RESULTS: The Top Prog Tracks Of All Time - 2016

It's definitely a danger for a song competition that all the usual suspect albums have several well loved songs that could clog up the top ranks even further down than in an album ranking.

30. Rush – Hemispheres – La Villa Strangiato

 

1520.7 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 82               Ranked highest by Slipperman7 (#27)

 

"All along [La Villa Strangiato's] 12 sections displayed in a time span of 9 and a half minutes, the threesome expose their technical abilities and their combined versatility in order to create a multi-faceted journey through the realms of symph prog, hard rock, jazz rock, Arabic-like eerie ambiences (even a memorable although brief Flamenco intro!!). The guys seem to be at ease fulfilling such a demanding task, having fun while challenging the listener with all the overwhelming complexity that is contained in 'La Villa'. What a way to close down an album!" - Cesar Inca

 

"9-and-a-half minutes of Lee/Lifeson/Peart tearing it up (sans vocals) at the peak of their abilities. Every musical mood you can imagine is here in this wordless story, from the fanciful to the frightful, from the fantastic to the realistic. A wonder of instrumental dexterity and musical storytelling." - slipperman

 

29. Yes – Fragile – South Side of The Sky

 

1630.9 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 69               Ranked highest by aglasshouse (#18)

 

"South Side of the Sky is the one that resonates most with me. It is quite unique in the entire Yes canon, seemingly enveloped in imbalance and uneasiness. It never falls over or melts down, but the whole track seems to be as if at a tipping point, leaving me with a very powerful impression." - rogerthat

 

"Starting in true prog fashion with a wind sound effect, the amazing drum fill leads into a very interesting song indeed. There are 3 rather short verses and choruses before the band suddenly stop and give way to Wakeman taking us to a completely different place indeed: a place where a cappella reigns supreme and relaxing melodies intertwine with complex drumming...A truly underrated song." - baz91

 

28. Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here – Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Pts. 1-9

 

1648.5 points     Appears 6 times             Mean rank: 41               Ranked highest by someone_else (#6)

 

"The epic Shine On You Crazy Diamond is everything you want in space rock, a huge atmospheric creation that transports the listener to another world before building to an explosive chorus." - Negoba

 

"The tranquility conveyed on "Shine On" is astounding and so aptly performed live with exquisite visual imagery. The track opens with a patient, ambience created by sounds of a peaceful stream, a rowing boat, and the distinct keyboard talents of Wright. The music takes us downstream as we enter Syd Barret's jaded conscious thoughts, echoed by the band members themselves. The track is an ode to the twisted genius of Syd and moves through several sections as a multi movement suite orchestrated to perfection." - AtomicCrimsonRush

 

27. Yes – Close To The Edge – Siberian Khatru

 

1710.1 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 63               Ranked highest by A_Flower (#14)

 

"Siberian Khatru is just flawless! I wouldn't change a nanosecond of this song. I like the 1950s rock'n'roll style guitar playing at the beginning. I laugh at people who say that Yes are not rock. If what Steve Howe does at the beginning of this song is not rock, then I don't know what the hell is." – Zravkapt

 

"I consider this to be mostly a Howe track; from the beginning he is showing off fantastic chops that many could only dream of executing so perfectly. The heavy and thumping bass really drives this song along. It gets quite psychedelic in the middle and through the rest of the song, and this track is actually the most straight forward on the album. I've gotten many modern pop fans to tell me that they absolutely love this track." - colorofmoney91

26. Caravan – In The Land of Grey and Pink – Nine Feet Underground

 

1742.1 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 57               Ranked highest by mechanicalflattery (#15)

"Side 2 is their near-23 minute magnum-opus 'Nine Feet Underground' - way too difficult for me to explain without breaking down its molecular structure and boring everyone to tears - just listen to it. Dreamy, blissful, carefree, wonderful music with some of the most tasteful organ playing around" - Tom Ozric

"Any experienced progger will know that a side-long epic by a band of this style will be less of the "epic" quality and more, say, a series of connected jams and psychedelic noodles. I wasn't surprised when I discovered the 'Nine Feet...' was exactly that. Now some people on this site have criticised that fact, but I only pity them for even expecting some kind of "Close to the Edge 2". This is the Canterbury scene, and I doubt anyone has ever represented it better in a single 22 minutes and 40 seconds." – thehallway

25. Camel – Mirage – Lady Fantasy Suite

 

1768.7 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 54               Ranked highest by Slipperman7 (#15)

 

"My favorite part of this track, and thus the whole album, is the reverse-fade guitar solo, just gorgeous. This leads directly into the soft, emotional lyrical section, and I love how the music reflects the mood of the lyrics, portraying the concept of being mesmerized by a beautiful, really majestic woman from a afar. Then "bam!" the hard-rock riffing and soloing begins, and it's just great. The crunchy keyboard timbre is just so juicy." - Isa

 

"After the not-at-all-sappy 'Oh my Lady Fantasy...I...love you', Latimer and Bardens explode out into the stunningly high-energy Lady Fantasy with a burst of stellar guitar and moog, with Ferguson also standing out in his interplay with the two soloists. Ward crashes along behind them to bring the song back down to the main guitar melody and its gorgeous shimmering-mellotron conclusion. Just perfect, and managing to convey beauty and emotions while at the same time being good-humoured and even trivial. The Mirage in its purest form." - TGM: Orb

 

24. Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans – The Revealing Science of God (Dance of The Dawn)

 

1797.7 points     Appears 6 times             Mean rank: 26               Ranked highest by DDPascalDD (#5)

 

"[Revealing Science of God] starts immediately, although it had already begun, with an absolute monster first verse charting the birth of consciousness in a world of information - the dawn of light, the dawn of thought, the dawn of power, the dawn of love - and builds wonderfully with the trademark Yes vocal harmonies, here at their most fluid and dynamic." - Thuleatan

 

"The Revealing Science of God is an absolutely fantastic song, and it's hard to refute that. Opening with a quiet vocal piece, breaking into a sweeping instrumental section, featuring Wakeman and Howe's great prowess, the song is off to a good start...Despite its near 21-minute length, it is a very "popularly-acceptable" track, featuring a nice chorus, not too bombastic instrumental sections, smooth part changes, and beautiful melodies.” - Andy Webb

 

23. Yes – Going For The One - Awaken

 

1801.1 points     Appears 6 times             Mean rank: 28               Ranked highest by A_Flower (#1)

 

"The real kicker, though, is "Awaken", which is the most tapped-in, trance-inducing music Yes ever made, and which despite all odds is unquestionably on par with the scary heights of the previous two albums. The band sounds positively possessed as they rip through one of their finest vocal and instrumental deliveries, and I couldn't imagine a more intense 15 musical minutes." – corbet

 

"This song has been universally praised, not only by fans, but by the band themselves, who describe it as their best masterwork. I thoroughly agree. This song is a journey. A 15-minute adventure into the land of "Eastern Yes". The main riff is breathtaking, as are Howe's spiralling guitar scales that warp around it. His soloing is the best demonstration of combining frantic frenzy with melodic beauty I have ever seen." – thehallway

 

22. Yes – The Yes Album – Yours Is No Disgrace

 

1861.1 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 47               Ranked highest by Zravkapt (#12)

 

"Yours is No Disgrace is something of an anthem to me. The bass guitar riff seems to speak of such affirmation, well, just look at the band's name. The song isn't as classically-inflected as later Wakeman works, but the jazzy feel that pervades is a wonderful alternative." - penguindf12

 

"A bouncy guitar and some organ get things rolling. Howe's lead guitar work throughout the song is extremely well-constructed and downright creative, and almost instantly, I see that Banks's replacement was a good thing. Jon Anderson's lyrics are becoming more obscure than ever, and his voice has finally reached it's prime. Chris Squire's bass is more pronounced. All in all, this is one of my absolute favorite Yes songs." – Epignosis

 

21. Yes – Fragile – Heart of The Sunrise

 

1926.0 points     Appears 8 times             Mean rank: 75               Ranked highest by Magnum Vaeltaja (#2)

"Heart of the Sunrise is no less than a complete prog and Yes classic. Fantastic bass lines by Squire, huge performance by Wakeman on pianos, organs and mellotron and complex guitar workouts by Howe, a very tight group offering massive breaks and changing moods in a composition where harmony meets adventure. Even the smooth middle-part with Anderson's voice leading the way is pretty delicate and attractive. A total masterpiece." - apps79

 

"The finale to this album is my favorite Yes song, Heart of the Sunrise. The first 3 minutes is nirvana, featuring a powerful riff that is catchy and heavy at the same time. The mini-jam with the Wakeman synths and the refreshing Squire breakdown is fantastic. The rest of the song is a gem, with strong Anderson vocals and lyrics." - Cygnus X-2

mechanicalflattery wrote: There's just going to be an absolute storm of Yes songs aren't there?

Rick310103 wrote: Great work ! Can't wait to see what the top 15 is ...

yeah..I'm trembling with anticipation and excitement myself to see how many genesis song you all managed to  cram into the top 10

 

15. Van der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts – A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers 

 

2167.2 points     Appears 8 times             Mean rank: 46               Ranked highest by Slipperman7 (#3)

 

"The story narrates the helplessness of a lighthouse keeper to save the stranded bodies on the coast. Its spacey powerful overture mutates into a mysterious sonic chaos, letting the listener lost through the immensity of the sea. Unpredictable, this suite features numerous changes, slow and fast sections. Sublime, dark, touching, depressive, demented are one of the few adjectives that could describe this unbelievable piece. Beware: combined with Peter Hammill's possessed voice, you'll find yourself at the gates of despair and delirium. The finale is just not of this world..." – Modrigue

 

"Van Der Graaf's chief contribution to the epic catalog certainly amounts to them on a musical level, although it has a more scattered sensibility to it. Instead of sounding like a traditional epic, 'Plague' is a chaotic, almost rhapsodic piece that cycles through a number of different interesting ideas and places on its journey, ending up somewhere very different than from it started." - Conor Fynes

 

14. Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick – Thick As A Brick

 

2203.3 points     Appears 7 times             Mean rank: 18               Ranked highest by The Dark Elf (#1)

 

"The recurring themes of this two-part epic fail to become stale, and they can easily implant themselves on the memories of their hearers. With only a few exceptions (mostly in part two), the composition flows together easily from one motif to the next. The unmistakable (and often snide) vocal technique of Ian Anderson continually breathe life into the composition, and his flute work gives the whole intricate piece that distinctive Jethro Tull flavor." – Epignosis

 

"It still boggles my mind how these guys came up with an album full of such great music and playing, yet never did anything else that comes close...This is like a cross between what ELP and Genesis were doing at the time, but somehow better. I've always loved the line: "Your sperms in the gutter/Your love's in the sink". I have no idea what that means but it sounds great. It took a not very proggy band to make fun of prog to make one of the greatest prog albums *ever*. Funny how the universe works." – Zravkapt (#21)

 

13. ELP – Brain Salad Surgery – Karn Evil 9

 

2220.3 points     Appears 8 times             Mean rank: 52               Ranked highest by DDPascalDD (#2)

 

"Karn Evil 9 is one of the great prog epics, a suite in three parts that rivals, and even surpasses in many ways, amazing epics like Close To The Edge and Thick As A Brick. Here, Emerson shines as both composer and player, weaving incredible keyboards whether in classical, jazz or rock styles, all of which are blended amazingly." – Evolver

 

"Then follows almost 30 minutes of some of the most innovative, compelling and outstanding music I have heard in the 3 piece epic, Karn Evil 9. There are virtuoso performances from all the band throughout Impression One, the most famous of the three. Emerson puts the brand new Polyphonic Moog through its paces here…as he takes synth excursions off into a new stratosphere…The Third Impression shows ELP setting a template for many of their successors. This is a wonderfully pompous piece of music, with more amazing synth work from Emerson. The dramatic build-up and finale still move me 35 years later." – Roj

 

12. Genesis – Selling England By The Pound – The Cinema Show

 

2416.7 points     Appears 9 times             Mean rank: 48               Ranked highest by someone_else (#7)

 

"The Cinema Show opens with 12 string guitar soon to be joined by vocals. The song brightens 2 minutes in. The sound is so delicate and intricate with these textures and shades drawing our attention. It's all too much to listen to just once. There is a vocal melody 4 minutes in that is like listening to sunshine." - Mellotron Storm

 

"The Cinema Show is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. There are at least three goose bump moments. The first notes of the guitar always give me that creeping feeling of majesty. The nanas at the four minute mark are equally beautiful. Finally, the last half of the song features Collins, Rutherford and Banks at their best. The rhythm section with Banks overtop is worthy of ELP, though without the machismo…Banks solo at the seven minute mark is the piece that taught me how to solo; it's not about the quantity of notes, but which notes you put where…Literally, this song shaped my playing more than any other piece of music." - Roland113

 

11. Genesis – Selling England By The Pound – Dancing With The Moonlit Knight

 

2480.2 points     Appears 10 times           Mean rank: 56               Ranked highest by TheLionOfPrague (#14)

 

"The album starts up with a very powerful and memorable track (and one of my favourite Genesis tracks) 'Dancing With The Moonlit Knight' which starts out not with a bombastic progressive onslaught, but the acapella vocals of singer Peter Gabriel. While I've never been a huge fan of Peter Gabriel, his vocals really shine on this album, and his quirky inflections really compliment the witty lyrics." - Conor Fynes

 

"When you love Progressive Rock and you listen to this track you will see that everything is at the right place and leads to sheer pleasure: the music is so perfect that malicious tongues could nearly call it expectable and 'cliche' - if Genesis hadn't invented this often-copied cliche with this song: it could be the most essential progressive rock song ever." - Einsetumadur

SEbtP galore! Three tracks making up more than half of the album within a range of five !

micky wrote: wow... I never knew Genesis was so popular here!!!!

I'd agree with that. SEBTP is the only album of theirs I actually like listening to all the way through (More Fool Me is short enough to be harmless, and for whatever reason I can tolerate Epping Forrest better than you can ). Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, and Lamb all have songs I just couldn't care less about. No way could anyone listen to Can Utility or Back in NYC and reach the conclusion that those are particularly good songs if they weren't already attached to a famous group. Trespass is probably the most consistent album overall, perhaps it's a shame they didn't stick mainly with the soothing, pastoral muzak... But then we wouldn't have Firth of Fifth. Ah well...  Meanwhile, you're right, Yes has at least four albums I can listen to all the way through with no problem.