Recommend at least 10 well-recorded prog albums
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48948
Printed Date: April 29 2025 at 12:54
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Topic: Recommend at least 10 well-recorded prog albums
Posted By: GentleGiantLover
Subject: Recommend at least 10 well-recorded prog albums
Date Posted: May 26 2008 at 23:31
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Can someone please recommend at least 10 well-recorded prog-rocks albums? By well-recorded I mean albums that sound great and would appeal to audiophiles. Particular albums that come to mind as being well-recorded are: Genesis - Foxtrot Gentle Giant - In A Glass House Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here Yes - Fragile King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King |
Replies:
Posted By: omri
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 13:24
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Hmm .........
1. VDGG - Still life
2. Amon Duul II - Wolf city
3. Eskaton - 4 visions
4. Par Lindh project - Veni vidi vici
5. Discipline - Unfolded like staircase
6. Comus - The complete sessions (compilation, concentrate on the first disk which is First uterance with bonus tracks)
7. Proto-kaw - Early recordings from Kansas
8. After crying - Overground music
9. Coloseum - The valentine suite
10. Focus - hamburger concerto
If I understood right you are looking for great melodies with great musicianship. This is how I chosed the list. ------------- omri |
Posted By: Norbert
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 13:49
| Funny, it is often said that the production of early Genesis albums including Foxtrot is rather poor, I don't really care I really love that album, to my ears it sounds good(probably because the songs are great). |
Posted By: Hirgwath
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 14:43
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Wasn't Dark Side of the Moon used as the standard test for audio equipment for years? I'm sure you already have that. If you don't, well, now you know its reputation. I also suggest Sigur Ros's Ágætis byrjun. Neat studio effects in the first song, especially, but the whole album's a masterpiece. Plenty of neat effects (subtly) used throughout. I frequently compare it to DSoTM. Radiohead's Kid A was definitely a studio-driven project. It was basically trip hop, but without any emphasis on the hip-hop. Dark, melancholy electronic music with strings and free jazz freak-outs (a lot of people say it's krautrock-influenced). Anyway, lots of studio stuff in it. ------------- Skwisgaar Skwigelf: taller than a tree. Toki Wartooth: not a bumblebee. |
Posted By: GentleGiantLover
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 21:59
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I have the black triangle 'Dark Side Of The Moon' CD and it sounds great. The only reason why I didn't list it is because I don't consider it as being progressive rock. I'm a guy who doesn't consider a lot of bands/albums as being progressive. Rush and Pink Floyd are bands that come to mind who I don't consider as being progressive. 'Rush' only has 1 progressive song that I know of ('2112') and 'Pink Floyd' only has 6 that I can think of ('Shine On You Crazy Diamond' (Part 1-5), 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' (Part 6-9), 'Dogs', 'Pigs' (Three Different Ones), 'Sheep' and 'Echoes'.) Edited by admin at member's request
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Posted By: GentleGiantLover
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 22:01
Everything by Genesis before Foxtrot sounds awful. Foxtrot is one of the most amazing albums I have ever heard sound-wise. |
Norbert wrote:Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 22:13
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answering this made me realize how many mediocre-produced prog albums there were, luckily it's gotten better even for small bands ..this list is based strictly on prog albums with superior productions Yes Drama Banco Io Sono Nato Libero King Crimson The Night Watch and Discipline ELP Brain Salad Surgery Genesis Abacab Floyd The Wall Bruford/Levin Upper Extremities Zombi Surface to Air Al DiMeola The Grande Passion Triumvirat Illusions on a Double Dimple ..and the king of audiophile records, Gabriel's So |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 04:30
True enough, If the guy is happy with the quality of Foxtrot, he will be happy with this list.
1. Yes -- Close To The Edge
2. Genesis -- Foxtrot
3. Genesis -- Selling England By The Pound
4. King Crimson -- Red
5. Premiata Forneria Marconi -- Per Un Amico
6. Camel -- Mirage
7. Frank Zappa -- Hot Rats
8. Yes -- The Yes Album
9. Caravan -- In The Land Of Grey And Pink
10. King Crimson -- Lark's Tounge In Aspic
Bonus Pick: ELP -- Brain Salad Surgery
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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 04:42
Shock to the System --- Yes was often used to test bass back in the day, Being used to test audio equipment is not a guarantee of quality. ( Altough I think Union is the best of Yes's bad albums.)
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 04:49
| For Genesis, Trick of the Tail is a well-recorded album, particularly the recent reissue. |
Posted By: Rocktopus
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 04:50
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Not based on any actual knowledge. Have five of these on both CD and vinyl, and pleased with both versions: Tangerine Dream - Phaedra Art Zoyd - Generations Sans Futur Gong - You Gentle Giant - Acquiring the Taste Herbie Hancock - Crossings Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom Can - Ege Bamyasi (not the first CD release) Van Der Graaf Generator - H To he.. remaster Guapo - Elixirs High Tide - Sea Shanties (muddy and gritty as hell, just like it should be) ------------- Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me |
Posted By: BroSpence
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 04:50
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Hmm prog rock only? what about related? I mean A Night at the Opera is a pretty important album and they basically pushed the technology available at the time to the limit and still sounded great. Dark Side is obviously one. Kid A and Amnesiac, and pretty much any of the Nigel Godrich produced Radiohead albums are sonicly well done. Alan Parson Project albums are probably a shoe-in due to his studio expertise (although the music on them isn't always that great). |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 06:49
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Opeth- Blackwater Park Porcupine Tree- In Absentia The Pax Cecilia- Blessed are the Bonds Kayo Dot- Blue Lambency Downward Theshold- Hypothetical The Gathering- If_Then_Else Pain of Salvation- BE Epica- The Divine Conspiracy Virgin Black- Requiem Mezzo Forte Dark Suns- Grave Human Genuine ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005 
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Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 07:34
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I'll stick to 3, since you've already had loads of recommendations: Not much of an audiophile myself, but there are a few that have stood out to me. Les Porches - Maneige. Crystalline, yet very warm, production sound for the classical instrumentation as well as the rock/jazz instruments. Superb. I've written a review for this one. Rubycon - Tangerine Dream. Very clear synthesised music. Phaedra and Stratosfear are also excellent, but I was more immediately gripped by Rubycon. Scheherazade And Other Stories - Renaissance. Everything fusion (folk, classical, rock mainly). Amazing vocals from Annie Haslam. Great sound, too. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 18:45
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oh yes how could I forget, Selling England is beautifully recorded, sounds like no other album I know |
Posted By: heyitsthatguy
Date Posted: May 28 2008 at 18:52
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depending on the band, a lot of modern prog rock is excellent, particularly anything Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree frontman/producing god) touches and Devin Townsend's solo material Kayo Dot's Choirs of the Eye is good for a mixture of rock instrumentation and horns among other things, as is Blue Lambency Downward also, all albums by Dream Theater from Scenes onward (well, including Falling Into Infinity, but I usually try to forget about that album) are expertly recorded ------------- 
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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 04:54
I have recently realized that nearly all the vocals from Annie Haslam are amazing. I will be voting for her in every best vocalist poll from now on. (Tough luck, Fish.)
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Posted By: Karyobin
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 05:23
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Although not on everyones top ten these are worth a punt if they are still available.
1) Paladin : Charge (US band but interesting mix of styles and great cover)
2) Grobschnitt : Rockpommel's Land
3) Wigwam : Being
4) Spring : Spring
5) Khan : Space Shanty
K ------------- Every musical movement that is big enough has to produce some good musicians who wouldn't have had the incentive to start playing without it. Alexis Korner |
Posted By: superprog
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 05:23
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Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - Kid A
Pink Floyd - Dark Side
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die
Supersilent - 7 dvd (it plays on audio too)
Terje Rypdal - Odyssey
King Crimson - Thrak
great recordings that reveal much detail and nuances with each successive listen!!!
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Posted By: Karyobin
Date Posted: May 29 2008 at 05:28
Superb choice I've just bought his new duo recording on ECM
K ------------- Every musical movement that is big enough has to produce some good musicians who wouldn't have had the incentive to start playing without it. Alexis Korner |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: May 30 2008 at 13:10
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Surprised nobody remembers that the Moody Blues Days Of Future was recorded specifically for the mid 60's audiophile market by Decca Records - and I'm sure it was originally released on the specialist UK, Phase 4 label. I'm reminded of this recording because of samples heard on the recently issued Strange Pleasures 3CD box set, compiled from Decca and Deram released recordings 1966 to 1975 - it is very evident the Moody Blues tracks have much better audio quality to anything else heard in the set. ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Relayer09
Date Posted: May 30 2008 at 15:32
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1. Yes - Close To The Edge
2. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
3. Genesis - Selling England By The Pound
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
5. Eloy - Chronicles Vol 1
6. Rush - Moving Pictures
7. Camel - Moon Madness
8. Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure
9. Shadow Gallery - Carved In Stone
10. Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet ------------- If you lose your temper, you've lost the arguement. -Proverb |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 13:35
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Are we Talking CD or Vinyl ??
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Posted By: arcer
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 15:39
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If I was too choose then I don't think any early Genesis would be on there - the compression was way too heavy and the drums sound plain terrible. Audiophile wise. I'd go for (all on vinyl) 1. Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - just stunning. The 30th anniversary edition will do nicely. 2. Supertramp - Crime of the Century. A remarkably well recorded album. The drum sounds are incredible and the care taken over dynamics is awesome. An A&M audiophile half speed mastered version will sounds great. Although there are modern audiophile pressings which will do the business. 3. King Crimson - Lark's Tongues in Aspic - All KC albums sound amazing but for a real test of how your turntable, amp and speakers are reproducing fine top end detail and low end grunt then the behemoth that is the opening track can't be beat. The delicate percusion parts are a joy to hear on a good system and the bass is pure evil. 4. Pink Floyd - The Wall. A masterclass in lat 70s recording techinques. A good system will really let you appreciate the use of reverbs and compression. Whole album sounds incredible. 5. Rush - Moving Pictures - Just cause it sounds so frickin' awesome. If I was going to pick one Genesis album (and this will be prog heresy but sound sense) then it would be Duke - an incredibly well recorded album! |
Posted By: Weston
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 16:56
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You guys are going to think I've lost my mind and excommunicate me from the prog congregation but --
There were two albums in the 70's, A Pauper in Paradise and The Gist of Gemini, by Gino Vanelli that had some marvelous prog moments and were recorded better than anything I'd heard before. Yes, THAT Gino Vanelli who perpetrated the "I Just Wanna Stop" abonimation on the pop world. Really though, the proggish and fusion bits pay off if you can wade through the pop in these two albums. If you can get copies to try it before buying it would be well worth your time.
Coming back home a little closer to prog, Jethro Tull's Roots to Branches is a fine recording / production. Dot.com is not bad etiher though I dislike some of the cheesy digital guitar effects.
[Edit: I somehow forgot to mention Zappa's One Size fits All]
I don't think I could list 10 albums. My favorite bands are not really produced that well.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 17:19
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I'm a Genesis fan, but to be honest, decent production and recording started with SEBTP which is not my favorite one, so here I go, purely from the technical aspect:
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: GentleGiantLover
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 09:57
| Wow, I can't believe that you guys find that Foxtrot sounds horrible. It doesn't sound horrible to my ears but I have the first CD pressing which may actually sound better than the vinyl (which is unlikely). |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 11:07
The recent reissue of DOFP sounds even better, particularly on the orchestral sections.
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Posted By: omri
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 11:32
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I also had Foxtrot on vinyl and I had no problems with the sound. It is true that I listen to the music and lyrics and never focus on sound for itself. I second those who claim Days of future past to be a revolutionary album in production (and in some more aspects as well). ------------- omri |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 20:08
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I can highly recommend the VdGG remasterings
-------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 22:04
Not horrile, but not a great production either, it''s a huge leap from Nursery Cryme which is terribly recorded, but the clear sound really started in SEBTP.
But I can't care less, Foxtrot is my favorite album ever, I also pay more attention to the music.
Iván Quote edited by admin at member's request
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: June 04 2008 at 03:01
I know a few which IMO sound great but would not appeal to audiophiles at all ... strange, isn't it?  Quote edited by admin at member's request ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
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