The Ten Greatest Prog Albums Ranked | The Objective List

[@g.belanger8302]

Having a majority of people agree on something doesn't make it objective, it just means that most people's subjective opinions are in agreement...

[@ectoplasma5]

But isn't McDonalds the best food ?

[@eximusic]

In as much as opinions about art can be objective, that would be the criteria. Or matching the list against a list of standards for that genre (which is also subjective, but could be determined by consensus - so same thing).

[@ConorHanley]

@@MrLcowles Not really, its an an objective statement of the most popular albums which may or may not correspond to the greatest albums.

[@ConorHanley]

@@ectoplasma5 Must be , even billionaires and POTUS to be eat it. I've eaten it on occasion so that clinches the argument.

[@alexanderwilliamson7431]

Majority of people agree Rape is bad. Would you say that is not objective?

[@slobodanudarac5]

I love it when Andy does the Gilmore sound!!❤ Thanks 4 including FZ and ELP!

[@kennethengstrm3105]

There could never be a top ten prog list without VDGG-Pawn hearts

[@Nikioko]

Or Godbluff.

[@corleth84]

Or Still Life

[@LeeJMac]

Your Dave Gilmour impression cracks me up every time!

[@davehall8584]

yep! Andy totally nailed it! hilarious....nearly busted my gut with laughter!

[@MrStrawberry86]

Me too!

[@brianhart5620]

So glad you like Ommadawn. We need a review!

[@marioabreu2886]

I am so sad for Camel. So often forgotten. I believe Mirage needs to be up there among the very best. Snow Goose is perfect prog… a concept album revolving around a beautiful theme, and Andy Latimer has reached guitar player nirvana with his tone and his flow in solos like Ice and Stationary Traveller. I still have goosebumps when I listen to Ice, as I did 45 years ago when I listened to it for the first time.

[@zodiac6968]

Mirage is awesome, along with Animals, my fave prog album.

[@rothwellaudio]

If you don't like Andy's Top Ten Prog List, don't worry - he'll have a revised version out within a month. He'll soon be able to do a Top Ten List of his own Top Ten lists.

[@binkwillans5138]

I hope so. Then he can include the 10 he missed out here.

[@richardthurston2171]

KZbin listicles. Another nail in the coffin of culture.

[@patthewoodboy]

agree , people ask me "whats your top 10" , it changes all the time

[@jeffreywillstewart]

Consequences by 10CC is an obscure amazing work. But Close to the Edge came to mind immediately, so good take.

[@richard127gm]

"In The Court Of The Kingsome Crim". Love it. An absolute Andy classic. Great list and another entertaining view.

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

Objectivity is impossible Andy! I saw the Topographic Oceans and Selling England tours, so they will always be the two best prog albums for me.This 66 year old remembers the thrill of my first two concerts and growing up in Bournemouth with my late mum and dad and brothers and sisters and going to school and falling in love for the first time!

[@jeffloxterkamp9305]

Towards the end of the show, Andy mentioned that the first ELP album came out just a few months after King Crimson’s ‘Court Of the Crimson King.’ That is a busy and fast turnaround time for singer - bassist Greg Lake.

[@malekmo64]

Especially that Greg was on some tracks on In The Wake of the Poseidon. It's also irony that Greg Lake replaced John Wetton in the live Asia, with both their connections to King Crimson.

[@ronbo11]

@@malekmo64 That's true, but I was disappointed when they did that live "Asia in Asia" concert video and it was Lake instead of Wetton because my ears had been attuned to John's vocal range. I know it must've been tough for Greg to quickly take the torch when Wetton left (or was let go from ) the band.

[@stingfan16ify]

​@ronbo11 John Wetton could NEVER match Greg Lake in vocal quality. In range, perhaps. Lake has one of the finest voices in Rock history. For me, Wetton is solid, but not next level.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

​@@stingfan16ify Lake sings like a boy, Wetton sings like a man.

[@willyupshaw]

1. Lark's Tongue in Aspic 2. The Power and the Glory 3. Close to the Edge 4. Remember the Future 5. Selling England by the Pound 6. Animals 7. Pawn Hearts 8. Thick as a Brick 9. Warrior on the Edge of Time 10. A Farewell to Kings

[@willyupshaw]

11. Dawn 12. Brain Salad Surgery 13. Ashes are Burning 14. Platinum 15. Ballermann 16. Even in the Quietest Moments 17. Moving Waves 18. In the Land of Grey and Pink 19. Music Inspired by the Snow Goose 20. Max Webster

[@donalddavid3431]

Love this

[@rsqyoung]

Selling England by the Pound - Firth of Fifth, but otherwise agree. Tubular Bells does get overlooked and i probably prefer Hergest Ridge.

[@johnthresher259]

Gilmour does play it safe with his guitar playing but he does it bloody well!

[@ConorHanley]

Its amazing that Gilmour plays guitar like Gilmore instead of like the late Derek Bailey or some shredding metal nonsense.

[@markruthin]

Missing Gentle Giant but if this is a popularity contest or a sales record then I guess this ranking is representative. As a "typical" prog fan I have stuff from all these artists but not necessarily the KC, Genesis or Jethro Tull albums chosen. Not Animals but just bought Rotters Club and You on your previous recommendation. Another great video Andy. All the best!

[@davidmorgan6896]

Animals and Wish You Were Here were very much my favourite Pink Floyd albums. If that's the kind of thing you like you should like Animals.

[@jamescpotter]

Free Hand? Pawn Hearts? The Lamb? Someone's gonna take a hit. Too many choices but everything you rate is stellar!

[@Frodanatee]

objectively as always - very enjoyable! Love the videos Andy! The one that snared me was Ten Most Pointless Bands ... I had found my soulmate haha! But have stayed for deep dives on Prog and Fusion. Because of you I love the Brecker Brothers .... Heavy Metal Be Pop from the awful covers video. Got it on record .... its stunning. Cant turn it off. And Visions of the Emerald Beyond ... found a copy of that too - how have lived this long without hearing this? Thanks again chief!

[@auroraromano7404]

Totally agree about visions ... For many years I've dug going on KZbin and skipping around to watch McLaughlin rip some electric solos but I just didn't get MO as a whole. I did burn up copes of JLPs cosmic messenger and enigmatic, loved them. Never realized he was in MO. Thank you Andy for turning me on to your favorite fusion album of all time. The first 15 min. Of visions currently are just mind boggling awesome to me rn. Thank u thank u thank u

[@Frodanatee]

@@auroraromano7404 same haha ... i listened to Visions on Spotify and was walking home from work - I didn't know the album, was blown away by it. Then i noticed the sound had changed a bit with this amazing song... so i checked my phone and Spotify had played Cosmic Messenger after Visions was over. What an album ... Puppets Dance, I'll never get that out of my head :) Cheers again Andy

[@Frodanatee]

@@auroraromano7404 I was also a bit amazed by how often the violin was the star of the show on Visions... was expecting it to be more guitar heavy. Such a lovely blend that album

[@richardstuebe9807]

Tull = Never made a bad album during that period. Earns you a subscribe and like, for sure!

[@martinscase3904]

There has to be a place for Van der Graaf Generator in any objective list. Sure - difficult to pick an album maybe but as a band they have a staying power and constant change and true 'progression' over the years and, to date. I really like them too😂

[@petern3363]

Agreed, Plague of Lighthouse Keepers should really be their. Early conceptual masterpiece.

[@sabe11a39]

iirc, Pawn Hearts and Godbluff just barely miss the top 10

[@kennethengstrm3105]

There could never be a top ten list without VDGG👍😎

[@binkwillans5138]

Agreed, but let's also throw in a shout for Chameleon and Silent Corner. And Still Life.

[@eximusic]

Easy, Pawn Hearts.

[@davidschecter5247]

Really enjoyed your video. I think the reason DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED is skipped over so much is because Peter Knight wasn't "in" the group. But given that members of other rock groups were in and out of their various groups at various times, I think the six musicians who put together that record deserve many more plaudits than they've been given. It was the first "progressive" rock album I ever heard -- when it came out -- and it was mind-opening and along with "Fragile," turned me onto classical music.

[@bjr4567]

Anyone who omits this groundbreaking album from their top 10 shouldn't be taken seriously.

[@davidreichert9392]

You're progressively turning into a chimney sweep.

[@frankmurphyburr3598]

I thought Chas n Dave 😅

[@ConorHanley]

@@frankmurphyburr3598 Me too. Also he lacks the baked in coal dust to be a chimney sweep. Though it could be a pisstake of Working Class Men from the Thirties, in a post-modern ironic fashion to make it OK for a middle class man of today. We can expect him to dress up like a Black & White Minstrel next, ironically of course.

[@SheilaThompson-od5tr]

I immediately thought of Eric Olthwaite from Ripping Yarns

[@michelesalvemini6282]

ahahaah

[@devereauxclandestine1272]

@@SheilaThompson-od5tr Maybe we'll get a top ten shovels video, with a Spear and Jackson No.7 taking the top spot!

[@painless465]

For Canterbury I would put In The Land of Grey and Pink or Fish Rising. Another great one is Space Shanty by Khan

[@agsmith001]

thanks for getting me into Gong, i wasn't even aware of their newer stuff. it's fantastic space rock with the quality I always wanted from Hawkwind. You is a great choice too. to me it sounds more like the newer stuff, the first track on The Universe also Collapses is incredible!

[@brianjames5685]

He's a ranker. It does him good it bloody well should. He's a ranker

[@binkwillans5138]

Damn, haven't heard that in a while... But is it prog???

[@davidmorgan6896]

​@@binkwillans5138It certainly pushed back some boundaries and isn't that what progressive music should do? I've not heard Ivor Biggun since I was 15. I wonder if he's on Spotify?

[@mrkitewine7700]

Kudos to Andy for flirting with the KZbin copyright strikes by using the actual Gilmour guitar lick and pretending to do it with his voice three times in quick succession.

[@normanjones9663]

I just had an idea for a list that might be interesting. How about the top 10 live albums by prog bands that blow the original studio albums out of the water? Or even just individual tracks.

[@neilvincent5524]

Andy your videos have inspired me to explore prog more deeply. Alas I can't get into Pink Floyd or Genesis, but I love Close To The Edge and Thick As A Brick. Ommadawn has long been in my top 10 albums

[@extremelifeandlarydean1894]

Great program maestro! When you went through the first 10 I was thinking EOP and Rush had to be on there and you nailed it! I’m happily surprised that you put moving pictures on your list. I had you putting Rush on there, but I thought it was going to be 2112. I completely agree moving pictures is it!

[@christopher9152]

You're right about the importance of Gong, though I don't know if I'd put them on the list of ten.. But no doubt, their trilogy was fantastic.

[@dogmatronic]

I have an answer to your Selling England by the Pound dilemma. Read on… Take Pink Floyd and Gentle Giant. One band operates on feel, mood and scene setting the other on intricate and abstract arrangements. I love them both. Floyd have more of an emotional affect on me and also fire off visualisation and imagination - especially Animals. Gentle Giant and some aspects of Yes make me marvel at some of the sophistication and make me want to play my guitar. Genesis, my personal favourite bands lands somewhere in between the 2 and Selling England is the perfect synthesis of the technical intricacies and mood e.g. Moonlit Night, Epping Forest with Cinema Show perhaps being the zenith & Firth of Fifth less so. I love Nursery Cryme as it was the first Genesis album I heard. Someone gave me the album when all I’d heard from Genesis in 86 was Invisible Touch and Land of Confusion - I couldn’t believe it was the same band and someone was playing tapping on an overdriven guitar back in 1971!

[@mclarsj]

The BEST Genesis with Gabriel should have been (the first) but a double live album! With Watcher... The Knife AND Supper's Ready on it

[@roddmcleodable]

Andy, regarding ITCOTCK I hear you about the Moonchild improv section, but I Talk to the Wind and Epitaph are both exceptionally great. The band either swings or struts majestically.

[@binkwillans5138]

Moonchild held me enraptured for centuries. Sorry, folks, but CK at No 1.

[@kratino]

The Moonchild improv section is true self-indulgent nonsense especially following its gorgeous beginning. Otherwise, everything on that album is gobsmacking genius.

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

Epitaph is a simple slow song.

[@binkwillans5138]

@@МаксРогозин-е1ю Upon the instruments of death, The sunlight brightly gleams... When every man is torn apart With nightmares and with dreams Will no one lay the laurel wreath When silence drowns the screams

[@МаксРогозин-е1ю]

@@binkwillans5138 so? Good lyrics, good vocal performance. That's it. Structurally not very interesting. I'll take Starless any day over it.

[@EclecticInstinct]

Objectively?? I cannot wait for this.😁 Well, clearly I am waiting for this.

[@Chiller11]

Well, you waited for it didn’t you?

[@EclecticInstinct]

@@Chiller11 I did indeed.

[@dav147]

Relayer has to be in there for me, i'd even put it above Close To The Edge.

[@jdmresearch]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I say "no way.". There is more than one reason but to be succinct: Bill Bruford. Don't get met wrong, I love Alan White, the problem is that Bruford is really the most creative drummer in prog.

[@adrianuhr6715]

That's exactly my opinion, too ❤

[@MrStrawberry86]

What you lose in bill Bruford you gain in patrick moraz, his work on here, particularly the battle in the middle of gates of delirium is some of the most kick ass prog ever. I personally agree relayer is my favourite yes album

[@Spock105]

Indeed . Soundchaser is top for testing your audio system.

[@bootleggerblacky]

Van Der Graaf Generator anyone? But I agree that Relayer is THE best Yes album by far !

[@elaineandjohn9599]

Completely agree with your parameters. And maybe not the album, but close enough and definitely the artist. Nicely argued. Thanks.

[@beaterville]

Your reviews are just brilliant. In the eighties I worked and shopped and these records were always in demand and very hard to get. Entertaining and fun, keep proving on. A band you may find entertaing is the music of Glass Eye from Austin Texas. Be well sir!

[@glerp10000000000]

I would never have thought of putting You and Lather in my top 10...but I'm glad you did.

[@liveagain1096]

Gee Andy, your choices and ratings are so close to my own...my fave Yes albums, in order, are: Relayer, Fragile, Going for the One and CTTE. I've always been a large fan of Allan Holdsworth since first hearing him solo on the song "Expresso" on Gazeuse by Gong (also labeled Expresso before seeing it more recently marketed as Gazeuse). I used to listen to the entirety of Thick as a Brick on my brother-in-law's headphones when I was 17 y o. I watched Gentle Giant open for Yes on the latter's Relayer tour in 1976. I much prefer listening to Moraz than Wakeman but still have huge respect for and very much enjoy Rick Wakeman, including his thematic efforts 6 Wives & Journey to the Center of the Earth. My point is that I am ecstatic to have a place to go to on YT that is so relatable to me...thank you so so much. And may AH be discovered & remembered by a growing number of You Tubers being enlightened by your reverent/irreverent channel!

[@jag985]

No Moody Blues, again???!!! Andy, maybe you can do an episode on why the Moody Blues get so little respect in any discussions of Prog Rock. Besides being one of creators of the genre, between 1965 and 1972, no band did it better or more consistently.

[@paulbrookes413]

I agree ! But, unfortunately, they are considered 'Pop'

[@jdmresearch]

I love the moody blues. Really love them. But I believe they aren’t generally considered “prog” because few of their songs are in odd time signatures. Which is very important for prog. (To be fair, the same applies to Pink Floyd songs (with notable exceptions)… then again, lots of people argue that PF isn’t prog).

[@henrydebruijn2259]

It is ProgPop and should be on the list

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

@@jdmresearch Back in the early seventies to most people who were into music I knew, Pink Floyd were Pink Floyd, in a genre of their own. I've never considered them to be a prog band as such, though they do the odd prog number, they do the odd heavy numbers too but no one calls them a heavy rock band. Floyd are my favourite band but back in the day I really liked the Moody Blues too. People have forgotten just how big they were back then. Dare I say it, up until DSOTM, they were actually bigger than the Floyd.

[@MagnusTorell]

Agree... when I woke up musically they were one of the first bands I realized I had to listen to - today I have them all and cherish them all... well at least 'til the eigthies... the first seven albums are mind blowing... reflect on that "...the first SEVEN albums..." - amazing stuff...

[@lauskop5995]

By the way... As a proghead musically socialized in the 70's I recently discoverd a band that I completely missed. They made a record in '77 called "Garden Shed" by "England" Deserves a listen...

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

I personally think your list is one of the most balanced I've seen. Zappa doesn't get enough recognition as a prog musician or as a guitarist in general imo. The first ELP album is also overlooked these days, so nice to see that make your list.

[@dhoyp14]

Any guitarist that hasn't listened to or appreciate Frank Zappa is doing something wrong

[@mariozamprogno1654]

Brother, you absolutely nailed it. Great commentary. I agree wholeheartedly.

[@tobiasinnit]

Brill vid. Could you do more videos's about jazz?

[@RoyHodgson97]

🤣🤣🤣 Gilmores sound, spot on Andy👍 Time stamp 1. 09:22 2. 09:28 3. 09:50

[@oldman2200]

So educational and entertaining! Love pretentious look (complete with white flecks on jacket) on my favorite quintessential know-it-all music snob-only missing pipe, cigarette or something! I don’t get my prog advice from anywhere else-heading back to Spotify to do some hard core listening-thanks again Andy!

[@LeeMoran-oz3er]

Yes: Close to the edge Genesis: Selling England by the pound King Crimson: Red Pink Floyd: Dark side of the moon Yes: Fragile Yes: Going for the one Genesis: The lamb lies down on Broadway Chris Squire: Fish out of water ELP: Trilogy King Crimson: In the court of the crimson king 😀

[@willyupshaw]

Good on you. Put SEBTP where it belongs. What's with these people who can't see it as the masterpiece that it is? Are they being contrarian or don't they have ears?

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@LeeMoran-oz3er have you not heard Museo Rosenbach?

[@LeeMoran-oz3er]

@@bertkarlsson1421 Yes I have, but the operatic voice is a bit too much for me. If I were to pick an Italian band it would be PFM.

[@paulbrookes413]

@@willyupshaw Doesn't do anything for me - Clever, but lacks punch 👊

[@Alex-nm7qx]

Rush - "Hemispheres" is a perfect album, right down to the production. Man, that album sounds amazing. It's a MASTERPIECE.

[@TheDriveDemo]

Totally agree! Why so many prog fans completely ignore RUSH is baffling to me. I've heard prog fans say " Prog has to be British. And then I hear the same people say " check out this great obscure German or Italian prog band" WTF?!!!

[@ianhewitson2738]

​@@TheDriveDemo Probably because the vast majority of Rush's output isn't prog.

[@chaosme1ster]

Masterpiece, yes, but not as good as A Farewell To Kings :). But you're entitled to your own opinion of course… sort of… 😇

[@DrakusRecords]

This is a great list. I'm not too familiar with Gong, and i think I listened to Lather once when I was on a Frank Zappa binge a decade or so ago, but don't remember it too well. You made me want to check those albums out. Otherwise I agree with this list and think it's an improvement, all great albums that I love and it's great that includes more bands. Only sad that Gentle Giant, Strawbs, VDGG and Renaissance don't get represented. Nursery Cryme is also my favorite Genesis album, but I don't think it's objectively their best. It's really hard to pick a best album from Genesis but Foxtrot is as good a choice as any.

[@gubsak55]

I think it is very individual which band and album you consider to be on the list. When I was young in the sixties and seventies I did not have the money to buy all the music I liked. I know Gentle Giant and Gong and an awful lot of other programs by name and I usually like what I hear, but they are until now not part of my LP and CD collection (around 3000) I wonder why Renaissance is not mentioned on these lists and Colosseum, I miss too, but maybe I am just too jazz oriented because I like Weather Report, Shakti and "similar" bands and where do I put Family if not as a progrock band? 😊 I list of ten is too excluding.😢

[@isazitterpappel4471]

Thank you for GOOOOOOOOONG and especially for the superb YOU 💗

[@robertvetter1011]

UK's first album was the pinnacle of prog rock. Perfect album right from the start to the end with no weak moments. It must be on such list.

[@drumhikeandski]

Agreed.

[@allanokeeffe9499]

Funny that you see yourself as David Essex. I was trying to decide if you were Chas or Dave. Keep up the good work!

[@lamecasuelas2]

That's a pretty good list Andy and it's hard to argue with your pick; i'd probably swap Mike Oldfield, Tull and Rush for Cardiacs, Tangerine Dream and VDGG. But they are all solid picks In my opinion

[@alanmcbride6658]

I dig your appreciation of Jethro Tull. I reckon Anderson would appreciate a number three on the list.

[@alanmcbride6658]

Gong as well? Far out.

[@robertperry9576]

Always tantalising - sometimes dead right, sometimes dead wrong, sometimes somewhere in between. But I love your videos. 😆

[@JonStraussArt-xw8pv]

love your list! when you mentioned canterbury scene i was hoping you’d bring up rotters club. i find that album works so well as a whole, the way the vocal parts are interweaved, i feel some real magic happened with that one. not that it ought to be on this list, but just wanna mention there is some masterpiece-isness there. thanks for the great video!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

So good!

[@richardbradley1532]

Huge Genesis and Rush fan, but yes, Close To The Edge.

[@wagstaff6135]

Have you spent any time with Mike Oldfield’s “Amarok”? Critically trashed, but I think needs to be considered along with Ommadawn as alternative/overlooked prog giant. Also, I don’t want to get into a debate about what to bump… but I think I would have to find a way to squeeze Gentle Giant in.

[@user-mad7max11dystopia]

Thanks Andy. You introduced me to the ELP debut album. I knew Lucky Man but not the album. It’s great! And I’m glad you put Rush on the list and I know I’m weird but Caress of Steel is my favorite prog Rush album. The song Panacea is sublime and Bastille Day, Lakeside Park and Fountain of Lamneth. For me it’s perfect. And it’s the coolest album cover.

[@jimimack7298]

Love your videos. Even though I've never been a Prog-Rock fan, and for the most part I'm still not a fan, but your videos give me lots of music that I've never heard, to listen to. Thanks Andy!

[@christophercoles4401]

1) Pink Floyd - Animals (1977) 2) Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973) 3) Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick (1972) 4) Yes - Fragile (1971) 5) King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969) 6) Strawbs - Hero And Heroine (1972) 7) ELO - Eldorado (1974) 8) The Moody Blues - Days Of Future Passed (1967) 9) Crack The Sky - Crack The Sky (1975) 10) The Alan Parsons Project - I Robot (1977)

[@Darrylizer1]

Nice list Andy, glad you mentioned Gong and Zappa. When asked if he was progressive rock Zappa himself said "sometimes". I was thinking Läther myself but ultimately I would chose Uncle Meat just because.

[@thatwilldonicely1314]

First ELP Album, a noble choice, staggering in it's ambition and musical vision

[@duanedoberman]

You've got quite a dapper hat collection Andy. Have you written to Santa for a new one? Todd Rundgren is influential on Britprog by the way, the Nazz Open My Eyes is definitely protoprog!

[@Arutha_Con_Doin]

Great list, but i would still change a few albums in my top ten list (if we only take one per band): 1) Yes - Close to the Edge 2) Genesis - The Lamb lies down on Broadway 3) Pink Floyd - Wish you were here 4) King Crimson - Red 5) Gentle Giant - Octopus 6) Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts 7) Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick 8) Camel - Mirage 9) ELP - Tarkus 10) Rush - Hemispheres

[@paulmarr7873]

Been listening to The Lamb nonstop the last few days and it is hard to understate its absolute brilliance. I slept on this for too long and it's like a new toy I will happily wear out until I depart.

[@willyupshaw]

Nice. I also went for a different band for each pick. Only I slid A Farewell To Kings in at #10 rather than Hemispheres. It's got to be one or the other.

[@davidmorgan6896]

​@@paulmarr7873It took me a while to get into the Lamb. I was expecting and hoping for something more like Nursery Cryme or Foxtrot, but it grew to be my favourite album. That was a long time ago though.

[@paulmarr7873]

@@davidmorgan6896 same, I had to be ready, it's unlike anything they had done before or after and that is what makes it stand out to me, just way out of left field but I appreciate it as an artistic right to do what you wanted to do back then and it still holds up as a quality work.

[@normanjones9663]

Nice video. Concerning the retained Progarchives albums, I agree except that I would exchange Thick as a Brick with Close to the Edge, but that's just me and nothing to do with this site. As for the Andy list: I agree with the ELP and Frank Zappa choices but not with the other three for purely personal reasons. I've never liked Rush, Tubular Bells is too twee, and as for Gong: it's not so much that I dislike them, but they actively annoy me to the point of me wanting to cover my ears and grit my teeth. As alternatives I would suggest Pain of Salvation's first album: Entropia (if you liked Avenged Sevenfold's Life is but a Dream, take a listen to this), Porcupine Tree's In Absentia, and Gentle Giant's The Power and the Glory. I enjoyed you discussing your choices though.

[@stevejensen5112]

I'm having trouble choosing the right words, so I guess I'll just put it this way. Jethro Tull often is left out of the conversation. I think it's cool that your system put them at number 2. In the 70s they were consistently great and pure prog.

[@Veaseify]

Well, initially Andy took the rankings from a Prog Rock Archive website based on thousands of reviews so around the world Tull are definitely regarded as a prog band. Its probably in America that they are regarded more like a 'Classic Rock' band (and they were absolutely massive over there)and that kind of skews the argument.

[@stevejensen5112]

@@Veaseify Good info, thanks

[@joemartucci4786]

My first concert...Tull Thick as a Brick tour with Gentle Giant opening. Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

[@davidpalmer5966]

Audacious list. You touch on an issue that always bothers me when I'm making up a best-of list (I both like them and don't like them, but they're fun to make up for oneself). The issue is historical significance vs intrinsic musicality. For instance, Mike Oldfield. My personal pick would be 'Incantations' but I've no argument with those who rate 'Ommadawn' as his best. 'Tubular Bells' is historically significant, yes, and - maybe, though really it's a matter of personal choice - his most accessible, but does that make it a top 10? To my mind 'historically significant' and 'intrinsic brilliance' are two different and almost mutually exclusive criteria for top 10 lists. I enjoyed your vid, cheers!

[@michaelfox6878]

I love Selling England by the Pound My favourite Genesis album. One of my favourite albums in fact..Phil is at his best for me here and I absolutely love a lot of the Lyrics....there is infact more earth than sea...❤️ Thanks for all the fantastic lists!

[@maknorman7250]

Gentle Giant's Power and The Glory defines prog more than any Pink Floyd album, yet there's two Floyd albums in the top 10.

[@willyupshaw]

I love Power and the Glory but I think the comparing it to Pink Floyd is redundant.

[@eximusic]

Yes! That would be my Gentle Giant pick, with In A Glass House a close second.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

You make a point. Yes to the Power and the Glory, it's one of my favorite albums of all time. Comparing it to PF is apples and oranges. Gentle Giant is the definition of Prog. Pink Floyd is psychedelic and often proggish. It is not pure prog. The overlay of strong psychedelia obscures it's basically guitar based blues reality. It's acid drenched.

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

​@@wahid-lg1kkHaving been a fan of Pink Floyd since the sixties, I totally agree with what you say, I just happen to like that style of music. But you are right pure prog it ain't.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@KevinRudd-w8s But it sure looks nice with your eyes closed... 😂

[@neilog747]

If it exists, I would have put a live album from Gentle Giant on the list and (just about) kicked off King Crimson. I've recently seen the magnificent live footage of the concert done in 1974 on KZbin and it blew my panties off. It made me 'get' Gentle Giant. There is no way they are inferior to any one one of these bands, but their studio albums possibly lack some vibrancy.

[@matreynolds1]

Three Friends doesn't lack anything.

[@markdrechsler5660]

There is a live GG album, “Playing the Fool.” It’s amazing, if you don’t know it.

[@johnburton894]

Your list is spot on Andy. I totally agree with Gong it's a magnificent album 👌

[@michaellongstaff4624]

Argus?

[@55victorf]

I am a very YES fan and my favourite work is the double album "Tales from topographic ocean" cheers from Lisbon 🇵🇹

[@Bobmacca64]

What about Gentle Giant? :)

[@matreynolds1]

Too good for a list.

[@BonafonteLeonardo]

Yes!!! I’d choose one among 3 Friends, The Power and the Glory and In a Glass House.

[@DJClassicAuto]

Considering the fact that, before E.L.P. , Greg Lake was a founding member of King Crimson, Keith Emerson was a founding member of The Nice and Carl Palmer was a successful, working drummer with various bands, it shouldn't really be surprising that their debut album was tight. They were top shelf professionals.

[@musicartguy1]

My list, no particular order: 1. Close to the Edge 2. Hemispheres 3. Red 4. Court of the Crimson King 5. Selling England by the Pound 6. Fragile 7. Trilogy 8. A Trick of the Tale 9. Wish You Were Here 10. Animals

[@willyupshaw]

I hope you've heard Gentle Giant. Based on your list, you'd probably like them.

[@billphelps5611]

Great list....I would swap Foxtrot for Nursery Cryme. Absolutely right on the Gong and Zappa picks, Moving Pictures is great but I would go with Farewell to Kings. I think Gentle Giant should be there too....maybe top 11?

[@jlkoenig4377]

Andy said something that made it sound like Foxtrot came before Nursery Cryme, but the opposite is true. Agreed that the darkness in Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot and "Lamb" make for the best of Genesis. Much of "Selling England" sounds more like the Anthony Phillips style of Genesis. The highlight that Andy didn't mention is Firth of Fifth!

[@jeanpredieri]

Genesis’s Foxtrot is one of my absolute favorite albums. My take 😊

[@Nihilist13]

10 out of 10 Sir!

[@johannhauffman323]

Perfect list if you move Red up five spots. You rock Andy !

[@carterlink]

Agree with many choices on this list, but I’d be tempted to sneak The Underfall Yard by Big Big Train on there. An album that reignited my love of Prog.

[@BanalayerPete1972]

Subjective / Alphabetical Top Ten: * Book of Taliesyn - Deep Purple Mk.1 (Prog masterpiece) * Fish Rising - Steve Hillage / Miquette Giraudy (Engrossing, as Prog should be) * Fragile - Yes (Second Prog album I Bought) * Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (Truly Prog, as is In Through the Out Door) * In the Wake of Poseidon - King Crimson (First Prog album I bought) * Land of Pink & Grey - Caravan (Whimsical and melodic) * Octopus - Gentle Giant (Three Friends is on par) * Songs from the Wood - Jethro Tull (Trendy step-mum gave me her copy - Cup of Wonder!) * Styx 1 (Charming, quite British in sound) * Travelling Underground - Ian Lloyd & Stories (American Prog masterclass) (Wanted to include Joe Zawinul, but he may be more fusion or classical)

[@fcamiola]

Hatfield and the North - The Rotters Club

[@jasonshort1437]

It's so unique

[@sarahhhh775]

Was going to post " Honourable Canterbury mention: Rotters Club, Hatfield And The North. Consistently strong and stands the test of time if Caravan are deemed too variable.

[@ConorHanley]

Great album, but Andy discounts Canterbury Prog and in truth it never reached the masses like Yes and the like which means little when judging 'The Greatest Prog Albums' 'objectively' IMHO. Am biased mind as at the time I found them the more interesting of the prog bands.

[@matreynolds1]

Absolutely!

[@goatuscrow4135]

Very engaging show, brovveh.

[@geoffccrow2333]

Progarchives has been around forever. Its all encompassing and i love that

[@opinion3742]

I have always been a big Pink Floyd fan. In fact I think they have been my favourite band for near 50 years. But listening to you has finally convinced me just how band they actually are. Keep up the good work.

[@doscwolny2221]

Yes us Floyd fans need to pay penance for wrong thoughts. Lucky he's not the government or we'd be in gaol(jail for the average elite prog fan)

[@Islwynpaul]

Well, the only Prog album we can all agree with is Close to the Edge. Every other album has to be subjective on a list like this. Zappa is Prog! I'm calling my Prog band 'Kingsom Crim'. Great video..keep going...Andy.

[@malekmo64]

Some bands that always get forgotten:- Renaissance - Scheherezade and Other Stories Curved Air - Second Album and Air Cut Beggars Opera - Waters Of Change, Pathfinder Henry Cow - Legend Gentle Giant - Free Hand Kansas - Song For America Starcastle (debut album) Sebastian Hardie - Four Moments Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night Family - Entertainment Spirit - The Twelve Dreams Of Dr Sardonicus Fruupp - The Prince Of Heaven's Eyes Kaleidoscope - White Faced Lady Klaatu - Hope Love - Forever Changes PFM - The World Became The World/Chocolate Kings The Pretty Things - Parachute (influenced David Gilmour especially for Dark Side) Robert Calvert - Captain Lockheed and the Starfighers Strawbs - Grave New World Hawkwind - Warrior On The Edge Of Time

[@boudiccamarchestorome9475]

Great List, especially 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus and the Renaissance album (wish I still had it.)

[@bertkarlsson1421]

@@malekmo64 no Zarathustra by Museo Rosenbach?

[@edyb2097]

​@@bertkarlsson1421 hey guys, glad to see you are fans of Italian prog 😊

[@bertkarlsson1421]

​@@edyb2097Are you into finnish prog like Haikara, Tasavallan Presidentti, Wigwam?

[@grahamcole1539]

Totally, their are some Masterpieces on your list....Spirit. Love. Renaissance. Plus Caravan In The Land Of Grey And Pink

[@perromanchado]

Great list, Andy! What about "L" by Steve Hillage?

[@BanalayerPete1972]

Yes, that and/or Fish Rising.

[@nickedname7048]

@@BanalayerPete1972or Gong’s You with SH in it

[@BanalayerPete1972]

@@nickedname7048: Ah, that's new to me. Thank you.

[@paulbrookes413]

Bit of a yawn

[@geoffccrow2333]

The range of progressive styles on lather is unbelievable. Im too young but just imagne hearing it when it first came to be

[@jerrypotente872]

Although you might not agree, I know for me and many of my friends, and I suspect a lot of American teenagers. The album that got us into to British progressive rock was in fact ‘in the court of the Crimson King ‘featuring Greg Lake and the late Peter Sinfield, who only passed away a few days ago, that album blew me and my friends away and led to my love of Yes, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and Emerson Lake and Palmer. in regards to Emerson Lake and Palmer. I never heard that first album until years later, but totally fell in love withTarkus, and trilogy and ‘brainsalad surgery’ all to me of masterpieces .in regards to Jethro Tull although I like the first couple albums I became a fan on ‘Benefit’, but I think that’s more like a sabbath album , and I consider’ aqualung’ despite Ian Anderson’s comments to the contrary it to be a progressive rock album just listen to John Evans, keyboard, parts, as well as Palmer arranging, and of course, I love ‘thick as a brick ‘and PassionPlay.. I have a place in my heart for’ selling England by the pound’[firth of fifth, amazing !} as many of those fans do because that was the first album I saw Genesis play live on when they played in New Jersey at my college in 1973 and I immediately went out and bought their albums ! On another note , Andy, now that Beato has done a nice interview with David Gilmour and based on your impressions of Gilmore’s guitar work I think it’s gonna be easy for you to attain an interview with Roger Waters! Laugh out loud, and a very good ranking

[@aminahmed2220]

Awesome video have a great day Andy ❤😊

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks! You too!

[@KeithCollyer]

It's ironic that Ian Anderson conceived Thick as a Brick as a parody

[@markcollins1497]

A parody of prog?

[@KeithCollyer]

@@markcollins1497 Exactly. It was a parody of what he saw as overblown pretentious concept albums. Ironically it turned out to be musically and lyrically more profound than most of what he was parodying.

[@neilvincent5524]

Well it's very catchy parody

[@tangfastic7075]

Chas n Dave chic? Andy has a multitude of style looks.

[@sheldonwheaton881]

I agree about Tull!

[@urthondurdie]

I often disagree with Andy, but on "In The Court..." he finally spelled out, what I was thinking about the album, since I first heard it. Andy, Your list is arguably objective, congrats.

[@davidsimon2096]

I think Pete Pardo puts it perfectly when he says everyone hears music differently. Selling England By The Pound is a case in point. Unlike Foxtrot (which I also think is brilliant by the way) I feel the production is really rich and warm- I certainly don't think it's thin sounding but that's how my ears hear it. There is also something deeply accessible about SEBTP and it is one of the few "Prog" albums my non-Prog fan friends really enjoy and yet just look at the track lengths- we are talking epic lengths for most of the tracks so it's not like non-Prog fans only like them when they go "pop".I mean listen to the guitar solo in Firth of Fifth and say "hmm, I just can't understand why so many people love this album!" And if we are talking "objectively" why is it that whenever the ultimate sacred cow of Prog ie Close To The Edge is discussed no one and I mean NO ONE ever makes the most obvious observation that so many the lyrics just literally are meaningless. OK if someone wants to prove me wrong explain to me "objectively" what Siberian Khatru is all about. Not some wishy washy interpretation but literally what is Jon Anderson singing about.I love that album to but there is something seriously pretentious about a lot of Yes music. Personally I think Going For The One is a way better album. Listen to the lyrics on SEBTP-they actually have depth and meaning as well as a healthy dose of humour which is another thing Yes music lacks. I know you love Moving Pictures but it is one of those albums I hugely admire but am seriously unmoved by.It sounds great musically and thelyrics are intelligent but I personally find it lacking melodically. I agree with you about Lather- I could do without the scatological humour at times but it is a great distillation of what Zappa was all about. Your comments about ELP's debut are similar to others I hear but for me speaking "objectively" I think the magic only really happens when they are playing together for example on Brain Salad Surgery.I liove the debut too but a lot of time is given over to individual solos. My personal list would have included VDGG Pawn Hearts.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

We have no idea how othees hear music

[@MrStrawberry86]

Great list andy its hard to chose the 10 best obviously and theres other albums by the bands you've picked that I prefer. I've never really loved elp so I'd probably swap them for gentle giant personally. I also love magma and van der graff generator so would be tempted to chuck them in there. Also does this list have to be just 70s? What about frances the mute by the mars volta, or disco volante by mr bungle, or sing to god by cardiacs. These are some of the best truly progressive albums ever made. Side note but not prog but one artist id love to hear you talk about is tom waits do you like him at all? His later career especially albums like bone machine im sure youd enjoy. Release the wig video!!!!

[@boudiccamarchestorome9475]

I will always rue the day I gave away my copy of 'Court of the Crimson King' to a roommate because the album cover was giving me nightmares; even after I covered it with a cardboard cover, I knew it was in there, daring me to open it. Then there was the time somebody swiped my original Blind Faith album [the one with the naked girl on the cover], which would be worth big bucks now. But I digress...I only have a couple toes dipped into the prog genre, but this is Andy's schtick and he knows it well. P.S. A+ for the high mark for "Thick as a Brick," an album so lyrically engaging, musically phenomenal and slyly satirical that casual listeners might not take the time...

[@dhfenske]

Your nightmare situation reminds me of the movie "Magic" that was made in 1978. Maybe you'll get a kick out of that movie.

[@paulbrookes413]

That cover always makes me laugh 😂

[@grahamcole1539]

As ever you put an intelligent and compelling case for these albums which is hard to fault, however i think Gentle Giant should be somewhere. Thanks Andy.