Yarrr, I be a progger to the center of me bones.  Actually I'm pretty new to the genre:  I only got into it a year ago after hearing a friend comment that the stuff I was playing in my car (which, by the way, was Nobuo Uematsu's Black Mages CD) sounded exactly like ELP.  He was a bit off, but boy, what a discovery!  This is the start of my collection:

ELP - Their first 5 albums (Trilogy is my favourite)

Gentle Giant - Octopus

King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King

Triumvirat - Spartacus & Illusions on a Double Dimple

I've also tried out Dream Theatre and the Mars Volta, but they aren't the kind of prog I really like, although I can still appreciate them in their own arena. 

I'm not too keen of the YES I've heard, but it's possible that I've been sampling the wrong material (I borrowed Relayer from a friend, thought it sucked; maybe should try something with Wakeman on it?)

I'm also a novice bass player who hopes to stand out amongst the crowd for having pirate-themed prog-rock musical aspiritions.

Welcome Id!!  First off, I MUST comment about Yes. "Relayer" is one of the LAST 70's albums of theirs I would start with (second only to Tales from Topographic Oceans).  Get Fragile first. Many will say that Close to the Edge is the best Yes album and that might be true but I really believe Fragile is the best Yes album to get to start with the band. It has the most popular songs (including "Roundabout") that they made as well as being a kick-a$$ album.

Octopus is a GREAT start in GG. Good job!

Some of the next albums I would choose for you to try next would be Jethro Tull's "Thick As a Brick", Genesis' "Selling England By the Pound" and "Mirage" by Camel.

After those you might want to try groups like Rush, Pink Floyd, Kansas, PFM and Van der Graaf Generator.

Let us know how it's going

Welcome (from another newbie)!

Just wanted to say - that's really funny, the way I got into Yes was Relayer.  In retrospect, having now listened to the majority of their output, it's amazing I kept listening, having started off with that one. Another good one of theirs is The Yes Album.

But then again I'm also the kid who can't stand Trilogy. For me, it's the eponymous ELP and Tarkus.

And I like your pirate-love.  Clearly that's awesome!

Sounding out now

little_neutrino wrote: Welcome (from another newbie)! Just wanted to say - that's really funny, the way I got into Yes was Relayer.  In retrospect, having now listened to the majority of their output, it's amazing I kept listening, having started off with that one. Another good one of theirs is The Yes Album. But then again I'm also the kid who can't stand Trilogy. For me, it's the eponymous ELP and Tarkus. And I like your pirate-love.  Clearly that's awesome! Sounding out now

I agree with everything you said!  Relayer is NOT the album from Yes to start with and the Yes Album I like very much.

I don't care much for Trilogy either. In fact, it's my least favorite of ELP's first 5 albums. I didn't care much for Pictures at an Exhibition. My favore ELP is Tarkus, the first album and then BSS.