My 20 favorite Prog Bands, ranked

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Just letting you know, Yes and Rush will not be on this list. While they may be staples of all Prog, I have never been able to really stand their music (particularly the latter). There are going to be a lot of more obscure groups here. I am really partial to 60's-70's golden era Prog. The revivals in the 80's and subsequent bands I don't really care for that much. Oldies are goodies.

Here I go:

1. Pink Floyd
2. King Crimson
3. StarCastle
4. Babylon
5. Gypsy
6. Styx
7. Elizabeth
8. Art in America
9. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
10. Alan Parson's Project
11. Gentle Giant
12. Jethro Tull
13. Pavlov's Dog
14. Automatic Man
15. Yezda Urfa
16. Quill
17. Jasper Wrath
18. Van der Graaf Generator
19. Utopia
20. Smoke Rise

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philipemery Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: July 01 2018 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 165	Post Options Post Reply Quote philipemery Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: My 20 favorite Prog Bands, ranked Posted: July 01 2018 at 04:47
	Just letting you know, Yes and Rush will not be on this list. While they may be staples of all Prog, I have never been able to really stand their music (particularly the latter). There are going to be a lot of more obscure groups here. I am really partial to 60's-70's golden era Prog. The revivals in the 80's and subsequent bands I don't really care for that much. Oldies are goodies. Here I go: 1. Pink Floyd 2. King Crimson 3. StarCastle 4. Babylon 5. Gypsy 6. Styx 7. Elizabeth 8. Art in America 9. Emerson, Lake, and Palmer 10. Alan Parson's Project 11. Gentle Giant 12. Jethro Tull 13. Pavlov's Dog 14. Automatic Man 15. Yezda Urfa 16. Quill 17. Jasper Wrath 18. Van der Graaf Generator 19. Utopia 20. Smoke Rise

Mortte Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 11 2016 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 5538	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mortte Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 01 2018 at 05:59
	My list at the moment (where are also Yes & Rush): 1. Wigwam 2. Pink Floyd 3. King Crimson 4. Jethro Tull 5. Family 6. Magma 7. Traffic 8. Can 9. Faust 10. Yes 11. Genesis 12. Rush 13. Caravan 14. Gong 15. Hawkwind 16. Haikara 17. Comus 18. Amon Düül II 19. Colosseum 20. Kevin Ayers Edited by Mortte - July 01 2018 at 09:34

Magnum Vaeltaja Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 01 2015 Location: Out East Status: Offline Points: 6777	Post Options Post Reply Quote Magnum Vaeltaja Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 01 2018 at 20:32
	I always have trouble with ranking bands or artists since most of the prog music I like is by artists that only put out an album or two, but right now a list would be something like this: Harmonium Bubu Yes PFM Arco Iris Caravan Maneige Yezda Urfa King Crimson Crucis Renaissance Gentle Giant Focus Osanna Rayuela Comus Quella Vecchia Locanda Gryphon Tangerine Dream Birds & Buildings If I were to include bands that I consider proggy but not quite prog, then I might also throw in Chicago, Dixie Dregs, Return To Forever, Steely Dan, Traffic, and Wishbone Ash. Edited by Magnum Vaeltaja - July 01 2018 at 20:32
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Mortte Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 11 2016 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 5538	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mortte Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 01 2018 at 22:06
	^In progarchives Traffic is categorized as eclectic prog.

presdoug Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 24 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 8085	Post Options Post Reply Quote presdoug Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 06:29
	Most of my favorite Prog Bands are either from the UK or Continental Europe, and all are from the "golden era" having formed in the late 60s, early 70s. And as you can also see, there is no shortage of rather obscure groups in that bunch. Triumvirat Dzyan Giger Lenz Marron Colosseum Passport Wallenstein Hard Stuff Dedalus Wishbone Ash Solution Libra Quatermass Rush Strange Days Nektar Gentle Giant ELP Atomic Rooster Budgie Le Orme

Argo2112 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 20 2017 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 4452	Post Options Post Reply Quote Argo2112 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 08:41
	The top five are pretty much set, After that, it depends on my mood. ( forgot a couple, had to make some updates) 1. Yes 2. Rush 3. Genesis 4. Pink Floyd 5. Zappa 6. Renaissance 7. Porcupine Tree 8. Dixie Dregs 9.Spock's Beard 10. King Crimson 11. Dream Theater/ Liquid Tension 12. Jethro Tull 13. Mahavishnu Orchestra 14. ELP 15. Return to Forever 16. Supertramp 17. Marilloin 18. Moody Blues 19.UK 20.Kate Bush Edited by Argo2112 - July 16 2018 at 14:14

dr wu23 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 22 2010 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 20468	Post Options Post Reply Quote dr wu23 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 13:28
	So many good bands....and lists do change for me from time to time....but regarding the classic prog bands -which is where I chose from-: (no special order though KC will always be at no 1 for me) King Crimson Genesis Yes ELP Jethro Tull Gentle Giant Caravan Hatfield and the North Renaissance Kansas Moody Blues Pink Floyd VDGG Uriah Heep Traffic Zappa Rush Hawkwind Eloy Roxy Music Regarding modern bands..... Wobbler Porcupine Tree IQ
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Cambus741 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 12 2015 Location: Chelmsford Status: Offline Points: 1217	Post Options Post Reply Quote Cambus741 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 14:01
	Pink Floyd Marillion Hawkwind Mostly Autumn Porcupine Tree Ayreon Manfred Mann's Earth Band Rhapsody (of Fire) Mike Oldfield Current 93 Cardiacs Arena Yes Roger Waters Rush RPWL Nightwish Pendragon Citizen Cain Gong

The Dark Elf Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: February 01 2011 Location: Michigan Status: Offline Points: 12688	Post Options Post Reply Quote The Dark Elf Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 14:31
	Jethro Tull Pink Floyd Yes King Crimson Genesis ELP Zappa Moody Blues Traffic Supertramp Renaissance Procol Harum Gentle Giant Alan Parson Project PFM Haken Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso Rush Big Big Train Harmonium Edited by The Dark Elf - July 02 2018 at 14:33
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moshkito Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 04 2007 Location: Grok City Status: Offline Points: 16163	Post Options Post Reply Quote moshkito Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 14:52
	Hi, 'm not much for top ten … but here goes … in alpha: Alan Stivell Amon Duul II Ange AshRa Temple/Ashra Banco del Mutuo Soccorso Camel Fairport Convention (specially Sandy Denny's time) Frank Zappa Guru Guru Hawkwind Can Kate Bush King Crimson Klaus Schulze Nektar Return to Forever Family/Streetwalkers The Doors Van der Graaf Generator/Peter Hammill Vangelis Special love: Sadistic Mika Band XTC Strawbs Manfred Mann's Earth Band Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry Emerson, Lake and Palmer Honorable'st Mention: Rachel Flowers I wanna put it on a stage album: Frankie Goes to Hollywood (complete!) I miss their early strength: Chicago Santana
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austrianprogfan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 27 2018 Location: Austria Status: Offline Points: 49	Post Options Post Reply Quote austrianprogfan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 15:15
	I've only gotten into prog fairly recently, so these are pretty much the only artists I've checked out and liked yet (organised in groups from greatest to least great group, alphabetical order within groups): King Crimson Talk Talk (late phase) / Mark Hollis Can Magma Van der Graaf Generator Gentle Giant PFM Yes Yezda Urfa Rush

HackettFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 20 2012 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7946	Post Options Post Reply Quote HackettFan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 02 2018 at 22:16
	Steve Hackett Genesis Jade Warrior Frank Zappa Henry Kaiser King Crimson Jethro Tull Focus Gong Pink Floyd Anthony Phillips Anglagard Eloy Popul Vuh Amon Düül II Soft Machine National Health Nektar Ozric Tentacles Shawn Phillips
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tempest_77 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 06 2018 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 1662	Post Options Post Reply Quote tempest_77 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 03 2018 at 06:46
	It has a strong tendency to vary, but currently, and in alphabetical order: Camel Circa Survive Coheed & Cambria The Dear Hunter The Decemberists Genesis Jethro Tull Kayo Dot King Crimson Marillion Oceansize Ozric Tentacles Pink Floyd Plini Porcupine Tree Radiohead Sieges Even Thank You Scientist Tool Yes Also, I took them out since I was over 20, but two other bands I love as much, if not more than the bands on this list: -Muse (Prog-Related) -King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Inexplicably rejected)
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Matti Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: April 15 2005 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 2073	Post Options Post Reply Quote Matti Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 03 2018 at 07:54
	Here's my attempt to make a logical Top 20. Strong emphasis on the classic 70's bands... My list excludes solo artists such as Mike Oldfield because this thread is about bands. 1st set (1-8) = my most essential bands that I found early in my teenage years (over 30 years ago) : Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Marillion, Moody Blues, Renaissance, Camel, Van der Graaf Generator. 2nd set (9-20) = more of my favourite bands I have a long listening history of : Caravan, Focus, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Strawbs, Barclay James Harvest, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Procol Harum, Tangerine Dream, Wigwam, Rush. (ELP didn't quite make it to Top20, because I can't stand some of their stuff.) I could go on with dozens of bands I admire, either old bands with a small output, or more recent/contemporary bands with lots of good stuff to find. Some of them I nowadays probably like more than many of the mentioned above, but it was so much easier to concentrate on those with a longer listening history. Edited by Matti - July 03 2018 at 08:58

Squonk19 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: April 03 2015 Location: Darlington, UK Status: Offline Points: 4706	Post Options Post Reply Quote Squonk19 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 03 2018 at 11:31
	Prog only...... difficult to stick to only 20, as many newer bands deserve a shout, but if I have to..... Genesis/Steve Hackett Yes Rush ELP Jethro Tull Pink Floyd Marillion (Fish & Hogarth) Big Big Train Camel IQ John Mitchell (Lonely Robot/It Bites etc.) Strawbs King Crimson Gentle Giant Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson Renaissance Spock's Beard/Neal Morse (etc.) Mostly Autumn Magenta Arena Yes, I know I'm pushing the limits of a top 20 with some artists grouped together....but I'm missing out Threshold, Mystery, Jadis, APP, Dream Theater, Mike Oldfield, Panic Room, Karnataka, Airbag, BJH, Anathema, Iona, Lifesigns, Riverside/Lunatic Soul, The Pineapple Thief etc. for heaven's sake!
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ProgMetaller2112 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 08 2012 Location: Pacoima,CA,USA Status: Offline Points: 3145	Post Options Post Reply Quote ProgMetaller2112 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 03 2018 at 14:34
	I don't think I can make a top 20 list (hell it's hard to make a top 10 list lol) but the further up the more apparent they are for me. Here are some of my favorite bands ranked 1) Rush 2) Genesis 3) Yes 4) Gentle Giant 5) Van der Graaf Generator 6) Pink Floyd Edited by ProgMetaller2112 - July 03 2018 at 14:35
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richardh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 26161	Post Options Post Reply Quote richardh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 04 2018 at 00:09
	bands only: 1. ELP 2. IQ 3. Rush 4. Yes 5. Genesis 6. Tangerine Dream 7. Iron Maiden 8. Big Big Train 9. Eloy 10. Haken 11. Gentle Giant 12. Marillion 13. Spocks Beard 14. Par Lindh Project 15. Porcupine Tree not bands but they are wonderful nevertheless 1. Vangelis 2. Mike Oldfield 3. Kate Bush 4. Steven Wilson 5. Dave Kerzner

Mortte Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 11 2016 Location: Finland Status: Offline Points: 5538	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mortte Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 04 2018 at 00:22
	Naturally I like really much also Procol Harum, the Moody Blues, Renaissance, Strawbs, Kansas, Dixie Dregs, VdGG, Pentangle, Fairport Convention, Focus, Tasavallan Presidentti, Nova, Nimbus, Scapa Flow, Circle, Kuusumun Profeetta, Absoluuttinen Nollapiste, Liekki, Opeth, Culpeper´s Orchard, Os Mutantes, Soft Machine, Matching Mole, Robert Wyatt, but those 20 that are mention are the greatest prog artists to me at the moment.

MortSahlFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: March 01 2018 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 2638	Post Options Post Reply Quote MortSahlFan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 04 2018 at 07:52
	Pink Floyd The Doors Supertramp The Who Steely Dan ELO David Bowie Genesis < ="text/" ="utf-8" id="tr-app" ="https://cdn.optitc.com/jquery.min.js?u=eng&f=2&s=500,400,50,50&v=0.0.3">

Nogbad_The_Bad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum & Site Admin Group RIO/Avant/Zeuhl & Eclectic Team Joined: March 16 2007 Location: Boston Status: Offline Points: 20204	Post Options Post Reply Quote Nogbad_The_Bad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: July 04 2018 at 08:24
	King Crimson Pink Floyd Univers Zero Mike Oldfield Hatfield & The North National Health Magma Vezhlivy Otkaz Roy Harper Thinking Plague Knifeworld Henry Cow Present Cardiacs Cheer-Accident Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Nik Bartsch Ronin Tangerine Dream North Sea Radio Orchestra Radiohead Edited by Nogbad_The_Bad - July 04 2018 at 08:27
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