Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Top 10s and lists
Forum Description: List all your favourites here
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=98505 Printed Date: August 05 2025 at 02:42 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Great progressive rock songs with a piano introPosted By: Svetonio
Subject: Great progressive rock songs with a piano intro
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 11:43
I'll start the topic with Distant Vision by Kansas.
What an amazing song!
Replies: Posted By: Kirillov
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 11:48
Firth of Fifth is an obvious one.
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 12:04
Curved Air- Metamorphosis is the epitome of a classic prog epic with incredible piano intro , courtesy of a very young Eddie Jobson !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZAImsmFGhk
------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
Posted By: hobocamp
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 12:22
Great Gig in the Sky
Nothing too fancy, but beautiful chord progression.
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 12:23
Locomotive Breath!
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
-Kehlog Albran
Posted By: HemispheresOfXanadu
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 12:29
^Ack! Beat me to it!
Uhm, uhm...
^I dare ya to find a cooler 3 seconds of piano.
And an album interlude:
------------- https://twitter.com/ProgFollower" rel="nofollow - @ProgFollower on Twitter. Tweet me muzak.
Posted By: zachfive
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 15:24
The album Illusions on a Double Dimple starts out with a great piano piece, there are lyrics and it isn't that long, but the piano shines.
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 15:50
Awaken is the one that comes to mind that hasn't been said as of late, as well as The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
------------- Progrockdude
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 16:22
zachfive wrote:
The album Illusions on a Double Dimple starts out with a great piano piece, there are lyrics and it isn't that long, but the piano shines.
Ditto on that! Also Broken Mirror from the Triumvirat debut, Mediterranean Tales, one of their very best songs. And The School Of Instant Pain from their album Spartacus. Also Atomic Rooster's title track from Death Walks Behind You and Decision/Indecision from their album In Hearing Of spring to mind.
Posted By: Mind_Drive
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 16:46
this song... they played it live this year! seconds after me and my sister shouted "space-dye-vest! space-dye-vest" too awesome! xD
------------- It's just a ride... <3
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 19:29
Give a plug to "We Slept, We Dreamed" from the Perilous album, by Glass Hammer.
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 19:55
presdoug wrote:
zachfive wrote:
The album Illusions on a Double Dimple starts out with a great piano piece, there are lyrics and it isn't that long, but the piano shines.
Ditto on that! Also Broken Mirror from the Triumvirat debut, Mediterranean Tales, one of their very best songs. And The School Of Instant Pain from their album Spartacus. Also Atomic Rooster's title track from Death Walks Behind You and Decision/Indecision from their album In Hearing Of spring to mind.
I think Triumvirat - The History of Mystery - Part One (from Old Loves Die Hard) couldn't get without any mention, it also does have a very nice piano intro, and this track is also one more of my favourites from Triumvirat.
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 21:37
tszirmay wrote:
Curved Air- Metamorphosis is the epitome of a classic prog epic with incredible piano intro , courtesy of a very young Eddie Jobson !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZAImsmFGhk
Another very nice song indeed! I didn't know it yet - had recently knew some other Curved Air songs: Moonshine, Vivaldi and Vivaldi With Cannons, and enjoyed them very much, really stunning. Eddie Jobson is a "capo" with the violin, the female singer is excellent, and nice instrumental melodies performed by them. Would you have others to suggest me ?
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 21:41
Rick Robson wrote:
presdoug wrote:
zachfive wrote:
The album Illusions on a Double Dimple starts out with a great piano piece, there are lyrics and it isn't that long, but the piano shines.
Ditto on that! Also Broken Mirror from the Triumvirat debut, Mediterranean Tales, one of their very best songs. And The School Of Instant Pain from their album Spartacus. Also Atomic Rooster's title track from Death Walks Behind You and Decision/Indecision from their album In Hearing Of spring to mind.
I think Triumvirat - The History of Mystery - Part One (from Old Loves Die Hard) couldn't get without any mention, it also does have a very nice piano intro, and this track is also one more of my favourites from Triumvirat.
Good call, Ric, I was just listening to that and was about to add it. Great minds think alike, friend!
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 21:45
^Besides all the songs already mentioned in the thread, I think it would be nice to mention some other nice pieces of music with piano intro, being it brief or not. At least for me they are beautiful indeed:
Le Orme - Danza Della Pioggia (superb music!) Le Orme - Canto (nice and lovely too) Le Orme - Il Tempio Sul Lago Le Orme - Aliante Pink Floyd - Summer 68 Mostly Autumn - The Spirit of Autumn Past (Part 1) Rick Wakeman - Catherine Howard Rick Wakeman - 1984 Overture Mindgames - Both Sides Of The Show
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 21:46
presdoug wrote:
Rick Robson wrote:
presdoug wrote:
zachfive wrote:
The album Illusions on a Double Dimple starts out with a great piano piece, there are lyrics and it isn't that long, but the piano shines.
Ditto on that! Also Broken Mirror from the Triumvirat debut, Mediterranean Tales, one of their very best songs. And The School Of Instant Pain from their album Spartacus. Also Atomic Rooster's title track from Death Walks Behind You and Decision/Indecision from their album In Hearing Of spring to mind.
I think Triumvirat - The History of Mystery - Part One (from Old Loves Die Hard) couldn't get without any mention, it also does have a very nice piano intro, and this track is also one more of my favourites from Triumvirat.
Good call, Ric, I was just listening to that and was about to add it. Great minds think alike, friend!
Oh thanks Doug, I knew you would really appreciate to recall it... Cheers my friend!
EDIT:
Just knew some tracks from Pell Mell - Moldau (the one you posted a video), Toccata and From The New World, they sound really nice and interesting, and obviously these last two much influenced by the classical music, From The New World's intro is a version of the Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 4th mov. From Moldeau (more than 18 mins.) if I'm not wrong there is some strong but nice folk influence in the music, but enjoyed most the last part - a superb! guitar melody closing this genuine piece.
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 22:21
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - Genesis
Hammer in the Sand - Steve Hackett
Posted By: jgganeto
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 22:28
You guys are forgetting these AMAZING ones: (sorry if any of those don't apply correctly to this list, if so let me know)
"Vision" by the great Peter Hammill, just lovely http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpLB2Xgupy4 "Birds" by him as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2cGRh7x-ZE
"Tubular Bells" by great Mike Oldfield http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvBAu0PJ7A8
"Kiev" by Renaissance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_aFVlIcyFg "Prologue" by the same band is awesome too!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41H8smI0dJI
"Fritha Alone" by Camel (should be followed by the listening of the next album track "La Princesse Perdue") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCxoJBxqqI "Drafted" by Camel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOmzfN3Zi4Y
"Can't Get it Out of My Head" by Electric Light Orchestra. Hey I know they were Pop too, but they did Progressive as well so... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrffDM3hHk8
"A Volte un Instante di Quiete" by Locanda Delle Fate - Awesome Italian 70's prog band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T89C-R4SJMM
"Crime of The Century" by Supertramp, not much to a proper introduction maybe, but awesome song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um6DwfEi7v0
"A Dream within a Dream (instrumental) by The Allan Parsons Project... Same case from above here.... maybe too little to be consider as one introduction but the first sounds of the song are definitely a piano http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4sJrz3NNDU (btw I've sent all that amazing album on the link)
"Bourree" by Trace (if keyboard counts as well) if don't scratch that from my list... Awesome prog song tough http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExafsYwYTIY
Those are the one I remember from the top of my head... if I remember more I'll send them!
PS.: Sure I love the ones from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, but they are all known by you guys probably, so I wont even mention!
Cya
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 22:35
HackettFan wrote:
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway - Genesis
Hammer in the Sand - Steve Hackett
Hey, I couldn't forget Hammer in the Sand - Steve Hackett, but I wasn't sure if it applied here as that nice piano melody goes on through the entire song. Anyway it's really very well reminded.
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 22:46
jgganeto wrote:
You guys are forgetting these AMAZING ones: (sorry if any of those don't apply correctly to this list, if so let me know)
"Fritha Alone" by Camel (should be followed by the listening of the next album track "La Princesse Perdue") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCxoJBxqqI" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCxoJBxqqI
"A Volte un Instante di Quiete" by Locanda Delle Fate - Awesome Italian 70's prog band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T89C-R4SJMM
I really love those tracks you well mentioned, for the thread purpose I think Fritha Alone has the piano melody all over the music, but anyway it's nice to remind it.
A Volte un Instante di Quiete has indeed a piano intro, even though only 10 seconds. By the way that album is a superb masterpice, I think it can not miss in any RPI fan collection indeed.
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: Rick Robson
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 22:58
Rick Robson wrote:
jgganeto wrote:
You guys are forgetting these AMAZING ones: (sorry if any of those don't apply correctly to this list, if so let me know)
"Fritha Alone" by Camel (should be followed by the listening of the next album track "La Princesse Perdue") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCxoJBxqqI" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdCxoJBxqqI
"A Volte un Instante di Quiete" by Locanda Delle Fate - Awesome Italian 70's prog band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T89C-R4SJMM
I really love those tracks you well mentioned, for the thread purpose I think Fritha Alone has the piano melody all over the music, but anyway it's nice to remind it.
A Volte un Instante di Quiete has indeed a piano intro, even though only 10 seconds. By the way that album is a superb masterpice, I think it can not miss in any RPI fan collection indeed.
Hey, forgot to give you my greetings, welcome to party jgganeto! Nice to see another brasilian (aren't you) like me joining in the forum.
-------------
"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." LvB
Posted By: AreYouHuman
Date Posted: June 06 2014 at 23:05
Iron Butterfly – Fields of Sun
Pavlov’s Dog – Julia
Druid – Nothing But Morning
ELP – Trilogy
Caravan – Chiefs and Indians
Chicago -- Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
The Nice – Hang on to a Dream
Happy the Man – Carousel
PFM – Dove…Quando (live version)
------------- Caption: We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously.
Silly human race! Yes is for everybody!
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 00:04
Flying Dutchman by Jethro Tull. Very exquisitely arranged song from the Stormwatch album.
Running Hard by Renaissance.
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 01:51
tszirmay wrote:
Curved Air- Metamorphosis is the epitome of a classic prog epic with incredible piano intro , courtesy of a very young Eddie Jobson !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZAImsmFGhk
yep I love that track
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 02:02
Rick Wakeman - Catherine Howard
Martin Orford - Speed and Power
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 10:55
Can you understand, Running hard, Trip to the fair: Renaissance (In not sure if Locomotive Breath By Tull qualifies as a prog song?)
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 12:11
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 12:25
Okay, David Maxim Micic has been a great opening act, now fasten your seatbelts it's gonna be a bumpy ride
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 12:32
David Minasian - Blue Rain and Summer's End are piano spectaculars.
------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
Posted By: jgganeto
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 15:20
Rick Robson wrote:
Hey, forgot to give you my greetings, welcome to party jgganeto! Nice to see another brasilian (aren't you) like me joining in the forum.
Sim realmente sou Brasileiro :D (vou continuar no inglês para todos entenderem) all about the community!!!!
I'm very glad you like my recommendations... Been Loving progressive ROCK since I'm a little kid, my dad's influence you know...
Anyway, sorry if any of the songs didn't met the requirements... And thanks for the greetings... I always used to browse progressive archive forums but without an account.... when I saw this post I immediately wanted to contribute :D
Grande Abraço!
Posted By: Xonty
Date Posted: June 07 2014 at 17:05
Most Genesis songs, especially "Anyway" for me. Some good ones on "Pampered Menial", and "Take A Pebble" by ELP comes to mind. Must be thousands!
Posted By: Resonatine
Date Posted: June 11 2014 at 06:05
Taal : Wow! Thanks HemispheresOfXanadu for the great discovery! I am french and never heard of them before. The album "skymind" is really amazing!
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 11 2014 at 13:56
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 00:56
MFP wrote:
TD's Ricochet Pt. 2
Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 02:18
Abbey of Thelema by Gillan, who did a few proggy songs on their albums. It's about
the Satanist Aleister Crowley and has a simple but
atmospheric piano intro. Nice flute on the end too!
------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!"
"He's up the pub"
Posted By: JediJoker7169
Date Posted: June 13 2014 at 18:06
Maybe it's not "Prog" with a capital P, but they are on this site...
Posted By: MariusAA
Date Posted: June 20 2014 at 10:00
Neal Morse's Lifeline.
Posted By: prog4evr
Date Posted: June 22 2014 at 07:28
AreYouHuman wrote:
... ELP – Trilogy
... Chicago -- Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
The Nice – Hang on to a Dream
...
Along with the Wakeman, Yes, Genesis, and Hackett tracks already mentioned above, these three I edited above are also essential great prog songs with piano intros...
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 00:58
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 01:08
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 01:09
I think this must be worth including as its a stunning piece of piano playing and was used as an intro for the track Hello Sailor on Keith Emerson's solo album Honky.
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 08:39
JediJoker7169 wrote:
Maybe it's not "Prog" with a capital P, but they are on this site...
They are Prog to me.
Posted By: Argor
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 09:04
Well, these are some obvious ones too: Anglagard - Jordrok Gentle Giant - Just The Same Popol Vuh - Ah! Spirogyra - We Were A Happy Crew
And some new ones: Hiromi Uehara - Time Diference Iamthemorning - Burn; Circles; Weather Changing; Scotland; Would This Be Phideaux - Micro Softdeathstar; Waiting For The Axe To Fall Riverside - Conceiving You Steven Wilson - Raider II
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 23 2014 at 21:35
Posted By: infocat
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 02:17
It's a separate track, technically, but can we list IQ's "My Baby Treats Me Right 'Cos I'm a Hard Lovin' Man All Night Long", a piano "prelude" to "The Enemy Smacks"?
------------- -- Frank Swarbrick Belief is not Truth.
Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 02:54
Yes-Awaken
Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Genesis-The Lamia
Genesis-Firth of Fifth
Just a few that come to mind
------------- “War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four
"Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 03:01
http://www.progarchives.com/mp3.asp?id=381" rel="nofollow - Grobschnitt - Magic Train (one of my favourite piano intros)
infocat wrote:
It's a separate track, technically, but can we list IQ's "My Baby Treats Me Right 'Cos I'm a Hard Lovin' Man All Night Long", a piano "prelude" to "The Enemy Smacks"?
Good idea. Agreed.
-------------
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 03:35
Posted By: refugee
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 04:11
ABWH - The Meeting
------------- He say nothing is quite what it seems;
I say nothing is nothing
(Peter Hammill)
Posted By: refugee
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 04:24
Another good one is Fool’s Overture by Supertramp.
------------- He say nothing is quite what it seems;
I say nothing is nothing
(Peter Hammill)
Posted By: King Crimson776
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 05:18
The Doorway - Spock's Beard
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 14:21
someone_else wrote:
http://www.progarchives.com/mp3.asp?id=381" rel="nofollow - Grobschnitt - Magic Train (one of my favourite piano intros)
infocat wrote:
It's a separate track, technically, but can we list IQ's "My Baby Treats Me Right 'Cos I'm a Hard Lovin' Man All Night Long", a piano "prelude" to "The Enemy Smacks"?
Good idea. Agreed.
Also the organ at the beginning of The Enemy Smacks replicates the main them of the piano piece so its a perfect intro
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 14:25
One I heard today is Kayak - Relics From A Distant Age. Ton Scherpenzeel is so good that he makes a piano sound like a guitar.
Posted By: presdoug
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 16:47
Beggar's Opera-Stretcher
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 17:40
richardh wrote:
I think this must be worth including as its a stunning piece of piano playing and was used as an intro for the track Hello Sailor on Keith Emerson's solo album Honky.
That is just fantastic. Spritely, exuberant. Equally beautiful yet characteristically a world apart is Keith's "The Dreamer."
Posted By: Michael678
Date Posted: June 24 2014 at 18:19
i don't know if it was mentioned yet, but how about Supertramp's Rudy, at least if you don't count the train in there too after segueing from Dreamer.
------------- Progrockdude
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 25 2014 at 01:37
verslibre wrote:
richardh wrote:
I think this must be worth including as its a stunning piece of piano playing and was used as an intro for the track Hello Sailor on Keith Emerson's solo album Honky.
That is just fantastic. Spritely, exuberant. Equally beautiful yet characteristically a world apart is Keith's "The Dreamer."
Keith is just so great
I wanted to also put up Taxi Ride but I think its getting outside what the OP is asking for.
Posted By: AreYouHuman
Date Posted: June 28 2014 at 23:36
Angel, though more hard rock than prog, had a few prog-leaning numbers, including Feelings, which had a great obviously Emerson-inspired piano intro.
------------- Caption: We tend to take ourselves a little too seriously.
Silly human race! Yes is for everybody!
Posted By: Old King Cole
Date Posted: April 01 2015 at 10:47
Firth Of Fifth by Genesis
Posted By: justin4950834-2
Date Posted: April 01 2015 at 11:32
Storm by Godspeed You Black Emperor Uncle Remus by Frank Zappa God Speed The Plough by Stackridge
Posted By: sublime220
Date Posted: April 01 2015 at 18:17
Basically anything by Supertramp
------------- There is no dark side in the moon, really... Matter of fact, it's all dark...
Posted By: Phan2112
Date Posted: April 09 2015 at 18:28
4 pages and no love for Seeds of Gold by Neil Morse, kind of sad. Some of the best prog out there. And also on a lesser but still accurate note no Bat Out of Hell.
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: April 10 2015 at 04:59