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.

There are 9 comments for this chart from BestEverAlbums.com members and Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era has an average rating of 92 out of 100 (from 19 votes). Please log in or register to leave a comment or assign a rating.

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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:

4,043 charts

Rank Score:

71,188

Rank in 1973:

1

Rank in 1970s:

1

Overall Rank:

2

Average Rating:

 92 (5,203 votes)

Comments:

581

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:

781 charts

Rank Score:

7,017

Rank in 1971:

11

Rank in 1970s:

60

Overall Rank:

247

Average Rating:

 84 (1,064 votes)

Comments:

56

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:

773 charts

Rank Score:

7,424

Rank in 1974:

3

Rank in 1970s:

55

Overall Rank:

226

Average Rating:

 82 (943 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:

1,985 charts

Rank Score:

31,606

Rank in 1969:

2

Rank in 1960s:

7

Overall Rank:

25

Average Rating:

 89 (2,349 votes)

Comments:

219

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:

623 charts

Rank Score:

6,166

Rank in 1972:

8

Rank in 1970s:

73

Overall Rank:

290

Average Rating:

 83 (822 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:

217 charts

Rank Score:

1,579

Rank in 1971:

32

Rank in 1970s:

238

Overall Rank:

1,120

Average Rating:

 80 (263 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:

245 charts

Rank Score:

1,376

Rank in 1973:

28

Rank in 1970s:

263

Overall Rank:

1,276

Average Rating:

 77 (382 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:

85 charts

Rank Score:

611

Rank in 1974:

43

Rank in 1970s:

481

Overall Rank:

2,554

Average Rating:

 77 (140 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:

624 charts

Rank Score:

6,623

Rank in 1982:

2

Rank in 1980s:

34

Overall Rank:

265

Average Rating:

 81 (754 votes)

Comments:

56

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:

987 charts

Rank Score:

10,133

Rank in 1981:

1

Rank in 1980s:

20

Overall Rank:

154

Average Rating:

 82 (1,258 votes)

Comments:

86

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era composition

Decade	Albums	%
1930s	0	0%
1940s	0	0%
1950s	0	0%
1960s	6	6%
1970s	68	68%
1980s	19	19%
1990s	2	2%
2000s	5	5%
2010s	0	0%
2020s	0	0%

Artist	Albums	%
King Crimson	8	8%
Rush	5	5%
Pink Floyd	5	5%
Van Der Graaf Generator	4	4%
Yes	4	4%
Genesis	4	4%
Marillion	4	4%
Show all

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

Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era chart changes

New entries
For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night by Caravan
Hatfield And The North by Hatfield And The North
Once Again by Barclay James Harvest

Leavers
In The Land Of Grey And Pink by Caravan
The Rotter's Club by Hatfield And The North
Time Honoured Ghosts by Barclay James Harvest

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era ratings

Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 19 ratings for this chart.

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Rating	Date updated	Member	Chart ratings	Avg. chart rating
100/100	01/27/2019 16:36	Graeme2	215	94/100
100/100	02/10/2018 00:54	Onater	462	90/100
95/100	01/03/2018 00:24	AlexandreFortin	50	87/100
100/100	01/02/2018 17:06	LedZep	1,078	84/100
100/100	01/02/2018 12:20	manurock	229	83/100

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 91.5/100, a mean average of 94.5/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 94.5/100. The standard deviation for this chart is 6.7.

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era favourites

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Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era comments

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Rating:  

100/100

From Graeme2 01/27/2019 16:38

Great notes. Fragile my choice for Yes too.

Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)

From ExTeaSea 08/26/2018 16:59

Hell of a chart. Gotta respect a true prog fan. Love how much Van Der Graff Generator there is plus Peter Hammil! I really need to check his stuff out.

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From ruquito124 01/30/2018 22:55

Great Chart. Most of the choices are obvious but a lot of them are very clever.

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From indieshins 01/02/2018 21:38

This is cool! I keep trying to enjoy prog and with the exception of a few classics, like Dark Side, I've found it difficult. Maybe this chart will change my mind! Thanks!

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Rating:  

100/100

From manurock 01/02/2018 12:21

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

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Rating:  

100/100

From ForegroundNoise 01/02/2018 11:59

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

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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From ffudnebbuh 06/22/2013 11:59

what he said, except I would have put "close to the edge" before "Fragile"

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Rating:  

100/100

From RupertRonco 06/21/2013 03:27

Nail on head.

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