Favorite Prog Songs by non Prog Bands

Continental Drift - Rolling Stones : The album Steel Wheels is full of standard guitar riffs or nods to new wave moments but therein lies in almost non rock like piece with various instruments thrown in. For me, it's the highlight of the album. It's also surprising because the only member of the group [founder Brian Jones] who was interested in newer approaches to sound [think tambourine,theremin or the iconic yet simple sitar riff on 'Paint it Black' ] had died two decades earlier.

Second is going to be a controversial one. But what is prog? Is it not experimenting with new styles and expanding your sound? If we apply purely this criterion, then I would link to nominate a PUNK band's song here.

Something About England - The Clash . It's not as complex as say, Watcher of the Skies, but a long way from their roots and incorporating dance hall styles of old England. Their album Sandinista was a triple LP chock full of such experiments [nods to reggae, children singing, music hall and even flirting with hip hop on the opening track] but this remains one of my favorites both for it's uniqueness and the caustic lyrics.

 

 

 

1968 mellotron-driven song, In My First Mind, from the Steve Miller Band debut album, Children of the Future, recorded in London and produced by Glyn Johns, is actually one of the first progressive rock songs ever.