100 Amazing Progressive Albums by Junomoogmello

I could easily think of at least 300 plus albums I would like to have added to this chart. If I added all my Pink Floyd, Genesis, ELP, Yes, Jethro Tull, King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator albums alone, I would probably fill the chart! So I have had to be a bit selective and controversially, some of my choices may surprise. For a start the boundaries of Prog are very subjective. For example, is Led Zeppelin IV heavy metal, heavy rock or progressive? Perhaps it is all three, in parts. Were Talk Talk and David Bowie progressive in some of their work? Yes, I believe they were. So what defines progressive then? Long tracks? Shifting time signatures? Changes of key signature? Heavy use of instruments like the Mellotron, Moog and CS80? Searing guitar solos? Albums where tracks have a common theme, the CONCEPT ALBUM? Long instrumental passages? Songs which are not love songs or breakup songs. Albums themed around outer space, inner space, Tolkien, Jules Verne, Atlantis, The Dark, Henry VIII and everything between. Amazing and thought provoking album cover art? It is all of the above but not necessarily all on one album, sometimes less is more. Prog morphed from Psychedelia at the tail end of the sixties, therefore it should be no surprise that many of the albums I have included were released in the seventies. However, to keep things interesting and debate open, I have included some albums which sit around the periphery. I have also not deliberately included albums which people might expect to be in in certain positions. In just about every prog chart I view, I see King Crimson ‘In the Court of the Crimson King’ and Pink Floyd ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ in positions 1 and 2. I have tried to approach this chart slightly differently, there are so many amazing albums, it is unfitting to consider them in a numerical order. Therefore consider this chart as 100 amazing prog albums but not ranked numerically. I have also attempted to provide a good blend of albums, which span the six decades of progressive rock to date. I do think Prog is somewhat subjective, so if in viewing this chart, some albums don’t gel with your perspective of Prog, let it go, or maybe change perspective…

• Chart updated: 10/06/2024 07:15
• (Created: 03/30/2024 12:04).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

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1. (=)

Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV) 

 Led Zeppelin

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Led Zeppelin weren’t progressive were they? Hell, yes, absolutely, with many of their albums containing progressive elements but none more so than IV. Here are some prog checks to verify my conclusion:
- No album title or band name on sleeve.
- Shifting time signatures.
- Robert Plank looked like someone from a Tolkien movie.
- John Paul Jones used a CS80 and Mellotron.
- Huge dynamic shifts within songs.
- John Bonham incorporated kettle drums in his drum kit.
- Stairway to Heaven is probably the best progressive track ever written. [First added to this chart: 03/31/2024]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

3,147 charts

Rank Score:

40,391

Rank in 1971:

1

Rank in 1970s:

4

Overall Rank:

12

Average Rating:

 90 (3,987 votes)

Comments:

304

3. (=)

Spectral Mornings 

 Steve Hackett

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This was one of the first vinyls I ever owned. I had asked for it as a Christmas present back in the early eighties and wore that copy out! I subsequently replaced the vinyl about seven years ago and still enjoy listening to it regularly. The title track and ‘Every Day are personal favourites. I have been fortunate enough to see Steve Hackett three times and have met him once. Steve is an incredible guitarist, if you had asked Eddie Van Halen who invented finger tapping, he would have told you Steve Hackett. [First added to this chart: 04/04/2024]

Year of Release:

1979

Appears in:

57 charts

Rank Score:

260

Rank in 1979:

89

Rank in 1970s:

858

Overall Rank:

5,229

Average Rating:

 75 (75 votes)

Comments:

3

4. (=)

Fear Of The Dark 

 Gordon Giltrap

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This was the first vinyl LP I ever bought. I still remember the day I bought it and the pleasure I got from first listening to it. That very first copy became very scratched and I fortunately picked up a near mint second hand copy to replace it in 2016. I still listen to the album regularly and enjoy it as much as the first time I listened to it. Now, here's the question, is it a 'concept album'. Yes, I think it is. The fear of the dark theme runs through each track and the sleeve note highlights that 'fear of the dark is about the unknown...'. The musicianship on the album is top notch, this is where I was first introduced to Simon Phillips, who went on to Toto fame. As a teenager taking drum lessons I would drool over the massive drum kit pictured within the album gatefold. The title track and 'Nightrider' are awesome. Did Iron Maiden get their font idea from this album? Perhaps they did as they produced their own Fear of the Dark album several years later. [First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1978

Appears in:

7 charts

Rank Score:

63

Rank in 1978:

238

Rank in 1970s:

2,237

Overall Rank:

17,223

Average Rating:

 71 (6 votes)

Comments:

1

5. (=)

Return To The Centre Of The Earth 

 Rick Wakeman

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From the opening picked guitar notes, there is no doubt that this is a return to the centre of the earth. The choice of narrator is spot on, it had to be either Charles Dance or Patrick Stewart, the latter tells the story with impeccable clarity and a depth of tone which so befits this epic, which I might add, is better than the original! The London Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Choir provide the awesome foundation for a plethora of stunning musicians and guest vocalists, the latter including none other than Ozzy Osbourne, Bonnie Tyler, Justin Hayward and Trevor Rabin, among others. The Roger Dean designed album cover houses a booklet with photos of Rick Wakeman in a cave which could well be on the way into the centre of the earth. Rick does not disappoint, piano sections befitting a concert pianist are counter balanced with searing Mini Moog lines. It is hard to believe this album is now 25 years old as at the time of writing! No doubt set to become another prog classic. [First added to this chart: 04/06/2024]

Year of Release:

1999

Appears in:

7 charts

Rank Score:

17

Rank in 1999:

727

Rank in 1990s:

6,392

Overall Rank:

41,081

Average Rating:

 76 (12 votes)

Comments:

1

6. (=)

Mirage 

 Camel

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This has to be my favourite Camel album. The intriguing cover art was associated with the Camel brand of cigarettes. [First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

350 charts

Rank Score:

2,553

Rank in 1974:

11

Rank in 1970s:

154

Overall Rank:

688

Average Rating:

 81 (407 votes)

Comments:

22

7. (=)

Argus 

 Wishbone Ash

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Superb album housed in what is a quite simple yet thought provoking sleeve. The guitar work on this album is fairly epic and is complimented by the first class rhythm section. Wishbone Ash are a band rarely listed in prog album charts and in my humble opinion are a very underrated band. [First added to this chart: 03/31/2024]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

287 charts

Rank Score:

1,997

Rank in 1972:

19

Rank in 1970s:

185

Overall Rank:

873

Average Rating:

 80 (299 votes)

Comments:

21

10. (=)

Tales From Topographic Oceans 

 Yes

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Their best album cover courtesy of Roger Dean. Fragile and Close to the Edge tend to steal the show when it comes to Yes albums. I have read several articles where Yes didn’t rate this album, Rick Wakeham in particular didn’t like it. However, I do like it and tend to reach for it more than Fragile and Close to the Edge. [First added to this chart: 03/31/2024]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

212 charts

Rank Score:

891

Rank in 1973:

38

Rank in 1970s:

356

Overall Rank:

1,874

Average Rating:

 74 (417 votes)

Comments:

27

11. (=)

Ammonia Avenue 

 The Alan Parsons Project

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Alan Parsons has released many albums and they are all excellent. What else would you expect from a man who worked with Pink Floyd on albums like Dark Side of the Moon. This was the first Alan Parsons Project album I purchased, originally on tape and latterly on vinyl. There are so many great tracks here I felt that it had to be included. ‘Don’t Answer Me’ and the title track being personal favourites. [First added to this chart: 03/30/2024]

Year of Release:

1984

Appears in:

50 charts

Rank Score:

183

Rank in 1984:

101

Rank in 1980s:

1,009

Overall Rank:

6,957

Average Rating:

 70 (94 votes)

Comments:

3

12. (=)

The Six Wives Of Henry VIII 

 Rick Wakeman

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In my opinion, this is Rick Wakeman at the top of his game. 'Journey to the Centre of the Earth' was the first Rick Wakeman album I purchased, however, musically, this one is a few notches above it. [First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

73 charts

Rank Score:

180

Rank in 1973:

128

Rank in 1970s:

1,101

Overall Rank:

7,054

Average Rating:

 76 (110 votes)

Comments:

10

13. (=)

Everyone Is Everybody Else 

 Barclay James Harvest

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A band rarely mentioned in Progressive charts and I have no idea why. I have several of their albums and had to consider my choice for this chart wisely. This is a solid album with excellent musicianship and vocals, very little not to like. Barclay James Harvest used the Mellotron subtly but to great effect, this album is testament to that skill. [First added to this chart: 03/31/2024]

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

26 charts

Rank Score:

120

Rank in 1974:

142

Rank in 1970s:

1,444

Overall Rank:

9,878

Average Rating:

 76 (40 votes)

Comments:

4

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Total albums: 76. Page 1 of 8

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100 Amazing Progressive Albums composition

Decade	Albums	%
1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	0	0%
1960s	2	2%
1970s	57	57%
1980s	9	9%
1990s	7	7%
2000s	5	5%
2010s	15	15%
2020s	5	5%

Artist	Albums	%
Yes	4	4%
Pink Floyd	4	4%
Camel	3	3%
Jethro Tull	3	3%
The Alan Parsons Project	3	3%
Rush	3	3%
Genesis	3	3%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	76	76%
	7	7%
	4	4%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	2	2%
	1	1%
Show all

100 Amazing Progressive Albums chart changes

Biggest climbers
Up 3 from 18th to 15th Demons & Wizards by Uriah Heep

Biggest fallers
Down 1 from 15th to 16th Stupid Dream by Porcupine Tree
Down 1 from 16th to 17th Never Turn Your Back On A Friend by Budgie
Down 1 from 17th to 18th Goblin Rebirth by Goblin Rebirth

New entries
Time And Tide by Greenslade
We're Here Because We're Here by Anathema

Leavers
War Dance by Colosseum II

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
95/100	04/23/2024 06:58	sssvnnn	2,846	83/100

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