As a person born in 1984, and listening to music since the late 90's, I've pretty much not been around during four decades of Rock music. 

So, when I want to fill the gaps in my knowledge, I come upon a great big pile of albums, with no real idea of where to start and what to listen to. Should I sort the albums by years ? By artists ? By Genres ? By Importance ?

How do you people cope with this ? What would you recommend me to do ?

You have to give us some hints of your preference at the moment so we can try and recomend some staff for you. Otherwise we can talk for hours about what we like instead of what will suit you.

Anyway, What I used to do is to hear staff and if I liked it I would get more of that. Today this is much easier. Go first to the more reviewed bands and take two from each style (like symphonic, art rock, space ..etc). Then download of those the free mp3 samples and listen. if you do'nt like it than live this style. If you do, dig on further.

I would start with these styles and bands :

symphonic - King crimson, Genesys, Yes, ELP - 70's staff

space - Pink floyd - anything from atom heart mother to the wall.

art rock - Robert Wyatt

folk prog - Jethro Tull - anything from stand up to the heavy horses.

That would do for a while !

omri wrote: You have to give us some hints of your preference at the moment so we can try and recomend some staff for you. Otherwise we can talk for hours about what we like instead of what will suit you.

That's the problem - I'm not talking about a specific style. I'm not even talking about Prog Rock alone. I just want to listen to the important albums - and there are a LOT of those...

O.K.

Then follow my instructions as liste on my primary answer.

You could also use the top 50 list as a guidance for the first months.

enjoy !

Well, the Beatles were both good AND commercial...

avoid the beatles.  stick with kylie minogue.  failing that, get...

led zep

rush

the mars volta

yes

santana

sunny day real estate - "the rising tide"

...these will give you a reasonable taster of different types of rock style music.

Begin with The Blues  ( Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Johnson )

Then Cream,Jimi Hendrix,The Doors

Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath

Then to the prog of things  ( Genesis, Gentle Giant, King Crimson )

By now you will hear from others what is essential.

Good luck

Contrary to what someone else wrote: Don't avoid the Beatles, soak up everything they did.

Also, spend a lot of time with Pink Floyd's "Piper at the Gates of Dawn."

I've decided to start with the 50's bands, and then try and find out what's interesting. And I'll take special notice of the bands you've mentioned.

Thanks everyone - you've been really helpful !

Hammill wrote: Vonarga wrote: As a person born in 1984, and listening to music since the late 90's, I've pretty much not been around during four decades of Rock music.  So, when I want to fill the gaps in my knowledge, I come upon a great big pile of albums, with no real idea of where to start and what to listen to. Should I sort the albums by years ? By artists ? By Genres ? By Importance ? How do you people cope with this ? What would you recommend me to do ? mate you can listen to whatever you want to. don't give a sh** if something is commercial or mainstream, if you like something then it's fine!!! just listen to what you really like and don't follow other people's opinion. BUY NOW ALL THE ALBUMS OF VDGG AND PETER HAMMILL ( just kidding)

Now that would be a severe cut into his budget. I never counted, but the official output of them should be somewhere between 50 and 60. Perhaps even more.