Perhaps 'Inca Roads ' by Frnk Zpp might have been a better gateway track though I concede it's more fusiony. Just the same...wow magnificent, has everything that's right about prog as does Tom Sawyer. Pink Floyd though lick balls because they, in fact, lick balls.
ruclips.net/p/PLhTeHJArf-9gADXmwCixijt2ElfBr3yQ0 I created this playlist (now public) entitled 'Frieday Night'. A nightmarish prog odyssey: A cocaine-fuelled week results in a near-death on the second Friday night. Mulholland Drive meets The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Zappa was a musical genius, but he ruined his compositions with mediocre irony, satire, and absurdity. I don’t like pointless and constant changes in tone.
Awaken is a masterpiece, and worthy of best prog composition of all time. Going For The One is also my favorite Yes album, and for some reason seems under appreciated, even by Yes fans.
@@Darrylizer1 I love Relayer! I have the controversial opinion that Patrick Moraz was overall the best keyboard player that Yes ever had. I think he performed the best in a live concert setting, and his studio work with Yes was superb. Going For The One has a tremendous amount of sentimental value to me, and I absolutely love every track on the album. But, Relayer is brilliant! Cheers! Jeff.
The thing is, Andy really explains everything and discusses his thoughts really well. I don't know how to explain it, but he just keeps my attention stuck to the screen. It's like Im talking with my mate at a bar about music. And I love how he back and forth with himself as he changes and pivots his opinions
What Yes song do I have to immediately relisten to every time I hear it? Awaken! Great choice. Also, while ELP may not have evolved so well into the pop years as Yes and Genesis did, their prog years were unique. I love the variety on Works and other earlier albums, their classical adaptations, the piano concerto, their honky-tonk comic relief, their beautiful ballads, their bombastic synth, their hymns, their rock, their jazz, on and on. Who else does that so well, or at all? What people call "over the top", I call three geniuses in an interactive clashing creative stew providing an explosion of ear candy. Imperfections here are signs of pushing the envelope, and that's OK by me. Thanks for so appropriately including them.
Thanks for the comment about ELP. Great description you hit the nail on the head. Musicianship second to no one. It's good to hear someone that has some brains for a change.
Excellent post. What is amazing to me is that ELP is pretty much a creature of the 70s. Folks who never saw them live in that decade never really understood the sheer impact of ELP on the rock scene. They were as big as any band in rock in concert (their Olympic Stadium concert in 1978 outdid Led Zeppelin's biggest crowd, and they headlined rock festivals throughout the 70s) and were an enormous force, bigger than any prog band except for Pink Floyd. What diminished their memory was the utter hatred of the band by the music critics. ELP didn't care a whit for the music press, they were too busy selling out stadiums and Madison Square Garden for a week straight. Yes, they fizzled in the late seventies, but to be honest, which major prog band DIDN'T fizzle (Rush started hitting it big in the late 70s as what is now considered a prog-metal band) at the end of the decade? Pink Floyd's last major effort was The Wall, Genesis' prog stage pretty much ended with Steve Hackett's departure, Yes struggled after Going For The One, Jethro Tull reshaped their sound after Songs From The Wood, and as for the Mighty Crim? Their last prog phase ended in 1974. ELP was clearly one of those bands one had to see to believe and appreciate.
You've contradicted yourself there. Oops! Frank Zappa doesn't have a half of one percent of 'the English aesthetic.' He's firmly steeped in Americana. Maybe he's in a category all by himself, but whatever it is, it ain't Prog.
Woke up, fell out of bed, and a magical little trumpet lured me into Penny Lane, where Echoes of a Great Gig in the Sky urged me to attend a Minstrel singing Songs from the Wood. A Gentle Giant shouted "Supper's Ready" - but no, I didnt Rush for it. 'Cause the Revealing Science sent me along Inca Roads to a Purple Lagoon, where, Close to the Edge of perfect bliss, I did truly Awaken. Ah, that was Another Life, full of Crazy Diamonds playing Bohemian Rhapsodies that stayed with us.
I agree that the version of Dark Star on Live/Dead is a total masterpiece. One of my all time favourite tracks. Not sure it's really prog though. More Acid Rock or Space Rock, not that it really matters. Pity the remastered version of Live/Dead slightly spoils it, though. Original vinyl or original CD is where it can be heard best, or even the Fillmore West box set, for those that can still find that.
My list is :1. ELP-Karn Evil. 2. Genesis-Firth of Fifth. 3. King Crimson-Starless. 4. VdGG-Killer. 5. Yes-Gates of Delirium. 6.Pink Floyd-Echoes. 7.Renaissance-Ashes are Burning 8.Camel-Lady Fantasy. 9. Jethro Tull-My God. 10. Procol Harum-In Held Twas in I.
I am inclined to agree with you about Awaken. I've listened to it a thousand times and it gets better and better. Supper's Ready does too. These two are totally perfect. Awaken, with Todmobile, is just unbelievable.
Nothing is Easy is, to me, a much better version of Andersons originality and depth than Songs From the Wood -- which is great but it sounds like it was heavily influenced by Gentle Giant. (Who he was touring with at the time). As for Pink Floyd not being prog -- I have to agree. To a lot of people , prog is several things that Floyd is not, starting with virtuoso musicianship ( only Gilmour is an exceptional player and it's more textural than technical). They don't really do a lot of odd time signature stuff (Okay, "Money" has a deleted beat at the end of every two measures. Whoop!) Floyds music is often slow and trippy whereas prog has a lot of quick passages. Floyd doesn't play a lot of complex chord changes or polyrhythms and complex arrangements. That's why.
all such incredible epics! Yes has so much to offer. Although not as long, I find Sound Chaser to be as satisfying as Gates. Just a little more compact!
I have to agree with Awaken , although Gates of Delirium comes a close second for me . Half Moon Bay by Mott the Hoople would be on my alternate list and also Thick as a Brick , a bit predictably.
Dude you whiffed so bad with opening with Zappa's 'Regyptian Strut' , a twiddling nothing burger to nowhere. But, instead if you started with Zappa's 'Peaches en Regalia', yes sir. Tom Sawyer, swap Subdivisions? C'mon.
I'd not heard Just The Same before. Great recommendation, Andy. Great track. Funny that GG songs tend to be shorter than most prog bands. Then again, they pack enough ideas into five minutes to make a ten minute track. My favourite ELP classical adaptation was Toccata. Brilliant.
Agree with most of these, however, Xanadu is the perfect Rush prog track followed by many others not named Tom Sawyer. TS is really a hard rock song not really prog.
Me I am an amateur-musician and always loved Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, early-Genesis, ELP, some Rush-tracks too... but as you said,Andy... I grew up with Bohemian Rhapsody and must say as a hit single so long in the charts, you can't compare things right now in the bilboard( yawn... it's stupid studiomuzak etc..). There is one hitsingle from the 70's you didn't mention: Music from John Miles. Kinda proggy pop/classical/rock. Some people may hate it. I don't. Where are those songs right now?
It's true. Except for Zappa and the Captain and Steve Morse Brits are just...smarter? I can't find the word. Whatever it is that the Beatles brought to rock and roll.
Great list Andy , just recently started watching and love the way you put points across , when you said you played with Frost i had to watch. You mention the English aesthetic being an important part of Prog and i don't think you can get much more "Englishness" than Fox Hill by Camel .
"A hamburger without any condiments" is how someone described RUSH. They try hard but never quite make it. And are luke warm prog at best. I don't get them & don't like esp. that voice. QUEEN not! There's so many other bands far more quintessential to the Prog sound and ethos than those two. FOCUS, CAMEL, HAPPY THE MAN, CURVED AIR, OLDFIELD, RENAISSANCE just to suggest a few. Otherwise your list is pretty on point and expected.
Giving it some thought as I listened, while muttering and breaking things over the inclusion of the WRONG ELP track, I have come to the conclusion that 'And You And I' is the greatest single prog track, if one is forced to choose. Awaken is capable of inducing instant catalepsy in healthy young marmots. You'll excuse me, as I've got the hoover stuffed up the drain and the waste disposal won't turn off...
Gentle giant sounds like a Yes outtake - just lower your voice one octave, Jon, and let's funk it up...I am kidding, of course, I love Gentle Giant have been for, what, 55 years?
You need to do the same thing with Kansas as you recommend with Pink Floyd. Stop comparing it to other prog bands and just let it be what it is. Unlike the UK bands, Kansas is more influenced by the blues and Romantic music (as opposed to Classical). And ... they actually have a fugue in one of their songs, who else does that?
Sorry, I disagree with most of your choices. I agree with “In the Court of the Crimson King”, and you have most of the bands correct, but the song selections are wrong. For example”Fanfare for the Common Man” was not even written by ELO. I know you said they take classics and rework them; but they have many original compositions that are excellent.
My Top 10 Perfect Prog Tracks: 1.) “Xanadu” by Rush 2.) “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight” by Genesis 3.) “Proclamation” by Gentle Giant 4.) “Time” by Pink Floyd 5.) “Inca Roads” by Frank Zappa 6.) “Thick as a Brick” by Jethro Tull 7.) “2112” by Rush 8.) “The Sensual Con” by Bubblemath 9.) “The Odyssey” by Symphony X 10.) “Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II” by Crown Lands Don’t @ me! 😂
Talk about a next to impossible task there > far beit from myself or anyone else to argue with another's views. In the US (Nor Cal SF West Coast) mid/late 70's for a few yrs...maybe into the early/mid 80's, We had a FM radio show every Sunday night from 6-midnight called Stone Track > DJ was Greg Stone & the station (ksjo...in San Jose) didn't have all that great reception where I was ...approx 35-40 miles away....yet I still diligently ran my cassette recordings. & who says Floyd isn't Progressive.....really? 😳
I'd make just two alterations to the list: for Gentle Giant, I'd move one track forward on the same album. "On reflection", with its strict fugue, represents what GG is about even better than "just the same". And I'd take "Starless" over the Scitzoid man for KC.
Jings ......what an outstanding list ...... completely disagree with all of it of course....🤣🤣... You're enthusiasm sir, is infectious and, if there was a chance meeting in a pub, I'm fairly sure we would knock out several more lists that would change by the hour...... looking forward to the TV on the Radio celebration...✌🏽🫶🏽🙏🏽
I will start out by saying that I am a music fan, not a music geek or a prog geek, but simply a music fan. The top 8 picks in your video make a lot of sense. You at least have the right bands if not necessarily the right songs. However, you talk about cultural importance and significance throughout the video. In terms of cultural impact I really don't see how the Zappa and Gentle Giant songs satisfy this criteria. I would also say Awaken has not had much cultural impact beyond the dedicated prog geek. Overall, I think there is some difficulty in combining perfection with cultural impact as a consideration. Put simply I don't see how perfection necessarily leads to cultural importance.
Some of these tracks have had a great cultural impact, some are fine examples of brilliant prog. All of them are not both. Some of them are. All of them are perfect in their execution in my opinion.
Oh my giddy aunt! sometimes your so spot on. and you were sooo close here... but Awaken? It doesn't even hold a candle to Suppers Ready. It's not even the best Yes song. Oh well keep trying mate you'll get it right someday.
I actually listened to them both next to each other. The composition of Awaken is so tight and concise for a 15min song. Supper's Ready flaps about a little at the start, only a little. Any idiot can come up with the obvious; Roundabout or Close To The Edge. I don't make these decisions lightly. Awaken is the greatest prog tune of all time IMHO. That is the point of the video, to make people think, to come up with why Supper's Ready is better than Awaken, beyond the fact that they like it more.
Yeah, I love Tom Sawyer, but I've always felt it wasn't their best prog. This was an olive branch to pop rock fans. I guess looking at it closer, the fact it sounds more traditional, just shows their capability and ability to hide those changes. That all being said, I still would put in Hemispheres over Tom Sawyer. Hahaha
Great showing and great choices. We all know it's subjective, but because it is a real exercise and if it's to be worth any attention we have to attach some transcendent significance to it... therefore making it worthy of argument, energy and time. So, no arguments here until you get to No. 1. Awaken is obviously a tremendous Yes track. For me, however, you can't duplicate the epitome of a virgin journey already undertaken. For me, songs like Awaken, most of TFTO and Gates of Delirium are attempts to scale the same kind of mountain as CTTE. Sure it's immaculate in terms of recording but the grit, ambiance and occasional dissonance of CTTE is like a connection to a whole other organic world that I've never visited but am somehow familiar with as opposed to a somewhat sanitized universe created in the studio (as Awaken seems to me). Just my opinion. It's all banter about something that will never mean the same to anyone else as it means to me, and I believe that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Be well.
Certainly this collection of songs would make for an excellent album. I would have gone for _"Shine on You crazy Diamond"_ instead of _"Great Gig in the Sky"_ for Pink Floyd, but I do think _"Great Gig in the Sky"_ makes for a fine choice. Not only is it an excellent and captivating song, but it'd be a good change-of-pace compared to other songs in this collection. A collection of _"That's what I Call Prog"_ has to include the kind of variety that is seen in progressive music as a whole, IMO.
I love side four of Sheik Yerbouti...it's just sublime, I Can't seperate Yo Mama and Wild Love. The 'complex' section on that side also crops up on Side 2 of Them or Us...also two songs mashed together with a long Xenochronus guitar solo...which I spoke about on my Zappa Them or Us video last week. I might do a track by track analysis of Sheik Yerbouti at some point.
I thought that I had heard a lot of music in my 65 years, but you never fail to come up with stuff that I've never heard of. Never listened to Zappa *audible gasp*, but I guess I'll have to now. Same goes with Gentle Giant. Never a big Queen fan, but I'll give BR another try. Don't disagree with any of the others but Yes did manage to raise an eyebrow. But, since your measure here is "Proggyness", Awaken might be the one after all. In terms of what individual Yes song I'd take to the proverbial desert island (which somehow has electricity, food, and running water) it'd be "Gates of Delirium".
Awaken was always in the Friday Rock Show top 10, I have to agree, fabulous track. I made a compilation of the background music, I had a lot of it anyway: Stanley Clarke, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Al Di Meola, Santana, George Harrison, Van Der Graaf Generator and of course, Dixie Dreggs.
I’d stopped listening to Yes after Relayer (not entirely sure why……), but recently a new friend had said Going For The One was amazing, so…..I gave it a listen. And he was right. Turn Of The Century, Parallels, and Awaken! Incredible stuff. All of those years of not listening to it because…………doh!
The funny thing is, you stopped just one album (possibly two, the next album is also really good, Drama) too early if you wanted to save yourself from the odd 80s mess they fell into. Decades later they did another excellent album called Magnification, that I think stands up on it's own and can be counted as one of their best.
1. If it was going to be a best of style album - as its prog it would surely be at least a triple album 2. No Hillage ? 3. You never seem to mention Hawkwind
I di...I mention how I swapped a Hawkwind picture disc to get The Yes Album...! I am compiling a 'Ten Great Bands I Never Mention' I will add them to the list. I love Hillage...Fish Rising, L Green, Radio Dome...four masterpieces...
I think all bands have a trajectory. ELP starts off running, peaked, then fell off a cliff. But, pretty much every prog band has a similar trajectory... Only a handful of true fanatics fail to see that.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer - Well, pop tastes change, but prog bands are only peripherally popular. I think most just get into ruts trying to do creative things while knowing too much (and falling into patterns). YMNSHO
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer one of the smarter Things you said run out of steam that's exactly what happened especially to ELP. However a lot of them I'm talking about Phil Collins decided to turn pop and run to the bank.
ELP is my all time favorite prog band. but I have to agree I always found the comic/English music hall pieces on those early albums to be the weakest parts of their classic albums. The Sheriff, Jeremy Bender, Benny the Bouncer were all tracks I could've done without. Although I have a soft spot for Nutrocker. We'll just have to agree to disagree on Greg Lakes ELP vocals. Weirdly enough, I never could get into Zappa. Nice job
Oops, it's me again. As always, I partly agree on some of your choice, but (as always) like doing it "My Way". I deliberately chose rather long ones, that allow you to completely get lost in'em. Nonetheless, I had a hard time to give each band/artist just one track. More often than not, I was swaying. So, whenever necessary, I gave it an "alternative track". So, here you go: 10.) Frank Zappa: Blessed Relief, or Grand Wazoo (title track of the eponymous album. It's one of my absolute favourite Zappa albums of all time, so one track had to make it on the list. The alternative alternative track would have been 'The Gumbo Variations' from Hot Rats. 09.) King Crimson. Really tough to choose the 'right' track, so I went by instinct and chose 'Lizard' from the eponymous album. One of the rather, if not the most underrated album of the "King". Alternatively, I'd choose 'Moonchild' the track that turned me into an undying fan of the band. 08.) Pink Floyd. Here, it's got to be 'Echoes'. I know, a rather obvious one, but for me, who dearly loves/d the early years, it's the most outstanding track, by far, and in its sheer complexity a true masterpiece. I saw them Live on the 'Meddle Tour' in '71, and it's left a mark on me. An alternative could be the track 'Embryo' from the Relics album. 07.) ELP. For me, the first two albums are the best one, followed by 'Trilogy' & 'BSS', in that order. My first & instant choice was 'Just take a Pebble', but then I turned to 'Tarkus', as it truly divulges what their concept of ProgRock was. 06.) Yes. Similar situation. 'Roundabout' was on instinct, but 'Close to the Edge' is simply Yes at their best. Period! 05.) Gentle Giant. Here, I acted like you, and chose the track(s) that infinitely turned me on to G.G.. 'Funny Ways' from the first album is the one, but it could easily have been 'Wreck' from 'Acquiring the Taste'. As much as I love 'Free Hand', those two tracks will remain my favourites. 04.) Van der Graaf Generator. Oh, how I loved that band, back then. Over the years, we've become a somewhat estranged 'old couple', but nonetheless, they're still in my heart. And, I chose 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers', as it resembles the original Van der Graaf Generator(ism). However, 'Meurglys III' from 'World record' is at wafer-thin distance 03.) Jethro Tull. Another immortal love affair, and, like VdGG, it was a tight race, but I had to give in to 'Thick as a Brick', which I (for one) declare the Jethro Tulliest of all Jethro Tull album. But, you (some) might say, so is 'A Passion Play', so the title track would be the alternative. 02.) Mahavishnu Orchestra. I saw them Live in early '73, 'Birds of Fire had just been released, and they blew me away. A really rare & other-wordly concert that was. Over the years & decades, I've attended hundreds & hundreds of concert, but this belongs to my Top 5, if not Top 3 of all time. Though, I love 'The Inner mounting Flame' a tad more than 'Birds of Fire', I chose 'One Word' from the latter one. However, 'You know, you know' is hard on the heels. 01.) Last, but definitely not least, I chose a somewhat unknown Gem from a somewhat unknown Italian ProgRock band. Actually, I could easily make a play list comprising merely Italian ProgRock bands. I was close to choosing 'Rosso Napoletano' by Toni Esposito, or 'Vimana' by Nova, but, at the end, resorted to 'Animale senza Respiro' by Osanna. A highly ignored band from the early 70's. If you don't know them, check'em out. So, that's it. One track that (unfortunately) didn't make it on the list is Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells'. So, consider it a kind of addendum. It's a track, I played/listened to so many times back then, I could almost hum the whole piece by heart. Actually, I'd really appreciate, if you did a proper feature on this before-mentioned band called 'Nova'. Maybe, you know'em, maybe, you don't, but their first 3 albums from the mid-seventies are nothing but excellent. The 4th one is a bit so so, but nonetheless, way better than a lot of other bands of that era. I only didn't put them on the list, because they're rather prog/rock with a good touch of jazz/fusion. Corrado & Danilo Rustici 2 guitar brothers par excellence & Elio d'Anna on sax. Despite the odd vocal track, truly amazing! Toni Esposito is yet another outstanding Italian artist that deserves to be explored, and I consider 'Rosso Napoletano' his finest work. Rather percussive & experimental. Great stuff!
There is for me a difference between mind blowing experimental seat of your pants music and 'perfect' music. For me Close To The Edge is the former without a doubt. But compositionally I think they are finding their way creating a long form track. ELP had done this already with Tarkus which is actually much better compositionally than CTTE. (CTTE is basically four or five seperate songs with joiners.) I always liked Gates of Delerium more than CTTE as well, as it is also compositionally better and even more out there. But Awaken is such a brilliantly composed epic, it doesn't try and be everything, it's structure is so beautiful (it's almost symmetrical in it's structure) and that ever upwardly moving harmonic device they use is just bamboozling! I know what is going on in CTTE. With Awaken I haven't got a clue. But this stage they are in complete control of Symphonic Prog Rock. Side 2 of GFTO is perfect with perhaps the greatest short and punchy prog track followed by the greatest epic of all time, all beautifully produced. That's my line of reasoning. So I put CTTE in the background of the video just to let everyone know I am aware of the obvious choice, but even if you don't agree and you think it should be CTTE, I hope my choice makes people think a little, and in turn help them see Yes in a different light. And a lot of the time I do this with a sense of humour, but here I have explained my real, serious intentions behind my approach.
Hey Mike, love your list, comments and observations. I put a couple tracks you mentioned in a playlist of songs I don't know from this affair. I'm a huge fan of Italian rock/prog. PFM, Banco, Semiramis, Il Baletto di Bronzo, Museo Rosenbach, De De Lind, Alysa Fallax, Biglietto per L'inferno and many many more! I have all 4 Nova albums. Vimana is my fave. I like Tony Esposito and Osanna too!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer you an amazing guy! I love your thoughts and viewpoints. Even though my views and faves differ here and there. but that's what makes it all so awesome!! 🎶💖
Tarkus is the only ELP album I've ever got into. They're sound is so crass, bombastic and unrefined sounding, totally not for me. Also Geddy Lee is a terrible screecher. Rush' music sounds fine but the moment that shrew starts whining the magic is lost. Awaken was a great choice, definitely my favourite Yes track.
I sure have it Rivals King Crimson. I love April Wine one of the most underrated bands I can think of. It's almost like you have to be British to even get a mention and April wine are Canadian.
The Great Gig in the Sky is surely influenced by Harvey Mandel's track Cristo Redentor (1968), written by jazzman Duke Pearson in the early 1960's. In a similar way, the way Riders on the Storm is based on Sun Ra's Advice to Medics (1957).
The first track I play after listening to your show is 'Awaken' . It's an excellent choice. Another great and entertaining show, Andy. Always surprises.
Genesis "Fountain Of Salmacis" is my personal favourite prog song ever. It is the most beautiful song ever written by 21 year olds, in my humble opinion.
I agree with you on Floyd being prog, but I would probably choose "Echoes" if you want to call something a "perfect prog track". "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a great choice. Emerson was unreal live.... No list of great prog songs can be complete without "Bohemian Rhapsody". That song alone changed my idea of what music can be. IMHO no list of great prog songs can be without "Roundabout". It is essential. It is the greatest to me.... Yes is definitely to definitive prog rock band, but it has to be "Roundabout".
I argue that the first progressive song in contemporary music is December's Boudoir (1968) an art pop torch song by Laura Nyro. All the compositional elements of Bohemian Rhapsody can be found in it, together with Nyro's equally as progressive song New York Tendaberry (1969). No guitars, though.
Wonderful! Your 2/2 -2nd time I’ve watched you and both times you’ve surprised me with your choices! Obviously Yes is my fav group! I’ve been blessed to see them 50+ times and experienced Many Incredible moments Yes has Moved an entire audience! Awaken is my all time fav and have experienced it live-front row( a few times😍) - Such moments ingrained in memory! ❤
As a massive Queen fan I applaud your inclusion of you know what. Maybe March of the Black Queen, Father to Son and The Prophet´s Song could get honourable mentions too.....
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer You´re right of course. I was a teenager in the 70´s and got totally into Classic Rock. Sabbath, Purple, Led Zep, Queen, AC/DC etc. The Prog Rockers were considered naval-gazing, nerdy art-school losers by our crowd. I´ve grown into prog more over the years but still find the self-indulgence annoying at times. Rather get my air-guitar out most of the time. Anyway love your enthusiasm and knowledge. Thanks a lot.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Surely Paranoid Android would have been a good inclusion, in view of its cultural impact, its progginess, its thrilling emotional and musical power, and its, well, sheer perfection?
Interesting choice for number 1. Once you had taken it up to that point and not in fact placed any material from Yes on the list, I knew it was going to be a Yes track. It had to be. But there are two or three other Yes tracks that come to mind as being far more iconic from the "general impact on culture" perspective. The status of "generally iconic" was, I thought, part of your rubrick that helped you make your decisions. This is not a "push back", or at least not a strong one: Going For The One is a great album, and Awaken is certainly a great track. And then also, in the end, such a list is largely simply the subjective opinion of the person compiling the list, and, as my dear departed dad used to say, "opinions are like assholes--everyone has at least one". This list is your opinion so, cool, great list. But I was expecting one of two Yes numbers, as being (in MY opinion) exemplars of "progness", great songs, amazing arrangements and finally, important songs that got main stream radio play and have appeared in other cultural media like movie sound tracks and so on. The titles I expected were either I've Seen All Good People, or (more likely) Roundabout. Perhaps I have an American's perspective on this, influenced by our 70s phenomenon called "album oriented rock", which as I understand it Britain didn't really have an equivalent to. Be THAT as it may, Roundabout got regular rotation on AOR for years here in the States. As general cultural impact goes, it didn't last as well as Bohemian Rhapsody or Tom Sawyer, but it was just as big through much of the 70s here in the States. And Roundabout has all the hallmarks of "progginess". Oh well, that's just my thoughts. Great list. I look forward to imbibing the play list. 😊
What do I think? Yeah, this was a very difficult list to make. Myself, I'm not sure I could choose one Yes song. Awaken is a great choice. You really break down the qualities of all these bands, and it's amazing how different each of these bands and songs actually are, yet all are amazing examples of perfect prog.
Such an interesting list; most of them wouldn't have occurred to me, but I can't argue with your analysis. I'm totally with you on Awaken. It is sublime.
Yes...absolute nonsense...I left it out deliberately so that my list would be percieved by all as nonsense, lest it become an item of worship. Well done for spotting this.
Of Yes, I thought Going for the One was a complete set of songs that did really work. The 70's were when they just dug in and tried to make a mark against so many other great bands. Such a creative time, where did the passion go? Thanks for taking us down a road some thought was irrelevant.
I think Punk crushed the spirit of a lot of these musicians, not just Yes, the whole genre suffered. To be ridiculed for trying to express your own unique voice (as well as a lot of valid criticism about length and pretentions etc) I think that really made a bunch of people gun-shy. Who wants to be the butt of a joke of a bunch of snot nosed kids and have to expend all that energy and effort. It became easier to not bother.
Perfectly understand why BoRap is here. What about March of the Black Queen, which is almost as highly considered among genuine Queen fans as BoRap ? And is as prog as anything else in this list.
Sadly you've not included any new prog and I'd suggest your still stuck in that retro era. Not acknowledging the modern era. Riverside, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Big Big Train, Evership etc etc. Prog lives
Here is 'Now That's What I Call Prog' Playlist...enjoy!!! ruclips.net/p/PLVUgWh6RKO9rVJ3BAQ7S7884l0Ed5xWfg
Perhaps 'Inca Roads ' by Frnk Zpp might have been a better gateway track though I concede it's more fusiony. Just the same...wow magnificent, has everything that's right about prog as does Tom Sawyer. Pink Floyd though lick balls because they, in fact, lick balls.
ruclips.net/p/PLhTeHJArf-9gADXmwCixijt2ElfBr3yQ0
I created this playlist (now public) entitled 'Frieday Night'. A nightmarish prog odyssey: A cocaine-fuelled week results in a near-death on the second Friday night. Mulholland Drive meets The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
@@AntonyRG1 Rebecca Black is epic Prog
"Clare Torry" just mentioning her :-)
Zappa was a musical genius, but he ruined his compositions with mediocre irony, satire, and absurdity. I don’t like pointless and constant changes in tone.
i tend to agree… sometimes it works but it feels other times like he can’t do anything else
While I prefer the Gabriel era, Trick Of the Tail is my favorite Genesis album. Not a wasted moment on it.
Awaken is a masterpiece, and worthy of best prog composition of all time. Going For The One is also my favorite Yes album, and for some reason seems under appreciated, even by Yes fans.
👍👍👍👍
I agree, GFTO is the best!
Yeah I think GFTO has one great track in Awaken and some middling tracks. It's really the mix I don't like. I find Relayer to be much superior.
@@Darrylizer1 I love Relayer!
I have the controversial opinion that Patrick Moraz was overall the best keyboard player that Yes ever had. I think he performed the best in a live concert setting, and his studio work with Yes was superb.
Going For The One has a tremendous amount of sentimental value to me, and I absolutely love every track on the album.
But, Relayer is brilliant! Cheers! Jeff.
Because its not their premium album and ranks below their top five.....next question
Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize
The thing is, Andy really explains everything and discusses his thoughts really well. I don't know how to explain it, but he just keeps my attention stuck to the screen. It's like Im talking with my mate at a bar about music. And I love how he back and forth with himself as he changes and pivots his opinions
What Yes song do I have to immediately relisten to every time I hear it? Awaken! Great choice.
Also, while ELP may not have evolved so well into the pop years as Yes and Genesis did, their prog years were unique. I love the variety on Works and other earlier albums, their classical adaptations, the piano concerto, their honky-tonk comic relief, their beautiful ballads, their bombastic synth, their hymns, their rock, their jazz, on and on. Who else does that so well, or at all? What people call "over the top", I call three geniuses in an interactive clashing creative stew providing an explosion of ear candy. Imperfections here are signs of pushing the envelope, and that's OK by me. Thanks for so appropriately including them.
Thanks for the comment about ELP. Great description you hit the nail on the head. Musicianship second to no one. It's good to hear someone that has some brains for a change.
Excellent post. What is amazing to me is that ELP is pretty much a creature of the 70s. Folks who never saw them live in that decade never really understood the sheer impact of ELP on the rock scene. They were as big as any band in rock in concert (their Olympic Stadium concert in 1978 outdid Led Zeppelin's biggest crowd, and they headlined rock festivals throughout the 70s) and were an enormous force, bigger than any prog band except for Pink Floyd. What diminished their memory was the utter hatred of the band by the music critics. ELP didn't care a whit for the music press, they were too busy selling out stadiums and Madison Square Garden for a week straight. Yes, they fizzled in the late seventies, but to be honest, which major prog band DIDN'T fizzle (Rush started hitting it big in the late 70s as what is now considered a prog-metal band) at the end of the decade? Pink Floyd's last major effort was The Wall, Genesis' prog stage pretty much ended with Steve Hackett's departure, Yes struggled after Going For The One, Jethro Tull reshaped their sound after Songs From The Wood, and as for the Mighty Crim? Their last prog phase ended in 1974. ELP was clearly one of those bands one had to see to believe and appreciate.
You've contradicted yourself there. Oops! Frank Zappa doesn't have a half of one percent of 'the English aesthetic.'
He's firmly steeped in Americana. Maybe he's in a category all by himself, but whatever it is, it ain't Prog.
I agree. I definitely agree. I don't even think he's that good.
Awaken is gorgeous, I agree. but the greatest prog track is actually "Starless" by Crim. It ticks all the boxes and is moving beyond words.
I thought it was going to be 'Starless' too!
Ya definitely up there.. More so then Awaken
Yes, Starless is peerless. There's nothing like it.
Woke up, fell out of bed, and a magical little trumpet lured me into Penny Lane, where Echoes of a Great Gig in the Sky urged me to attend a Minstrel singing Songs from the Wood. A Gentle Giant shouted "Supper's Ready" - but no, I didnt Rush for it. 'Cause the Revealing Science sent me along Inca Roads to a Purple Lagoon, where, Close to the Edge of perfect bliss, I did truly Awaken. Ah, that was Another Life, full of Crazy Diamonds playing Bohemian Rhapsodies that stayed with us.
Here is a bid for controversy: I would have Dark Star by The Grateful Dead in there.
I agree that the version of Dark Star on Live/Dead is a total masterpiece. One of my all time favourite tracks. Not sure it's really prog though. More Acid Rock or Space Rock, not that it really matters. Pity the remastered version of Live/Dead slightly spoils it, though. Original vinyl or original CD is where it can be heard best, or even the Fillmore West box set, for those that can still find that.
My list is :1. ELP-Karn Evil. 2. Genesis-Firth of Fifth. 3. King Crimson-Starless. 4. VdGG-Killer. 5. Yes-Gates of Delirium. 6.Pink Floyd-Echoes. 7.Renaissance-Ashes are Burning 8.Camel-Lady Fantasy. 9. Jethro Tull-My God. 10. Procol Harum-In Held Twas in I.
I love your first three picks especially ELP at number 1. I also agree with number 7 and 8.
I am inclined to agree with you about Awaken. I've listened to it a thousand times and it gets better and better. Supper's Ready does too. These two are totally perfect. Awaken, with Todmobile, is just unbelievable.
Nothing is Easy is, to me, a much better version of Andersons originality and depth than Songs From the Wood -- which is great but it sounds like it was heavily influenced by Gentle Giant. (Who he was touring with at the time). As for Pink Floyd not being prog -- I have to agree. To a lot of people , prog is several things that Floyd is not, starting with virtuoso musicianship ( only Gilmour is an exceptional player and it's more textural than technical). They don't really do a lot of odd time signature stuff (Okay, "Money" has a deleted beat at the end of every two measures. Whoop!) Floyds music is often slow and trippy whereas prog has a lot of quick passages. Floyd doesn't play a lot of complex chord changes or polyrhythms and complex arrangements. That's why.
I would have a hard time choosing between CTTE, Gates of Delirium and Awaken. I'd probably still go with CTTE, but it could shift from time to time.
all such incredible epics! Yes has so much to offer. Although not as long, I find Sound Chaser to be as satisfying as Gates. Just a little more compact!
My three favourite Yes tracks too, although sides 1 and 4 of Tales come close.
Anyone from the Canterbury Scene? There are various candidates...
Epitaph, King Crimson hard to fault, or beat, methinks 🎉
Drums on Epitaph are incredible!!!
I have to agree with Awaken , although Gates of Delirium comes a close second for me . Half Moon Bay by Mott the Hoople would be on my alternate list and also Thick as a Brick , a bit predictably.
Dude you whiffed so bad with opening with Zappa's 'Regyptian Strut' , a twiddling nothing burger to nowhere. But, instead if you started with Zappa's 'Peaches en Regalia', yes sir. Tom Sawyer, swap Subdivisions? C'mon.
Didn't expect your No.1 - Awaken is my top prog Song, too. Listen to the Todmobile/Andersen rendition, it's heavenly!
I'd not heard Just The Same before. Great recommendation, Andy. Great track. Funny that GG songs tend to be shorter than most prog bands. Then again, they pack enough ideas into five minutes to make a ten minute track.
My favourite ELP classical adaptation was Toccata. Brilliant.
They Should Rather More Have Made 40 Or 50 Of This Lot... Instead Of That's What I Call Music Pop Rubbish Theyve Been Making For The Past 30+ Years...
Where's the Beatles...'Life in a Day' , 'Happiness is a Warm Gun' ,
'Abbey Rd' - Side 2
Agree with most of these, however, Xanadu is the perfect Rush prog track followed by many others not named Tom Sawyer. TS is really a hard rock song not really prog.
I love “Awaken” but I always feel like the the little guitar lick at the end sounds a bit out of place and not really necessary. (Nit-picky, I know.)
Me I am an amateur-musician and always loved Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, early-Genesis, ELP, some Rush-tracks too... but as you said,Andy... I grew up with Bohemian Rhapsody and must say as a hit single so long in the charts, you can't compare things right now in the bilboard( yawn... it's stupid studiomuzak etc..). There is one hitsingle from the 70's you didn't mention: Music from John Miles. Kinda proggy pop/classical/rock. Some people may hate it. I don't. Where are those songs right now?
It's true. Except for Zappa and the Captain and Steve Morse Brits are just...smarter? I can't find the word. Whatever it is that the Beatles brought to rock and roll.
Great list Andy , just recently started watching and love the way you put points across , when you said you played with Frost i had to watch. You mention the English aesthetic being an important part of Prog and i don't think you can get much more "Englishness" than Fox Hill by Camel .
"A hamburger without any condiments" is how someone described RUSH. They try hard but never quite make it. And are luke warm prog at best. I don't get them & don't like esp. that voice. QUEEN not! There's so many other bands far more quintessential to the Prog sound and ethos than those two. FOCUS, CAMEL, HAPPY THE MAN, CURVED AIR, OLDFIELD, RENAISSANCE just to suggest a few. Otherwise your list is pretty on point and expected.
Giving it some thought as I listened, while muttering and breaking things over the inclusion of the WRONG ELP track, I have come to the conclusion that 'And You And I' is the greatest single prog track, if one is forced to choose. Awaken is capable of inducing instant catalepsy in healthy young marmots. You'll excuse me, as I've got the hoover stuffed up the drain and the waste disposal won't turn off...
Renaissance? Ashes are Burning, etc?Awaken is a great tune, Firth of Fifth? Hackett's solo!
Gentle giant sounds like a Yes outtake - just lower your voice one octave, Jon, and let's funk it up...I am kidding, of course, I love Gentle Giant have been for, what, 55 years?
You need to do the same thing with Kansas as you recommend with Pink Floyd. Stop comparing it to other prog bands and just let it be what it is. Unlike the UK bands, Kansas is more influenced by the blues and Romantic music (as opposed to Classical). And ... they actually have a fugue in one of their songs, who else does that?
Greg Lake (RIP) on two tracks.
Is it really pronounced "kwait-er-mass"??? 🤔
Great top 10. However, I don't think it will fit on a single cd. There may be a 10 minute over run.
Sorry, I disagree with most of your choices. I agree with “In the Court of the Crimson King”, and you have most of the bands correct, but the song selections are wrong. For example”Fanfare for the Common Man” was not even written by ELO. I know you said they take classics and rework them; but they have many original compositions that are excellent.
Frank zappa is not prog
Great guitarist but an acquired taste
No he's not. Glad you said it I've been saying it for years.
I'm a big Giant fan but wouldn't have chosen Just the Same. To me it's a bit uninspired.
Great list. Did you ever hear Jem's banned Fanfare for the Common Man?
My Top 10 Perfect Prog Tracks:
1.) “Xanadu” by Rush
2.) “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight” by Genesis
3.) “Proclamation” by Gentle Giant
4.) “Time” by Pink Floyd
5.) “Inca Roads” by Frank Zappa
6.) “Thick as a Brick” by Jethro Tull
7.) “2112” by Rush
8.) “The Sensual Con” by Bubblemath
9.) “The Odyssey” by Symphony X
10.) “Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II” by Crown Lands
Don’t @ me! 😂
Talk about a next to impossible task there > far beit from myself or anyone else to argue with another's views.
In the US (Nor Cal SF West Coast) mid/late 70's for a few yrs...maybe into the early/mid 80's, We had a FM radio show every Sunday night from 6-midnight called Stone Track > DJ was Greg Stone & the station (ksjo...in San Jose) didn't have all that great reception where I was ...approx 35-40 miles away....yet I still diligently ran my cassette recordings.
& who says Floyd isn't Progressive.....really? 😳
Would Thick as a Brick qualify as it is technically 1 song
The Jon Anderson with Todmobile version of Awaken is awesome.
Heard Yes perform it live in 1977. That was truly awesome.
@@SRV2013 I did too, saw them at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately that doesn't have a great quality video online that other people can watch.
Fanfare is a cover. I really appreciate hearing the original.
Video idea: aaron copland
I'd make just two alterations to the list: for Gentle Giant, I'd move one track forward on the same album. "On reflection", with its strict fugue, represents what GG is about even better than "just the same". And I'd take "Starless" over the Scitzoid man for KC.
Jings ......what an outstanding list ...... completely disagree with all of it of course....🤣🤣... You're enthusiasm sir, is infectious and, if there was a chance meeting in a pub, I'm fairly sure we would knock out several more lists that would change by the hour...... looking forward to the TV on the Radio celebration...✌🏽🫶🏽🙏🏽
I will start out by saying that I am a music fan, not a music geek or a prog geek, but simply a music fan. The top 8 picks in your video make a lot of sense. You at least have the right bands if not necessarily the right songs. However, you talk about cultural importance and significance throughout the video. In terms of cultural impact I really don't see how the Zappa and Gentle Giant songs satisfy this criteria. I would also say Awaken has not had much cultural impact beyond the dedicated prog geek. Overall, I think there is some difficulty in combining perfection with cultural impact as a consideration. Put simply I don't see how perfection necessarily leads to cultural importance.
Some of these tracks have had a great cultural impact, some are fine examples of brilliant prog. All of them are not both. Some of them are. All of them are perfect in their execution in my opinion.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer That clears up some of my confusion.
Progressive Rock IS,... ELP!!!!
Oh my giddy aunt! sometimes your so spot on. and you were sooo close here... but Awaken? It doesn't even hold a candle to Suppers Ready. It's not even the best Yes song. Oh well keep trying mate you'll get it right someday.
I actually listened to them both next to each other. The composition of Awaken is so tight and concise for a 15min song. Supper's Ready flaps about a little at the start, only a little. Any idiot can come up with the obvious; Roundabout or Close To The Edge. I don't make these decisions lightly. Awaken is the greatest prog tune of all time IMHO. That is the point of the video, to make people think, to come up with why Supper's Ready is better than Awaken, beyond the fact that they like it more.
Number one should have been "Starless"
Number one is Close To The Edge. No contest.
That Zappa track - how do you spell it ?
Love this list. I would replace Tom Sawyer with La Villa Stangiato
Yeah, I love Tom Sawyer, but I've always felt it wasn't their best prog. This was an olive branch to pop rock fans. I guess looking at it closer, the fact it sounds more traditional, just shows their capability and ability to hide those changes.
That all being said, I still would put in Hemispheres over Tom Sawyer. Hahaha
Snap!
What about Procol Harum as a prog rock band?
Great showing and great choices. We all know it's subjective, but because it is a real exercise and if it's to be worth any attention we have to attach some transcendent significance to it... therefore making it worthy of argument, energy and time. So, no arguments here until you get to No. 1. Awaken is obviously a tremendous Yes track. For me, however, you can't duplicate the epitome of a virgin journey already undertaken. For me, songs like Awaken, most of TFTO and Gates of Delirium are attempts to scale the same kind of mountain as CTTE. Sure it's immaculate in terms of recording but the grit, ambiance and occasional dissonance of CTTE is like a connection to a whole other organic world that I've never visited but am somehow familiar with as opposed to a somewhat sanitized universe created in the studio (as Awaken seems to me). Just my opinion. It's all banter about something that will never mean the same to anyone else as it means to me, and I believe that's exactly how it's supposed to be. Be well.
Yes. Close to the Edge is the lake, the mountain, and the cave. Rough and sweet and eerie.
love your comments!
Certainly this collection of songs would make for an excellent album. I would have gone for _"Shine on You crazy Diamond"_ instead of _"Great Gig in the Sky"_ for Pink Floyd, but I do think _"Great Gig in the Sky"_ makes for a fine choice. Not only is it an excellent and captivating song, but it'd be a good change-of-pace compared to other songs in this collection. A collection of _"That's what I Call Prog"_ has to include the kind of variety that is seen in progressive music as a whole, IMO.
FZ's 'Yo Mama,' is prog at its best. 'Awaken' is the most bombastic over the top track ever made. Appallingly good!
I love side four of Sheik Yerbouti...it's just sublime, I Can't seperate Yo Mama and Wild Love. The 'complex' section on that side also crops up on Side 2 of Them or Us...also two songs mashed together with a long Xenochronus guitar solo...which I spoke about on my Zappa Them or Us video last week. I might do a track by track analysis of Sheik Yerbouti at some point.
It certainly feautures heavily with the...'reactor' community.
Awaken Absolutely!
Honourable mentions? I would say Mike Oldfield - Ommadawn and Focus - Eruption.
Focus thank you. My third favorite keyboard player and my second favorite lead guitarist. Criminally underrated band
I thought that I had heard a lot of music in my 65 years, but you never fail to come up with stuff that I've never heard of. Never listened to Zappa *audible gasp*, but I guess I'll have to now. Same goes with Gentle Giant. Never a big Queen fan, but I'll give BR another try. Don't disagree with any of the others but Yes did manage to raise an eyebrow. But, since your measure here is "Proggyness", Awaken might be the one after all. In terms of what individual Yes song I'd take to the proverbial desert island (which somehow has electricity, food, and running water) it'd be "Gates of Delirium".
Awaken was always in the Friday Rock Show top 10, I have to agree, fabulous track. I made a compilation of the background music, I had a lot of it anyway: Stanley Clarke, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Al Di Meola, Santana, George Harrison, Van Der Graaf Generator and of course, Dixie Dreggs.
I have created a video on The Friday Rock show and I discuss those top tens in that...
Wow I listened all of those groups. Especially the great Steve Morse Dixie Dregs. May I recommend another one of his albums called high tension wires.
Um…I like the video…I don’t want to sound unappreciative, but…um…I guess I‘ll make my own playlist, though. :)
Could you Todd?...I'm busy answering comments here....
I’d stopped listening to Yes after Relayer (not entirely sure why……), but recently a new friend had said Going For The One was amazing, so…..I gave it a listen. And he was right. Turn Of The Century, Parallels, and Awaken! Incredible stuff. All of those years of not listening to it because…………doh!
the beautiful thing is that now you've disovered something new to love! any time is a great time to discover amazing music!
@@nintzelj so true! There’s always great music to discover, sometimes it’s right under your nose…….
for me, such a wonderful gift in life!
@@nintzelj absolutely. The gift that keeps on giving.
The funny thing is, you stopped just one album (possibly two, the next album is also really good, Drama) too early if you wanted to save yourself from the odd 80s mess they fell into. Decades later they did another excellent album called Magnification, that I think stands up on it's own and can be counted as one of their best.
1. If it was going to be a best of style album - as its prog it would surely be at least a triple album
2. No Hillage ?
3. You never seem to mention Hawkwind
I di...I mention how I swapped a Hawkwind picture disc to get The Yes Album...! I am compiling a 'Ten Great Bands I Never Mention' I will add them to the list. I love Hillage...Fish Rising, L Green, Radio Dome...four masterpieces...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Rainbow Dome Music - my fave
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Should also note the link between Hawkwind and dance / rave
I think all bands have a trajectory. ELP starts off running, peaked, then fell off a cliff. But, pretty much every prog band has a similar trajectory... Only a handful of true fanatics fail to see that.
Maybe they ran out of steam and Punk had nothing to do with it...great point
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer - Well, pop tastes change, but prog bands are only peripherally popular. I think most just get into ruts trying to do creative things while knowing too much (and falling into patterns). YMNSHO
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer one of the smarter Things you said run out of steam that's exactly what happened especially to ELP. However a lot of them I'm talking about Phil Collins decided to turn pop and run to the bank.
ELP is my all time favorite prog band. but I have to agree I always found the comic/English music hall pieces on those early albums to be the weakest parts of their classic albums. The Sheriff, Jeremy Bender, Benny the Bouncer were all tracks I could've done without. Although I have a soft spot for Nutrocker. We'll just have to agree to disagree on Greg Lakes ELP vocals. Weirdly enough, I never could get into Zappa. Nice job
ELP are my favorite as well. Have been for over 50 years. Also I can't stand Frank Zappa.
i was so happy how you talked about pink floyd ,yes pink floyd is really prog ,
thank you
Oops, it's me again. As always, I partly agree on some of your choice, but (as always) like doing it "My Way". I deliberately chose rather long ones, that allow you to completely get lost in'em. Nonetheless, I had a hard time to give each band/artist just one track. More often than not, I was swaying. So, whenever necessary, I gave it an "alternative track".
So, here you go:
10.) Frank Zappa: Blessed Relief, or Grand Wazoo (title track of the eponymous album. It's one of my absolute favourite Zappa albums of all time, so one track had to make it on the list. The alternative alternative track would have been 'The Gumbo Variations' from Hot Rats.
09.) King Crimson. Really tough to choose the 'right' track, so I went by instinct and chose 'Lizard' from the eponymous album. One of the rather, if not the most underrated album of the "King". Alternatively, I'd choose 'Moonchild' the track that turned me into an undying fan of the band.
08.) Pink Floyd. Here, it's got to be 'Echoes'. I know, a rather obvious one, but for me, who dearly loves/d the early years, it's the most outstanding track, by far, and in its sheer complexity a true masterpiece. I saw them Live on the 'Meddle Tour' in '71, and it's left a mark on me. An alternative could be the track 'Embryo' from the Relics album.
07.) ELP. For me, the first two albums are the best one, followed by 'Trilogy' & 'BSS', in that order. My first & instant choice was 'Just take a Pebble', but then I turned to 'Tarkus', as it truly divulges what their concept of ProgRock was.
06.) Yes. Similar situation. 'Roundabout' was on instinct, but 'Close to the Edge' is simply Yes at their best. Period!
05.) Gentle Giant. Here, I acted like you, and chose the track(s) that infinitely turned me on to G.G.. 'Funny Ways' from the first album is the one, but it could easily have been 'Wreck' from 'Acquiring the Taste'. As much as I love 'Free Hand', those two tracks will remain my favourites.
04.) Van der Graaf Generator. Oh, how I loved that band, back then. Over the years, we've become a somewhat estranged 'old couple', but nonetheless, they're still in my heart. And, I chose 'A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers', as it resembles the original Van der Graaf Generator(ism). However, 'Meurglys III' from 'World record' is at wafer-thin distance
03.) Jethro Tull. Another immortal love affair, and, like VdGG, it was a tight race, but I had to give in to 'Thick as a Brick', which I (for one) declare the Jethro Tulliest of all Jethro Tull album. But, you (some) might say, so is 'A Passion Play', so the title track would be the alternative.
02.) Mahavishnu Orchestra. I saw them Live in early '73, 'Birds of Fire had just been released, and they blew me away. A really rare & other-wordly concert that was. Over the years & decades, I've attended hundreds & hundreds of concert, but this belongs to my Top 5, if not Top 3 of all time. Though, I love 'The Inner mounting Flame' a tad more than 'Birds of Fire', I chose 'One Word' from the latter one. However, 'You know, you know' is hard on the heels.
01.) Last, but definitely not least, I chose a somewhat unknown Gem from a somewhat unknown Italian ProgRock band. Actually, I could easily make a play list comprising merely Italian ProgRock bands. I was close to choosing 'Rosso Napoletano' by Toni Esposito, or 'Vimana' by Nova, but, at the end, resorted to 'Animale senza Respiro' by Osanna. A highly ignored band from the early 70's. If you don't know them, check'em out.
So, that's it. One track that (unfortunately) didn't make it on the list is Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells'. So, consider it a kind of addendum. It's a track, I played/listened to so many times back then, I could almost hum the whole piece by heart.
Actually, I'd really appreciate, if you did a proper feature on this before-mentioned band called 'Nova'. Maybe, you know'em, maybe, you don't, but their first 3 albums from the mid-seventies are nothing but excellent. The 4th one is a bit so so, but nonetheless, way better than a lot of other bands of that era. I only didn't put them on the list, because they're rather prog/rock with a good touch of jazz/fusion. Corrado & Danilo Rustici 2 guitar brothers par excellence & Elio d'Anna on sax. Despite the odd vocal track, truly amazing! Toni Esposito is yet another outstanding Italian artist that deserves to be explored, and I consider 'Rosso Napoletano' his finest work. Rather percussive & experimental. Great stuff!
There is for me a difference between mind blowing experimental seat of your pants music and 'perfect' music. For me Close To The Edge is the former without a doubt. But compositionally I think they are finding their way creating a long form track. ELP had done this already with Tarkus which is actually much better compositionally than CTTE. (CTTE is basically four or five seperate songs with joiners.) I always liked Gates of Delerium more than CTTE as well, as it is also compositionally better and even more out there. But Awaken is such a brilliantly composed epic, it doesn't try and be everything, it's structure is so beautiful (it's almost symmetrical in it's structure) and that ever upwardly moving harmonic device they use is just bamboozling! I know what is going on in CTTE. With Awaken I haven't got a clue. But this stage they are in complete control of Symphonic Prog Rock. Side 2 of GFTO is perfect with perhaps the greatest short and punchy prog track followed by the greatest epic of all time, all beautifully produced. That's my line of reasoning. So I put CTTE in the background of the video just to let everyone know I am aware of the obvious choice, but even if you don't agree and you think it should be CTTE, I hope my choice makes people think a little, and in turn help them see Yes in a different light. And a lot of the time I do this with a sense of humour, but here I have explained my real, serious intentions behind my approach.
Hey Mike, love your list, comments and observations. I put a couple tracks you mentioned in a playlist of songs I don't know from this affair. I'm a huge fan of Italian rock/prog. PFM, Banco, Semiramis, Il Baletto di Bronzo, Museo Rosenbach, De De Lind, Alysa Fallax, Biglietto per L'inferno and many many more! I have all 4 Nova albums. Vimana is my fave. I like Tony Esposito and Osanna too!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer you an amazing guy! I love your thoughts and viewpoints. Even though my views and faves differ here and there. but that's what makes it all so awesome!! 🎶💖
Tarkus is the only ELP album I've ever got into. They're sound is so crass, bombastic and unrefined sounding, totally not for me. Also Geddy Lee is a terrible screecher. Rush' music sounds fine but the moment that shrew starts whining the magic is lost.
Awaken was a great choice, definitely my favourite Yes track.
Agree 110 per cent !
Did I miss VDGG and Plague of Lighthouse Keepers, which is Suppers Ready for grown-ups?
I listened to it again this week...I hate it...
It's ironic to include Zappa, because his quote on prog rock was, "Art rock is neither."
BYW, have you ever heard the cover of 21st Cent Schiz Man by the Canadian rock band April Wine?
I sure have it Rivals King Crimson. I love April Wine one of the most underrated bands I can think of. It's almost like you have to be British to even get a mention and April wine are Canadian.
A prog song that loads of people have heard: Northen Lights by Renaissance.
Is it prog though? The break down is proggy I suppose....is this prog? ruclips.net/video/-Gt98OkL11c/видео.html
@@AndyEdwardsDrummerThey're generally accepted as a prog band.And Hh plays a Rickenbacker bass.
The Great Gig in the Sky is surely influenced by Harvey Mandel's track Cristo Redentor (1968), written by jazzman Duke Pearson in the early 1960's. In a similar way, the way Riders on the Storm is based on Sun Ra's Advice to Medics (1957).
Interesting to know the influences
@@rotchanasowanna4430 Cheers.
Yawn another list.
The first track I play after listening to your show is 'Awaken' . It's an excellent choice. Another great and entertaining show, Andy. Always surprises.
Glad you enjoyed it!...it really is the greatest prog tune ever. I'm pretty convinced that is right...
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yes, I have been re listening to it since this show. An awesome composition. Steve Howe is amazing. What a great band.
"He's digging out, the marrow in your backbone".
What a great line.
Supper is indeed ready.
JT
Love “Songs From the Wood”_one of my favorite albums every song is incredible
Heavy Horses is great as well. Bursting Out too.
Genesis "Fountain Of Salmacis" is my personal favourite prog song ever. It is the most beautiful song ever written by 21 year olds, in my humble opinion.
I agree with you on Floyd being prog, but I would probably choose "Echoes" if you want to call something a "perfect prog track". "Fanfare for the Common Man" is a great choice. Emerson was unreal live.... No list of great prog songs can be complete without "Bohemian Rhapsody". That song alone changed my idea of what music can be. IMHO no list of great prog songs can be without "Roundabout". It is essential. It is the greatest to me.... Yes is definitely to definitive prog rock band, but it has to be "Roundabout".
I argue that the first progressive song in contemporary music is December's Boudoir (1968) an art pop torch song by Laura Nyro. All the compositional elements of Bohemian Rhapsody can be found in it, together with Nyro's equally as progressive song New York Tendaberry (1969). No guitars, though.
can't wait to hear them! I only know a few songs I heard from my mom in the 70s and my first wife in the 80s.
Listening to the magic of Yes is like having an E ticket to Disneyland when
you were a kid -- full access to all the best rides.
Wonderful! Your 2/2 -2nd time I’ve watched you and both times you’ve surprised me with your choices!
Obviously Yes is my fav group! I’ve been blessed to see them 50+ times and experienced Many Incredible moments Yes has Moved an entire audience!
Awaken is my all time fav and have experienced it live-front row( a few times😍) - Such moments ingrained in memory! ❤
TV ON THE RADIO
As a massive Queen fan I applaud your inclusion of you know what. Maybe March of the Black Queen, Father to Son and The Prophet´s Song could get honourable mentions too.....
Thanks you Moose...not everyone thinks like that. They have a rigid idea of what prog is. When Queen did do prog, they did it very well indeed.
Agree whole heartedly. I would pick March as my pick
@@NalinX Ogre battle is definitely prog.Dungeons and Dragons prog.March of the black queen is epic!!!
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer You´re right of course. I was a teenager in the 70´s and got totally into Classic Rock. Sabbath, Purple, Led Zep, Queen, AC/DC etc. The Prog Rockers were considered naval-gazing, nerdy art-school losers by our crowd. I´ve grown into prog more over the years but still find the self-indulgence annoying at times. Rather get my air-guitar out most of the time. Anyway love your enthusiasm and knowledge. Thanks a lot.
Self-indulgence... What do mean by that?
Andy, is Radiohead prog?
Yes, without a doubt. Not straight away though
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Surely Paranoid Android would have been a good inclusion, in view of its cultural impact, its progginess, its thrilling emotional and musical power, and its, well, sheer perfection?
I agree. Awaken, is the best. You nailed it.
Interesting choice for number 1. Once you had taken it up to that point and not in fact placed any material from Yes on the list, I knew it was going to be a Yes track. It had to be. But there are two or three other Yes tracks that come to mind as being far more iconic from the "general impact on culture" perspective. The status of "generally iconic" was, I thought, part of your rubrick that helped you make your decisions. This is not a "push back", or at least not a strong one: Going For The One is a great album, and Awaken is certainly a great track. And then also, in the end, such a list is largely simply the subjective opinion of the person compiling the list, and, as my dear departed dad used to say, "opinions are like assholes--everyone has at least one". This list is your opinion so, cool, great list. But I was expecting one of two Yes numbers, as being (in MY opinion) exemplars of "progness", great songs, amazing arrangements and finally, important songs that got main stream radio play and have appeared in other cultural media like movie sound tracks and so on. The titles I expected were either I've Seen All Good People, or (more likely) Roundabout. Perhaps I have an American's perspective on this, influenced by our 70s phenomenon called "album oriented rock", which as I understand it Britain didn't really have an equivalent to. Be THAT as it may, Roundabout got regular rotation on AOR for years here in the States. As general cultural impact goes, it didn't last as well as Bohemian Rhapsody or Tom Sawyer, but it was just as big through much of the 70s here in the States. And Roundabout has all the hallmarks of "progginess". Oh well, that's just my thoughts. Great list. I look forward to imbibing the play list. 😊
What do I think? Yeah, this was a very difficult list to make. Myself, I'm not sure I could choose one Yes song. Awaken is a great choice. You really break down the qualities of all these bands, and it's amazing how different each of these bands and songs actually are, yet all are amazing examples of perfect prog.
Such an interesting list; most of them wouldn't have occurred to me, but I can't argue with your analysis. I'm totally with you on Awaken. It is sublime.
Glad you enjoyed!
A list without A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers is non-sense.
Yes...absolute nonsense...I left it out deliberately so that my list would be percieved by all as nonsense, lest it become an item of worship. Well done for spotting this.
For vdgg 1-10 is reserved
Of Yes, I thought Going for the One was a complete set of songs that did really work. The 70's were when they just dug in and tried to make a mark against so many other great bands. Such a creative time, where did the passion go? Thanks for taking us down a road some thought was irrelevant.
I'll tell you where the passion went. It went straight to the bank.
I think Punk crushed the spirit of a lot of these musicians, not just Yes, the whole genre suffered. To be ridiculed for trying to express your own unique voice (as well as a lot of valid criticism about length and pretentions etc) I think that really made a bunch of people gun-shy. Who wants to be the butt of a joke of a bunch of snot nosed kids and have to expend all that energy and effort. It became easier to not bother.
I love Awaken, it's beautiful, spine tingling, majestic and epic. It's classical music in prog style; excellent choice, Andy.
Yay! You picked my favorite prog song as your #1 prog song - Awaken- from Yes - Going for the One!!!
Black Sabbath came out in 1970,in 1969 they play in live gigs with Andromeda..
Is this the same coming out Diana Ross sings about?
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I don't know what are you talking about!?
Close to the Edge
Am I the only guy who loves Lamb Lies Down?
Yes most likely. The only good song is the carpet Crawlers.
Perfectly understand why BoRap is here. What about March of the Black Queen, which is almost as highly considered among genuine Queen fans as BoRap ? And is as prog as anything else in this list.
Sadly you've not included any new prog and I'd suggest your still stuck in that retro era. Not acknowledging the modern era. Riverside, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater, Big Big Train, Evership etc etc. Prog lives
Check my CV out
Andy, I'm fully aware of your portfolio. Frequency is one of my favourite albums. However isn't this a generation behind what's around now