50 Most Important Progressive Rock Songs - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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micky

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 09:12

the site I came here from did that kind of stuff.. we tried to take influence, popularity, innovation into it

highly subjective. .but it was a hell of a lot of fun.

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Raff

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 08:54

Such lists are usually very personal, reflecting the taste of the person who compiled them. Therefore, it's quite normal that other people won't find themselves in agreement with the items listed. Personally, I find the use of the word 'important' rather puzzling, since it is not clear at all in which sense those songs should be considered important.

Dick Heath View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 07:54

laplace wrote:

what does important mean in this context? a lot of the songs on that list are only important to other prog bands...

I'd have:
#1: Can - Sing Swan Song ;P

Totally agree. "Important " in what context?

Influential? Then on the audience/recording buying fans OR fellow musicians.

Best selling?

Numbers of covers?

????

Influential and thinking out side the box::

I would suggest that Vanilla Fudge was influential especially with You Keep Me Hanging On since you see links subsequently with Nice and Touch, and then also heavy rock , e.g. Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin.

Touch's Alesha & Others/75 : Jon Anderson and Kansas separately claim to have been influenced.

Beatles She So Heavy - made at the height the British blues boom - i.e. the Beatles (especially John Lennon) wanted part of that, so look look to who and want influenced the Beatles (Cream perhaps...)

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 07:23

darkshade wrote:

I got this list from a friend who was doing a project at his college. I dont remember why, but part of his project was to make a list of the 50 most important progressive rock songs. So that means there's a few songs from artists that arent on this site (although some of them should be).

50 Most Important Progressive Rock Songs

11. Rush – “YYZ”

32. Jethro Tull – “Aqualung”

42. Focus – “Hamburger Concerto”

43. Camel – “The Snow Goose suite”

Apart from the massive repetition of some artists, especially Floyd, I was really puzzled by these four. Yes, a Rush inclusion is desirable, but surely either the massively famous 2112, or, more progly, perhaps Tom Sawyer or something like that would have been a better choice. Similarly, Aqualung isn't all that progressive or important, really. Hamburger Concerto, I can't think of any importance for whatsoever. Not that great, nor that influential. Similarly, The Snow Goose baffles me.

JayDee

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 06:11

schizoid_man77 wrote:

Tool should be on there at some ppint, also YYZ is on there twice.

Yeah, it's soooooooooo good, that it deserves to be ranked twice. Clap

Harry Hood View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 05:49

I love Phish, and it's nice to see them being recognized as prog by somebody (it still pains me to see them listed as prog related on this site), but I would agree that they're getting a little too much recognition on that list. Out of all the songs listed, I'd probably pick You Enjoy Myself as being the most important.

RaphaelT

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 03:53

Let's face it, every author notices different important factors in prog rock therefore everyone could create a valid list of "important" prog songs, it all depends on the purpose you are going to demonstrate through such list (e.g. like different ways the epics were written in different eras of prog).

But making "suites" out of the concept albums? Come on, why not "90125" suite by Yes - it brought many people to listening to prog, therefore it is important

yet you still have time!

stonebeard View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 03:01

darkshade wrote:

9. Pink Floyd – “Dark Side of the Moon suite”

invalid option, try again

darkshade wrote:

15. Frank Zappa – “Inca Roads”

18. Phish – “Reba”

I don't think so, Tim.

darkshade wrote:

24. YES – “Gates of Delirium”

and what did this accomplish in terms of importance that "Close to the Edge" didn't?

darkshade wrote:

30. Opeth – “The Moor”

What makes this song important at all outside of it kicking ass?

darkshade wrote:

32. Jethro Tull – “Aqualung”

not a prog song

darkshade wrote:

33. Phish – “The Divided Sky”

Cool song, but totally insignificant in the grand scheme. (Accomplished what that "YEM" did not?)

darkshade wrote:

36. Frank Zappa – “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing”

important how?

darkshade wrote:

38. Gentle Giant – “In a Glass House”

nd this accomplished what exactly that "Knots" didn't?

darkshade wrote:

39. Dream Theater – “Octavarium”

I don't see how this is important.

darkshade wrote:

40. The Mars Volta – “Tetragrammaton”

darkshade wrote:

43. Camel – “The Snow Goose suite”

re: Dark Side of the Moon

darkshade wrote:

44. King Crimson – “Frakture”

45. Frank Zappa – “Gregory Peccary”

I don't see their significance.

darkshade wrote:

48. Phish – “Fluffhead/Fluff’s Travels”

re: The Divided Sky

darkshade wrote:

49. The Mars Volta – “Drunkship of Lanterns”

I don't understand why.

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Queen By-Tor View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 02:25

Darkshade wrote:

11. Rush – “YYZ”

20. Rush – “YYZ”

I knew it! Rush IS that awesome! LOL

Slartibartfast View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 02:08

darkshade wrote:

45. Frank Zappa – “Gregory Peccary”

What do you guys think?

Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

Dim

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 00:24

Tool should be on there at some ppint, also YYZ is on there twice.

ghost_of_morphy View Drop Down

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Posted: May 25 2008 at 00:19

KeleCableII wrote:

I think it's missing King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimon King. I might be totally off, but it seemed like the jazzier prog bands would've taken influence from Schizoid Man while the more symphonic bands took influence from the thick mellotron of In the Court. So I would make that #1 or #2 along with Schizoid.

A very good point indeed. I'd say Epitaph instead of Court, but the idea behind my reasoning is the same as yours.

febus

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Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:43

Buenas tardes, Pablo.....Oh LUCY has eyes only for me, i am very ''important '' to her, you know

The Quiet One View Drop Down

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Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:34

febus wrote:

what's the definition of ''IMPORTANT""prog songs??? .....It's Important when every fanboy/girl will be happy if this list matches their own taste or not important if by sacrilege one of their ''heroes or worshippees'' dare to be missing from this list !!

My dog Lucy and me are presently working hard on a new ''important ''list, at least very important to us.. We'll keep you posted

Next?

Tell Lucy to keep an eye on you, so you don't make mistakes

febus

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Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:27

what's the definition of ''IMPORTANT""prog songs??? .....It's Important when every fanboy/girl will be happy if this list matches their own taste or not important if by sacrilege one of their ''heroes or worshippees'' dare to be missing from this list !!

My dog Lucy and me are presently working hard on a new ''important ''list, at least very important to us.. We'll keep you posted

Next?

jammun

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Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:23

Gregory Peccary? What in the world is that doing on this list? (And I'm a huge FZ fan...)

laplace

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Posted: May 24 2008 at 22:18

what does important mean in this context? a lot of the songs on that list are only important to other prog bands...

I'd have:
#1: Can - Sing Swan Song ;P

Clepsydra

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