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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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:

724

Rank in 1990s:

6,384

Overall Rank:

40,997

Average Rating:

 76 (12 votes)

Comments:

1

16. (15) 1

Stupid Dream 

 Porcupine Tree

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I own Fear of a Blank Planet, In Absentia, Lightbulb Sun, Voyage 34, The Incident and Closure Continuation on vinyl. All are excellent in their own way but as a consistent progressive album, I think Stupid Dream deserves its place here. There is a good balance of rockier and softer tracks, Mellotron, Hammond and flute all play their parts. All of the tracks are excellent and there are a handful of classics, ‘Trains’, ‘Pure Narcotic’, ‘Piano Lessons’, ‘This is No Rehearsal’, ‘Tinto Brass’. This is one of those albums where I hear something new with each listen, an underrated marker in their extensive progressive catalogue. [First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1999

Appears in:

170 charts

Rank Score:

932

Rank in 1999:

37

Rank in 1990s:

330

Overall Rank:

1,802

Average Rating:

 79 (255 votes)

Comments:

10

37. (=)

Illuminations 

 Wishbone Ash

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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

12 charts

Rank Score:

131

Rank in 1996:

178

Rank in 1990s:

1,505

Overall Rank:

9,227

Average Rating:

 76 (12 votes)

Comments:

2

38. (=)

Guitar Noir 

 Steve Hackett

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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1993

Appears in:

6 charts

Rank Score:

23

Rank in 1993:

522

Rank in 1990s:

5,230

Overall Rank:

33,757

Average Rating:

 72 (12 votes)

Comments:

2

40. (=)

The Red Shoes 

 Kate Bush

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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1993

Appears in:

134 charts

Rank Score:

468

Rank in 1993:

54

Rank in 1990s:

544

Overall Rank:

3,200

Average Rating:

 74 (217 votes)

Comments:

9

49. (=)

Back In The World Of Adventures 

 The Flower Kings

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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1995

Appears in:

14 charts

Rank Score:

32

Rank in 1995:

441

Rank in 1990s:

4,279

Overall Rank:

27,181

Average Rating:

 74 (17 votes)

Comments:

1

65. (=)

The Masquerade Overture 

 Pendragon

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[First added to this chart: 04/05/2024]

Year of Release:

1996

Appears in:

18 charts

Rank Score:

104

Rank in 1996:

221

Rank in 1990s:

1,838

Overall Rank:

11,178

Average Rating:

 77 (20 votes)

Comments:

2

Total albums: 7. Page 1 of 1

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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%
Rick Wakeman	3	3%
Camel	3	3%
Jethro Tull	3	3%
The Alan Parsons Project	3	3%
Rush	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	2,845	83/100

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