The Ultimate Progressive Rock Top 50?

15. THE FLOWER KINGS      A Swedish Progressive Rock band who began life as a backing group for Roine Stolt's solo "Flower King" album, but then blossomed into a fully-fledged band in their own right. The Flower Kings have more roots, offshoots and branches than a herbaceous border full of rhododendron bushes, including Roine Stolt's and Tomas Bodin's many solo works, and associated groups:- Agents of Mercy; Hasse Froberg & Musical Companion; Kaipa; Karmakanic; Midnight Sun; Moon Safari; Spellbound; Spin Gallery; The Tangent; Time Requiem; Transatlantic, and many other one-album band projects too numerous to mention. The list goes on...

1995: The Flower Kings - Back in the World of Adventures - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kau3-02NKZaW9xPW2Z6mk4HF5UBYW5xM0
                 1996: The Flower Kings - Retropolis - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mBM6TW9CSR0Bn2EsTDAZtPZNO9yhjeqqk
                 1997: The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kHFsrmEPe8UhjTe-HcpcxpgDli3fVWPYA
                 1999: The Flower Kings - Flower Power - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mGMGEHkdapCuwM7s0ieLHlErObP0C4BGI
                 2000: The Flower Kings - Space Revolver - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k9Mc_AyTj5aztJXBI2qkZsKWjPy07uEXg
                 2000: The Flower Kings - Alive on Planet Earth - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7EgvGGo6fmxf2IX98hXZLY639JTe3TJE
                 2001: The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lR71rweKIeh1dcudXuI8HrdDfC8rT2Sss
                 2002: The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l_F1nV5tZIHK99-bRntIx3tkItL_-_bJU
                 2003: The Flower Kings - Meet the Flower Kings - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZqSH0k03L8KHop19v44Z2EnCEhEYZ0nw
                 2004: The Flower Kings - Adam & Eve - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nmOyeABxzdc3I9dZswsbqKBHfbK2yzVBM
                 2006: The Flower Kings - Paradox Hotel - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mJ8YctjVkpBcyak1ICqyDTtcTQfB3hHy0
                 2006: The Flower Kings - Instant DeLIVEry - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZqSH0k03L8JP1ISOzTjwo7852IW-FCje
                 2007: The Flower Kings - The Sum of No Evil - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kaiMBlb7axMn5LcqIsQXBpO9NfZn7A1kA
                 2011: The Flower Kings - Tour Kaputt - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mrXexBSDse3Ske3TqpwNuSD1arrlD4Gkk
                 2012: The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kwUDnMAuYfU-u4m6MwXckZKrbmtlqAWFw
                 2013: The Flower Kings - Desolation Rose - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mzBCISM_Q2YFiMjoAxAX47EAeSsoRD1OI
                 2019: The Flower Kings - Waiting for Miracles - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mgYSRH-3c2N6e3EBfScV4Gg95MZgtPFA8
                 2020: The Flower Kings - Islands - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l8Naql2akXR4jx6bi-Yl0mN5aZ4etTlKg
                 2022: The Flower Kings - By Royal Decree - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mGAdn8j1Yelckz012RRqax9lRuy9uEMfU
                 2023: The Flower Kings - Look at You Now - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mheMaTzGmlh7ZJRTxBC2RzoeDmEHRZIwY
                 2024: The Flower Kings - Live in Europe 2023 - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mLrk5Qaicv06EbJH1fSbTh6mhZC8MDxzE

Floydoid wrote: ^ On a related note, Emerson's former band, The Nice also take the biscuit!

I know there are some here who don't give a fig roll for ELP, but The Nice will be coming up here in a shortbread, although compared to ELP - who are all chocolate chips off the old block - The Nice's discography is wafer thin. Meanwhile, I'll be hobnobbing with my fellow proggers with more polls coming up later, just as sure as the cookie crumbles, and don't worry, I'm not going ginger nuts.

David_D wrote: One could easily get the impression, Paul, that for you music has become something first and foremost to list and put stars on.

13. EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER        Welcome Back My Friends to the blogs that never end, come inside, come inside and enjoy more Pictures at an Exhibition from three exhibitionists at the height of their powers in this 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert, posted below. If you believe in The Power of Three, then you'll believe in the awesome Trilogy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and if you include ELP's full Works, there were two short-lived offshoots of the dynamic Tarkus trio too: Emerson, Lake & Powell and Emerson, Berry & Palmer, otherwise known as "3". I've been In the Hot Seat recently for showing some love towards the much-maligned Love Beach album - an album which was about as welcome amongst ELP fans as an ominous Black Moon on the horizon. The cheesy Beach Gees album cover and album title admittedly looks and sounds like a third-rate reality TV show - an ELP version of "Love Island" or "I'm a Progger, Get Me Out of Here" maybe.



1970: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Emerson, Lake & Palmer - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LupA_HcmerhVcS72ZRm6z5f
1970: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at the Lyceum Theatre - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsLAtaXzZYNdphJ2K31sGlg
1971: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Tarkus - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LuUWORoWOvppVVUM3zMjsQT
1971: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Pictures at an Exhibition - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lvtxv-_M990EeRAYs0262c7
1972: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Trilogy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lv2-Ky69nReQ3XspB7BJvW5
1973: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k0hQMgNN7BQdyXhurRMojLEASGtZlbdGo
1974: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lv08PZL5CkZsjxcHJy6ILWj
1974: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - California Jam - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvlDSW-XWwVXoVF_-v5U5Nj
1977: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Works Volume 1 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtbMMJU_ueOBFsKScckwbjp
1977: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Works Volume 2 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtyTIWpaQ-4akV2z3B9c3RL
1977: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live in Montreal - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lt48UNkRvvhF-HpmWCpEM5U
1978: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Love Beach - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvU2i83JQfiswmBTTaAyhB5
1979: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Works Live in Concert - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LubGEipGTTCOJXyJnyDqiAw
1986: Emerson, Lake & Powell - Emerson, Lake & Powell - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtKb2sKbN9e7RqzfFtnb3k0
1988: 3 (Emerson, Berry & Palmer) - To the Power of Three - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvwwylCrJEuChC68BBpb9pt
1992: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Black Moon - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LvKlKtnIef2L-sKwWozM6Dh
1993: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at the Royal Albert Hall - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lu1SH2fMU-LN405jSagHGzD
1994: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LsRElYTXER7YSEMhEIOmP3D
1997: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Live at Montreux - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1LtwKNdYm3zjUe82cvjEujZ_
2010: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoIDt_C5y1Lvg7UZ6rYE9plyqgOM1ocJC


* Not to be confused with Emerson, Huntley & Palmer - a prog band who really take the biscuit!

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - 16 hours 39 minutes ago at 07:57

12. ELOY        At the Dawning of a new day, it's Time to Turn to the Visionary albums of Eloy as we experience the Power and the Passion of their musical Performances. Eloy's spacey psychedelic albums can be compared to bright Rays of Sunshine, or like ships Floating gently in the Topographic Oceans of Prog. I'm looking forward to delving Inside Eloy's long and glorious discography again, where each album is as unique and varied as the Colours of the Planets in our Solar System. And so, it's Destination outward bound, where horizons seem to beckon me, and where The Answer to my proggy prayers lies within.

1971: Eloy - Eloy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8a8cutYP7frdcDVd9KDlCWUTHQ8aavMa
1973: Eloy - Inside - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mUuFyoQRn7dI2tN4hhZUraAKgQPocfk0U
1974: Eloy - Floating - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k_-hycv7XFYP2j43Nh0lStyatIPtez9kE
1975: Eloy - Power and the Passion - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFuOpTSyN6LqWsrK-esO13VYfaBJyP-9M
1976: Eloy - Dawn - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m6N_sNP4jBmPiAwcKwdD8xNt39H_Pv1bc
1977: Eloy - Ocean - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n5fuDeY5z46Nhd4ORZ2N3Yo0FQUbxiYCo
1978: Eloy - Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exqDY9m3FaA&t=988s
1979: Eloy - Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_knE44wjnT35Bgz6weZ-PK_Nr6Z8K6UmNw
1980: Eloy - Colours - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL44kuYYS8ykzZJH0DLZqJRB0o6yl2EEO
1981: Eloy - Planets - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC696B8E4020D2283
1982: Eloy - Time to Turn - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKnfmTQwNxhW17MdRHkW-af7ekWvLoyGq
1983: Eloy - Performance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHkl_0UelQ&t=991s
1984: Eloy - Metromania - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lo3F50DX02M4smgsbx-9H8CNP7cUTcuV8
1984: Eloy:- Code Name: Wild Geese (soundtrack) - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mshJPvvrAKn_5MyKS_izl2uG567iiizdU
1988: Eloy - Ra - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoRNXsrOuZ-Ubpp_hNOPrhXtxkC71FkyL
1992: Eloy - Destination - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoRNXsrOuZ-XcMT4DW0DzZ1upKEK84EmJ
1993: Eloy - Chronicles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFn6OiVtgbI&t=3010s
1994: Eloy - Chronicles II - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6meZevRavM&t=284s
1994: Eloy - The Tides Return Forever - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmxMowNL6-s
1998: Eloy - Ocean 2 - The Answer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8MejC3uh8s&t=1050s
2003: Eloy - Timeless Passages (2-CD compilation)
2009: Eloy - Visionary - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kr2X3EvxKQXNfwf4vSXftEhoMl0vOvHnQ
2017: Eloy - The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ly65UeVEniXYA7rHWmhFSP_4FxUSyshNQ
2019: Eloy - The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJC5bOVBufwA3RueQOHlQ5RPDiCeTeVpz
                 2023: Eloy - Echoes from the Past - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mF5EQ6-ptYendx7NqdlUp9J2W32UxAwTo
                 2024: Eloy - Hidden Treasures - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ltubH6ynCGxoFLBvxArbPQ12jRQKGgVt4

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 21 2025 at 10:15

10. DREAM THEATER        One of The Astonishing things about Dream Theater is I only became a fan of theirs purely by chance after a friend's daughter won their Images and Words album in a radio phone-in competition and then sold the CD onto me. There are many reasons why I love Dream Theater's Change of Seasons covers album, but Images and Words cannot express how much I love their second album - the first album with singer James LaBrie leading the way. That's the 1992 album that was destined to Pull Me Under their spell and I've been Surrounded with the music of Dream Theater ever since. They were the band who Awakened my latent desire for Progressive Metal (before I even knew such a genre existed) and altered my Train of Thought about Metal generally. This New York band have really stood the Distance Over Time too, despite losing their long-time drummer Mike Portnoy. In A Dramatic Turn of Events back in 2010, Portnoy announced he was leaving the band, temporarily throwing Dream Theater into Systematic Chaos, but Black Clouds and Silver Linings as they say, and The Spirit Carries On with their new drummer Mike Mangini. Anyway, that's it from me for now, so have fun, and hopefully, Take the Time to listen to some of the many   Dream Theater albums listed below, or you could always save them for Another Day.



1989: Dream Theater - When Dream and Day Unite - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_li0d7h1v8158uiQviXYaU0s-YVGLUiFr8
1992: Dream Theater - Images and Words - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lAQBvxVGv13GwL7f0z2M5SJrn1BaGNvKA
1994: Dream Theater - Awake - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mSQAf-fo5V_C1QP1VgzjjCKG7lHnSVvpU
1995: Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kWXG8rbHM2tUkDz0tIOLTEaSWswZyvnNc
1997: Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kNr4sNPbVjsA8pfWfR-bajDVuZZd2lPBo
1999: Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mY0UJ7SdDG7n4DgXGJ_h-vG0QH9LpayaA
2002: Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nTL1U2POUqlwoey4_5PuJU6raBZOMZmTE
2003: Dream Theater - Train of Thought - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mzHbHh63t-rMNesv4qdp459qrE1AD290E
2005: Dream Theater - Octavarium - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kenWZqZjpo5SVB1Jqq5I_ymw9FXIpVOKQ
2007: Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n-aJJz0aVUUdehC1GC6KKlsyra3bNvzb4
2009: Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mITLc-8859pN5FyuxZRjILfBdWgnRDJL0
2011: Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaO5evNthlMg_FDhpXDbtsuKtydKx6aGD
2013: Dream Theater - Dream Theater - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLo8SRTJOJ2EbaRhaZ6z2tSAwOtJh892RE
2016: Dream Theater - The Astonishing - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mBL-KhEYcvVpXh7Br3U9uxoDyQfgK4JdE
2019: Dream Theater - Distance Over Time - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nd0JULKbs82YNulDtoiDTnJdUkBvOfaVU
2021: Dream Theater - The View from the Top of the World - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ksmWOXgYlkDzEJpHnBPdLWX47z2VysqSY

Jared wrote: David_D wrote: but he has right to rate the way he wants. while we reserve the right to tell him he's mistaken...

What I've been doing for a rather long time by now is keeping far away from those mega listings and ratings.


Edited by David_D - July 19 2025 at 05:42

Saperlipopette! wrote: ^ I think Waterloo Lily is a fine album, but noticably weaker than the ones it's sandwiched in between. I'd rate it a 7/10 myself. With PA's rating system it would have landed on three stars for me as well. Haven't heard their last effort though.

WL is a solid 4 stars for me, with the ones either side being 5s...

their last effort just about scraped a 2 out of pity, because I only reserve a 1 star for a select few that really deserved it.

08. CAST       The third-best band from Mexico? Probablemente. Cast have performed in many of the major prog festivals, including:- Progfest; ProgDay; ProgEst; Rock Progresivo; and Baja Prog in their home country of Mexico. That's a lot of prog! Cast even built their own recording studio, called Cast Studios, appropriately enough. Thankfully, Cast's music is more inspirational than their choice of studio name with plenty of dynamics and unexpected musical twists and turns, going from pastoral flute work to the kind of grand epic keyboard signatures that we've come to know and love. Most of Cast's lyrics are in English too - the international language of prog. Hasta la vista, baby.

1993: Cast - Landing in a Serious Mind
                 1994: Cast - Sounds of Imagination
                 1994: Cast - Third Call
                 1995: Cast - Four Aces
                 1995: Cast - Endless Signs - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vrlfwjgln8&list=RD3vrlfwjgln8&start_radio=1
                 1996: Cast - Beyond Reality - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94hZx8MRU7c&list=RD94hZx8MRU7c&start_radio=1
                 1997: Cast - Angels and Demons
                 1999: Cast - Imaginary Window - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_njkSvZOKbkSwZvvYdCxmY_IWTV0Qnj35Y
                 2000: Cast - Legacy - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_n4EEL3RmUu1P9_32S_jdmSARzzmym9pG8
                 2002: Cast - Infinity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uedmlTiSwA&list=RD8uedmlTiSwA&start_radio=1
                 2003: Cast - Al-Bandaluz - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m40gZL6a6dgaiaFxqeAoDI8MQOCLqCUt8
                 2004: Cast - Nimbus - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l6qtJ1PI227QA6BekcWJOva_mbO0bJXXE
                 2006: Cast - Mosaique - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lyQvvFMLABticl6V4HJslLsvotWFr3V7M
                 2007: Cast - Com.union - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l97r4GCn54g_sRM9uA1KFr6kA8hb4aMI8
                 2008: Cast - Originallis - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_niEAEYjg0wpryBLTDDSPRS_6NfdrhKVd8
                 2011: Cast - Art - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uneaQTGLyo
                 2014: Cast - Arsis - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mmP80Flpnna8D7BYaXPo6dgF6izfWUSMo
                 2015: Cast - Vida - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kRVdG3v-fow9bOxU3IujcvmP9v6T2KinU
                 2017: Cast - Power and Outcome - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m2jqVrddHQ5G2s3wh6-ItBPXCSNYfNK_c
                 2021: Cast - Vigesimus - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k8-1FzXkA52ZQals1JUWTr5aLzxtLMm9A



Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 19 2025 at 16:50

^ I think Waterloo Lily is a fine album, but noticably weaker than the ones it's sandwiched in between. I'd rate it a 7/10 myself. With PA's rating system it would have landed on three stars for me as well. Haven't heard their last effort though.

I wanted to leave a little feedback.

Out of this top 50, here are the bands I really like:

01. Amon Duul II (Germany)
04. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso (Italy)
05. Camel (England)
06. Can (Germany)
07. Caravan (England)
12. Eloy (Germany)
13. Emerson, Lake & Palmer (England)
16. Focus (Holland)
17. Peter Gabriel (England)
18. Genesis (England)
19. Gentle Giant (England)
20. Gong (Multi-National)
23. Happy the Man (United States)
24. Hawkwind (England)
25. Henry Cow (England)
27. Jethro Tull (England)
28. Kansas (United States)
29. King Crimson (England)
30. Le Orme (Italy)
31. Magma (France)
33. The Moody Blues (England)
34. The Nice (England)
35. Mike Oldfield (England)
37. PFM (Italy)
38. Pink Floyd (England)
39. Procol Harum (England)
40. Renaissance (England)
41. Rush (Canada)
42. Soft Machine (England)
45. Styx (United States)
46. Tangerine Dream (Germany)
47. UK (England)
48. Van der Graaf Generator (England)
49. Rick Wakeman (England)
50. Yes (England)

The ones I don't like:

10. Dream Theater (United States)
15. The Flower Kings (Sweden)
26. IQ (England)
32. Marillion (England)
43. Spock's Beard (United States)

The ones I think are decent but I just don't care much for:

02. Ange (France)
03. Anglagard (Sweden)
14. The Enid (England)
22. Gryphon (England)

And the ones I haven't heard of:

08. Cast (Mexico)
09. Deus Ex Machina (Italy)
11. Echolyn (United States)
21. Grobschnitt (Germany)
36. Omega (Hungary)
44. Strawbs (England)

Edited by Gnik Nosmirc - July 17 2025 at 05:55