC hit its stride on the 2nd album wake of poseidon, and all the albums through red are my favorites. i still remember playing larks tongues the first time, holy sh!t.

[@icdgyixify99]

You forgot "The doughnut in granny's greenhouse" by the Bonzo Dog Doodah Band.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Nothing by The Helen Reddy Band ?

[@FundamentalsUK]

Pleased you’ve re evaluated ELP and BSSs,and great comments about the Giant 😉 ❤️them

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you like them!

[@MatthewShaver8]

I already had 6 from your list and have picked up a couple more now.

[@michaelkeudel8770]

Try Mystery, the band Benoit David left to take Jon Andersons place in Yes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZyYaaRvjbaYhM0

[@Ricardohomsy]

1 Hot Rats- zappa 2 Thick as a brick -tull 3 Bundles-Soft Machine 4Larks tongues in aspic-Crimson 5Close to the edge-Yes 6Physical Graffiti-Led 7Three Friends-Gentle Giant 8South Saturn Delta-Hendrix 9Meddle-Pink Floyd 10Third-Soft Machine 11Waka Jawaka-Zappa 12Are you experience-Hendrix 13 Heavy Horses-Tull 14In the court of the crimson-king-crimson 15Presence-Led 16Going for the one-Yes 17The soft Parade-the doors 18Construção-Chico 19O clube da esquina-Milton 20Alagbon close-Fela Kuti

[@edljnehan2811]

Led Zeppelin Hendrix the doors are not progressive rock my friend they are not even close😢 as a matter of fact I could probably even eliminate a few more on your list😮 do you even know what progressive rock is or what the criteria is? If you do don't include these groups I'm sure you love them and I like them I listen to them back when they first came on the scene but they are in no way progressive rock😮

[@robote7679]

Another great list. But that said just had to give a shout out to in my mind-musically at least if not sadly in sales-"Planet X "the first studio album by keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Every single cut is just prog dynamite with a bit of fusion thrown in for good measure. The compositions are all fantastic and again the musicianship! The ensemble work here if not perfect is certainly within spitting distance. It is my personal prog fav of all time.

[@hjones451]

I would add that 'Trick of the Tail' is my favourite Genesis studio album (Seconds Out is 1) - 'Crime of the Century' by Supertramp is up there with them - A total nightmare trying to pick Top 10 Progrock albums though.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

But the problem is, to paraphrase Kelis...my Top Tens bring the boys to the yard...

[@TheMaztl99]

My ten greatest prog albums: 1.- Close to the Edge - Yes 2.- Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 3.- The Snow Goose - Camel 4.- Red - King Crimson 5.- Moving Pictures - Rush 6.- Deadwing - Porcupine Tree 7.- A Tab in the Ocean - Nektar 8.- Bridge Across Forever - Transatlantic 9.- Los Jaivas - Alturas de Machu Pichu 10.- Originallis - Cast

[@lupcokotevski2907]

Australian bands made prog melodic and very accessible. Three brilliant examples: Goolutionites and the Real People (1970) by Tamam Shud. Concept is the environment. With teen guitar prodigy Tim Gaze. Original vinyl costs a fortune. At the Mountains of Madness (1971) by Blackfeather. Bon Scott on percussion. Bon covered Seasons of Change with his band Fraternity. Side 2 includes The Rat Suite. Amazing cover art. A Toast to Panama Red (1972) by The Master's Apprentices. Recorded at Abbey Road. Cover art includes lots of hidden genitalia. Panama Red was potent weed.