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.
View the complete list of 53,000 charts on BestEverAlbums.com from The Charts page.
This chart is currently filtered to only show albums from Yes. (Remove this filter)
Buy album 
- #Sponsored
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]
More about the Yes connection in positions 26 to 30. [First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
6,988
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
56
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This is the ultimate Yes album. The song "and You and I" represents the ultimate test of whether one loves Yes or not. And the title track is one of the most beautiful and important epic song of prog, it hardly gets any more prog than that.
[First added to this chart: 11/08/2012]
Year of Release:
1972
Appears in:
Rank Score:
14,379
Rank in 1972:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
Deserves its name because this is the first "true" Yes album. Marks the arrival of Steve Howe but precedes the arrival of Rick Wakeman. Includes 2 of the most famous Yes signature songs: Starship Trooper & I've Seen all Good People.
[First added to this chart: 11/09/2012]
Year of Release:
1971
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,851
Rank in 1971:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Buy album
- #Sponsored
This album combined with the triple live ELP albums are the main culprits when prog is called pompous and overindulgent. This album has no flaws but it also has very little hooks. The iconography of the cover is indicative of how I feel when listening to that album, an immersion in a beautiful and strange sea of prog music but in which you feel you might drown if you immerse yourself too long. To me this is not one of the best work by Yes, but you cannot say you know prog if you haven't at least attempted it.
[First added to this chart: 01/25/2013]
Year of Release:
1973
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,008
Rank in 1973:
Rank in 1970s:
Overall Rank:
Average Rating:
Comments:
Total albums: 4. Page 1 of 1
Don't agree with this chart? Create your own from the My Charts page!
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% | |
| Yes | 4 | 4% | |
| Genesis | 4 | 4% | |
| Marillion | 4 | 4% | |
| Van Der Graaf Generator | 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 Nightby Caravan |
| Hatfield And The North by Hatfield And The North |
| Once Again by Barclay James Harvest |
| Leavers |
|---|
 In The Land Of Grey And Pinkby Caravan |
| The Rotter's Club by Hatfield And The North |
| Time Honoured Ghosts by Barclay James Harvest |
Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era similar charts
- Prog is Turning 50 in 2017- Rejoice by Robert Anton Wilson (2018)
- Top 100 Music Albums of the 1970s by Robert Anton Wilson (2012)
- FAVORITE PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS by
Captain_Dude (2014) - Top 100 Greatest Progressive Albums by leniad (2022)
- Genre #1: Prog by Imaybeparanoid (2017)
- 100 Greatest Progressive Rock Albums by Deckiller (2019)
- Greatest Progressive Rock Albums by Coconut (2016)
- Greatest Progressive Rock Albums by
Fischman (2016) - Prog magazine 100 greatest prog albums voted by readers (2014) by Robert Anton Wilson (2014)
- Top British Progressive Rock Albums of All-Time by nas062080 (2013)
Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era similarity to your chart(s)
Not a member? Registering is quick, easy and FREE!
Why register?
Join a passionate community of over 50,000 music fans.- Create & share your own charts.
- Have your say in the overall rankings.
- Post comments in the forums and vote on polls.
- Comment on or rate any album, artist, track or chart.
- Discover new music & improve your music collection.
- Customise the overall chart using a variety of different filters & metrics.
- Create a wishlist of albums.
- Help maintain the BEA database.
- Earn member points and gain access to increasing levels of functionality!
- ... And lots more!
Register now - it only takes a moment!
Other custom charts by Robert Anton Wilson
Quebec Love (French Canadian Music) by Robert Anton Wilson (2013)Pink Floyd & The Dark side of the Moon by
Robert Anton Wilson (2017)Favorite Album by Year by
Robert Anton Wilson (2024)Top of the Prog II: 1989 and Beyond ... by
Robert Anton Wilson (2017)Prog is Turning 50 in 2017- Rejoice by
Robert Anton Wilson (2018)Prog magazine 100 greatest prog albums voted by readers (2014) by
Robert Anton Wilson (2014)Canadianna by
Robert Anton Wilson (2018)Music Women by
Robert Anton Wilson (2023)Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era ratings
92/100 (from 19 votes)
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.
Showing latest 5 ratings for this chart. | Show all 19 ratings for this chart.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Chart ratings | Avg. chart rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 100/100  | 01/27/2019 16:36 |  Graeme2 | | 94/100 |
| 100/100 | 02/10/2018 00:54 |  Onater | | 90/100 |
| 95/100 | 01/03/2018 00:24 | AlexandreFortin | | 87/100 |
| 100/100 | 01/02/2018 17:06 |  LedZep | | 84/100 |
| 100/100 | 01/02/2018 12:20 | manurock | | 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.
Please log in or register if you want to be able to leave a rating
Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era favourites
Showing all 7 members who have added this chart as a favourite
Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era comments
Showing all 9 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Maximum Rated First |
Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)
100/100
From Graeme2 01/27/2019 16:38
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
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From ruquito124 01/30/2018 22:55
Great Chart. Most of the choices are obvious but a lot of them are very clever.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
indieshins 01/02/2018 21:38
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!
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From manurock 01/02/2018 12:21
Fantastic. As a prog-rock fan, I still have lots to check in here.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From 
ForegroundNoise 01/02/2018 11:59
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). :)
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 
ffudnebbuh 06/22/2013 11:59
ffudnebbuh 06/22/2013 11:59
what he said, except I would have put "close to the edge" before "Fragile"
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
100/100
From RupertRonco 06/21/2013 03:27
Nail on head.
Helpful? (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Please log in or register if you want to be able to add a comment
Your feedback for Top of the Progs I: The Classic Era
Let us know what you think of this chart by adding a comment or assigning a rating below!
If you enjoy our site, please consider supporting us by sparing a few seconds to disable your ad blocker.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
A lot of hard work happens in the background to keep BEA running, and it's especially difficult to do this when we can't pay our hosting fees :(
We work very hard to ensure our site is as fast (and FREE!) as possible, and we respect your privacy.
| Member Levels | |
|---|---|
| LT22 | Level 5 |
| BillyA | Level 3 |
| C0NB9NN | Level 3 |
| JonEd1 | Level 2 |
| markl73 | Level 2 |
| Superman89353 | Level 2 |
| New levels achieved over the last 7 days. Well done to all :) | |