Best prog album by a non-prog band

For me it would have to be Mercury Falling by Sting. There's hardly a song on it which isn't in some crazy time signature and contains all the exotic chord work that marks out many a fine prog album. In addition, the line up on that album is second to none, Vinnie Colliuta (ex-Zappa), the late and great, Kenny Kirkland (ex-Branford Marsalis & 'Blue Turtles' era Sting band) and the marvellous Dominic Miller (ex-Peter Gabriel & Mark Hollis). All of these musicians have vague ties to the prog community so I suppose it's hardly surprising that there would be a bit more on offer from this disc.

I will admit it's not one of Sting's finest contributions to popular music but it has my vote.

Certif1ed wrote: Even Zeppelin stood at the edge of prog - the first two albums especially.

I have to both agree and disagree - confusin' ain't it - but I'll explain.

The  first two LZ's albums were released when rock was young and innovations were occurring on many fronts. Therefore these records would have been included in the then broad progressive music category. The music is directly derived from the blue-eyed British Blues Boom which occurred (from the mid 60s to around '70 or '71) - several of the tunes can be heard elsewhere, recorded by other British blues bands, and then stemming back to the Chess record catalogue (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, etc) and even back to the Delta. However, the heaviness was new (but as I've said before, Jeff Beck was very pissed when Page played him the demos for the first LZ album, seeing his ideas being lifted from Truth and Cosa Nostra albums - and Beck said those albums were his attempted to imitate the heaviness of Vanilla Fudge (explaining the Beck Bogart Appice collaboration in the early 70's). Similarly Deep Purple, May Blitz,  Black Sabbath, Black Widow etc. would have been accepted under the progressive music umbrella without music fans thinking twice.

However, because of the blues boom emphasis on LZ and LZ2, I feel uncomfortable putting these records under the progressive rock umbrella, with its more prescriptive definitions - later LZ albums fit better, e.g. Stairway To Heaven goes through a series of musical changes which are pretty typical of many prog rock tunes.

Sweet smoke live'74

if you consider this bad as  non-prog

Prog_Bassist wrote: James Lee wrote: Pixel Pirate wrote: I would have to go with "Queen II". They were definitely leaning heavily in the prog direction on that one much more than the Zeppelin clones they were said to be at the time. 100% agreement here. How can you not call "Ogre Battle" or "March of the Black Queen" (or really, 95% of the rest of the album) pure progressive rock? Queen II is probably my favorite album by the band, although most of the other 70s releases had a lot going for them. Brian May's guitar and Freddie's operatic turns are IMAO ideal examples of "symphonic rock", on par with any band in the database.   What! Ogre Battle and March of the Black Queen??? Thats a game! You mean to tell me that these games must be based on queen songs????? Im confused here... http://www.rottentomatoes.com/g/super_nintendo/ogre_battle_t he_march_of_the_black_queen/overview.php

WOW! I thought I knew my gaming history, but I'd never heard of this. Coincidence? No way...I know too many gamers who are into prog...

Great link, man!

Dick Heath wrote: oliverstoned wrote: Sweet smoke live'74 if you consider this bad as  non-prog   Kings of Glam Rock

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oliverstoned wrote: Dick Heath wrote: oliverstoned wrote: Sweet smoke live'74 if you consider this bad as  non-prog   Kings of Glam Rock   ?????????????????????

I presume when you write about Sweet, (and a recording '74)  that you are talking about the British band Sweet who were the kings of glam rock - at least from the point of view of sales and fan worship, e.g. hits like Ballroom Blitz. They gigged at Loughborough University around 1974, when I saw them and it  was remarkable for two things. First nobody under 18 was allowed in (all other gigs average age was 14), and it was the only gig of the tour without crash barriers around the stage (because there were no 14 year olds in the audience).

If it isn't this Sweet, let me know.

Spot on with QueenII Pixle Pirate/James Lee/Prog_B, etc

I had completely forgotten what a gem that album is (cue mad rush to CD player and slamming said disk into machine, followed by wild cried of 'YES, BLOODY HELL!" and strange air guitar impressions).

Ogre Battle is rather good isn't?