RESULTS: The Top Prog Tracks Of All Time - 2016

878.8 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 80               Ranked highest by Micky (#16)

"Deceptively quaint, this track features great vocal interplay, complex time signatures, churning bass, a nice piano break midway, a grooving vibe solo and finally a revisit of the first melodic theme. Again, it is simply amazing how much music territory is covered within a short time." – Negoba

79. Talk Talk – Spirit of Eden – The Rainbow

880.0 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 77               Ranked highest by mechanicalflattery (#24)

"The electric guitar on 'The Rainbow', my favourite track on the album, is just beautiful (actually, so is Hollis' singing on that track, and indeed some of the melodic phrases). The parts with ponderous piano or other instrument playing quietly while Hollis warbles quietly are probably what please me most throughout the album." – Fitzcarraldo

78. Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans – The Ancient (Giants Under The Sun)

881.8 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 32               Ranked highest by Micky (#4)

"I complained a lot about this loose structured track. That was my first impression, of course. The more I played it, it grew steadily with me. I especially love when the vocal starts to roll and also when the acoustic passage comes into play with stunning acoustic guitar work by Howe combined with Jon's voice. Oh man ... this is a great offering from the band!!" – Gatot

77. King Crimson – Lizard – Lizard

883.5 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 98               Ranked highest by Magnum Vaeltaja (#8)

"The first section of this masterful three-part song cycle features Jon Anderson of Yes on vocals, providing yet another savory flavour for LIZARD's exotic musical mélange. There is less of the jazzy experimentation which was heard on previous tracks; the direction here is more conventionally "progressive rock," with grandiose mellotrons, courtly subject-matter, and classically-oriented arrangements -- at this point almost a welcome respite from (or counter-balance to) the overt strangeness of the first half [of the album]." - Peter

76. Can – Future Days – Bel Air

887.2 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 32               Ranked highest by Guldbamsen (#2)

"Last up is the crown jewel of this album. The side long Bel Air. Stirring intro with the crashing waves, sweet guitar and bass. Does it meander at times.. it may... does it say anything in 20 minutes... no.. not to me at least. Take it for what it was.. a musical seascape painting and enjoy the scenery." - Micky (#88)

75. King Crimson – Starless and Bible Black – Fracture

890.7 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 26               Ranked highest by Guldbamsen (#19)

"Speaking of superb guitar from Fripp, Fracture totally takes his playing to the next level. Words cannot describe how utterly complicated the guitar playing on Fracture is, it's just so, unbelievably difficult to play those dissonant lines that are played all around the fretboard in such a quick sequence. Fripp really is one of the greatest guitarists of all time because he can play songs as complicated as this." - Cygnus X-2

74. ELP – Brain Salad Surgery - Toccata

904.8 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 24               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#14)

"Toccata is the most aggressive and pummeling piece of prog music ever to hit vinyl...Forget all your metal bands -- ELP are the real deal, and "Toccata" is their brain buster. This was the piece of music that turned me on to this album and to ELP in general, and still I've never found anything that challenges its throne as king destroyer." – corbet

73. Van der Graaf Generator – Still Life – Childlike Faith in Childhood’s End

905.4 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 81               Ranked highest by A_Flower (#29)

"A radiant composition, and some of the best writing Hammill has done thus far! The whole band shines on this one, the interplay between Banton and Jackson is superb and wonderfully textured. The song reaches several epic peaks, musical and emotional splendor, there's really no way else I can describe it! Hammill belts out this song in an almost prophetic manner, singing as if these were his last words. Listen for David's solo during the first climax, intense! The song ends in epic brilliance, almost taking you with the human race and they are brought to the apex of the universe, naked to all, preparing for the final day's of human kind." - Con Safo

72.  Bubu – Anabelas – El Cortejo de Un Dia Amarillo

913.3 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 23               Ranked highest by Magnum Vaeltaja (#1)

"As the manic drums fade in at the start on side A we are taken by surprise by a freakout orgiastic wash of saxophone, violin, relentless bass lines and a myriad of other sounds, wonderfully juxtaposed into some semblance of order but chaotic enough to keep any metronome swinging wildly...Descriptions cannot do it justice as the music takes on a whole new meaning with each listen and must be experienced and interpreted on a personal level. The side long track is masterfully executed and shifts from light to dark textures, occasionally brutal and disturbing to light and upbeat, truly emotional music. The way the music builds to a crescendo towards the end transfixes on each listen, and then there is an improv section with cold wah wah guitar wailing while a sad tortured violin cries. Simply a wonderful instrumental and one of the best I have heard." – AtomicCrimsonRush

71. Camel – Moonmadness – Lunar Sea

914.9 points       Appears 3 times             Mean rank: 71               Ranked highest by Zwordser (#23)

925.7 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 66               Ranked highest by Magnum Vaeltaja (#29)

"I can feel it from first sounds in Appena Un Po', that something magical has been crafted here, soft, tender, coming not through your ear, but skipping your whole hearing system and going right into your brain, where it blows into a wonderful explosion." - Marty McFly

69. Genesis – A Trick of The Tail – Dance On A Volcano

948.2 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 67               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#24)

"Dance on a Volcano starts out with a very distinctive, explosive drum and organ riff that paints a sort of sonic picture of the song's lyrical content. If one had any doubts left as to Phil Collins' skills as a drummer (however much one can hate him for his later career), his commanding performance on this song immediately clears the ground - besides, the interplay between the four band members is nothing short of dazzling." – Raff

68. PFM – Storia Di Un Minuto – La Carrozza Di Hans

951.0 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 77               Ranked highest by Micky (#5)

"[La Carrozza Di Hans] is built up around the amazing guitar work of Franco Mussida. I dreamt many times to play it properly with my acoustic guitar and when I was a teenager Franco Mussida seemed to me like a merchant of musical dreams, but my guitar never turned from a "pumpkin" into a magnificent carriage like in Cinderella's fairy-tale...By the way, in this track there's not only amazing guitar technique to be found, but a perfect interaction between the guitar and the other instruments." – Andrea

67. Rush – Permanent Waves – Jacob’s Ladder

951.9 points       Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 109             Ranked highest by someone_else (#29)

"Jacob's Ladder is a surprising gem, with a very dark, powerful atmosphere that Rush rarely attempt to build...In the build-up to a massive crashing section, we get a great decisiveness and a feeling of spontaneity that Rush often seems to lack. Everyone is on top form, and the atmosphere is very moving." - TGM: Orb

66. Rush – A Farewell To Kings - Xanadu

969.3 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 70               Ranked highest by someone_else (#8)

"This is another track were Rush excels in passing emotions in their music. Every time I listened to this, I saw Kublai Khan running with his Mongol tribes through the Steppes - Grandiose." - Sean Trane

65. Magma - Üdü Ẁüdü – De Futura

969.5 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 63               Ranked highest by Zravkapt (#7)

"De Futura is one of the best tracks in all of Magma's catalogue. It has a haunting affect much like the other tracks on the album with the signature sound of Top's bass and Vander's incredible drumming with various keyboards and effects thrown in. In the end, this track really does the album justice, making it a must for every Magma or Zeuhl fan." - Zac M

64. Genesis – Foxtrot – Can-Utility and the Coastliners

976.0 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 65               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#4)

"This is a little talked about song, and much underated. This is one of my favourite Genesis songs of any era. It combines everthing that made the Genesis formula brilliant and unique, into 6 minutes of excellent music. The classical guitar intro perfectly sets the scene and gives way to Phil's crashing drums and Tony's bass pedals. Very dramatic and very melodic." – Blacksword

63. Radiohead – OK Computer – Paranoid Android

993.7 points       Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 56               Ranked highest by TheLionOfPrague (#12)

"The beautiful switches between textures and time signatures whilst maintaining continuity by use of ostinato rather than riffs is utterly masterful and the texture is well worth dwelling on. By making subtle changes using different instruments or different sounds on the instruments, and modifying riffs by a couple of notes, an amazing seamlessness and organic growth continues. The "Rain Down" coda that ends this piece is stunning and raises the hairs on the back of my neck due to the pure beauty of the melodies, and the brilliant vocal harmonies, many of which are quite far back in the mix - the counter tenor and bass parts are quite staggering, and put almost every prog band in the archives to shame." - Certif1ed

62. The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed – Nights In White Satin

1020.2 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 52               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#6)

"Nights in White Satin, probably the most beautiful prog-rock ballad, is candid and gentle, the sadness of a lonely night is perfectly understood. The way the song flows is astonishing and exciting and there's always a background mellotron tune, a kind of registered mark for this marvelous song. Unique." - Atkingani

61. Renaissance – Ashes Are Burning – Ashes Are Burning

1020.9 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 52               Ranked highest by Zwordser (#19)

"The album concludes with the masterful "Ashes are burning", climbing gently from hollow winds like cute little insects rising to the green shades of trees reaching for heaven. Melodies shift interestingly between major and minor keys, and the two themes from the beginning lead to ascending fireworks of instrumental virtuosic displays, creating a fine emotional passage from sophisticated entwining of piano, harpsichord and rhythm section instruments, and also dramatic synthesizer motive over shimmering layers of percussions. The return to fragile vocal lines and following explosion for the musical heights is also one of the most affecting musical sensations which I have yet found from the symphonic rock recordings." - Eetu Pellonpaa

1024.7 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 50               Ranked highest by A_Flower (#25)

"One of those songs whose vocal presentation of aural poetry serves as a balm to the ears and the soul. Brilliant song, brilliantly mixed! God that guy can write and deliver lyrics! Thank god for the musicians' restraint in setting this one up for Gabe." – BrufordFreak

59. Jethro Tull – Aqualung – Locomotive Breath

1034.4 points     Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 96               Ranked highest by aglasshouse (#13)

"This song is to JETHRO TULL what SMOKE ON THE WATER is to DEEP PURPLE: no way, even now, that they will not play these 2 songs each and every time they are on stage. They are their flags." – febus

58. Yes – Relayer – Sound Chaser

1035.2 points     Appears 6 times             Mean rank: 122             Ranked highest by DDPascalDD (#29)

"Sound Chaser ratchets up the energy and tension of the band's sound to an even higher degree. Driven by Chris Squire's busy bass line, Howe again gets both Rockabilly-on-smart pills solos and atmospheric moments...Complete with a "cha cha cha" vocal interlude that makes perfect sense in context, the song is indeed a road race in a sonic candy store. The newcomers get a chance to stretch out also, and both more than keep stride with the veterans." - Negoba

57. Genesis – Wind & Wuthering – Blood On The Rooftops

1056.3 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 48               Ranked highest by BunBun (#1)

"Blood on the Rooftops contains the most beautiful classical guitar passages that Hackett ever created in Genesis' history: this time, Banks' multi-keyboards behave perfectly, being but not feeling too abundant, just creating the proper orchestral textures and moods for Hackett's guitar." - Cesar Inca

56. Egg – The Polite Force – A Visit To Newport Hospital

1057.2 points     Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 97               Ranked highest by ALotOfBottle (#3)

"A Visit To Newport Hospital is a fantastic opening to the album. Starting out with a Black Sabbath-esque intro on heavily overdriven organ. That turns into a very smooth, beautiful, nostalgic piece telling about the times back when Egg played with Steve Hillage in the late sixties, under the name Uriel. A true sign of lyrical and musical genius from the trio. The track is kept in a rather jazzy mood, but with a classical sense of musical structure going through numerous passages and alterations of the theme." - ALotOfBottle (#3)

55. Renaissance – Scheherazade & Other Stories – Trip To The Fair

1069.7 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 43               Ranked highest by Zwordser (#29)

"Trip to the Fair opens with beautiful, classical-style grand piano and it totally caught me off guard. I'm not sure what I was expecting to hear, exactly, but John Tout's virtuosity on the instrument is stunning. Soon Terence Sullivan's drums and Jon Camp's bass join in along with what sounds like operatic witch howls and cackles reverberating in the background. You'd expect this combo to sound like early ELP but they bear no resemblance to that fabled trio at all. They produce a unique atmosphere." – Chicapah

54. King Crimson – Lizard - Cirkus

1074.3 points     Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 84               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#34)

"With the outstanding drumming and brass, [Cirkus] makes for a powerful opening, and the ominous dark current running through the song ties in nicely with the feeling on many Crimson albums I've heard, an indescribable and nagging unease. The outstanding production values must also be noted. Lizard sounds fabulous with every instrument crisp as hell and with plenty of space for them to lounge about, allowing the album to age far better than many contemporaries." – Finnforest

53. Colosseum – Valentyne Suite – Valentyne Suite

1096.1 points     Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 87               Ranked highest by Micky (#24)

"Focus should be on the "Valentyne Suite" as it is a master-suite within the master-album. In it lies la crème de la crème of Colosseum, being the most extraordinary piece of their entire discographic repertoire, without a doubt." - Ricochet

52. King Crimson – Larks’ Tongues In Aspic – Larks’ Tongues In Aspic, Pt. 2

1114.2 points     Appears 5 times             Mean rank: 78               Ranked highest by Zravkapt (#19)

"As Hunter S. once said, "Mother of Sweating Jesus!" Just when ya think this is the perfect album, the band brings it all up to a new level, and it's not just perfect, it's sublime. Listen to Fripp, Wetton, and Bruford just pounding away. This is Heavy Metal as it was meant to be composed and played. It's as if Fripp is issuing an ultimatum, "Screw Led Zep, screw Black Sabbath, screw all pretenders now and forever, this is the standard you'll have to meet from here on out!"" – jammun

“This motherf***er will wake you up in the morning, any day of the week.” – Magnum Vaeltaja

51. Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans – Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil)

1122.4 points     Appears 4 times             Mean rank: 38               Ranked highest by DDPascalDD (#14)

"Ritual is a winner, this is Yes at its best, awesome Symphonic Rock with full-blown Mellotron and synths, great melodies, superb tempo changes and mood switches and Anderson performing in a confident and convincing way. I don't know if this the best composition in here actually, but I love the sound and arrangements, Squire's bass is awesome and White comes as a real monster behind its kit with his propulsive drumming. And those soft atmospheres and spiritual soundscapes changing with the emphatic, complex symphonicism is mind-blowing to say the least." - apps79