The Battle Of 1985: Prog Vs. Non-Prog

In this episode I put my Top Ten Prog albums of 1985 up against my Top Ten Non-Prog albums. Who will win this epic showdown? (You can probably guess…)
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[@Prog-t9d]

Another great episode. I guess it depends on the mood at the time you are listening to the different music. It’s all good . Music is love. Prog on ……

[@Paul_Progressive]

What a fantastic show! I finished my list yesterday for Pete Pardo's best albums of 1985 which has started today, and (go figure)!: 15 of your twenty albums are part of my ranking! And you are absolutely right: 1985 was a shitty year for pop and rock in general but of course there are a handful of albums which are absolutely amazing. And my # 1 is (spoiler alert!) Kate Bush with a fantastic prog epic nobody ever talks about.

[@TheProgCorner]

The Ninth Wave, baby!!!!

[@paultomaney8285]

I went to school with Martin Macaloon. Paddy Macaloon was studying to be a priest! They used to play acoustic guitars whilst serving petrol at their father's gas station in Witton Gilbert....a small village between Durham and Langley Park ( my home village, and name checked in From Langley Park to Memphis).....love the battling idea of this vid. Thanks again from all in the UK!!!

[@TheProgCorner]

Wow!!!! That’s awesome!!!! Langley Park To Memphis!!!! Another great album.

[@ErikTJ86]

Yeaaah, right on for Marillion - Misplaced Childhood as best album of 1985 taking the cake for prog! (actually first exposure was Kayleigh on radio and seeing the cheesy video in 1985 as a senior in high school and wondering what magic is this I am hearing?) This from a long-time Marillion fan just stumbling onto your channel.

[@TheProgCorner]

Outstanding!!!!!! Thank you!!!

[@davidfiddleman2312]

This was so much fun to watch. I really dont know much of the prog albums only Rush- but I love the selections of Replacements, Husker Du, Tears for Fears, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Smiths..

[@TheProgCorner]

An excuse to talk about some bands that I’ve never mentioned on the channel!!!!!

[@toddhill7483]

Excellent video. For other non prog, have to mention: Talking Heads Little Creatures Killing Joke Night Time The Damned Phantasmagoria New Model Army No Rest for the Wicked Minutemen Three Way Tie for Last The Sisters of Mercy First and Last and Always Love and Rockets Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven Cheers!

[@TheProgCorner]

Outstanding!!!!

[@rogertemple7193]

I was 21 in 1985 and I listened to a lot of different rock music over the years including Progressive rock now known as Prog rock and all of these you are covering here are great especially with Prog thanks Scott.🎶📻🎶

[@TheProgCorner]

Roger!!!!!

[@scottmcrae3355]

Agree with all of these choices except I take Prefab Sprout over DCD and The Cure over IQ. Steve McQueen (2 wheels good) is one of my favourite albums of the decade. This was a great idea for an episode! You should do more of these.

[@TheProgCorner]

I might have fudged a bit - I kinda agree with you on The Cure.

[@oy6793]

That Meat Puppets album is absolutely awesome

[@toddhill7483]

My favorite from them, hands down.

[@WooBino.]

Brothers In Arms/ Dire Straits

[@mikereiss4216]

I forgot about that one. Great call.

[@NigelSmith66]

Nice idea for a video. Somehow I guessed it was gonna turn out 5 versus 5. 😉

[@TheProgCorner]

A rigged election!!!!

[@Lady.Luthien]

I was so mad that you went against Rush, Prince, Kate Bush, and The Cure, but you redeemed yourself by declaring Marillion the winner. Bravo!

[@gorancabrajic3240]

Le poison qui rend fou is a true masterpiece. Great episode, cheers

[@TheProgCorner]

Way over my head but I dig it!!!!!

[@gorancabrajic3240]

@TheProgCorner You know I love my avangarde and RIO. 🇧🇦🇺🇸🇧🇦🇺🇸

[@danaaronmusic]

Can't wait until next year when you do 1986: The best prog album vs. the best non-prog album--and it's the same album!

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, this was a fun episode idea.

[@WooBino.]

Scarecrow /Mellencamp. HUGE album.

[@TheProgCorner]

Rain on the scarecrow Blood on the plow

[@ceedee-z2q]

Psychonaut non prog albums of 1985: Plasticland's S/T and Television Personalities 'The Painted Word' are underground retro-psychedelic masterpieces with post punk/prog elements more akin to the Velvet Underground/early Roxy Music as opposed to Genesis or Yes.

[@TheProgCorner]

Big fan of Television Personalities!!!! Don’t know Plasticland though…

[@michaelbenz8092]

Home field advantage is overwhelming.

[@TheProgCorner]

Don’t blame the ref!!!! The Chiefs are in the Super Bowl…

[@marksink1652]

Except for that one 4th down call, where the refs at first seemed to disagree, it might have worked out different. I can't "hate" the Chiefs, the way I do the Steelers, but by now I'm getting a little sick of them. That said, I'll be pulling for a 3-peat in SB 59.

[@PJprog]

Of course Prog wins out. Just the fact Misplaced Childhood was released in this year. Marillion obsessed at this time is the understatement of all time... I was crazy bonkers mad for them !!! Actually a great battle but our beloved genre takes the prize. Phew !!! Awesome Scot !!! 😍🎵🎵🤘

[@TheProgCorner]

It was a close call but Marillion saved the day!!!!

[@MattCarter67]

Great vid! I’m just getting into Dead Can Dance who are almost in Mike Oldfield territory nowadays. And Tears For Fears are brilliant - Head Over Heels is a mini pop prog masterpiece

[@TheProgCorner]

Yes sir!!!!

[@brettstrausser3846]

Tears for Fears is Progressive pop! That's why it is number one! Love this format, Scot, we get to hear about your non-prog favorites, too! Who did you borrow it from??

[@TheProgCorner]

Surprisingly, I came up with this all by myself!!!!

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey now! Rough couple of days.👍☮️👑🐍🙏😎

[@TheProgCorner]

Yeah, man. Sorry to hear about all of that. Life can be cruel.

[@jeffschielka7845]

@TheProgCorner Makes no sense!!!!🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍🐍😎

[@toddspango]

NICE update on the ending bit. More King Chucky v Trompe, pls.

[@TheProgCorner]

I think I stumbled upon some fertile ground z

[@WooBino.]

Robert Plants solo work along with the solo work of Townshend is almost forgot about.

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m a BIG fan of All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.

[@diegogustavocastro7039]

The Head on the Door! The Album I'Listened to the Most In My Life!! And My Favorite From 1985!!! I❤ Psychocandy and Meat is Murder!!

[@TheProgCorner]

I demand a recount. I think The Cure got robbed!!!

[@ethan-c093]

Nice list, although as a canadian I am a bit offended you chose the Waterboys over Rush, but it's okay haha.

[@TheProgCorner]

Any other Rush album…

[@JohnCooper-co5hs]

So many heroes who were great in the 70’s had bad 80’s, from jack nicholson to prog rockers

[@TheProgCorner]

That’s for sure!!!!

[@grayjohn6742]

Love your channel. I don't know the Replacements. Pendragon The Jewel album is awesome. I don't what it is about it, its one of those special albums. Fusion, mystical, jazz drumming, floating keyboards. Amazing guitar playing. I should listen the the Replacements album. Power windows is best Rush's album, I dont know the Waterboys. The Cure VS IQ. Interesting I would say IQ are goth.

[@TheProgCorner]

I’m slowly becoming a fan of 80s Rush.

[@grayjohn6742]

@@TheProgCorner Signals is Dystopian. Grace under pressure is cold and Dark , Power windows is Cinematic (Think Trevor Horn produced Rush) and Hold your fire is a grown up rock album. Safe, but underneath the safety is darkness. It is a pop rock album.

[@trainguy7276]

Look, Power Windows, Misplaced Childhood and Brother Where You Bound are more than enough for the Prog side to win for me. Lol

[@TheProgCorner]

Right on!!!

[@philipmorrissey9142]

Be interesting if you threw in a third combatant of metal. Given that thrash and extreme metal bands were on the rise at the time. But a fine bunch of selections nonetheless

[@TheProgCorner]

I actually thought about doing it that way!!!! But, in the end, went for the head to head battle format!!!!

[@AllMediaReviewsPodcast]

interesting premise to deal with the dilemma of having Prog vs Non-Prog (but still what is and what is not Prog? still is an issue). I might consider doing an Odd Number of releases to guarantee 1 wins over the other; Top 9 or 11 or maybe 15? 1 album that did not get included, but I know you may not be that into them, especially the early stuff is Fates Warning's 2nd album "The Spectre Within." In my 1985 ranking video, it was #3 behind Rush and of course Marillion.

[@TheProgCorner]

What is and is not Prog is up to each individual listener!!!! (But my opinion is the only one that matters. Like Judge Judy!)

[@preservedmoose]

Brother Where You Bound is probably my favourite Supertramp album as it is the most progressive - well maybe a tie with Crime of the century. My copy is the version mastered at Masterdisk by Bob Ludwig, no less - a stunning sounding record along with the great music. A fun list. Prog won??🎉 (just 😂)

[@TheProgCorner]

Go Team Prog!!!!

[@marksink1652]

Two Wheels Good always seemed an odd/amusing title considering the cover picture.

[@TheProgCorner]

Either way, it’s a stellar album!!!!!

[@michaelsmyth3935]

Brothers in Arms Fables of the Reconstruction Hounds of Love Hell Awaits Centerfield Songs from the Big Chair The Cult-LOVE Killing is my Business Misplaced Childhood Power Windows, and yeah Stereotomy ...finally the great Magnum, On a Storyteller's Night Love Kate.

[@daveycretin664]

Cool ep, Scot! With Marilo, Bushy and Penny, Prog definitely wins in 1985… no matter how cool The Smiffs are. Sorry, not sorry. 😉 Keep up the sterling work. Cheers from The Big Apple. Rock Out, Prog On and Pogo! It’s my mantra and my logo, At the end of most of my videos! The only clown whose sign offs are longer than the body of his comments… Your clone and mine, ~ The Dreaded, Dopamine Addicted Doppelgänger of Davey Cretin, from Cretin Classics.

[@TheProgCorner]

Yoo-hoo

[@daveycretin664]

@ “A fine beverage.” The Bubble 🫧 Boy’s father delivered Yoo-Hoo on his truck 🛻 on Seinfeld. Played by the great character actor - and brother to Bill Murray - Brian Doyle-Murray!

[@mikaelsvanberg6300]

This was the year when I started to dislike the 80's (Live Aid, mind you) and it would only be getting worse. Fables of the Reconstruction by R.E.M. the main discovery for me - their most underrated. But you did mention some great albums.

[@TheProgCorner]

I need to do an REM episode!!!!

[@ilabelle1]

@@TheProgCorner Hmmm…not Prog but I loved REM until they were Out of Time. Rank em Scot.

[@jimdistad7459]

I don't know I like some things never change better than brother where you bound

[@TheProgCorner]

I love that record!!!!!

[@jimdistad7459]

@TheProgCorner only thing I don't like about some things is it was never put on vinyl

[@Czyszy]

"Husker Du" means "Do You Remember" in Danish.

[@TheProgCorner]

I never knew that.

[@ilabelle1]

Hmm...1985. The times they were a-changin'. I hate to do it but I'm gonna have to resort to list making. (shudder) Tears For Fears - Songs From the Big Chair (I prefer The Hurting by far but...) Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising REM - Fables of the Reconstruction\ Pogues - Rum Sodomy & the Lash Marillion - Misplaced Childhood Supertramp - Brother Where You Bound Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (album of the year for me) Midge Ure - The Gift The Cult - Love Dream Academy - Dream Academy The Cure - Head on the Door Kate Bush - Hounds of Love Beat Happening - Beat Happening Dead Kennedys - Frankenchrist Sade - Promise JAMC - Psychocandy Godley & Creme - History Mix Squeeze - Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti Gowan - Strange Animal There's a smattering of the albums I was listening to in 1985. Not a lot of prog I'm afraid but still some fantastic albums were released.

[@TheProgCorner]

A most excellent list!

[@kellywann3794]

I would’ve went with Kate Bush over The Smiths, and I’m one the biggest Smiths/Morrissey fan ever. But as much as I love The Smiths I love steaks and hamburgers too. Meat is Murder ends too preachy for me.

[@TheProgCorner]

It was a close battle!!!!!

[@markspooner1224]

Who am I to disagree? I do like Rain Dogs though.

[@mikereiss4216]

Non prog from 1985? I'm not sure I can think of much off the top of my head for either prog or non prog. For prog you had Misplaced Childhood by Marillion. For non prog Scarecrow by John Mellencamp and I can't think of anything else off the top of my head. Lol. Oh well. In the 80s I was more into 70s bands. I like that stuff now but at the time I was listening mostly to classic 70s prog and classic rock.

[@TheProgCorner]

A very strange year!!!

[@mikereiss4216]

@@TheProgCorner I'm actually not familiar with most of those non prog albums (I know the Prince one though) so I'll look into them. Thanks for doing this.

[@Kymystery]

Tears for Fears are prog. They both are prog fans too.

[@ricardoluna7114]

The only Thing good in 80’s is jazz fusion

[@josephgerard5473]

The 1980s - crap music, good politics (Thatcher and Reagan). I realise this is purely subjective and there probably was some decent 1980s music out there but I didn't notice much of it and, to be fair, Mrs T made some shabby mistakes in her 3rd term but as a soundtrack - there were a couple of pieces by New Order that I quite enjoy but otherwise, no, for me the 1980s was the decade without music.

[@TheProgCorner]

It was rough!!! XTC got me through!!!

[@josephgerard5473]

@@TheProgCorner Oh yes, thanks for reminding me...I forgot all about XTC. Yes, they were pretty good at times...witty lyrics, too.

[@ricardoluna7114]

80’s Sucks man!!

[@TheProgCorner]

No doubt.

[@mikereiss4216]

I used to think that but you just have to dig deep.