necessary prog

I am not asking for your "favorite" or "Best" , but the most vital to a prospective newbie. I have prepared many lists for many nascent proggers who were blown away.

Rush and Kansas were my way in (classic rock was what led me to prog).

I think it depends a lot on from where someone is coming. a metal fan probably should start with prog metal of some kind, then slowly pave a way to other bands which can play really aggressive if needed (High Tide, Hawkwind, King Crimson, VdGG, Amon Düül 2, Guru Guru, Rush) and then open the door to wonderland by showing them what other stuff these bands can do, not to mention the many many other bands out there.
with someone who comes from the classical corner go the way via symphonic: Genesis, Yes, ELP, Gryphon (who are in my opinion an excellent introduction for lovers of classical music).
for Punk Rock lovers: the Cardiacs, Inner City Unit (who are not in the archives but should be, under Prog Punk, a category which has already been suggested by me. the Cardiacs and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum should be moved into that category too,by the way).
for jazz lovers: jazz-rock of course, but very few jazz lovers are purists anyway and will probably be familiar with it anyway


Edited by BaldJean - November 21 2009 at 04:12

BaldJean wrote: I think it depends a lot on from where someone is coming. a metal fan probably should start with prog mettal of some kind, then slowly pave a way to other bands which can play really aggressive if needed (High Tide, Hawkwind, King Crimson, VdGG, Amon Düül 2, Guruj Guru, Rush) and then open the door to wonderland by showing them what other stuff these bands can do, not to mention the  many many other bands out there.

Even then, those bands don't sound very much like each other... really makes it clear how progressive rock is too varied a movement to make a single all-encompassing canon for because how different styles it contains.

On a more idealistic level I incidentally also think that any genre that fashions itself a beacon of freethinking and individualism does not need a fixed canon of classics. Well, maybe you could make such a canon on an objective basis by influence but I don't really see how it follows that the most influential albums are also the best.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Jethro Tull -  Aqualung King Crimson - Red

Edited by Green Shield Stamp - November 25 2009 at 15:20

Mahavishnu Orchestra:Birds of fire
KC:Red
Yes:Tales from Topographic Ocean
ELP:Tarkus
Magma:Kobaia
Genesis:Nursery Cryme
Weather Report:Black Market
Gong:You
Pink Floyd:Ummagumma
Hawkwind:Hall of the Mountain Grill

I would recommend these to someone who wants to get into classic prog:

Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
Rush - A Farwell To Kings
King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
Kansas - Leftoverture
Jethro Tull - Aqualung
Supertramp - Cryme Of The Century

Green Shield Stamp wrote: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon Jethro Tull -  Aqualung King Crimson - Red Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink Genesis - Selling England... Yes - Close to the Edge Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed Mike Oldfield -  Ommadawn Procol Harum - Shine on Brightly Gentle Giant - Octopus Marillion - Misplaced Childhood Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear Van Der Graaf Generator - Pawn Hearts Rush -  Xanadu     These in my opinion are necessary Prog albums and will serve as an excellent foundation for a growing collection.