Greatest Prog Album Of All Time?

Question

The Yes Album?
Dark Side of The Moon?
Tarkus?
In The Court Of The Crimson King?
2112?
What's Your choice for greatest Prog Album ever recorded, and why?

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Great choice

Zevon
Point Of Know Return Is Excellent

Agreed Silver

I can't get into Tull
But I respect their ability

Answer 1

This one is not that famous, but one of my personal favorites is Jethro Tull's "A Passion Play"

"A Passion Play" is much darker than "Thick as a Brick," both in music and theme. Musically, "A Passion Play" is heavily toned with dominating minor key variations. Thematically, the concept album chronicles, as the title implies, a story of life and death, beginning with a recently deceased man viewing his own funeral, descending into purgatory and Hell, then reincarnated.

I don't necessarily fully agree with the concept completely, but it is a very interesting piece of work, both musically and lyrically.

Zevon, I'm also a big Kansas fan, love "Point Of Know Return" it's an excellent album. I love the instrumental "The Spider".
Also check out my profile, look at my IM name.

Darth Maul, I love every album you've named, but my favs from those bands are,
Yes - Fragile
Pink Floyd - that's a tough call, maybe "Meddle" or
"Obscured By Clouds"
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
I agree with your King Crimson pick.
Rush - another tough call, maybe "Hemispheres" or "Permanent Waves"

Answer 2

I like all the ones you mentioned. I'm also a huge fan of Pink Floyd fan, and all prog rock.

However, I surprised myself recently by going back and listening to Kansas- "Point of Know Return", and found I appreciate it more now than I did when it first came out. I think it took a bit of a beating from some people because of the radio friendly "Dust in the Wind". But, take a good listen to the album in its entirety. It's a masterpiece. All the hallmarks of a great prog album... great orchestration with classical elements, fantasy lyrics, conceptual album, wandering song structure.

If you are one of those people who shrugged off the album back then, I urge you to throw on the headphones and give it another listen. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Answer 3

I love all the albums mentioned... but for me it comes down to two choices:

RUSH - A Farewell To Kings

Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record


with these runner-ups:

Supertramp - Even In The Quietest Moments
Styx - Equinox
Blue Oyster Cult - Cultasaurus Erectus

Answer 4

I just gotta chime in here and thank Zevon for his answer. Very well said. Kansas was unconsciously clicking on all cylinders when they wrote and recorded "Point of Know Return" and for them, it truly is a period that is frozen in time.

Every now and then, you read out here where certain people say that there are some bands or artists that should hang it up. I'm here to tell ya that despite the replacement of some of that era's members (Kerry, Rob & Dave) these guys can still flat out "do it" when & where it counts....on the stage.

There's also been some things thrown around out here about particular artists being under appreciated. How bout Kerry?

- - - - -
And to answer your question, I still want to lean towards "Fragile". But, that's a whole nuther story.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I would say Yes' Close to the Edge. Yes is the epitome of a progressive rock band and Close to the Edge has all the elements of a great prog album, the Hammond organ, the lyrics, the epics, etc.

Answer 7

Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull
I used to listen to this album for hours and hours and knew it so good I felt like I was conducting it! I just love all the musical changes, the singing, reading the newspaper album cover, etc.
The only problem was having to flip the album over except it was cool how they faded out side one and continued on side two with the song starting where it left off on side one and progressively getting louder.

Answer 8

It is tempting to say Dark Side of the Moon, or Thick As A Brick, but, personally, I'd say :~

Tubular Bells ~ Mike Oldfield

Why...
because there was nothing else quite like it.
This magnificent album was created by a 19-year-old!
By a quirk of fate, it has one of the most infamous and instantly recognisable openings, and it really has stood the test of time. It sounds as fresh and unique today as it did 35-years ago.

Answer 9

"Hall of The Mountain Grill"..only kidding Darth..."In the Court of the Crimson King" by Crimson was the first to really rattle my cage till I heard "Zero Time" by Tonto's Expanding Headband" (71) made by two studio guys who "expanded" Robert Moog's synthesisor into a monster never heard before..I'm going with them..they were pioneers in the true spirit of progressive music.

Answer 10

I would think most would choose Dark Side.

I'm going to go with "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" by Genesis.