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Top 10 Symphonic Prog Albums
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Hector Enrique View Drop Down
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    Posted: November 17 2023 at 15:08
1. Yes - Close to the Edge
2. Genesis - Foxtrot
3. Anglagard - Hybris
4. Camel - Moonmadness
5. ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
6. Renaissance - Scheherazade and Other Stories
7. Kansas - Point of Know Return
8.Rick Wakeman - Journey to the Centre of the Earth
9. Transatlantic - The Whirlwind
10. Neil Morse - Sola Scriptura
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1. Close To The Egde - Yes
2. Foxtrot - Genesis
3. A Drop Of Light - All Traps On Earth
4. Tarkus - ELP
5. Unfolded Like Staricase - Discipline
6. Song For America - Kansas
7. Rajaz - Camel
8. Hybris - Anglagard
9. Hinterland - Wobbler
10. The Journey To The Centre Of The Earth 2012 - Rick Wakeman
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1. Yes- "The Yes Album"
2. Wobbler- " From Silence To Somewhere"
3. Moon Safari- "Blomljud"
4. ELP-  "Works Vol I"
5. Genesis- " Nursery Cryme" 
6. Anglagard- "Hybris"
7. The Chronicles of Father Robin-" Book One"
8. Kansas- "Leftovertour" 
9. Lars Fredrik Frøislie- " Fire Fortellinger" 
10. Camel- "Moonmadness"



I stuck with PA's Symphonic Prog sub-genre list.  I consider Caligonaut Symphonic, so they get an honorable mention. 
I like the one album per band approach.  I surprised myself with some of my choices. 



Edited by omphaloskepsis - November 09 2023 at 06:39
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:

Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans

Seeing your forum sig, it should come as no surprise. haha

It's perhaps the greatest prog album ever made (yes, I'm one of THOSE people), though I get why some don't like it

It certainly holds a special place in the prog music universe. Notorious for many as to where Yes (and prog by extension) 'jumped the shark' yet the purest statement of intent you will ever have. I find it a bit ploddy personally. Love the numbers 2 and 3 in your list though.

I think Tales should be commended more for what it tried to achieve than what it actually did. Did it alienate some listeners? Probably. It seems to be loved the most by the most hardcore Yes fans. Most less hardcore fans don't tend to think as highly of it. There's maybe four or five Yes records I like better but it's still one of their best imo. 


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - November 09 2023 at 05:19
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richardh View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans

Seeing your forum sig, it should come as no surprise. haha

It's perhaps the greatest prog album ever made (yes, I'm one of THOSE people), though I get why some don't like it

It certainly holds a special place in the prog music universe. Notorious for many as to where Yes (and prog by extension) 'jumped the shark' yet the purest statement of intent you will ever have. I find it a bit ploddy personally. Love the numbers 2 and 3 in your list though.
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Frets N Worries View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans

Seeing your forum sig, it should come as no surprise. haha

It's perhaps the greatest prog album ever made (yes, I'm one of THOSE people), though I get why some don't like it
The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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Hrychu View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Frets N Worries Frets N Worries wrote:

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans

Seeing your forum sig, it should come as no surprise. haha
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Frets N Worries View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

I'll just remind everyone that you can only choose one Symphonic Prog album per artist for your Top 10 - otherwise I would've chosen ten albums by Renaissance for my list. Tongue


Hm, well in that case,

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans
2) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
3) Brain Salad Surgery
4) Songs of Scheherazade
5) The Whirlwind
6) From Silence to Somewhere
7) The Chromicles of Father Robin Book One
8) The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
9) Leftovertures
10) Fire Fortellinger
The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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David_D View Drop Down
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Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

7. PFM - Per Un Amico (even though they are RPI on here)

Yes, a Symphonic toplist seems strange if not including the Italians.
                      quality over quantity, and all kind of PopcoRn almost beyond
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 28029 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote richardh Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 07 2023 at 21:26
^ its funny to think that King Crimson's debut is Symphonic prog and pretty much laid down the rules for that 'style' but is now excluded on the grounds that KC are under eclectic. Most seventies Italian bands were heavily symphonic in approach as well. Neo in the early days was a version of symphonic prog and true that IQ's debut fits well especially the very long track The Last Human Gateway. I suppose they sort of returned to that on Subterranea with Narrow Margin and have continued through to the latest. I still prefer the Neo tag though. Post 80's bands such as Wobbler, Glass Hammer and The Flower Kings are much more symphonic.
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Hrychu View Drop Down
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Here's my current top 10. I've got soooo many favorites that I had to make two lists. One with albums labeled as Symphonic Prog on PA, and one with albums labeled something else yet IMAO 100% Symphonic Prog. I also decided not to rank the albums in an order but rather give a bonus "badge of awesome" (🏆) to the best of the best albums instead! :D One band per album rule applies!

Classified as Symphonic Prog on PA:
Anyone's Daughter - Adonis🏆
Eden (Canada) - Eden
Kaipa - Kaipa
Pollen - Pollen
Simon Says - Tardigrade🏆
Spock's Beard - V
Tai Phong - Tai Phong
The Flower Kings - Desolation Rose🏆
Transatlantic - Bridge Across Forever🏆
Wobbler - Rites at Dawn

(mis)Classified as other subgenres on PA:
Caligonaut - Caligonaut
Corte dei Miracoli - Corte dei Miracoli
Goblin - Bagarozzo Mark
Harmonium - L'Heptade (to me it's a 50/50 symphonic/progfolk mixture sorta record so it counts)🏆
IQ - Tales from the Lush Attic
Khan - Space Shanty (a 50/50 Canterbury/Symphonic mixture)
Modry Efekt - Svet Hledacu🏆
Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra
The Tangent - Music that Died Alone🏆
The Watch - Planet Earth

honorabe mentions:
Armando Tirelli - El Profeta
ELP - Tarkus
Kaipa Da Capo - Darskapens Monotoni
Moon Safari - Blomljud
Refugee - Refugee
Roine Stolt - The Flower King (solely because of Humanizzimo)
Stonehenge - Stonehenge
Trespass - Morning Lights
Triumvirat - IoaDD
Yes - Relayer
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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Here's ten from me:

1. Yes - Relayer
2. Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
3. Camel - (music from) The Snow Goose
4. Anglagard - Hybris
5. ELP - same
6. Steve Hackett - Voyage of the Acolyte
7. PFM - Per Un Amico (even though they are RPI on here)
8. Kansas - Leftoverture
9. Transatlantic - SMPT:e
10. Anthony Phillips - The Geese and the Ghost

There are some great albums that I'm not familiar enough to vote for so I had to go with those.


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - November 06 2023 at 13:40
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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I'll just remind everyone that you can only choose one Symphonic Prog album per artist for your Top 10 - otherwise I would've chosen ten albums by Renaissance for my list. Tongue
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Frets N Worries View Drop Down
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Here I'll throw in a fun listing

1) TFTO
2) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
3) Close to the Edge
4) Foxtrot
5) Selling England
6) Going for the One
7) Brain Salad Surgery
8) The Whirlwind
9) The Snow Goose
10)Mirage
The Wheel of Time Turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the shadow.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time...
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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No real surprises in the final result of this poll with YES and Genesis at the top of the table again, although it would have been nice to see at least one Renaissance album in the Top 10 instead of Anglagard's Hybris, although that's just pure hubris on my part, where I always expect my favourite band to win. Tongue



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - November 06 2023 at 12:31
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Latest update with Muskrat & Boboulo's votes added:-
 
01. YES - Close to the Edge (316 points)
02. GENESIS - Foxtrot (140 points)
03. YES - Tales from Topographic Oceans (112 points)
04. GENESIS - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (110 points)
05. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - Emerson, Lake & Palmer (93 points)
06. GENESIS - Selling England by the Pound (90 points)
07. CAMEL - Moonmadness (80 points)
08. KANSAS - Leftoverture (75 points)
09. HARMONIUM - Si on avait besoin d'une cinquieme saison (72 points)
10. ANGLAGARD - Hybris (67 points)
 
11. FOCUS - Hamburger Concerto (64 points) 
12. WOBBLER - From Silence to Somewhere (62 points)
12. RICK WAKEMAN - The Six Wives of Henry VIII (62 points)
14. YES - Relayer (49 points)
14. CHRIS SQUIRE - Fish Out of Water (49 points)
16. SPOCK'S BEARD - V (46 points)
16. RENAISSANCE - Ashes Are Burning (46 points)
18. DISCIPLINE - Unfolded Like Staircase (43 points)
19. GLASS HAMMER - The Inconsolable Secret (42 points)
20. NEAL MORSE - Sola Scripture (41 points)
 
21. CAMEL - The Snow Goose (40 points)
21. YES - Fragile (40 points)
21. GENESIS - Trespass (40 points)
21. CAMEL - Mirage (40 points)
21. SOLARIS - Marsbeli Kronikak (40 points)
26. GENESIS - A Trick of the Tail (38 points)
26. REFUGEE - Refugee (38 points)
28. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER - Tarkus (35 points)
29. FANTASY - Paint a Picture (34 points)
30. CRESSIDA - Cressida (32 points)
 
31. GENESIS - Duke (30 points)
31. SPOCK'S BEARD - Snow (30 points)
31. ECHOLYN - The End is Beautiful (30 points)
31. GENESIS - Wind & Wuthering (30 points)
31. NEAL MORSE - Similitude of a Dream (30 points)
31. TRANSATLANTIC - Bridge Across Forever (30 points) 
37. ALL TRAPS ON EARTH - A Drop of Light (29 points)
 
It's a new entry in the Top 10 for Anglagard. Thumbs Up


Edited by Psychedelic Paul - November 06 2023 at 12:16
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Boboulo View Drop Down
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Originally posted by tempest_77 tempest_77 wrote:

Originally posted by Boboulo Boboulo wrote:

1) Genesis - "Trespass"
2) Genesis - "Nursery Cryme"
3) Genesis - "Foxtrot"
4) Genesis - "A Trick of the Tail"
5) Genesis - "Wind & Wuthering"
6) Goblin - "Roller"
7) Il Balletto Di Bronzo - "Ys"
8) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Brain Salad Surgery"
9) Ange - "Caricatures"
10) Fantasy - "Paint A Picture"

There's a one album per artist rule on this thread Smile.
Ah, okey... Then my list would be:

1) Genesis - "A Trick of the Tail"
2) Goblin - "Roller"
3) Il Balletto Di Bronzo - "Ys"
4) Premiata Forneria Marconi  - "Photos of Ghosts"
5) Banco del mutuo Soccorso - "Darwin!"
6) Celeste - "Principe di un giorno"
7) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Brain Salad Surgery"
8) Fantasy - "Paint A Picture"
9) Cressida - "Assylum"
10) Ange - "Caricatures"
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Originally posted by Boboulo Boboulo wrote:

1) Genesis - "Trespass"
2) Genesis - "Nursery Cryme"
3) Genesis - "Foxtrot"
4) Genesis - "A Trick of the Tail"
5) Genesis - "Wind & Wuthering"
6) Goblin - "Roller"
7) Il Balletto Di Bronzo - "Ys"
8) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Brain Salad Surgery"
9) Ange - "Caricatures"
10) Fantasy - "Paint A Picture"

There's a one album per artist rule on this thread Smile.
I use they/them pronouns (feel free to ask me about this!)

Check out my music on my bandcamp!
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1) Genesis - "Trespass"
2) Genesis - "Nursery Cryme"
3) Genesis - "Foxtrot"
4) Genesis - "A Trick of the Tail"
5) Genesis - "Wind & Wuthering"
6) Goblin - "Roller"
7) Il Balletto Di Bronzo - "Ys"
8) Emerson, Lake & Palmer - "Brain Salad Surgery"
9) Ange - "Caricatures"
10) Fantasy - "Paint A Picture"
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Originally posted by FatherChristmas FatherChristmas wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by FatherChristmas FatherChristmas wrote:

Luckily not Tarkus. Great song, great album.

In the land of grey and pink and moving waves aren't on there but in the case of Caravan I suppose maybe them being canterbury and not symph has something to do with it.
Canterbury scene's closer to jazz than symphonic, I thought, otherwise I'd have put forward In the Land of Grey and Pink.
Is there a Canterbury scene version of this thread?

I would argue it depends on the band. They all may have a "jazzy" quality, but it varies. Caravan has way more rock than jazz in the mix (symphonic? maybe not). However, Hatfield and especially Egg and National Health include passages or entire tunes that are reminiscent of modernist classical composers (again, not really symphonic I suppose).
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