Prog songs for beginners?
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Topic: Prog songs for beginners?
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Subject: Prog songs for beginners?
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 04:53
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Hi, I’ve been listening to prog for about a year now, roughly 500 albums. I’m in love with the genre and I want to share it, especially 70’s prog, with my friends and loved ones. So I’m thinking about which songs to start them off with. Camel’s Song Within A Song is the song (or should I say songs  ) which I have recommended thus far. Midnight Madness by a band called England is very much Yes and Genesis so I believe that might also be a good starting point. Also, Supper’s Ready is kind of prog rock’s anthem, right, but is it a good starting point?I’m happy to hear any suggestions for good beginners’ 70’s prog songs which are good and representative of the genre 
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Replies:
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:07
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Genesis - Supper's Ready Yes - Close to the edge King Crimson - Court of the Crimson King Emerson Lake and Palmer - Tarkus ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:12
| Yeah I also thought about Court of the Crimson King and Close to the Edge. Good suggestions |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:14
Do they want to be started off with anything? That's the first question you need to ask yourself. I would not like others to impose their taste on me.
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Theprogelitist wrote:Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:20
| Good point and I agree 100%. The first question would of course be if they’re interested at all |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:42
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Invisible Touch.. If they like that then try A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers by VDGG.  ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 05:53
OF COURSE! Invisible Touch, the most representative song of progressive rock, why didn’t I think of that?!  
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Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:06
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Heart of the Sunrise is IMO a great introdution for progrock noobs. ------------- “On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.” — Ernest Vong |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:19
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Why not start at the beginning , then? And go on the same journey the older ones here embarked on? The Moody Blues-Nights in White Satin, Procol Harum- A Whiter Shade of Pale and the entire In the Court of the Crimson King. And then go year by year ..... ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:24
------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:28
do his friends want any suggestions? That's a simple question that the OP already kindly answered.
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:36
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I still find the term 'imposing' inappropriate when it comes to making simple suggestions. Imposing would suggest forcing someone to hear something they don't want to hear. So unless you're planning on tying someone to a chair and playing the entire 'Music From The Body' album to them, then perhaps a different term would be more applicable. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:37
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The nice & easy approach: Emerson Lake and Palmer: The Sage Yes: Roundabout Pink Floyd: Shine On You Crazy Diamond (first half) Genesis: The Fountain Of Salmacis King Crimson: Fallen Angel |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:40
Hmmm that’s actually an interesting way of going about it! Maybe skip Moonchild though
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:40
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I enjoyed Roger Waters' & Ron Geesin's Music from the Body album, and I didn't even need to be tied to a chair to listen to it.
I'd suggest listening to Renaissance' Ashes Are Burning for a beginner's entry into the wonderful world of prog, mainly because it's my favourite prog album and it was my introduction to prog too.
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:41
Ok, a different word... like i said, do his friends want to listen to any of the OP's prog discoveries? |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:47
Because you might get as far as Schizoid Man and then find someone is beating you round the head with a copy of album with a big pink face on the cover, shouting "what the f**k is this, put Justin Beiber on".
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Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:48
Nice suggestions, especially Fountain of Salmacis!! I actually suggested Shine On You Crazy Diamond to a friend a few months back and she absolutely despised it. Guess she just has bad taste huh 
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Posted By: JD
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:53
------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 07:57
Hahaha that first bit made me laugh I’ve actually suggested a song from Ashes Are Burning before. The album is one of my favourites too, simply angelic vocals and beautiful instrumentation. The only thing is that Renaissance is one of a kind in the respect that the vocals are female (provided by the amazing Annie Haslam) while prog contains 99,5% male vocals, which makes it a bit unrepresentative in my mind |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 09:25
| I’d love to hear more suggestions! |
Posted By: Argo2112
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 09:33
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I wouldn't start them on the long epics, it might scare some people away. May be some more accessible stuff to get their feet wet. Starship Trooper - Yes One More Red Nightmare - King Crimson Karnevil 9 First Impression Pt 2 - ELP Can Utility & the Coastliners - Genesis Red Barchetta - Rush Time - Pink Floyd |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 09:57
"At the Harbour" from the classic Ashes Are Burning album is my favourite Renaissance song, and it just happens to be Annie Haslam's favourite Renaissance song too.
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 10:03
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21st Century Schizoid Man by KC. If anyone is still interested and haven't bolted form the room then play them the rest of the In The Court Of The Crimson King album. ------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 10:03
I know exactly what you mean: 21st Century Schizoid Man is not the easiest introduction into the magnificent world of prog. A beginner would be far better off listening to King Crimson's Epitaph first of all, and if they don't like that Mellotron epic, then you may as well give up and let them go back to listening to Justin Bieber and Britney Spears.
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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 10:15
Good idea.....after all... 'Faint heart ne'er won fair lady. ... '”  ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 10:23
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Posted By: Mirakaze
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 11:40
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I wouldn't recommend Close To The Edge. I tried showing it to my best friend (who I did end up converting into a proghead in the end) when I was just introducing him to the genre, but he found it really annoying the first time and turned it off as soon as he got to the church organs |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 12:04
I agree...and most of my friends and family who like music don't get into prog. It just doesn't appeal to them. Some do like Floyd and Tull ..the radio tracks ,but not deeper cuts or deeper prog bands. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 12:08
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If they can sit through Trout Mask Replica, they can sit through just about anything. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 12:12
I cannot do that... what does it mean, what does it mean?!
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Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 13:10
Good choices! |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 13:17
Yeah Epitaph definitely seems like a good starting point. I had my AC/DC-loving friend listen to it, as well as And You And I, and she liked them. It’s hard to dislike such beauty. |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 13:23
Hmmm that’s interesting because Close to the Edge was the first prog track I had my dad listen to and he absolutely fell in love with it. Next week he heard Supper’s Ready and thought it was the most stressing piece of music he had ever heard. I love both. I guess it just goes to show that one man’s meat is another man’s poison. |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 13:32
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For beginners, I would start with Yes' Roundabout, Pink Floyd's Time, and Genesis' Squonk. After that, I would recommend Area's Caos (parte seconda) ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 13:44
This guy knows what he’s talking about. I highly recommend Caos (parte seconde) to everyone who reads this |
Posted By: dwill123
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 14:11
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How about something on the lighter listening side like: Jethro Tull - "To Cry You a Song" or Strawbs - "Benedictus" |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 15:22
Thank you for your input! Although I wouldn’t necessarily say that those songs are prog. To Cry You a Song is more of a blues-rocker and Benedictus is more of a folky pop song in my mind. The songs are by good prog bands though and personally I’d rather recommend Heavy Horses/Aqualung and Autumn, respectively |
Posted By: Theprogelitist
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 15:23
| Woah I have no idea where all that programming language stuff came from |
Posted By: Machinemessiah
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 17:45
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Emerson, Lake & Palmer's: From the beginning 🧐 Fanfare for the Common Man Hoedown Jethro Tull's: Aqualung Bourée Thick as a Brick (the short version, "Edit #1") and/or this album:  Yes': Wonderous Stories And You and I Rush: Time Stand Still Roll the Bones Where's my Thing Closer to the Heart Tom Sawyer ... many King Crimson: Elephant Talk Then, if they're more jazzy/into fusion or adventurous, Frank Zappa's Peaches en Regalia Don't Eat the Yellow Snow and/or these albums:   |
Posted By: Heart of the Matter
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 18:15
| Curved Air has female lead vocals too... |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 21 2020 at 18:42
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If I were to make an introductory tape/playlist for someone who wanted to discover prog here is what I might include: 1. lucky man -ELP 2. And you and I - Yes 3. Locomotive breath - Jethro Tull 4. On reflection - Gentle Giant 5. Kayleigh - Marillion 6. Firth of fifth -Genesis 7. Time - Pink Floyd 8. In the court of the crimson king - King Crimson 9. Pull me under - Dream Theater 10. Song for America - Kansas 11. La Villa Strangiato - Rush 12. Nights in white satin - Moody Blues
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: December 22 2020 at 01:41
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^ Pull Me Under was the song that first pulled me towards the Progressive Metal of Dream Theater. These are my introductory choices, featuring the same list of bands:- 1. ELP - Fanfare for the Common Man 2. Yes - Homeworld (from The Ladder album)  3. Jethro Tull - Living with the Past 4. Gentle Giant (I don't know any GG songs)  5. Marillion - Kayleigh (the only Marillion song I know) 6. Genesis - Ripples (Annie Haslam's superior version) 7. Pink Floyd - Us & Them 8. King Crimson - Epitaph  9. Dream Theater - Surrounded (from the debut Images & Words album) 10. Kansas - Carry on My Wayward Son 11. Rush - Time Stands Still 12. Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Blue Guitar  |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 22 2020 at 01:43
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1. PFM - The World Became The World 2. King Crimson - Fallen Angel 3. Genesis - The Knife 4. Deep Purple - Child In Time 5. Renaissance - Northern Lights 6. ELP - Fanfare for the Common Man (album version) 7. Yes- Wonderous Stories 8. Camel - Lunar Sea 9. Kansas - Song For America 10. Rush - 2112 (yes really!) 11. Pink Floyd - Time 12. Van Der Graaf Generator - Theme One 13. Jethro Tull - Songs From The Wood 14. The Who - Baba O'Riley 15. Edgar Winter Band - Frankenstein 16. Vangelis - Pulstar 17. Tangerine Dream - Cloudburst Flight 18. Led Zep - Kashmir 19. Moody Blues - Question 20. Hawkwind - Spirit Of The Age |
Posted By: Shadowyzard
Date Posted: December 22 2020 at 06:03
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Why not try this? I daresay virtually anybody can find it amusing. |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: December 22 2020 at 06:31
Definitely: And this one is quite interesting (and instructive) too: ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |