The Prog Archives Starter Kit

Saperlipopette! wrote: I know this would have worked perfectly for a mini-me:). Heavy on the oldies, I know. But the 1970’s is a great place to start imo. All albums are in PA’s top 105. King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King Opeth - Blackwater Park

Edited by David_D - March 15 2023 at 14:02

Okay, not the most representative across a range of Prog styles, but I rather like this as a journey. Maybe I'll improve on this later.

Sorry, it's a baker's dozen.

Pink Floyd - Meddle
Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel
Yes - Fragile
King Crimson - Lizard
Anna von Hausswolff - The Miraculous
Picchio dal Pozzo - Picchio dal Pozzo
Focus - Hamburger Concerto
Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste
Bubu - Anabelas
Magma - Kobaia
Herbie Hancock - Sextant
Swans - To Be Kind
The Residents - Eskimo

I also had wanted:
Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink
Dead Can Dance - Spleen and Ideal
Gryphon - Red Queen to Gryphon Three
Cardiacs - Songs for Ships and Irons
Alan Parsons Project - I Robot
Tangerine Dream - Ricochet
Spirogyya - St. Radigunds
Message - From Books and Dreams
Van der Graaf Generator - H to He...
Area - Arbeit Macht Frei
kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye

^Appreciate the reply. I didn't love In the Court instantly. I still don't. Only the first and last songs of that album appeal to me. I've been learning for 47 years that most popular prog is not for me.

Psychedelic Paul wrote: David_D wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Tried to cover of 6 essential Big 6 classics then add some diversity across more modern metal, heavy, Italian, electronic, Canterbury & possibly the easiest entry level avant I could think of. I find this approach very good. The same approach for me too. I made sure to include an album by each of the recognised "Big Six" of British Prog, although  not necessarily my favourite album by each artist. Obviously, I would've chosen The Quest as my favourite YES album, although I realise it's not everyone's favourite (or even anyone's favourite) YES album and is not representative of their work as a whole. In retrospect, maybe 90125 would've been a better choice of album for a PA Starter Kit than Going for the One, as the 90125 album was my introduction to YES.

Cristi wrote: one of the best lists on MS, it goes beyond a starter kit https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=58

Pwff...no Yes, ELP, Genesis or Gentle Giant in the first 100 listed ?

Saperlipopette! wrote: David_D wrote: Actually, I'd recommend these 21 albums as a very good but yet minimum for a Prog starter kit: Yes we know as you posted the exact same list a little further up on this page:)

What is recommended to this young person could depend on what they already like or listen to. It might not be a good idea to introduce them to the old dinosaur bands or at least not only them. So if they mainly listen to metal then suggest a metal type of prog band and if they mainly listen to classic rock or indie then suggest something in the prog world similar to those. It might be a mistake to suggest things like close to the edge, selling england, in the court, tarkus, thick as a brick, per un amico, snowgoose, etc because it might turn them off if they mostly listen to newer non prog stuff and it's likely they do. They can always discover the classics later. I actually get the feeling that most newer or younger prog fans don't get turned onto the genre through the 70s stuff anymore. 

Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - March 15 2023 at 16:55

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: Great list but no idea how you can do an introduction to a noob without Yes or Genesis. They are the only 2 of the Big 6 who are never debated. Well, it's my choice and there no wrong intro list. Right?? A noob should hear a variety not just popular prog, i.e., the big six. Modern prog is nothing like the progasaurs of the 70's and is critical for a noob to hear, imo.

I do like your list!