Without a doubt, The Yes Album should be a unanimous choice. It’s the album that really put them on the map, but also the one that ultimately made me a fan. And I love your choice of ELP’s debut. That piece is rock solid and never seems to get enough credit. Definitely would raise some eyebrows among the beginners.
The “progressive” movement began with the idea that artists could play whatever they felt. As with all genres, it is the critics and the fans that codify the parameters and set the rules in stone.
Good point, although realistically, there are actually not many rules set in stone regarding music style classification. In other words, like what you want, and believe what you want, and to hell with whatever critics or other people like. Don’t let the ambient noise affect your own perception.
Great list - definitely the gateway albums for newbies to the genre, before heading into deeper waters. Other honourable mentions would be FOCUS'- Moving Waves and KANSAS' - Leftoverture.
Greg Lake had beautiful pipes almost his entire life. His voice thickened and deepened, but it was magnificant to the end. He re-recorded Closer to Believing not long before his death, and it was gorgeous.
What a perfect list. Going back the the 1970s, Pink Floyd was an obvious gateway, as well as The Moody Blues, but also the album art of Barry Godber and Roger Dean. Even if it would be years later that I finally 'discovered' King Crimson and Yes, I did so because the art was so memorable.
This is one of the main reasons I listen to you and other prog enthusiasts: discovery. For some reason, I had never heard of FEAR. So, I bounced over to Spotify, and started to listen...this is a GREAT album! I am shocked (disappointed?) that I had never heard it (or even heard of it!) before. Thank you so much for introducing me to a wonderful piece of music!
Trick of the Tail, what a wonderfull collection of gems. *Edit- and F.E.A.R i had an excellent experience driving with this album, starting the album near Cambridge going to Brighton, rotherys solo near the end of New Kings was as i was climbing the dartford bridge which was amazing in itself, but being overtaken by a loud motorcycle right on the overhead airplane part just bought the experience to a new high, a proper hair tingling moment. 2 excellent albums
Now this is a damn good list. If you are going to start with Rush and throw in Genesis, Supertramp, ELO and Marillion for starters you are off to a great start. I would agree with most of these albums. You could probably change around A Trick of The Tail with Wind And Wuthering and Moving Pictures with Permanent Waves but I would say overall a great list. I would include Queen II, Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime and Styx II. I like the reach with A New World Record but I would suggest On The Third Day or Eldorado as more of an in-between. You can still hear some progressive styles on both of those albums. Really enjoyed this video.
As someone who was introduced to prog with Moving Pictures, I have to agree with its placement on this list. Great list overall too. As much as I adore Rush, I would pick Dark Side of the Moon as the first starting point for getting into prog, though not necessarily because of the music. While musically, I think there are more fitting albums to serve as an introduction, I would pick Dark Side of the Moon purely because of its cultural impact. It's perhaps the most iconic rock album of all time, certainly near the top. It's become a staple of music culture. You see the cover art for DSOTM everywhere. It's instantly recognizable, and for that, I would say it should be the first prog album someone is introduced to, as they're more than likely to be at least somewhat familiar with the record.
ELO II and Eldorado are as prog as prog can be, I would say. Then Jeff Lynne heard the siren song of the pop charts. And who can blame him? The dude is a pop-rock genius. So A New World Record would be a great way to get one's feet wet in at least prog-adjacent waters, but then to go back and discover the earlier stuff is the key. And In The Court... is quintessential prog. Great #1 choice! Moving Pictures to start off, too. Nice bookends.
Excellent intro to this introduction - lotsa lols here. Big thumbs-up to 'The Yes Album', from which 'Yours Is No Disgrace' is my personal favourite (most exciting use of the cow-bell in music history!). There's a mention of The Nice, and maybe they could have made the list? ('Nice' from 1969 perhaps?)
I’m pretty sure that every prog fan can sing all of these albums forwards, backwards and inside out. You are absolutely right, these are the bricks and mortar of prog. (Umm…Marillion kinda sticks out a bit. But whatever. Onward!) My intro was Meddle (I started mainlining right away!) Back when I was a kid One of These Days was the theme to the six o’clock news. Somehow I found out it was Pink Floyd. I saved up my paper route money and bought the album. I remember sitting on the bus just mesmerized by the album cover. I got home and slapped that sucker on to my mother’s turntable. There it was! The news theme! I was surprised by the mellow acoustic numbers that followed after such a walloping opener, but found them to be….soothing? A reprieve of sorts. Then I flipped the record over and that my friend was the end of Yummy, Yummy I Got Love in My Tummy. It was also the beginning of my very long and strange trip. 🤘😵💫🤘
My first three prog albums, just turned 14, were: Close to the Edge, In the Court of the Crimson King, and Trilogy. I still love them. I would agree, though, that The Yes Album would be a better intro to Yes than CTTE and is, indeed, my favourite album by the band.
"The thinking man's 10CC"...I'm gonna steal that. No entries that I'll strongly disagree with. Some I do very much throw in with, such as COTC, DSOTM, Yes Album and of course ITCOTCK. Might have swapped Marillion for Camel's debute album or one of the classic 7 Moodies. When it comes to ELO...I might have picked "Face the music" and as far as ELP goes, it could have been Trilogy in my case. Jethro Tull? Start with "Stand Up" and work your way up throughout the 70's and there will be some prog along the way, but not all the way. Gentle Giant? Nah, that's next level and maybe not for rookies. Greenslade's first album would most likely be on my list. But nevertheless - thank for yet another good posting.
Live albums such as Yesongs, Focus at the Rainbow and Seconds Out are great intros as they are like best of’s that show the songs in a powerful, immediate form
Crimson is tough. I might send someone to Red or Discipline first. Yes Album is a great choice. My intro was 90125 as well. I will defend that album to the end.
Arthur brown inadvertently turned me onto prog . A 50p "Woolies" curiosity buy because of the cover when I was 10 on holiday in Blackpool . To this day going to play a gig the album sets me up perfect .. plus Carl Palmers drumming is sublime .
My father had Tubular Bells and I wore that album out when I was 7 or 8 years old. That album was definitely my prog gateway drug! Although you don't mention them I would also add Kansas Leftoverture and Styx The Grand Illusion. Both of these albums were formative for me on my journey towards being a prog fan when I was a pre-teen.
I think I owned 8 of those 10 from the age of 13 (King Crimson onwards) and in their own way they filled the gap left by the demise of The Beatles (the soundtrack of my childhood, who I revisit to this day). By the time we had our own band performing all originals in 1975 in NZ I think it's safe to say we were 'post Beatles art-rock' closer to Supertramp than any of the others here - we didn't even try to emulate the virtuosity of many mentioned, but enjoyed listening to them. Great intro for the uninitiated . . . with you on all the choices, altho maybe 'Selling England By The Quid' would be more influential than 'Trick of the Tail' - Steve Hackett definitely an influence for me as a guitarist, good that he re-united with other guys for a time.
Pete dressed as a "Malevolent Begonia"..? That's going to stick with me now...Lol! Happy to see ELO and Supertramp on your list! Both bands started out with some heavy prog moments on their earlier albums. 'Try Again' from Supertramp's self titled album and 'Kuiama' from ELO II both made it to several of my own personal playlists.
Excellent video! Before first discovering the existence of progressive rock, I had been listening a lot to albums like Crime of the Century, Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, Queen II, Queen's first album and Sheer Heart Attack. I was also very fond of Genesis' album from 1983, and then, one day, in a record store I saw Selling England by the Pound, bought it, went home and put it on, and from the first moment of hearing "Can you tell me where my country lies?" I was absolutely hooked. So I would say that Selling England by the Pound might be the best introduction to prog rock. I'd also consider Camel's Moonmadness or Tull's Thick as a Brick to be excellent introductions to the genre.
I’ve just discovered your channel and am thoroughly enjoying it. I was born in ‘60 and had 2 much older brothers, so my childhood was filled with everything from Surfin’ USA to In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. The one genre I rarely heard (maybe it’s more of a U.S. thing?) was prog. The one song I remember absolutely loving (even as a kid) was ELP’s From the Beginning. It had an ethereal feel that just mesmerized me. I recently heard it again and have started a deep dive into Greg Lake (RIP), ELP and prog in general. What a fantastic and sometimes confusing journey! As a newbie to this genre, I very much appreciate your insight, commentary and suggestions; as well as the discussions from your knowledgeable subscribers. Better late than never I suppose.
The quibble I have with the premise is that the best albums to introduce someone to prog depends on where they're coming from. If someone knows their classical music, what could be a better gateway album than "Pictures at an Exhibition"? Or if they're coming from metal, perhaps Queensrÿche's "Operation Mindcrime" might be a better choice. I mean, the umlaut is right there.
Hey!! No honorable mentions??? 1- Aqualung ---- Jethro Tull 2- Brian Eno - Another Green World 3- The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium --- Instead of F.E.A.R. by Marillion
Might I suggest please that the album “Songs From The Big Chair” (or perhaps even more appropriately “The Seeds Of Love”), also merit consideration for inclusion in your excellent list!
Never talk to strangers or men with open shirts and hairy chests inviting you to the beach, that aside your list is spot on as a guide to the prog uninitiated.
I'd have gone with Selling England By The Pound instead of Trick of the Tail. But kudos for picking The Yes Album (one of my all-time favs) as well as the first ELP record. I always thought that was among the best-ever debut albums.
Great to see on your list Supertramp's CRIME OF THE CENTURY album which was monster huge (Diamond certification) here in Canada. Excellent list - good range of albums without risking scaring people away! Albums like DARK SIDE OF THE MOON and COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING continue to shine brilliantly. We do need, however, a serving of Jethro Tull. May I suggest THICK AS A BRICK...
If I understood well, this is supposed to be a list of "prog light" albums. How about the Allan Parsons Project, for example their debut, based on Edgar Allan Poe stories?
Agree with several titles in this top 10 but personally would have added the debut album of The Alan Parsons Project. Just like ELO's A New World Record, it's a perfect introduction to the world of prog.
Indeed. "The Fall of the House of Usher" worked for me from another direction. I had turned my back on pop music by the disco/punk era in favor of classical. Alan Parsons and Rick Wakeman helped me keep one toe in the stream. And Jean-Michel Jarre and Jeff Wayne later.
" Prog enough!" I started with a 45 RPM YES single in March, 1971 " I've seen all good people." Aqualung was next, October, 1971. I listened to top 40, 1963- 1971, and heard Beatles, Procul, Moodies, Then the harmony bands- Mamas and the Papas, 4 Seasons, Turtles, Beach boys... I was ready age 15 for the next more sophisticated level. As for Supertramp, ELO, definitely prog... ELO 1,2, third day. .. Super Crime of the century... Then hit them with Anglagard, Anekdoten...!
Great stuff Barry. I had assumed that Pfisting was perhaps a Norwegian physicist. I couldn't have been more wrong. I now realise that I need to listen to more Prog.
Good list! As much as prog fans hate to hear it, it needs to be mostly crossover bands if you want people to get into prog. Even if someone's favourite band is Henry Cow and Yezda Urfa, for someone who has never heard prog, those bands will turn them right off. I've seen lists like this, and people just basically naming THEIR favourite bands without thinking of what a non-prog fan would like. And yeh, it's bands like Kansas, Supertramp, ELO etc. that will get people into prog. I honestly wouldn't even put any Yes album in the list. Start off on easy mode imo.
I agree, start them off easy with Styx, Kansas, ELO, Supertramp, perhaps Genesis Duke, Rush Moving Pictures, works of that ilk. Trying to force Gentle Giant, Van Der Graff Generator, Larks Tongue in Aspic, or Takes From Topographic Oceans on the uninitiated is bound to turn a newbie off.
an interesting list, thank you. I have most of these - loved marillion back in the day - saw them live many times and bought the albums, but find it hard to listen to now - and stopped listening when fish left. This is the second time I've heard a ref to FEAR - must give it a listen based on your comment...
Prog is such a general term. So general it's almost impossible to define. Many different styles of music fall under the "prog" umbrella. It's not broken down into hundreds of different sub-genres like metal seems to be.
Here’s my top 10 prog albums 1 pink Floyd d a of moon 2 Mike Oldfield tubular bells The Beatles srg pepper 3 4 Tangerine Dream Phaedra 5 genesis wind & wuthering 6 Elo out of the blue 7 supertramp crime of the century 8 Hawkwind quark strangeness charm 9 yes going for the one 10 rush permanent waves
As a massive Marillion fan who agrees with you that An Hour Before Dark (which I honestly couldn't get through even one time due to its didactic bullshit), F.E.A.R. is a great album and I appreciate the choice. Personally, I think Happiness is the Road is better overall. A desert island album, but I can see your choice for F.E.A.R. Just not overlooking them was win enough for me.
Would you consider making a follow up video for those people ready for the next step on their prog journey? I have really started to enjoy prog and I listened to and acquired many of the albums on your top 10 intro list. Where do I go from here? Thanks so much
Great video as always and a good list. Personally I would swap the ”Yes album” with ”Close to the edge”. ”CTTE” is full-out Prog yet quite accessable. For ELP I would choose Tarkus, that IMHO is a superior album and also instantly intriguing with it’s artwork and weird story line. ”DSOTM” fits well into this list but is somewhat redundant given that it is one of the first albums classic rock listeners get anyway. I would replace it with an early Gentle Giant album like ”Acquiring the taste”, or maybe Moody Blues’ debut for an example of the more poppy/melodic side of prog! NEXT I would love to see a similar list of European (non-British) prog! There are so many great albums from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Scandinavia that get overlooked! 🙂
Very nice. This is perhaps the second time I've seen Supertramp mentioned as part of ProgRock. I might agree with the assertion if I could first understand what specific reasons were used. Until then, I don't really get it. Perhaps I've not listened to enough of their (pre-commercial) work.
If introducing someone to prog, Dark Side of the Moon and The Yes Album seem like no brainers. Has all the prog esthetic and sound, is approachable by any rock fan, demonstrates all that is possible.
Think I might throw 'In the Land of Grey and Pink' in there. Ok, so Canterbury, but with sufficient meandering whimsy to even cover pastoral prog, a more pleasing intro to the genre, would be hard to imagine...
I love ELP's debut, the way it mixes the dark, classical and gothic - The Barbarian, Knife Edge, The Three Fates - with the softer and more romantic Take a Pebble and Lucky Man. Very atmospheric.
Was perplexed about your long mention of "Love Beach" --where ELP clearly went around the bend, even worse than the bombastic "Works", their White Album, if you like.
All the usual suspects in the top 10, even though the choice of album could probably be debated. I mean I love Marillion, but FEAR’s inclusion is still a bit of a head scratcher for me. Surprised that Aqualung is missing, but definitely refreshing to see Mike Oldfield included on a list of this type.
Hackett is almost invisible on parts to ATOTT. Where's the guitar on Mad Man Moon, RAAB, ATOTT? Maybe because he had just finished an exquisite solo album and was lacking in new material. I think he plays a bigger role on W&W, perhaps because he wrote more material for that album.
I think the group Camel could also be on this list with the album Moonmadness or The Snow Goose. But I agree with your list, it's perfect for getting to know progressive rock. Un saludo 👍
Good choice. You could have also included Led Zep IV and 24 Carat Purple. Bedside Manners Are Extra by Greenslade or Time Honoured Ghosts by Barclay James Harvest deserves a mention as well.
I have heard the oft stated opinion that Court of the Crimson King was "the first prog album". I still tend to view The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed as the first baby step in that direction. (And to consider the ELP debut album as a starting point completely overlooks everything Keith Emerson did with The Nice.)
I love the inclusion of Supertramp, who definitely had prog leanings for a bit, but I'd definitely put Van Der Graaf Generator's "Pawn Hearts" or "Still Life" in rather than ELO. Or even Gentle Giant's "Free Hand".
I would throw Yes's Going for the one' into the blend.Not just for it being my favourite all time listen but because songs like Awaken,TOTC and Parallels i would suggest,distinctly tick the 'prog' box. 'Awaken' gets a lot of reactor attention across RUclips i notice and while the obvious contrived demographics are fairly blatant, i do get some genuine joy to see the millenials and gen Zedders engage with this particular opus.
As a 16 year old who grew attached to prog at that time this 10 would certainly fit your title - I would have Stand Up in there at the expense of ELO however
Many of these grace my CD shelves. I’d add Camel (snow goose, mirage, ). If Supertramp are Prog, then maybe also Jethro Tull? Focus & moving waves? Queen I & II are Prog enough too.
I got my daughter into prog with The Land of Grey and Pink by of course, Caravan. Its just so much fun. Kids who are getting into music will love it. Got her into rap with Stan but that's a whole other story and almost drove us all nuts. 😂
Infectious as a public lavatory seat. Well i've stopped laughing and will recommence my watch. Wonderful analogy and interesting choices of albums. Personally i would like to mention Camel's debut which has a very English whimsical vibe and relatively easy on the ear. Tull's 'A Passion Play' (my favourite J.T. album) would also be on the list however it is prog in extremis so maybe not ideal as an introduction.
Interesting choices... I would also recommend 'Foxtrot' by Genesis and the album's amazing side 2 "Supper's Ready" ... for when too much prog is barely enough :-)
No Hounds of Love ? Prog for people who don’t realise they are being progged… Also - Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space. It’s a prog/drone rock hybrid named after a line in a book summarising the history of philosophy in the guise of a fairy tale and disguised as a packet of paracetamol. Need I say more ?
Nice choices. I wonder if it might have been good to include one or two "modern prog" items? Personally, I don't really listen to modern prog rock. I prefer other forms of modern music. However, for those who may wish to dabble, I think it would have been good to include one or two existing "prog" outfits. Great stuff, though, and I think you were definitely right to have "Court of the Crimson King" as number one. 😎😎👍👍😊😊
When I got the gist of what the video was about, my first two thoughts were 90125 & OK Computer. Surely The Yes Album is the poorer choice for Prog virgins?
No joke but this is almost identical to the albums that introduced me to Prog. Just change out Marillion and Mike Oldfield for The Moody Blue's "In Search of the Lost Chord" and Jethro Tull's "Aqualung".
JT’s Songs from the Wood, though not their first album was their first (what I would consider) true progressive rock endeavor. Outstanding album very melodic, easy to embrace but still technically gripping. As others have mentioned, Kansas would be on my list. Left Overture or Point of Know Return are both good choices. Regardless, all the albums on your list are excellent.
Agreed about Songs from the Wood. I'd go with Heavy Horses as I think that whole album works better as a studio piece while most of the Songs on SftW are much much better live.
@@classicalbum "Hinting" not "hitting". I agree with you. COS gets too little appreciation in my opinion. Good choices for top 10 prog starters too. Never heard Fear though, must give it a go.
Without a doubt, The Yes Album should be a unanimous choice. It’s the album that really put them on the map, but also the one that ultimately made me a fan. And I love your choice of ELP’s debut. That piece is rock solid and never seems to get enough credit. Definitely would raise some eyebrows among the beginners.
The “progressive” movement began with the idea that artists could play whatever they felt. As with all genres, it is the critics and the fans that codify the parameters and set the rules in stone.
Good point, although realistically, there are actually not many rules set in stone regarding music style classification.
In other words, like what you want, and believe what you want, and to hell with whatever critics or other people like. Don’t let the ambient noise affect your own perception.
Great list - definitely the gateway albums for newbies to the genre, before heading into deeper waters. Other honourable mentions would be FOCUS'- Moving Waves and KANSAS' - Leftoverture.
Couldn't agree more about Steve Hackett! Nice that he's still out there, playing Genesis songs the way they should be played.
Compare his (Hackett) comments with surprisingly Marty Friedman's. They both speak exactly the same and both are right.
Greg Lake had beautiful pipes almost his entire life. His voice thickened and deepened, but it was magnificant to the end. He re-recorded Closer to Believing not long before his death, and it was gorgeous.
Outstanding list of LPs here. Well done, sir!
What a perfect list. Going back the the 1970s, Pink Floyd was an obvious gateway, as well as The Moody Blues, but also the album art of Barry Godber and Roger Dean. Even if it would be years later that I finally 'discovered' King Crimson and Yes, I did so because the art was so memorable.
This is one of the main reasons I listen to you and other prog enthusiasts: discovery. For some reason, I had never heard of FEAR. So, I bounced over to Spotify, and started to listen...this is a GREAT album! I am shocked (disappointed?) that I had never heard it (or even heard of it!) before. Thank you so much for introducing me to a wonderful piece of music!
Trick of the Tail, what a wonderfull collection of gems. *Edit- and F.E.A.R i had an excellent experience driving with this album, starting the album near Cambridge going to Brighton, rotherys solo near the end of New Kings was as i was climbing the dartford bridge which was amazing in itself, but being overtaken by a loud motorcycle right on the overhead airplane part just bought the experience to a new high, a proper hair tingling moment. 2 excellent albums
This is the best video intro I've ever seen on You Tube Barry lol.
“Prog foreplay” Bravo! Your intro was stellar, again. I like the list, with few suggested changes. “The testicles of middle England.”
Now this is a damn good list. If you are going to start with Rush and throw in Genesis, Supertramp, ELO and Marillion for starters you are off to a great start. I would agree with most of these albums. You could probably change around A Trick of The Tail with Wind And Wuthering and Moving Pictures with Permanent Waves but I would say overall a great list. I would include Queen II, Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime and Styx II. I like the reach with A New World Record but I would suggest On The Third Day or Eldorado as more of an in-between. You can still hear some progressive styles on both of those albums. Really enjoyed this video.
As someone who was introduced to prog with Moving Pictures, I have to agree with its placement on this list. Great list overall too.
As much as I adore Rush, I would pick Dark Side of the Moon as the first starting point for getting into prog, though not necessarily because of the music. While musically, I think there are more fitting albums to serve as an introduction, I would pick Dark Side of the Moon purely because of its cultural impact. It's perhaps the most iconic rock album of all time, certainly near the top. It's become a staple of music culture. You see the cover art for DSOTM everywhere. It's instantly recognizable, and for that, I would say it should be the first prog album someone is introduced to, as they're more than likely to be at least somewhat familiar with the record.
ELO II and Eldorado are as prog as prog can be, I would say. Then Jeff Lynne heard the siren song of the pop charts. And who can blame him? The dude is a pop-rock genius. So A New World Record would be a great way to get one's feet wet in at least prog-adjacent waters, but then to go back and discover the earlier stuff is the key. And In The Court... is quintessential prog. Great #1 choice! Moving Pictures to start off, too. Nice bookends.
Agree. Early ELO is wonderful. Saw the band (minus Lynn) in concert recently and they played a fair number of early pieces.
An excellent list to lure the novice into the vast world of progressive rock...
11:10 - 11:28 - Top quality stuff. I genuinely laughed out loud.
0'35" there's a phrase I didn't expect to hear today! Spot on with The Yes Album. My first, and still their best. I could play it all day every day.
Excellent intro to this introduction - lotsa lols here.
Big thumbs-up to 'The Yes Album', from which 'Yours Is No Disgrace' is my personal favourite (most exciting use of the cow-bell in music history!). There's a mention of The Nice, and maybe they could have made the list? ('Nice' from 1969 perhaps?)
I’m pretty sure that every prog fan can sing all of these albums forwards, backwards and inside out. You are absolutely right, these are the bricks and mortar of prog. (Umm…Marillion kinda sticks out a bit. But whatever. Onward!)
My intro was Meddle (I started mainlining right away!) Back when I was a kid One of These Days was the theme to the six o’clock news. Somehow I found out it was Pink Floyd. I saved up my paper route money and bought the album.
I remember sitting on the bus just mesmerized by the album cover. I got home and slapped that sucker on to my mother’s turntable. There it was! The news theme! I was surprised by the mellow acoustic numbers that followed after such a walloping opener, but found them to be….soothing? A reprieve of sorts.
Then I flipped the record over and that my friend was the end of Yummy, Yummy I Got Love in My Tummy. It was also the beginning of my very long and strange trip.
🤘😵💫🤘
My first three prog albums, just turned 14, were: Close to the Edge, In the Court of the Crimson King, and Trilogy. I still love them. I would agree, though, that The Yes Album would be a better intro to Yes than CTTE and is, indeed, my favourite album by the band.
"The thinking man's 10CC"...I'm gonna steal that.
No entries that I'll strongly disagree with. Some I do very much throw in with, such as COTC, DSOTM, Yes Album and of course ITCOTCK.
Might have swapped Marillion for Camel's debute album or one of the classic 7 Moodies.
When it comes to ELO...I might have picked "Face the music" and as far as ELP goes, it could have been Trilogy in my case.
Jethro Tull? Start with "Stand Up" and work your way up throughout the 70's and there will be some prog along the way, but not all the way.
Gentle Giant? Nah, that's next level and maybe not for rookies.
Greenslade's first album would most likely be on my list.
But nevertheless - thank for yet another good posting.
I would regard Carivan's In the Land of Grey and Pink. Eminently listenable for those unfamiliar with prog. Also brilliantly produced. Gratitude.
Always great to watch! You know your stuff and very entertaining to boot! Keep up the great work.
Live albums such as Yesongs, Focus at the Rainbow and Seconds Out are great intros as they are like best of’s that show the songs in a powerful, immediate form
Crimson is tough. I might send someone to Red or Discipline first. Yes Album is a great choice. My intro was 90125 as well. I will defend that album to the end.
Arthur brown inadvertently turned me onto prog . A 50p "Woolies" curiosity buy because of the cover when I was 10 on holiday in Blackpool . To this day going to play a gig the album sets me up perfect .. plus Carl Palmers drumming is sublime .
My father had Tubular Bells and I wore that album out when I was 7 or 8 years old. That album was definitely my prog gateway drug! Although you don't mention them I would also add Kansas Leftoverture and Styx The Grand Illusion. Both of these albums were formative for me on my journey towards being a prog fan when I was a pre-teen.
Starship Trooper was one of the tracks that got me into Yes and prog
Fantastic commentary and as beautifully verbose as ever. Great work.
I heard Tubular Bells when I was around 9-10 and that was it. From that moment on everyone at school thought I was "weird".
Tubular Bells was a Top 40 hit. It was all over the AM dial in the US.
@@lloydbraun6026 that is a 3 minute edit of one element used in The Exorcist
Rigorous fisting - dude you slayed me! 😂😂
I think I owned 8 of those 10 from the age of 13 (King Crimson onwards) and in their own way they filled the gap left by the demise of The Beatles (the soundtrack of my childhood, who I revisit to this day). By the time we had our own band performing all originals in 1975 in NZ I think it's safe to say we were 'post Beatles art-rock' closer to Supertramp than any of the others here - we didn't even try to emulate the virtuosity of many mentioned, but enjoyed listening to them. Great intro for the uninitiated . . . with you on all the choices, altho maybe 'Selling England By The Quid' would be more influential than 'Trick of the Tail' - Steve Hackett definitely an influence for me as a guitarist, good that he re-united with other guys for a time.
Pete dressed as a "Malevolent Begonia"..? That's going to stick with me now...Lol!
Happy to see ELO and Supertramp on your list! Both bands started out with
some heavy prog moments on their earlier albums.
'Try Again' from Supertramp's self titled album and 'Kuiama' from ELO II both made it
to several of my own personal playlists.
Kuiama is prog all over also one of my ELO favourites
Excellent video!
Before first discovering the existence of progressive rock, I had been listening a lot to albums like Crime of the Century, Tubular Bells, Ommadawn, Queen II, Queen's first album and Sheer Heart Attack. I was also very fond of Genesis' album from 1983, and then, one day, in a record store I saw Selling England by the Pound, bought it, went home and put it on, and from the first moment of hearing "Can you tell me where my country lies?" I was absolutely hooked.
So I would say that Selling England by the Pound might be the best introduction to prog rock.
I'd also consider Camel's Moonmadness or Tull's Thick as a Brick to be excellent introductions to the genre.
Selling is one of the best albuns ever.
I’ve just discovered your channel and am thoroughly enjoying it. I was born in ‘60 and had 2 much older brothers, so my childhood was filled with everything from Surfin’ USA to In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. The one genre I rarely heard (maybe it’s more of a U.S. thing?) was prog. The one song I remember absolutely loving (even as a kid) was ELP’s From the Beginning. It had an ethereal feel that just mesmerized me. I recently heard it again and have started a deep dive into Greg Lake (RIP), ELP and prog in general. What a fantastic and sometimes confusing journey! As a newbie to this genre, I very much appreciate your insight, commentary and suggestions; as well as the discussions from your knowledgeable subscribers. Better late than never I suppose.
Welcome aboard
The quibble I have with the premise is that the best albums to introduce someone to prog depends on where they're coming from.
If someone knows their classical music, what could be a better gateway album than "Pictures at an Exhibition"? Or if they're coming from metal, perhaps Queensrÿche's "Operation Mindcrime" might be a better choice. I mean, the umlaut is right there.
Hey!! No honorable mentions???
1- Aqualung ---- Jethro Tull
2- Brian Eno - Another Green World
3- The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium --- Instead of F.E.A.R. by Marillion
Great list! I'd have picked Eldorado as the ELO entry but who can resist something "as infectious as a public lavatory seat!" 🤣 Cheers
Might I suggest please that the album “Songs From The Big Chair” (or perhaps even more appropriately “The Seeds Of Love”), also merit consideration for inclusion in your excellent list!
Brilliant intro - very, very funny.
Never talk to strangers or men with open shirts and hairy chests inviting you to the beach, that aside your list is spot on as a guide to the prog uninitiated.
"Twenty minute fisting from a keyboard solo in capes..." poetic ;)
I'd have gone with Selling England By The Pound instead of Trick of the Tail. But kudos for picking The Yes Album (one of my all-time favs) as well as the first ELP record. I always thought that was among the best-ever debut albums.
Great to see on your list Supertramp's CRIME OF THE CENTURY album which was monster huge (Diamond certification) here in Canada. Excellent list - good range of albums without risking scaring people away! Albums like DARK SIDE OF THE MOON and COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING continue to shine brilliantly. We do need, however, a serving of Jethro Tull. May I suggest THICK AS A BRICK...
Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses, lest we forget.
What a smile-inducing introduction. Lovely use of language. One of the main reasons I subscribe.
If I understood well, this is supposed to be a list of "prog light" albums.
How about the Allan Parsons Project, for example their debut, based on Edgar Allan Poe stories?
Agree with several titles in this top 10 but personally would have added the debut album of The Alan Parsons Project. Just like ELO's A New World Record, it's a perfect introduction to the world of prog.
A great addition... it is always a problem wittling these things down to ten
Indeed. "The Fall of the House of Usher" worked for me from another direction. I had turned my back on pop music by the disco/punk era in favor of classical. Alan Parsons and Rick Wakeman helped me keep one toe in the stream. And Jean-Michel Jarre and Jeff Wayne later.
Great list though I’m surprised there’s no Jethro Tull (Aqualung?) and I’d also inc the Moody Blues on the list.
" Prog enough!"
I started with a 45 RPM YES single in March, 1971
" I've seen all good people."
Aqualung was next, October, 1971.
I listened to top 40, 1963- 1971, and heard Beatles, Procul, Moodies,
Then the harmony bands-
Mamas and the Papas, 4 Seasons, Turtles, Beach boys...
I was ready age 15 for the next more sophisticated level.
As for Supertramp, ELO, definitely prog... ELO 1,2, third day. .. Super Crime of the century...
Then hit them with Anglagard, Anekdoten...!
Great stuff Barry. I had assumed that Pfisting was perhaps a Norwegian physicist. I couldn't have been more wrong. I now realise that I need to listen to more Prog.
Good list!
As much as prog fans hate to hear it, it needs to be mostly crossover bands if you want people to get into prog. Even if someone's favourite band is Henry Cow and Yezda Urfa, for someone who has never heard prog, those bands will turn them right off. I've seen lists like this, and people just basically naming THEIR favourite bands without thinking of what a non-prog fan would like. And yeh, it's bands like Kansas, Supertramp, ELO etc. that will get people into prog.
I honestly wouldn't even put any Yes album in the list. Start off on easy mode imo.
I agree, start them off easy with Styx, Kansas, ELO, Supertramp, perhaps Genesis Duke, Rush Moving Pictures, works of that ilk. Trying to force Gentle Giant, Van Der Graff Generator, Larks Tongue in Aspic, or Takes From Topographic Oceans on the uninitiated is bound to turn a newbie off.
I'd suggest Trilogy as a better introduction to ELP. And if you allow compilations, Jethro Tull's Living In The Past is an obvious choice.
Shocked and dismayed that TAAB didn’t make the list. A prog masterpiece that is complex yet accessible. A glaring omission.
I agree, but I'm not convinced it is a great entry point into prog, which is why it is not on my list
@@classicalbum A highly suspect perspective, Barry. I suppose you and I could argue our respective views over several pints.
an interesting list, thank you. I have most of these - loved marillion back in the day - saw them live many times and bought the albums, but find it hard to listen to now - and stopped listening when fish left. This is the second time I've heard a ref to FEAR - must give it a listen based on your comment...
Only change I would suggest would be Gentle Giant, Octopus for either Marillion or Rush.
As great as 'Octopus' is, I feel it is far too dense and challenging to lure someone who doesn't really know prog, to the genre.
@@classicalbum possibly, perhaps the first album would be easier to imbibe?
The first album would be better - 'three friends' or 'aquiring the taste'
That's a very interesting and informative video.
Glad you think so!
Prog is such a general term. So general it's almost impossible to define. Many different styles of music fall under the "prog" umbrella. It's not broken down into hundreds of different sub-genres like metal seems to be.
Here’s my top 10 prog albums
1 pink Floyd d a of moon
2 Mike Oldfield tubular bells
The Beatles srg
pepper 3
4 Tangerine Dream Phaedra
5 genesis wind & wuthering
6 Elo out of the blue
7 supertramp crime of the century
8 Hawkwind quark strangeness charm
9 yes going for the one
10 rush permanent waves
This was a truly enjoyable review, well done sir.
As a massive Marillion fan who agrees with you that An Hour Before Dark (which I honestly couldn't get through even one time due to its didactic bullshit), F.E.A.R. is a great album and I appreciate the choice. Personally, I think Happiness is the Road is better overall. A desert island album, but I can see your choice for F.E.A.R. Just not overlooking them was win enough for me.
I approve. Good choices were made for this list.
2 of my favourite albums are here. Crime of the Century and A Trick of The Tail.
No doubt about it, kink crimson numero uno
"Infectious as a public lavatory seat" - I love it!
great list Barry👍,would swap the ELO for CAMEL mirage album
I gotta get some Camel involved. Mirage or debut. Then some Kansas. Debut perhaps. Great list tho.
I do think it is good, but I’d include Aqualung for the uninitiated!
Would you consider making a follow up video for those people ready for the next step on their prog journey?
I have really started to enjoy prog and I listened to and acquired many of the albums on your top 10 intro list.
Where do I go from here? Thanks so much
Great video as always and a good list. Personally I would swap the ”Yes album” with ”Close to the edge”. ”CTTE” is full-out Prog yet quite accessable. For ELP I would choose Tarkus, that IMHO is a superior album and also instantly intriguing with it’s artwork and weird story line. ”DSOTM” fits well into this list but is somewhat redundant given that it is one of the first albums classic rock listeners get anyway. I would replace it with an early Gentle Giant album like ”Acquiring the taste”, or maybe Moody Blues’ debut for an example of the more poppy/melodic side of prog! NEXT I would love to see a similar list of European (non-British) prog! There are so many great albums from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Scandinavia that get overlooked! 🙂
Very nice. This is perhaps the second time I've seen Supertramp mentioned as part of ProgRock. I might agree with the assertion if I could first understand what specific reasons were used. Until then, I don't really get it. Perhaps I've not listened to enough of their (pre-commercial) work.
If introducing someone to prog, Dark Side of the Moon and The Yes Album seem like no brainers. Has all the prog esthetic and sound, is approachable by any rock fan, demonstrates all that is possible.
Great list. I would add "Leftoverture" by Kansas and "The Grand Illusion" by Styx.
Supertramp : the thinking man’s 10cc ? .. How Dare You 😂
Think I might throw 'In the Land of Grey and Pink' in there. Ok, so Canterbury, but with sufficient meandering whimsy to even cover pastoral prog, a more pleasing intro to the genre, would be hard to imagine...
Good call. Also commented on the same album.
@@toddhill7483 Great minds, Todd...great minds... 😁
I absolutely love Marillion's F.E.A.R.
I love ELP's debut, the way it mixes the dark, classical and gothic - The Barbarian, Knife Edge, The Three Fates - with the softer and more romantic Take a Pebble and Lucky Man. Very atmospheric.
Was perplexed about your long mention of "Love Beach" --where ELP clearly went around the bend, even worse than the bombastic "Works", their White Album, if you like.
Thanks for this - appreciate your viewpoint. But I must suggest Close to the Edge was the pinnacle of prog if anything was. :)
All the usual suspects in the top 10, even though the choice of album could probably be debated.
I mean I love Marillion, but FEAR’s inclusion is still a bit of a head scratcher for me.
Surprised that Aqualung is missing, but definitely refreshing to see Mike Oldfield included on a list of this type.
Hackett is almost invisible on parts to ATOTT. Where's the guitar on Mad Man Moon, RAAB, ATOTT? Maybe because he had just finished an exquisite solo album and was lacking in new material. I think he plays a bigger role on W&W, perhaps because he wrote more material for that album.
Do you feel he is rather quiet on The Lamb as well?
@@classicalbum Actually yes I do. I think he's much more prominent on the 1st three albums he was on.
I think the group Camel could also be on this list with the album Moonmadness or The Snow Goose. But I agree with your list, it's perfect for getting to know progressive rock.
Un saludo 👍
Absolutely, love me some Camel, mirage and stationary traveler are my favourites.
Agreed, although i'd go with their debut or Mirage.
Good choice. You could have also included Led Zep IV and 24 Carat Purple. Bedside Manners Are Extra by Greenslade or Time Honoured Ghosts by Barclay James Harvest deserves a mention as well.
I have heard the oft stated opinion that Court of the Crimson King was "the first prog album". I still tend to view The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed as the first baby step in that direction. (And to consider the ELP debut album as a starting point completely overlooks everything Keith Emerson did with The Nice.)
Indeed... I did a video in the story of progressive rock... do check that out.
I would add where do we begin by Made in Sweden!
I love the inclusion of Supertramp, who definitely had prog leanings for a bit, but I'd definitely put Van Der Graaf Generator's "Pawn Hearts" or "Still Life" in rather than ELO. Or even Gentle Giant's "Free Hand".
I would throw Yes's Going for the one' into the blend.Not just for it being my favourite all time listen but because songs like Awaken,TOTC and Parallels i would suggest,distinctly tick the 'prog' box. 'Awaken' gets a lot of reactor attention across RUclips i notice and while the obvious contrived demographics are fairly blatant, i do get some genuine joy to see the millenials and gen Zedders engage with this particular opus.
As a 16 year old who grew attached to prog at that time this 10 would certainly fit your title - I would have Stand Up in there at the expense of ELO however
Many of these grace my CD shelves. I’d add Camel (snow goose, mirage, ). If Supertramp are Prog, then maybe also Jethro Tull? Focus & moving waves? Queen I & II are Prog enough too.
I am playing a little fast and loose with the prog lable here... you could probably inlcude the first Roxy album as well
I got my daughter into prog with The Land of Grey and Pink by of course, Caravan. Its just so much fun. Kids who are getting into music will love it.
Got her into rap with Stan but that's a whole other story and almost drove us all nuts. 😂
Infectious as a public lavatory seat. Well i've stopped laughing and will recommence my watch. Wonderful analogy and interesting choices of albums. Personally i would like to mention Camel's debut which has a very English whimsical vibe and relatively easy on the ear. Tull's 'A Passion Play' (my favourite J.T. album) would also be on the list however it is prog in extremis so maybe not ideal as an introduction.
Certainly agree with the Camel debut. For some reason an album oft overlooked, but my personal favourite of theirs.
Interesting choices... I would also recommend 'Foxtrot' by Genesis and the album's amazing side 2 "Supper's Ready" ... for when too much prog is barely enough :-)
No Hounds of Love ? Prog for people who don’t realise they are being progged…
Also - Ladies and Gentlemen we are Floating in Space. It’s a prog/drone rock hybrid named after a line in a book summarising the history of philosophy in the guise of a fairy tale and disguised as a packet of paracetamol. Need I say more ?
Makes sense to me Supertramp the thinking man's 10cc. I like it! I think that Steely dan is the thinking man's rock band..
Am enjoying your flirting with the sordid 😂
Nice choices. I wonder if it might have been good to include one or two "modern prog" items? Personally, I don't really listen to modern prog rock. I prefer other forms of modern music. However, for those who may wish to dabble, I think it would have been good to include one or two existing "prog" outfits. Great stuff, though, and I think you were definitely right to have "Court of the Crimson King" as number one. 😎😎👍👍😊😊
When I got the gist of what the video was about, my first two thoughts were 90125 & OK Computer. Surely The Yes Album is the poorer choice for Prog virgins?
90125 was my intro to Yes.... I just wonder if it sounds a bit dated now... great record though... Ok Computer would be a good choice
No joke but this is almost identical to the albums that introduced me to Prog. Just change out Marillion and Mike Oldfield for The Moody Blue's "In Search of the Lost Chord" and Jethro Tull's "Aqualung".
JT’s Songs from the Wood, though not their first album was their first (what I would consider) true progressive rock endeavor. Outstanding album very melodic, easy to embrace but still technically gripping. As others have mentioned, Kansas would be on my list. Left Overture or Point of Know Return are both good choices. Regardless, all the albums on your list are excellent.
Agreed about Songs from the Wood. I'd go with Heavy Horses as I think that whole album works better as a studio piece while most of the Songs on SftW are much much better live.
"Battle with the necromancer" hinting at what I consider possibly their best album. I'll get me coat...
I don't hit at it.. my point was the necromancer was the next setp on their prog jounrney... by all means, get that coat
@@classicalbum "Hinting" not "hitting". I agree with you. COS gets too little appreciation in my opinion. Good choices for top 10 prog starters too. Never heard Fear though, must give it a go.
A New World Record was my introduction to ELO.