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Topic: Ultimate prog song/album/band Posted: September 23 2016 at 12:28
Hi folks!
I recently found myself unable to pick a song which I considered to be the ultimate piece of prog to show to a friend who showed interest in the genre. I then challenge any of you to be satisfied with choosing only one song, one album and one band that you think represents progressive rock best. This can both be in terms of sound or in terms of "progressiveness".
In no way can I say I am satisfied with my choices, but here are my picks:
Song: The Court Of The Crimson King - King Crimson
Album: Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield
Band: Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM)
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Posted: September 23 2016 at 14:40
Impossible to answer. "Suppers Ready " -Genesis ? "The Underfall Yard "- Big Big Train ? Jesus man, you're going to make me have to listen to my whole catalogue........
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Posted: September 23 2016 at 15:02
fishbender wrote:
Impossible to answer. "Suppers Ready " -Genesis ? "The Underfall Yard "- Big Big Train ? Jesus man, you're going to make me have to listen to my whole catalogue........
Yes, this is an impossible question to answer. Too many to choose from.
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Posted: September 23 2016 at 15:26
I like your Crimson choice and for me many of their other longer tracks fit the bill as well as the band in general and one of their albums .....but if I was to present an example of ultimate 'progness' I might choose Close To The Edge by Yes as a classic one.
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Posted: September 23 2016 at 17:31
If we're going for stuff that I think most people new to prog would like that isn't totally scum tier prog-lite, I'd probably pick:
Song: Roundabout
Album: In The Court of The Crimson King
Band: Genesis
In all reality, though, the idea of picking just one song, one album and one band to use to introduce any average Joe off the street to the genre is absurd. If you want people to actually get into a genre, just pick music within the genre that has elements of stuff they already like.
when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
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Posted: September 23 2016 at 19:47
I'm defining "ultimate" to mean "quintessential" or even "average", so nothing unique or too challenging. You people picking GG or KC are being silly, few people will like those albums right from the start, you have to ease them in. Hell, I liked prog for a while before I started liking the weirder (and better) groups.
Band: Camel
Album: Close to the Edge
Song: Firth of Fifth
Boring choices, but the question demands boring answers
To the OP, this question could never be definitively answered however I would like to play along and give my opinions cause I think it may breed interesting topics of conversation.
Song: Supper's Ready ( the seconds out Live version with Phil Collins on VOX) This track is a paradigm for building a prog epic. So many artists have taken liberties to get inspired to create 20+ minute songs. It's really one of the best I think.
Band: I'd have to use Pink Floyd because they combine the complex, the accessible, the strangely versatile and melodic in just about all their albums. Certainly the Floyd have a very unique discography. DSOTM, WYWH and The Wall will provide any prog enthusiast what they desire or crave to hear. I feel those 3 albums have it all.
Album: now here's an interesting choice and I'm sure many will think I'm not nailing it here, but The Alan Parsons Project: Tales Of Mystery & Imagination gets the nod. This album is a great accomplishment in music in general. It is uniquely lavish, conceptual, heavy, light and technical which I feel really what prog represents as a complex rock genre. In 1976 this album cost 500,000$ to make! That is a lot for that time, but it was money well spent in the right areas especially in the studio.
Those would be my choices to spring prog onto someone. Very original.
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Posted: September 24 2016 at 06:45
Larkstongue41 wrote:
Hi folks!
I recently found myself unable to pick a song which I considered to be the ultimate piece of prog to show to a friend who showed interest in the genre. I then challenge any of you to be satisfied with choosing only one song, one album and one band that you think represents progressive rock best.
well... if one kicks out the Genesis fanboys and their hyperinflated notions of the group...only proggers like them.. they didn't get popular until they ditched prog... there is one band that exemplifies progressive rock. That became one of the biggest bands in the world playing prog rock.
that song that does - Close the Edge. It's greatest song the album that does - Tales From Topographic Oceans. It's greatest album the group that does - Yes. It's greatest group. .
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Posted: September 24 2016 at 09:58
progbethyname wrote:
Album: now here's an interesting choice and I'm sure many will think I'm not nailing it here, but The Alan Parsons Project: Tales Of Mystery & Imagination gets the nod. This album is a great accomplishment in music in general. It is uniquely lavish, conceptual, heavy, light and technical which I feel really what prog represents as a complex rock genre. In 1976 this album cost 500,000$ to make! That is a lot for that time, but it was money well spent in the right areas especially in the studio.
Great selection. I didn't even consider Alan Parsons Project, but this is an awesome intro-to-prog choice.
when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
I know this is a bit of an absurd exercise, but I still think it is interesting and I am certainly enjoying seeing you guys' choices. I have also been thinking of Pawn Hearts (and VDGG in general) which shows the more "eccentric" side of prog, in accordance, perhaps, with bongolongs and kingsnakes choices of Gentle Giant.
"Si On Avait Besoin D'une CInquieme Saison" also comes to mind being native of the area where the band is from in addition to the great demonstration of the symphonic elements of prog.
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Ultimate prog song/album/band
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fishbender wrote:
yeah... f**king Camel it is... so select a 5th division Prog band with one of the worst vocalists in prog to best represent prog to newbies.
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