Prog songs by non-prog bands

the beginning of 'pussy strut' the waitresses (i keep finding stuff!) i also figure i don't have to mention the album 'origin of symmetry' by muse do i?

also, since i'm watching it right now (one of my absolute favorite since it came out when i was a kid) the Ladyhawke soundtrack:

The film's score was composed by Andrew Powell and produced by Alan Parsons. Richard Donner stated that he was listening to The Alan Parsons Project (on which Powell collaborated) while scouting for locations, and became unable to separate his visual ideas from the music. Powell combined traditional orchestral music and Gregorian chants with contemporary progressive rock-infused material, to controversial effect. It has been cited as the most memorable example of the growing trend among 1980s fantasy films of abandoning the lush orchestral scores of composers such as John Williams and James Horner in favour of a modern pop/rock sound.^[1] The soundtrack album was released in 1985 and re-released with additional tracks in 1995.

just read that too.


Edited by PlumAplomb - January 21 2011 at 08:14

I wasn't expecting this in a Bread song, the middle part that is: 

Five Man Electrical Band. Their big hit was Signs, but the title track from their second album “Coming of Age” is somewhat proggy.

Midnight Oil. The opening track on their first, self-titled album, Surfing With a Spoon. Apparently some of their members were in a prog band previously.

Neil Young. No less than three tracks from “Harvest” lean in that direction: There’s a World, A Man Needs a Maid, and Words (Between the Lines of Age). The first I heard Mother Russia by Renaissance the riff in the chorus reminded me of the one in There’s a World. Most of his music is relatively simple, but these three songs are surprisingly complex for those more familiar with most of his later material, making ample use of shifting time signatures.

Some of Neil’s songs with Buffalo Springfield did the same, esp. Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing and Broken Arrow. A portion of the latter was incorporated into Country Girl, on CSNY’s “Déjà Vu.”

MrEdifus wrote: The Allman Brothers were pretty progressive for a Southern blues-rock band anyway. Mountain Jam also comes to mind, as well as In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed. (Check out the Fillmore Concerts version of both. Check out the whole live album while you're at it.)

Play Elizabeth Reed and then follow with Lady Fantasy by Camel, which ought to be subtitled E. R. Part 2.

Edited by AreYouHuman - May 09 2013 at 19:08

The Church is already on PA as prog related, but Afterimage, the last track on "Magician Among the Spirits," wouldn't sound out of place on one of Eno's ambient albums or on an Anthony Phillips album.

Just listened to Mark O'Connor's "Meanings Of," which has at least two prog-leaning tracks: Court Suite and The Robotic Muso, the former sounding much like the Dixie Dregs, of which he was a member for a year or so.

"China Doll", "Unbroken Chain", "Rosemary", "Mountains of the Moon" : Grateful Dead

The way out is through. --NINE INCH NAILS.

Didn't list a specific song but I always felt both Ultravox and Echo and the Bunnymen had tracks that seemed progressive to me.

I just came here to drop the Alice Cooper Halo of Flies bomb but I see it's already been done and done. Love that song. He has others but that ones my favorite. I do need to check out Prettys for you and Easy Action though. Ive heard bits and I've been surprised. 

I find this song by REO Speedwagon to be somewhat Prog-Related.



The Original Lead Vocalist of REO later became the Lead Vocalist of Starcastle if I am correct.

And I also find this Beach Boys song to be sort of Progressive Related as well.




Edited by Jonathan - February 01 2014 at 18:29