Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era
by Robert Anton Wilson

OK, major refitting. This chart will become 3 charts. This one which will be the classic prog era. The next one will cover what came after 1989, band-wise not album-wise. 1989 being chosen as cut-off year because that is the year Marillion released their first album without Fish (hence Marillion will be cut in half). My other option had been 1991 as the release year of the first Porcupine Tree album but 89 it is. The third chart will be for lesser known but highly deserving prog bands/albums.

The current classic prog era will be categorized as follows:
1-20: The top album from my Top 20 prog bands of the classic to neo-prog era (no duplication)
21-69: The other albums from my Top 20 bands deserving mentions
71-86: Other top prog bands and albums that I, personally, never had time to get into properly.
87-97: Crossover prog, from pop, jazz, classical
98-100: the Kébec Konnektion

• Chart updated: 02/26/2024 23:15
• (Created: 11/09/2012 01:55).
• Chart size: 100 albums.

• Summary
• Composition
• Ratings
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1. (=)

The Dark Side Of The Moon 

 Pink Floyd

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Frankly, no debate here.

For more about Pink Floyd albums, go see positions 21 to 25 on this chart. For member's solo albums, bootlegs, PF tributes or other PF or Dark Side of the Moon related curios go see this other chart I made: [url]http://www.besteveralbums.com/thechart.php?c=8366[/url]. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

4,141 charts

Rank Score:

59,353

Rank in 1973:

1

Rank in 1970s:

1

Overall Rank:

2

Average Rating:

 92 (5,341 votes)

Comments:

594

2. (=)

Fragile 

 Yes

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True prog fans usually will favor "Close to the Edge". I have listed "Fragile" here because either you already know OR you need to be introduced to Yes from the very beginning, and the best very beginning introduction to Yes IS "Fragile". Marks the arrival of Rick Wakeman in the group and is one of the only 3 albums featuring the ultimate Yes line-up (Anderson, Squire, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe), this is how Yes was meant to be and to sound, so sad it was such short lived.

More about the Yes connection in positions 26 to 30. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

816 charts

Rank Score:

6,176

Rank in 1971:

11

Rank in 1970s:

63

Overall Rank:

262

Average Rating:

 84 (1,104 votes)

Comments:

57

3. (=)

The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 

 Genesis

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One of the best concept albums ever. A double album. You do not need to be a prog head to find love in this album but you do need to be one to fully digest it.

For more about the Genesis connection, including Peter Gabriel solo, see positions 31 to 34. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

790 charts

Rank Score:

6,446

Rank in 1974:

3

Rank in 1970s:

58

Overall Rank:

250

Average Rating:

 82 (971 votes)

Comments:

71

4. (=)

In The Court Of The Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) 

 King Crimson

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The ultimate true birth of the genre. Psychedelic use of the mellotron never equaled. This album opens up new doors and perspectives.

For other quality Crims product, see positions 35 to 42. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1969

Appears in:

2,069 charts

Rank Score:

27,899

Rank in 1969:

2

Rank in 1960s:

7

Overall Rank:

25

Average Rating:

 89 (2,436 votes)

Comments:

221

5. (=)

Thick As A Brick 

 Jethro Tull

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Another major concept album. The whole album is only one song. Whereas Yes/Genesis took their roots in classical music interpreted à la prog rock, Jethro Tull comes to prog from the blues and folk sound. The use and prominence of the flute gives Tull an immediately distinct and recognizable sound.

For other Tull albums see positions 43 and 44. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1972

Appears in:

644 charts

Rank Score:

5,121

Rank in 1972:

8

Rank in 1970s:

81

Overall Rank:

330

Average Rating:

 83 (857 votes)

Comments:

44

6. (=)

Pawn Hearts 

 Van Der Graaf Generator

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Only recommended for the die-hard progheads. This is unnerving, cacophonic music which will not appeal to those looking for the melody in music.

For more about VdGG, or their singer/songwriter Peter Hammill, see positions 45 to 50. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1971

Appears in:

233 charts

Rank Score:

1,441

Rank in 1971:

33

Rank in 1970s:

245

Overall Rank:

1,204

Average Rating:

 79 (282 votes)

Comments:

13

7. (=)

Brain Salad Surgery 

 Emerson, Lake & Palmer

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The band most responsible for giving prog its bad reputation of excess and being pompous. Well this album is pompous and excessive, but in a darn good way. To be listened to loud.

For more ELP albums, see positions 51 & 52. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1973

Appears in:

251 charts

Rank Score:

1,158

Rank in 1973:

28

Rank in 1970s:

284

Overall Rank:

1,453

Average Rating:

 77 (395 votes)

Comments:

24

8. (=)

The Power And The Glory 

 Gentle Giant

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Characterised by vocal harmonies and a medieval sound obtained through the use of atypical instruments combined with the standard rock group arrangement. Another group of virtuoso whose songs vary from exquisite melodies to riveting guitar/organ driven paroxistic heights to confounding complex arrangements, vocally and instrumentally.

Other notable Gentle Giant albums in positions 53 & 54. [First added to this chart: 01/25/2013]

Year of Release:

1974

Appears in:

98 charts

Rank Score:

561

Rank in 1974:

44

Rank in 1970s:

499

Overall Rank:

2,762

Average Rating:

 77 (156 votes)

Comments:

6

9. (=)

The Dreaming 

 Kate Bush

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An utterly unique album by an utterly unique artist. Kate Bush`s music is usually dominated by the beauty of the melody and the angelic sound of her voice. NOT on this album. The Dreaming is crazy, nightmarish and absolutely masterfully performed and produced. This is for the die-hard prog fan.

For the melodic/angelic Kate Bush, see positions 55 & 56. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]

Year of Release:

1982

Appears in:

661 charts

Rank Score:

6,228

Rank in 1982:

2

Rank in 1980s:

33

Overall Rank:

261

Average Rating:

 81 (795 votes)

Comments:

58

10. (=)

Moving Pictures 

 Rush

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Rush liked to release 4 albums followed by a double live album. Their first 4 albums were hard rock until the epic 2112 full side song. Their next four albums were prog. Then they became slightly more pop but never fully gave up their edge.

Moving Pictures was likely their most popular album of their full-fledged prog period. I mostly stopped following Rush in 1987 when the released the unforgivably horrendous album "Hold Your Fire", some people tell me they got good again, I trust it is trust but I cannot comment. However, for more details about their classic era prog albums, let's meet again in positions 57 to 60. [First added to this chart: 11/09/2012]

Year of Release:

1981

Appears in:

1,018 charts

Rank Score:

8,794

Rank in 1981:

1

Rank in 1980s:

21

Overall Rank:

165

Average Rating:

 83 (1,298 votes)

Comments:

86

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Total albums: 100. Page 1 of 10

Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era composition

Country	Albums	%
	67	67%
	8	8%
	8	8%
	6	6%
	4	4%
	3	3%
	1	1%
Show all

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era ratings

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
90/100  !	09/15/2025 17:44	Johnnyo	2,574	80/100
100/100  !	01/28/2025 04:24	Repo	570	100/100
100/100  !	01/27/2025 16:08	C0NB9NN	20	85/100
100/100  !	01/27/2019 16:36	Graeme2	213	94/100
100/100  !	02/10/2018 00:54	Onater	458	90/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some charts can have several thousand ratings)
This chart is rated in the top 1% of all charts on BestEverAlbums.com. This chart has a Bayesian average rating of 92.0/100, a mean average of 94.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.8/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.5.

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era comments

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90/100

From Johnnyo 09/15/2025 17:44 | #310928

Great chart.

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Rating:  

100/100

From C0NB9NN 01/27/2025 16:12 | #307269

Wow. Just wow. I’m not a big prog-rock fan, but I have always wanted to get into it, and just never knew where to start. I’m going to be using this to a very large extent, as you really seem to be knowledgeable and know exactly what you’re talking about. I love the way this chart is set up, it reads more like a review than a chart. Thanks for this.

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100/100

From Graeme2 01/27/2019 16:38 | #230834

Great notes. Fragile my choice for Yes too.

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100/100

From manurock 01/02/2018 12:21 | #204417

Fantastic. As a prog-rock fan, I still have lots to check in here.

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100/100

From ForegroundNoise 01/02/2018 11:59 | #204414

Such a cool idea!! Don't know half as much about prog as you (other than the heavyweights) but would be interested to see the crossover (if any) in your next chart between neo-prog and post-rock (my favourite musical movement). :)

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Rating:  

80/100

From Gionzi 11/20/2015 19:55 | #153230

Very nice chart, but for me it's very missing italian prog, one of the best movements for this genre, bands like Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and Area and other PFM works too.

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100/100

From RupertRonco 06/21/2013 03:27 | #79525

Nail on head.

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