Guys,

I went into town this morning and saw the latest edition of Classic Rock Magazine on a newsagents shelf. As well as having a free DVD inside, the main feature is a countdown of the 100 greatest rock albums of all time. The list was a result of a panel of experts including Rock DJ's, Rock Critics, Rock Promoters, Photographers & singers and musicians. I thought you might find it interesting what some prog rock stars's favourite albums are. So below is a selection and some reasons they gave for choosing particular albums.

Steve Wilson [Porcupine Tree]

1. PINK FLOYD-UMMAGUMMA "It's an extroadinary whirlpool of cosmic sound, the definitive space rock statement''
2. HAWKWIND-IN SEARCH OF SPACE
3. BLACK SABBATH-PARANOID
4. THE WHO-QUADROPHENIA
5. KING CRIMSON-RED"King Crimson's albums were sometimes patchy, but RED is so solid. It was the last album before Robert Fripp went into retreat & they split for a few year, & it features one of their classic long pieces. Starless starts off is a ballad & becomes this pummelling, atonal rock workout. The title track is also definitive Fripp''
6. YES-TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS "I know it's a curve-ball because this album is seen as progressive rock getting too big for it's boots. But some wonderful follies have resulted when bands think they can do anything. A double album of four long pieces based on mystic scrolls. TFTO is the definitive rock folly, but it does contain some amazing music. It deserves reappraising!."
7. LED ZEPPELIN-PRESENCE
8. VDGG-STILL LIFE " Although I grew up with prog rock I don't listen to it much these days. The bands that inspired me from that scene were the darker ones. VDGG was almost Wagnerian:it's very dramatic. Although it was slickly produced, STILL LIFE almost pre-dated the energy of Punk that was just around the corner"
9. PINK FLOYD-ANIMALS "for me it is underated and is their strongest work" [I can't work out this statement out as he chose UMMAGUMMA  as his all time favourite album!
10. THROBBING GRISTLE-SECOND ANIMAL REPORT
11. XTC-DRUMS & WIRES
12. PIL-METAL BOX
13. THE CURE-SEVENTEEN SECONDS
14. DIAMOND HEAD-LIGHTING TO THE NATIONS
15. KATE BUSH-THE DREAMING
16. PETER GABRIEL-4
17. THE SMITHS-HATFUL OF HORROW
18. TALK TALK-LAUGHING STOCK
19. MANSUN-SIX
20. RADIOHEAD-AMNESIAC

Intresting. I'd like to see the others.

FISH'S Top 20!

1. PINK FLOYD-DSOTM
2. YES-THE YES ALBUM
3. VAN MORRISON-MOONDANCE
4. LED-ZEPPELIN -IV
5. GENESIS-SEBTP
6. BEATLES-ABBEY ROAD
7. FREE-TONS & SOBS
8. THE WHO-QUADROPHENIA
9. JOHN MARTIN-SOLID AIR
10. CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG-DEJA VU
11. OASIS-WHAT'S THE STORY [MORNING GLORY]
12. PINK FLOYD-WISH YOU WERE HERE
13. THE FACES-A NODS AS GOOD AS A WINK...TO A BLIND HORSE
14. SIMPLE MINDS-NEW GOLD DREAM
15. U2-BOY
16. GORILLAZ-DEMON DAYS
17. BLUE NILE-HATS
18. DAVID BOWIE-HUNK DORY
19. QUEEN - A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
20. MARIANNE FAITHFUL-BROKEN ENGLISH

Tommy wrote: FISH'S Top 20! PINK FLOYD-DSOTM YES-THE YES ALBUM VAN MORRISON-MOONDANCE LED-ZEPPELIN -IV GENESIS-SEBTP BEATLES-ABBEY ROAD FREE-TONS & SOBS THE WHO-QUADROPHENIA JOHN MARTIN-SOLID AIR CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG-DEJA VU OASIS-WHAT'S THE STORY [MORNING GLORY] PINK FLOYD-WISH YOU WERE HERE THE FACES-A NODS AS GOOD AS A WINK...TO A BLIND HORSE SIMPLE MINDS-NEW GOLD DREAM U2-BOY GORILLAZ-DEMON DAYS BLUE NILE-HATS DAVID BOWIE-HUNK DORY QUEEN - A NIGHT AT THE OPERA MARIANNE FAITHFUL-BROKEN ENGLISH

I'm suprised VDGG aren't on there. He was very influences by Peter Hammil.

BOB HARRIS [Famous British DJ & presenter of 'The Old Grey Whistle Test]

1. THE BEATLES-REVOLVER
2. DAVID BOWIE-ZIGGY STARDUST
3. THE CLASH-LONDON CALLING
4. CREAM-DIZRAELI GEARS
5. DARKNESS-PERMISSION TO LAND [I was surprised to see this]
6. DEEP PURPLE-MACHINE HEAD
7. DEF LEPPARD-HYSTERIA
8. DEREK & THE DOMINOS-LAYLA & OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS
9. FREE-FIRE & WATER
10. RORY GALLAGHER-TATTOO
11. LED ZEP-II
12. LED ZEP-IV
13. OASIS-DEFINEATLY MAYBE
14. PINK FLOYD-DSOTM
15. QUEEN-1
16. RADOIHEAD-THE BENDS
17. ROLLING STONES-LET IT BLEED
18. THE WHO-WHO'S NEXT
19. WISHBONE ASH-WISHBONE ASH
20. YES -THE YES ALBUM

LEMMY [Ex Hawkwind. Motorhead]

1. DAVE EDMUNDS-SUBTLE AS A FLYING MALLET
2. PINK FLOYD-PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN"It was so solid! The band were never the same after Syd left"
3. HAWKWIND-HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL"For me, this was when the band were at there height, oh! & I was in the band as well"
4. JIMI HENDRIX-ARE YOU EXPERIENCED"Sorry, for me this is a British album. He had two Brits in the Band. Every song is a classic!"
5. S*X PISTOLS-NEVER MIND.....
6. THE DAMNED-DAMED, DAMED, DAMNED
7. THE PRETENDERS-THE PRETENDERS
8. SKUNK AKANASIE-POST ORGASMIC CHILL
9. JEFF BECK-TRUTH "Unfortuneatly, he was always overshadowed by Jimmy Page! But what a supreme guitarist. There's some wonderful playing here!"
10. DOWNLINERS SECT-THE SECT
11. THE BEATLES-WITH THE BEATLES
12. THE ROLLING STONES-THE ROLLING STONES
13. THE WHO-WHO'S NEXT
14. KING CRIMSON-ITCOTCK "It was very clever, but also not as twiddly as other prog rock albums! It kind of sucked you in"
15. DEEP PURPLE-IN ROCK"You have to include this album, because it really started everything as far as heavy rock goes"
16. AC/DC-HIGHWAY TO HELL
17. THE YARDBIRDS-ROGER THE ENGINEER
18. THIN LIZZY-BAD REPUTATION
19. GARY MOORE-STILL GOT THE BLUES
20. HUMBLE PIE-AS SAFE AS YESTERDAY IS