3 songs to demonstrate prog rock
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Topic: 3 songs to demonstrate prog rock
Posted By: Formentera Lady
Subject: 3 songs to demonstrate prog rock
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 12:11
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Imagine you want to explain to your friends, who do not know prog rock, what kind of music this is. Which 3 songs would you play to them to demonstrate the in your opinion main features of prog rock? These songs need not be necessary your favourite ones, but the ones where you can point out, which characteristics are important for you. My choices would be: Can-Utility and the Coastliners by Genesis Starless by King Crimson Funny Ways by Gentle Giant (live video version of 1974) Please name only three songs. I am curious of your choices. |
Replies:
Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 12:14
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21st Century Schizoid Man Hemispheres Lady Fantasy ------------- 
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Posted By: Negoba
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 12:19
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Excellent call on Funny Ways live.
Dancing with the Moonlit Knight
Knots
Heart of the Sunrise
------------- You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all. |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 12:23
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Seven is a Jolly Good Time by Egg Theusz Hamtaahk (it's only one song, I swear!) by Magma Halleluwah by Can |
Posted By: King Winter
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 12:38
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YYZ
Close To The Edge
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 13:13
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Gates of Delirium
Epitaph
Mumps
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Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 16:57
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To show them, and not necessarily make them like it in the very least:
Knots (don't like it myself, but it's a clear example of "ok, this is not something I've heard on a party")
Thick as a Brick Pt. 1 (just showed this to a friend, though he didn't much understand it, he liked the folkiness)
Trilogy (a perfect demonstration of 70s prog keyboard use)
If Thick as a Brick is too much, I'd say Peaches en Regalia.
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Posted By: caretaker
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 17:08
| The first ones that come to mind are Rush-La Village Strangiato, Bill Bruford-Fainting in Coils, Yes-And You and I. |
Posted By: otto pankrock
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:17
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U.K-In the Dead of Night
Yes-And You and I
Pink Floyd-Dogs
There's plenty more, these were the first that came to mind.
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Posted By: Soul Dreamer
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:26
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Yes - Close to the Edge Genesis - Firth of Fifth Rush - La Villa Strangiato First two are a certainty, the third I'm not sure, maybe I'd select a more recent track (after 2000 released) ------------- To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica) |
Posted By: 40footwolf
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:26
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Tough. I'd go with: Close to the Edge In The Court of the Crimson King Firth of Fifth ------------- Heaven's made a cesspool of us all. |
Posted By: Gooner
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:26
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"Fountain Of Salmacis" - Genesis
"Pantagruel's Nativity" - Gentle Giant
"Au Porche Du Berger" - Ange
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Posted By: VanVanVan
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:37
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Supper's Ready, 21st Century Schizoid Man, and The Light
Edit: Scratch The Light and insert Peaches on Regalia. That way you have the symphonic aspect, the wild'n'crazy aspect, and the super dense aspect. ------------- "The meaning of life is to give life meaning."-Arjen Lucassen |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:42
| Starless by KING CRIMSON Heart of the sunrise by YES The musical box by GENESIS |
Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 19:53
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Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, Trilogy and Roundabout ------------- |
Posted By: TheGazzardian
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 20:05
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based on the songs that go me into prog... Genesis - Dancing with the Moonlit Knight Yes - South Side of the Sky Rush - 2112
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Posted By: Klogg
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 20:05
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They can't be too long, because just a few people will listen to 30 min of music without skiping some parts. So I choose: Gnidrolog-Social Embarrassment (Good old 70's prog) Anekdoten-Nucleus (New stuff) Samla Mammas Manna-Den Aterupplivade Laten (Avant stuff) -------------  Pentagram Pizza YumYum Bloody 
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Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 20:13
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Flight of the Snow Goose - Camel This little scooby snack would prepare a beginner for the abiding instrumental thrust of the genre and the gentle and melodic nature of the music wouldn't alienate them. Hopefully they would also pick up on the assimilated classical influences in the composition. The Return of the Giant Hogweed - Genesis This blithely preposterous tale would prepare the initiate for the theatrical narrative of Prog and 'toughen them up' in readiness for the many dramatic changes in mood, tempo and texture prevalent in the genre. Killer - VDGG Might just disabuse the fledgling progger of that notion that the lyrics in the genre suck irredeemably. Plus everyone should hear Hamill before they expire and VDGG are one of the leanest heavyweights in the ring y'all. ------------- 
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Posted By: Lark the Starless
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 22:00
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Tom Sawyer - Rush
Script for a Jester's Tear - Marillion
I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) - Genesis ------------- 
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Posted By: ten years after
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 22:05
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Supper's Ready
Close to the Edge
Saucerful of Secrets
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Posted By: Mr. Maestro
Date Posted: September 10 2010 at 23:11
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"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd to represent prog's innovative, expolatory side.
"Close to the Edge" by Yes to represent 70's symphonic prog in all its glory.
"Octavarium" by Dream Theater to show that great prog is still being made. ------------- "I am the one who crossed through space...or stayed where I was...or didn't exist in the first place...." |
Posted By: Falx
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 01:23
Oh, you tricked me into recommending Genesis  I will make two lists, one for Britprog, another for Italian Prog. No Magma or Hawkwind, since I don't think of them as classic "progressive rock" bands.1. Genesis - The Musical Box 2. King Crimson - One More Red Nightmare 3. Yes - Siberian Khatru 1. Banco del Mutuo Soccorso - R.I.P. 2. Le Orme - Una Dolcezza Nuova 3. Area - L'Elefante Bianco ------------- "You must go beyond the limit of the limit of your limits!" - Mr. Doctor "It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist." - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 02:17
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Trilogy
Turn Of The Century
The Last Human Gateway
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Posted By: jsem
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 04:31
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Karn Evil 9 Suppers ready Shine On You Crazy Diamond 3 are too few. too hard to capture a genre in 3 songs |
Posted By: ten years after
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 05:51
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My previous suggestions were pretty obvious - these three are from bands not in the prog archives:
Al Stewart - Roads to Moscow
Big Country - Porroh Man
Edgar Broughton Band - Evening Over Rooftops
Each of these, in different ways embody the best of prog rock.
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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 05:56
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Caravan - Nine Feet Underground
Genesis - Supper's Ready
Tangerine Dream - Nebulous Dawn ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Shevrzl
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 08:46
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Close to the Edge Larks Tongue In Aspic, Part 1 Firth of Fifth |
Posted By: Rolf Bos
Date Posted: September 11 2010 at 09:23
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Dixie Dregs - Odyssey
Moraz/Bruford - Childrens' concerto Marillion - Grendel |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 12 2010 at 07:40
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ten years after wrote:Posted By: rodlop
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 16:20
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PF: Shine on your crazy diamond
Genesis: Super's ready
Premiata: Appena un po'
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 16:26
Shame you picked the song where the lyrics DO suck.....in my opinion of course. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Stevo
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 16:33
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Close to the Edge Cinema Show Red |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 16:33
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Being new Prog listeners, I would avoid long songs that with bore them and very short that really don't completeley represent the idea, so I would go with
Would also avoid extremely complex, dissonant and really weird material.
1.- Trilogy: Elaborate structure but still a solid melodical foundation not to scare the sh!t out of them.
2.- The Musical Box: Prog at it's glory, pompous and aggresive.
3.- The School of Instant Pain from Spartacus - Triumvirat: A song that has strong and even almost romantic parts to proof that Prog can be possible to be listened by non fans.
That's Prog 101, if I had to make Prog 102, I would go with more complex material.
Iván
BTW: Used this selection with a girlfriend and she got to like some Prog music, still today we exchange some videos in Facebook. ------------- 
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Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 16:44
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1. The Musical Box
2. Il Giardino del Mago
3. Starless ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: Chris H
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 17:25
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Anything by 65daysofstatic, followed by anything by Explosions in the Sky, and wrap it up with anything by Sigur Ros. ------------- Beauty will save the world. 
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: September 13 2010 at 17:45
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"Song for America" by Kansas "Firth of Fifth" by Genesis "The Revealing Science of God" by Yes ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: b4usleep
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 00:10
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Yes - Roundabout Genesis - Get'em Out by Friday ELP - Trilogy ------------- Really don't mind if you sit this one out. My words but a whisper, your deafness a shout. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 01:33
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my three choices would be more like this
Genesis - Firth to Fifth (the ultimate prog-rock song )
Alice Cooper - Halo of Flies (for me the archetypal prog song, it was planed as a song to see if they could match King Crimson, and guess what they made this list over KC, cudos to Alice Cooper)
Gentle Giant - In a Glass House (the greates rock song ive heard, it tops Bohemian Rapsody, Stairway to Heaven and Smoke on the Water on all aspects) -------------  
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Posted By: Lopolik
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 03:04
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Rush — 2112 Yes — Ritual Pink Floyd — Echoes I think these are good examples of long prog rock songs. |
Posted By: Any Colour You Like
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 03:18
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Firth of Fifth, Genesis South Side of the Sky, Yes Echoes, Pink Floyd Those three would cover most of the bases. However, if I was showing this list to a metalhead I might change the Yes track for Fracture by King Crimson because of the heavier edge. |
Posted By: yanch
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 06:49
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As a few people have mentioned, you need to pick songs that aren't too long. So I'll go with: Fountain of Salmacis-Genesis The Runaway-Gentle Giant Roundabout-Yes
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Posted By: progrules
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 12:27
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Jordrok
One for the Vine
Gates of Delirium ------------- A day without prog is a wasted day |
Posted By: RoeDent
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 13:26
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Echoes - Pink Floyd Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson A Change of Seasons - Dream Theater An atmospheric epic from the 'golden age', a not-so-epic (in length anyway), and a more recent song to show prog rock is still alive and well. |
Posted By: silcir
Date Posted: September 14 2010 at 16:17
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Dancing with the moonlit knight - Genesis Close To the Edge - Yes Starless - King Crimson |
Posted By: Varon
Date Posted: September 15 2010 at 09:09
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Sleepwalkers
Thick as a Brick
Starless
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Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: September 15 2010 at 10:33
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"Serenity in a Nutshell" by CIRRUS BAY "Dérégénération" by NIL "Laboratories of the Invisible World" by mauldin of the WELL ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Lizzy
Date Posted: September 15 2010 at 11:25
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Errrrrrrrrrrrr... 1. Supper's Ready 2. A Passion Play 3. Starless |
Posted By: hobocamp
Date Posted: September 15 2010 at 15:09
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Posted By: Geizao
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 01:44
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1. Firth of Fifth 2. Shine On You Crazy Diamond 3. Thick As A Brick |
Posted By: Pelata
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 07:32
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If I was trying to explain Prog Rock to someone and had to pick only 3 songs to play them, they would be:
Kansas - Journey From Mariabronn
Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine
Genesis - Supper's Ready
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Posted By: tuxon
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 08:20
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Script For A Jester's Tear - Marillion
A Little Nonsense - Echolyn
Arrakis - Dün ------------- I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT |
Posted By: paganinio
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 08:21
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Top 3 Dream Theater songs that DO NOT demonstrate prog rock:
1. Vacant
2. One Last Time
3. Regression ------------- 
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Posted By: Mike_Zed
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 11:29
Then how is one supposed to clarify what an "sidelong epic" looks like? Close to The Edge by Yes - because that's what an epic looks like Epitaph by King Crimson - because 1. it's where it all started 2. progressive rock may have a simple song structure as depicted herein 3. depressing lyrics drive the whole prog industry After the Ordeal by Genesis - because: 1. the importance of instrumentals must never be overlooked 2. progressive rock mixes classical music with contemporary rock ------------- The Problems of the Future - Today! |
Posted By: yanch
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 15:55
I think you first have to get the person into prog, then if they like what they are hearing, you can move on to the "epics" of the genre. If you are trying to demonstrate prog to some one unfamiliar with the genre, the epics may very well put them off at first. Start with shorter, get them hooked, then hit them with the long stuff.
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Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: September 16 2010 at 16:14
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Can-Utility And The Coastliners Jordrok Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle And The Sleeper |
Posted By: Casimir
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 00:44
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Warning: Cliches ahead! "Roundabout" - Yes "Hoedown" - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer Thick as a Brick - Jethro Tull |
Posted By: ferush
Date Posted: September 26 2010 at 22:16
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Within You Without You by The Beatles
Xanadu by Rush
Supper's Ready by Genesis
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Posted By: Pang Chi Nam
Date Posted: September 26 2010 at 23:42
Yep, this pretty much sums it up for me as well. ------------- "The only difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limit." -George Bernard Shaw |
Posted By: nahnite
Date Posted: September 27 2010 at 02:16
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Three songs? Hmmm...
1/Rush: "2112"
2/Genesis: "Supper's Ready"
3/(getting into more modern prog) Dream Theater: "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence, Disc Two"
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Posted By: Ruby900
Date Posted: September 27 2010 at 02:33
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Roundabout
The Musical box
ITCOCK
But then there are plenty more. I think I'd play it safe so not to scare newbies off......
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Posted By: Lozlan
Date Posted: September 27 2010 at 11:14
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Looking at some slightly less well-known acts (really, how often can we list TaaB and ITCotCK): Northern Lights by Asia Minor. Incredible, laid-back, virtuosic. Captures the potential dreaminess of the genre. Gamma Ray by Birth Control. Primordial, organ-driven hard prog rock. Could either be the album version from Hoodoo Man or the 20 minute rendition from Birth Control Live. The Lhasa Road (No Surrender) by Ice Age. Amazing symphonic prog metal, with all the trimmings. Best contemporary prog band I can think of, actually. ------------- Certified Obscure Prog Fart. http://scottjcouturier.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - The Loose Palace of Exile - My first novel, The Mask of Tamrel, now available on Amazon and Kindle |
Posted By: sydbarrett2010
Date Posted: September 27 2010 at 12:44
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21st century schizoid man(kc) echoes(pf) giant(gg) |
Posted By: Ruby900
Date Posted: September 27 2010 at 16:06
Good choices here! ------------- "I always say that it’s about breaking the rules. But the secret of breaking rules in a way that works is understanding what the rules are in the first place". Rick Wakeman |
Posted By: 1967/ 1976
Date Posted: January 18 2011 at 11:58
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Not easy. Surely the three songs I would use to define the Prog are not the Prog songs that please me most. Probably I use: PROCOL HARUM: A Whiter Shade Of Pale KING CRIMSON: Larks' Tongue In Aspic (in a definitive version, that not exist... Because summary of all versions) YES: Close To The Edge -------------  |
Posted By: XTChuck
Date Posted: January 19 2011 at 10:57
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IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING
ROUNDABOUT
LUNAR SEA
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: January 19 2011 at 23:03
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Tough call with three only. To cheat slightly, I'll give two groups of three.
Group 1:
Yes - Close To The Edge
Genesis - Supper's Ready
KC - Starless
Group 2:
JT - Thick As A Brick
VDGG - A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers
ELP - Tarkus ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: January 20 2011 at 10:58
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Close To The Edge - Yes Breathe - Pink Floyd 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson Tony C. |
Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Date Posted: January 20 2011 at 13:12
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For the basic classic rock fan: 1. Squonk - Genesis 2. South Side of the Sky - Yes (not my favorite, but worked well enough to convince a friend to expand his CD collection.) 3. Red - KC Once I had them interested: 1. Freefall - Camel 2. Xanadu - Rush 3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond pts. 1-7 - PF ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Posted By: BlindGuard
Date Posted: January 22 2011 at 19:32
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Cygnus X-1 (Rush) Lizard (KC) Lady Fantasy (Camel) ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Shelef/?chartstyle=lastfmplain" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: catfood03
Date Posted: January 22 2011 at 21:26
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"Dogs" by Pink Floyd "One For the Vine" by Genesis "The Runaway" by Gentle Giant |
Posted By: Naf Naf
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 08:03
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Indiscipline- kc
hocus pocus - focus rendezvous 6.02 - uk makes clear the insanity as well the great musicianship of prog rock imo |
Posted By: let prog reign
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 13:28
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Close To the Edge- Yes : whether you like it or not it's progressive as it gets. Lady Fantasy- Camel : any camel song on Mirage of Moonmadness is extremely progressive. 3, Almost 4, 6 Yea- Yezda Urfa : If you haven't heard this song, it's a perfect example of prog. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 13:34
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Supper's Ready - Genesis Close To The Edge - Yes Karn Evil 9 - ELP Odyssey - Dixie Dregs Yeah, that's four, so what? ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: ThinLizzy
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 13:44
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VDGG - Man Erg King Crimson - Epitaph Frank Zappa - Peaches En Regalia ------------- And then one day you find Ten years have got behind you No one told you when to run You missed the starting gun |
Posted By: jean-marie
Date Posted: January 23 2011 at 17:52
| 1 pink floyd echoes,2 tangerine dream rubycon, 3aphrodite's child the four horsemen |