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Topic ClosedDid classic rock/metal artists do prog albums?

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WrytXander View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Did classic rock/metal artists do prog albums?
    Posted: September 15 2014 at 11:48
Discussion about artists such as the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Metallica, System of a Down, Queen, George Harrison, David Bowie, etc.:

They were not prog, but did they do prog albums?

Or did they just make a few prog songs, but not a whole album that could be called prog?

I find this topic attracts many people's attention, and I've seen some very mixed opinions about this.

To back up the first point, I'll give Quadrophenia, Tommy, Houses of the Holy, Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's, And Justice for All, System of a Down, Queen, Queen II, A Night at the Opera, All Things Must Pass and Ziggy Stardust as examples to start with. These albums could in one way or another be considered prog; concepts, odd time signatures, polymetres, overall song/album structures that seem too strange for classic rock/metal.

Then again, these elements could be caused entirely by 2-3 songs, and may give a non-prog album a proggy feel/sound, and lead many to believe that an LP is indeed a full-on prog release.

So, which thought do you support? Also, do you have some more examples to back up either of these points?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2014 at 15:59
Queen's first four albums were always considered to be quite progressive by the prog community at the time (why ignore Sheer Heart Attack??)

The others, I'm afraid, may have had some prog influences/influences on prog, but they were not truly progressive.

Incidentally, I've just listened to Toto's Absolutely Live and I cannot for the life of me understand why Boston, Kansas and the like are on this site and Toto aren't. Again, not all their albums are truly progressive, but some undoubtedly are. It seems some of the above bands have gained a place on this site on the basis of quite spurious claims to progressiveness, but some far more qualified bands haven't.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2014 at 16:01
Megadeth Rust in Peace is incredibly progressive for the genre and time period it was released. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2014 at 16:19
Originally posted by Hercules Hercules wrote:

Queen's first four albums were always considered to be quite progressive by the prog community at the time (why ignore Sheer Heart Attack??)

The others, I'm afraid, may have had some prog influences/influences on prog, but they were not truly progressive.

Incidentally, I've just listened to Toto's Absolutely Live and I cannot for the life of me understand why Boston, Kansas and the like are on this site and Toto aren't. Again, not all their albums are truly progressive, but some undoubtedly are. It seems some of the above bands have gained a place on this site on the basis of quite spurious claims to progressiveness, but some far more qualified bands haven't.
Boston isn't on here, but Kansas is because of their earliest albums, as well as their last album.  I like Toto, and can see reasons for them being here as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2014 at 19:29
System of a Down's Mezmerize/Hypnotize is pretty undeniably Prog, as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 15 2014 at 19:55
Originally posted by JediJoker7169 JediJoker7169 wrote:

System of a Down's Mezmerize/Hypnotize is pretty undeniably Prog, as well.

I didn't know SOAD was a classic rock/cassic metal band.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 00:44
Journey and Styx. Easier albums were proggy, but they both eventually gave way to Classic Rock IMHO.
I've heard folks talk up the debut Foreigner album, which featured King Crimson's Ian MacDonald - I have never heard this album though.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 05:55
Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

Originally posted by JediJoker7169 JediJoker7169 wrote:

System of a Down's Mezmerize/Hypnotize is pretty undeniably Prog, as well.

I didn't know SOAD was a classic rock/cassic metal band.

I didn't know Megadeth was either, but it was the first thing that came to my mind LOL.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 06:04
Originally posted by WrytXander WrytXander wrote:

Discussion about artists such as the Who, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, Metallica, System of a Down, Queen, George Harrison, David Bowie, etc.:

They were not prog, but did they do prog albums?

Or did they just make a few prog songs, but not a whole album that could be called prog?

I find this topic attracts many people's attention, and I've seen some very mixed opinions about this.

To back up the first point, I'll give Quadrophenia, Tommy, Houses of the Holy, Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's, And Justice for All, System of a Down, Queen, Queen II, A Night at the Opera, All Things Must Pass and Ziggy Stardust as examples to start with. These albums could in one way or another be considered prog; concepts, odd time signatures, polymetres, overall song/album structures that seem too strange for classic rock/metal.

Then again, these elements could be caused entirely by 2-3 songs, and may give a non-prog album a proggy feel/sound, and lead many to believe that an LP is indeed a full-on prog release.

So, which thought do you support? Also, do you have some more examples to back up either of these points?
Of those albums you mentioned, only the Queen ones could be considered prog (imo), however I would point out that Jon Anderson said in the latest Classic Rock that the Abbey Road suite was what influenced him most to make the 20 minute Yes epics.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 06:14
Metallica definitely started gracing progressive elements on "...And Justice For All".
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 10:56
Originally posted by Horizons Horizons wrote:

Originally posted by JediJoker7169 JediJoker7169 wrote:

System of a Down's Mezmerize/Hypnotize is pretty undeniably Prog, as well.

I didn't know SOAD was a classic rock/cassic metal band.

Well, if I divide every band by genre, it would look really unnecessarily long. You all get what I mean, and that's the point. Smile
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 11:28
The title track of the Doobie Bros. Captain and Me always came off as having prog leanings with its gentle build and harmonic vocals.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 11:31
Originally posted by Rednight Rednight wrote:

The title track of the Doobie Bros. Captain and Me always came off as having prog leanings with its gentle build and harmonic vocals.

I would actually say it's a bit of a stretch calling it prog, but I definitely do see the leanings (and I know you didn't actually call it prog, don't worry)!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 11:55
Richie Blackmore stretched out into more prog territory when he was not with Deep Purple.  His band Rainbow had some progressive feel, and his current project Blackmore's Night is very impressive in a prog folk genre.  

Police guitarist Andy Summers stretched into prog with Bob Fripp's "I Advance Masked."  He also put out some new-age colored solo albums, but I've never heard them. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 14:26
I've always felt that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was quite progressive for 1973 Black Sabbath, especially when you take into account their previous albums. 

You also have Rick Wakeman on it which gives it extra prog points!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 14:31
Originally posted by Zenbadger Zenbadger wrote:

I've always felt that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was quite progressive for 1973 Black Sabbath, especially when you take into account their previous albums. 
You also have Rick Wakeman on it which gives it extra prog points!

With Wakeman on it, it surely must be worth picking up. Thanks for the info.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 14:32
Domo arigato Mister Roboto.






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Edited by SteveG - September 16 2014 at 15:08
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 15:24
Joe Walsh flirted with prog on songs like Life's Been Good and The Confessor. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 17:50
Originally posted by Zenbadger Zenbadger wrote:

I've always felt that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was quite progressive for 1973 Black Sabbath, especially when you take into account their previous albums. 

You also have Rick Wakeman on it which gives it extra prog points!

I agree completely.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 16 2014 at 18:18
well, The Beatles' White Album had songs coming from all over the place (the genres i mean, its a double album overall), plus that simple cover is a, well.... good cover for it i guess, it ain't grandiose as it really is, so the unexpected happened i guess.
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