Most Controversial Albums (not sellouts) - Progressive Rock Music Forum

What are the most controversial and polarizing albums ever produced in prog?

Here are, imho, the top three

1) Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes

2) Brain Salad Surgery by ELP

3) Caress of Steel by Rush

I bleed coffee. When I don't drink coffee, my veins run dry, and I shrivel up and die.
"Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso? Is that like the bank of Italian soccer death or something?" -my girlfriend

Yep... Tales, The Lamb, and BBS, two of which are concept albums, all came out around the same time (73-74) and, in my opinion, represent the farthest reaching boundary in progressive rock.

I bleed coffee. When I don't drink coffee, my veins run dry, and I shrivel up and die.
"Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso? Is that like the bank of Italian soccer death or something?" -my girlfriend

okay okay, of the more "mainstream" prog groups then. Of course, groups like VDGG did more eclectic stuff... you're right, that was dumb thing to say. Thank you for the correction

I bleed coffee. When I don't drink coffee, my veins run dry, and I shrivel up and die.
"Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso? Is that like the bank of Italian soccer death or something?" -my girlfriend

666 by Aprodites Child without any doubt: The band started to work this album around the end 1969 or the beggining of 1970 and was ready to be released in 1970, but no record label accepted the risk to release it because:

a) The Title: They dared to place the number of the beast as a title, all labels were afraidthat religious groups would boycott the without even listening the album and finding it was a bout the Holy Bible.

b) The Concept: The Book of Revelations is the most controversial in the Bible, talks about the end of the world and contains a lot of symbolism that Aphrodite's Child interpreted in their own style.

c) Sahlep: The band published and included in the cover that 666 was conceived under the influence of Sahlep. Many groups thought this was the name of a demon when in fact is a Turkish beverage.

d) Infinity (Symbol): This track sung by the wonderfull actress Irene Papas is a 5 minutes orgasm with explicit shouts and moanings.

As a result 666 was banned until 1972 Vertigo took the risk, but by that point the band had split almost one year before.

Iván

Bongo Fury

Earthbound

and I agree with the Tales pick...I'm still surprised how many people dislike it!

Emperor wrote:

I also cannot understand about people who doesen't want to listen TALES some times more and dig into this great record at last! :-)

1Personally I love all the mentioned albums...

Sorry mate, it's my least loved prog album. I think it's a rubbish record

However, I'm glad someone is getting some pleasure out of it.

I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill

sigod wrote:

Emperor wrote:

I also cannot understand about people who doesen't want to listen TALES some times more and dig into this great record at last! :-)

1Personally I love all the mentioned albums...

Sorry mate, it's my least loved prog album. I think it's a rubbish record

However, I'm glad someone is getting some pleasure out of it.

Hi, Sigod :-)

I remember how it took at least doezen times to listen before I only began to get into it. But the album is really amazing. Really, try again! And my suggest: don't start to listen with the opening track (The Revealing Science Of God) - better begin with the 2nd one - The Remembering - it's more listen friendly! ;-)

I Prophesy Disaster...

Eddy wrote:

theres bands way more out there then even vg but ill not get into that...

Why dont you tell us?

Long live progression.
Will

Why?

YS is not so complex or hard-to-get album... It really Progs! :-)

I Prophesy Disaster...

[QUOTE=Emperor]

Why?

YS is not so complex or hard-to-get album... It really Progs! :-)

I didn't say it was hard. (nor hard to get) I just don't. I listened to it maybe 5 times, no spark coming over!

Edited by Alucard

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