- wind & wuthrering (the end of "all in a mouse...") probably started everything.

a special mention to eloy's mighty echoes, who AMAZINGLY sounds neo prog (1979!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

my choice goes however to saga!

Scrpit Foir A Jester's Tears .

that album started neo-prog and should've been the only album of neo-prog.

I'd have to go for Marillion too.

It was that younger generation of prog musicians that started the movement IMO. They took some influence from the masters and applied a modern approach to songwriting. For Marillion and IQ it worked, for Pallas it failed IMO.

"Fact and Fiction" by Twelfth Night predated "Script..." by a year, and is the first "Neo-Prog" album proper, IMO. "Script..." is the one that caught the world's attention, so it's a bit moot really; The Sex Pistols did not release the first punk album (The Damned did), Elvis did not release the first rock'n'roll record, and Dream Theater were at least 20 years too late to invent prog metal.

"Tales..." is an interesting album, as it seems to straddle both classic prog and Neo-Prog. Of the remainder on that list, only Pallas produced neo-prog music - the rest were more a kind of wind-down from classic prog.

To my opinion those were Genesis's AND THEN THERE WERE THREE (I voted for) and Saga's debut album, so I may say that the birth in Neo-Prog was in 1978

And I'm sure that W&W and mentioned Hackett's albums are absolutely no Neo-Prog

Emperor wrote: To my opinion those were Genesis's AND THEN THERE WERE THREE (I voted for) and Saga's debut album, so I may say that the birth in Neo-Prog was in 1978 And I'm sure that W&W and mentioned Hackett's albums are absolutely no Neo-Prog

I don't think they were - the styling is wrong. Neo-prog has much cleaner musical lines, and the lyrics tend to be more emotional and based on real life or the way people fantasise rather than the fantasies themselves, like 3-man Genesis and Hackett's. "Voyage of the Acolyte" is practically a Genesis album. "Highly Strung" may feature Ian Moseley - but it's far from Neo-prog!

Even Hackett's later albums don't really go into Neo-prog territory, despite the "reality checks" appearing in the lyrics. Jethro Tull almost made it with "A", but the strongest tracks on that album are the ones that sound more "old school", like "Black Sunday" and "Fylingdale Flyer".

"Duke" is much closer to Neo-prog than any earlier Genesis album - but even then, it's too blurry as the old school touches are still there ("Behind the Lines", "Duke's Travels"), and the more modern touches are a bit too pop/rock orientated for neo-prog, which tends towards the angular. Compare "Turn It On Again" or "Misunderstanding" with "He Knows, You Know" or "Market Square Heroes".

Compare the twisting, melodic musical lines and twisted slants on lyrical reality in Twelfth Night, IQ or Marillion with anything previous and you'll see exactly what I mean. Peter Hammill's "A Black Box" is an album worthy of consideration too, as there is a much "newer" feel to it thanks to Hammill's integration of Punk energy into the prog style.

Or are there aspects in the Genesis/Hackett material you mention that you think I've overlooked?

Maybe there should be another term for prog music between the old school and Neo prog to avoid confusion. "Script..." is undoubtedly the first major neo-prog release in the true Neo-prog style.

I would have voted for Trespass by Genesis.

It has most ingredients that are also present on current neo-prog albums.

Somewhat dominant atmospheric keyboards, solid drumming, high-pitched melodic guitar, that together with the bass and keyboards creat a full and dynamic multi-layered texture. with some emotive vocals on top. For me that's the essence of neo-prog

Emperor wrote: To my opinion those were Genesis's AND THEN THERE WERE THREE (I voted for) and Saga's debut album, so I may say that the birth in Neo-Prog was in 1978

I agree on the SAGA's debut album thing  --  they definitely went for a poppish re-elaboration of the symphonic prog standards with a featured role of keyboards. I'm not so sure about GENESIS' "And Then There Were Three", since this album sounds to me like they were trying to do something less complex in their struggle to leave behind any reminder of the Gabriel-era (which is why Hackett left soon after the "W&W" tour).

I also agree with Certif1ed, who reminded us that TWELFTH NIGHT (not MARILLION, PALLAS or IQ) were the real pioneers of neo-prog, once the label was invented by th British music media. Once, a headline read: "The Mini-Moogs are back!" - the reviewer was referring to a Twelfth Night concert, back in 1981, when Geoff Mann was already in the band and TN had spent a bunch of years as an instrumental quartet.

I think we should do some research before voting on polls like this, before going for the obvious MARILLION's debut album. Remember that, by then, these guys had a mini-LP and a single in their resumé, and PALLAS has released a debut tape and a LP. IQ also had released a tape. "Script" is a manifestation of a part of the British undergroung rock secen, not the germination of it. 

I voted for SAGA, but again, I am well aware that the label wasn't even invented, yet. Back in 1979, some music reporter lbelled SAGA's music as "medieval funk"  ... go figure...

Regards.

I think i should clarify some of my choices:

eloy-silent cries & mighty echoes: listen to the clean guitars and the atmospheric keyboards

steve hackett-spectral morning`: i think every day's solo part and spectral mornings (and even tigermoth) sound quite neo prog

steve hackett- defector : the steppes: can you find a more neo prog guitar and keyboards combination than here? seriously??

camel - breathless: just hear again the electric guitar solo on Echoes!

camel - i can see your house: the ICE track!

pendragon - fligh high fall far: for EXCALIBUR: this track is pure neo prog!

I think the most representative track for neo prog on that list is Steve Hackett - the steppes!!

SERIOUSLY!