Thanks for mentioning Barrie Barlow, often overlooked when prog drummers are discussed. So much character and groove in his playing, similar to John Weathers from Gentle Giant
1. Supper’s Ready 2. Close to the Edge 3. Echoes 4. Starless 5. Fracture 6. Tarkus 7. Atom Heart Mother Suite 8. Aqualung 9. Dogs 10. And You And I 11. Modern Music Suite 12. Battle of Epping Forrest
Fantastic selection of classic prog epics chosen Mr Classic Album Review 👍 Here's my 10 modern Prog rock epics: Aranami - Wonder (23:29) 2023 The Far Meadow - Travelogue (18:36) 2019 Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere (20:59) 2017 Crowned Lands - Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II (18:23) 2023 Magenta - The White Witch (20:23) 2001 Moon Safari - Other Half of the Sky (31:44) 2008 Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic (35:44) 2008 Echolyn - Mei (49:33) 2002 Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize (17:52) 2007 Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard (22:53) 2009 Honourable mentions: Transatlantic - Whirlwind (2009), Sky Architect - The Curious One (2013), Karfagen - Land of Green (2022)
10 - Duel With The Devil, Transatlantic 9 - Nine Feet Underground, Caravan 8 - Anesthetize, Porcupine Tree 7 - If The Sun, Glass Hammer 6 - Echoes, Pink Floyd 5 - Harvest Of Souls, IQ 4 - The Underfall Yard, Big Big Train 3 - Awaken, YES 2 - Close To The Edge, YES 1 - Supper’s Ready, Genesis That’s todays epics. Some of them could change tomorrow, although the top five are pretty well nailed on…
I always had difficulty with Pawn Hearts, because it is so very densely crowded with sounds. Almost claustrophobic in a sense. It wasn't until I finally heard the album in 5.1 Surround (in the Charisma Years box), that I finally embraced it. In 5.1, the sounds are spaced apart and one can discern them so much better, which greatly aids in understanding it. For me, it was a revelation!
I love Dogs, but for prog epics from Floyd I’d have to go with Echoes. And while Close to the Edge stands out as a masterpiece, the Gates of Delirium also ranks for me. I understand your choice of Tarkus, but I would have been more inclined towards Karen Evil 9. I don’t know them well enough to pinpoint a particular track, but the Mars Volta are certainly epic. Same goes for Porcupine Tree. Thanks for these lists. I recently discovered Wobbler due to you, and this list has some music hitherto unexplored by me so I am looking forward to checking the list out in its entirety.
Ocean Cloud ia one the finest songs Marillion has ever created, regardless of lead singer. Great to see it included here. I don't always agree with your lists, but I always discover something new to challenge my opinions and perceptions - keep up the good work, Sir!
My favorites are Going for the One, Close to the Edge, Relayer, Steven Wilson's The Raven Refuse to Sing. Genesis Selling England by the Pound, Wind and Wuthering, Rush Permanent Waves, Hemispheres, Transatlantic Bridge Across Forever, ELP Works Vol 1, Pink Floyd The Wall. Thank you for sharing.
Interesting list. I' like to add Amon Duul II "Yeti" (18 min) or " The Marylin Monroe Memorial Church" (18:05 min) from Tanz der Lemminge. I also missed Rick Wakeman's "The myth and legends of King Arthur".
I would include one of Roy Harper's epics in there somewhere. Choose from Circle, McGoohan's Blues, Me And My Woman, The Lord's Prayer, One Of Those Days In England, The Game or Work Of Heart.
Here's a few I happen to like. Some may have been mentioned in the comments already, others not. The Alan Parsons Project - The Fall of the House of Usher/To One in Paradise Caravan - Nine Feet Underground Citizen Cain - Somewhere but Yesterday Earth & Fire - Atlantis suite Earth & Fire - Song of the Marching Children Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman The Enid - In the Region of the Summer Stars suite IQ - The Last Human Gateway IQ - The Outer Limits/The Wake/The Magic Roundabout K2 - Book of the Dead Chapter 1: Infinite Voyage Karnataka - Secrets of Angels The Nice - Ars Longa Vita Brevis suite The Nice - Five Bridges suite Pattern-Seeking Animals - Lifeboat Pendragon - Queen of Hearts suite Procol Harum - In Held 'twas in I Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure Twelfth Night - The Collector Twelfth Night - Sequences (vocal version) Well, that's 20 to be going on with, and plenty more where that came from!
'Starless' is a crushing black opus that invokes hopeless sadness. Marvelous. Completely agree with your enthusiasm for 'Dogs'. So hard to pick one from PF but this is a fine choice. 'Supper's Ready' deserves a much higher ranking, but I struggle to think of which one it would displace.
I think I would put Yes “Awaken” on top of the list. It was a long time since I was interested in Progressive Rock, but I would also put “Firth Of Fifth” by Genesis in there.
Supper's Ready and Plague of Lighthouse Keepers are closely related for me as I discovered them nearly at the same time. My friend had the honor of being called a "wanker" by Armando Gallo for not giving up his seat on Cruise to the Edge a few years ago.
"Mother Nature's bastard child" I will take Grendel over any Hogarth's stuff. And Lizard by King Crimson is overlooked. Also Renaissance Song of Scheherazade.
I have to say I agree with this video 100% , I remember buying most of the albums mentioned especially Foxtrot, Close to the Edge, Thick as a Brick , Tarkus and 2112 being my favourite at that time. You have an excellent vocabulary, I guess you could have been an English teacher in a past life 😂
Your obviously a lyric guy Barry, I wouldnt have known what any of those epics where about even though I know them well. 1.YES-Close To The Edge 2.ELP-Karn Evil 9 1st Impression 3.Transatlantic-The Whirlwind 4.Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence- Dream Theater 5. Singring & the Glass Guitar-Utopia 6.Hemispheres-Rush 7.Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part 1 - Pink Floyd 8.Paradise / The Spell- Uriah Heep 9. Stardust We Are-The Flowerkings 10. Song of Seven-Jon Anderson
I think for the sake of this exercise, you can included all of Karn Evil Impressions and all parts of Shine on you Crazy Diamonds. I believe Shine On is 9 parts in total, so part 1 alone really doesn't constitute an epic.
As usual, your opinions are not far off from mine. 2112 while not my go-to Rush (I prefer Signals & Grace, but they clearly don't fit here), is spot-on. Animals IMO, is legacy, PF's best album. Suppers Ready and Close to the Edge will likely never have any competition in regard to being at the top of the prog, saga hill. For your consideration, some off the beaten path prog-influenced suggestions: (TH-cam): "Scenes from the Box - topic" (songs: Insomnia, Hello Bicycle, Jellyfish, and Hollywood Compass).
I'll throw in 1. Awaken---Yes 2, Gates Of Delirium ----Yes. 3. Tarkus----live version, ELP 4. Karn Evil 9, live version, ELP 5. Suppers Ready---Genesis 6. Thick As A Brick---Jethro Tull 7. Sequences 2018 --Twelfth Night 8. Syzygy---MOTH live version. 9. Kansas---Magnum Opus, live version. 10. Day Of The Baphomets--The Mars Volta.
Some new epics for me to have a listen to there. Love Close to the Edge & 2112 but No1 for me would be Supper's Ready - like you I never tire of it. I decided at one point that I would give Plague of Lighthouse Keepers a fair go - listened to it every morning for 7 days and now love it. Especially the keyboard in the middle and the guitar at the end - had no idea that was Fripp. As I write this I see someone below has nominated Anesthetize by Porcupine Tree - I agree - I just listened to the live version this morning and that's another one with a guest guitarist, Alex from Rush.
All are good choices, Barry. I had to make a concerted effort to to get to know the Pawn Hearts album. It is not soothing music, nor is the subject matter pleasant. When I eventually overcame the shock of it and relaxed into it, I find it to be one of the most challenging and rewarding of albums. I would replace your choice of Yes' Close to the Edge with Relayer instead. The first side deals with the insanity of war, and is based on War and Peace according to Jon Anderson. Like Pawn Hearts, it took me years to fully appreciate this album. Whenever I listen to Relayer, I consider it to be the equivalent of a musical roller coaster ride; one goes through the twists and turns of the Gates of Delirium, eventually ending at the hymn-like, Soon. You know you have just gone through a journey after listening to it.
I enjoyed your list and your rationale for the choices. You are always very erudite, and your description of Roger Waters' singing style had me chuckling in glee. It's definitely an acquired taste, isn't it? One suggestion I'd have to add to your list would be Focus' "Hamburger Concerto."
An excellent set of reviews. I am glad you support Animals, surely the naysayers among the Floyd fans would Johnny-come-latelys or fuddy-duddy traditionalists, this was honed by more than a year of touring and tinkering, perfected into a perfectly focussed crystal of raging reflection on the world in a way the crazy diamond and prisms never could be. A perfect counterpoint to punk.
I thought the ending of 2112 meant that the Priests had won but according to Rush the "solar federation" were the ancient race of man returning to take control.
Same, I always interpreted the story as Earth had regressed after an initial burst to the stars and became a repressive theocracy. Starman (Paul Stanley?!) finds an ancient guitar from the old times, gets repressed, and gives up just as the "Solar Federation" returns to reclaim Earth and overthrow the Priests. Whether they're better or just as bad is never revealed. Time for "2122 - The Aftermath"?
You couldn’t argue with any of those, apart from possibly the order but all definitely and clearly fabulous pieces of Music. My number one would be Supper’s Ready and two Ocean Cloud. I’m going to check out those three recommendations given at the end.
"Thick As A Brick" and "Dogs" and "Starless" are my favourites from your list. Pink Floyd's "Echoes" from MEDDLE would also get a nod from me. My favourite potential epic from ANIMALS are all three of the animals - "Pigs" and "Sheep" and "Dogs" - depending on the day of the week.
Can’t argue with Yes (I’d go Awaken though), Crimson and Tull. As an alternative to the ‘classics’ though how about: Inca Roads by Zappa which remains ‘mind-shagging’ly brilliant and virtuosic to this day; The ‘Child is the Father of the Man / Surf’s Up’ section of Smile by the Beach Boys? Home Invasion / Regret #9 by Steven Wilson which is very moving, particularly when you place it in context in the narrative of the album; The Everso Closely Guarded Line by Cardiacs which has more than a touch of Awaken about it in certain passages?
I see what you mean about Pawn Hearts being not for the prog faint of heart. I gave A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers a listen and had to put some Sex Pistols on shortly afterwards as a bit of a palate cleanser. At least I now know that the follwing track, Theme One was the theme tune to Tommy Vance's friday night connection quiz on the Friday Rock Show.
Great point, I would put Crime of the Century by Supertramp or /and Rudy. If you look at the cover like I did in 1975 you see yourself in Space listening to these tracks.
I would definitely agree with most of those top 10 choices, certainly 2112 and Suppers Ready. But id like to throw in a few dark horse favorites. “ A Tab in the Ocean “ by Nektar, “ The Last Human Gateway “ by IQ, and “ In Held ‘Twas In I “ from Procol Harem. That one and “ Eruption “ by Focus are rather forgotten but worth mentioning.
Pretty good (of course, subjective) list. I think Lark’s Tongue instead of K Crimson’s “Red” would been better. 10 is almost an impossible task- I realize. But I mighta’ squeezed Gentle Giant in place of someone. Perhaps in place of Marillion (‘cause Foxtrot)? Octopus in fact. But you’re taking the effort to run your channel, so. . . Cheers from The States.
Great list. Jon Anderson can say whatever he wants about the inspiration for close to the dge, nobody understands what he's talking about. Funny enough I have all these records. Cheers!
Although not a prog band, I'd give the Grateful Dead's Terrapin Part 1 from Terrapin Station an honourable mention (or I would for a live version of it at any rate).
Really good list. There are a lot of them I agree with. Here's my 10 1 Suppers Ready by Genesis 2 2112 by Rush 3 Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden 4 Tarkus by ELP 5 A Fools Overture by Supertramp 6 Kuiama by ELO 7 Care by Marillion 8 Movement For The Common Man by Styx 9 The Silent Spring by Yes 10 Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
I love the fact that you included the track from Octavarium, perhaps my fave album by D.T. (and not often considered as highly). Might I suggest the following alternative tracks (in no particular order): 1. "The Remembering", Yes (from TFTO); 2. "A Passion Play", Jethro Tull; 3. "Nine Feet Underground", Caravan (In the Land of Grey and Pink); 4. "Echoes", Pink Floyd (from Meddle); 4. "Duke" (entire suite), Genesis (from Duke); 5. "Mei", Echolyn (from Mei); 6."A Tab in the Ocean", Nektar (from A Tab in the Ocean); 7. "Illusions on a Double Dimple", Triumvirat (from Illusions on a Double Dimple); 8. "Crying for Help", Arena (spread over several albums). 9. "Karn Evil 9", ELP (from Karn Evil 9)' 10. "Down by the Sea", Strawbs (from Bursting at the Seams) - just had to include something by Strawbs, often overlooked as one of the early seminal prog rock bands, maybe because of their strong folk influence.
VdGG have the top 10 Meurglys III A Louse Is Not A Home A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers Man-erg Childlike Faith In Childhood's End The Sleepwalkers Pioneer Over c Lemmings Arrow Lost HM - The Emperor In His War Room
I’m curious if you’ve ever heard the ‘Art Rock Suite’ off the National Lampoon’s ‘Goodbye Pop’ LP from 1976. It was created by Christopher Guest and Paul Schaefer, and is a brilliant parody of most of the Prog and Art Rock bands from that time period, with each passage in the song being a send up of a specific band. By the way, I’d love to see a Worst to Best countdown of the works of Henry Cow and Art Bears.
Porcupine Tree's Arriving Somewhere But Not Here (12min), Anesthetize (17 min) and Moonloop (40 min) would all make my Top 10. The other 7 would all be by Yes.
…and pre-dating them all: Touch (1968 -led by Don Gallucci). The whole album fits the stated criterion, but if we need to limit things to a single piece, then the album-ending “Seventyfive”.
'Mind shaggery' is awesome, worthy of, at least, the first part of 'Ulysses' when it assumes a semi conventional form before going full on classical allusion/ subjective reality, and thereby becoming a bit 'mind buggery'. Anyway, most excellent work and a lark in the process.
I get your point, but I do prefer to keep it to one song per artist, otherwise they become to dominated by the prog bands I love. So, with this one I consider all those wonderful Yes epics - and just allow one. Maybe that's a tad dishonest, but I do like to give other bands a crack of the whip
Some obvious ones there, but a good list nevertheless👍 Just a nod to: song of scheherazade, The Underfall Yard & East Coast Racer by Big Big Train. Once around the world by It Bites, Eruption by Focus, El Dorado by Marillion and last but not least, Milliontown by Frost* 👍
An interesting take on this kind of list, as ever. Populated by the usual suspects, although I would have found room for Mike Oldfield, Camel and Porcupine Tree, probably at the expense of the more ‘challenging’ VDGG, King Crimson & ELP.
The band that's always left off these lists is Nektar, and the track that belongs here is Remember the Future. Like TAAB it spans a full album and objectively it stands up to any of the songs included here. I wonder if people have heard this band, and if so, why Nektar is rarely counted among the prog greats.
You are right, Van Der Graf Generators "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" is a right-of-passage listen! It's near impossible to listen to!! Dream Theater is my Favourite Band and I always pick the track "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" (complete version) over "Octovarium"! Some good choices in your list though! 🤘🏻
2112, and Animals are real good albums! I love the song "Poseidon's Creation" from the Eloy album 'Ocean' from 1977. There's a newer updated version of that song from 1993 that sounds even better!!
i always considered Alan Parsons Project's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allen Poe" a prog rock epos, and one of the best. and I think Yes' "Endless Dream" is pretty cool.
Always interested in your views Barry and wouldn't argue much with your choices. Would you have placed Eruption by Focus anywhere near your top 10? I still enjoy it and think it is well structured.
@@fabrikk60 just gonna name some bands. The songs you'll have to check out yourself. The Trip Osanna Goblin Perigeo La cofradia de la flor solar Il balletto di bronzo Il bacio della medusa Murple Zarathustra Banco del mutuo soccorso PFM Le orme Good luck.
As good as "dogs" is , I have to go with Shine on You Crazy Diamond as my #1 prog epic of all time,followed closely by Close to the Edge. My third personal favorite is Steve Hillage Fish Rising. Rounding out my top 5 are Suppers Ready and Caravan's Nine Feet Underground. If Thick as a Brick was only side 1,then it would probably be my favorite,but I find the second side of the recored tedious. I actually think Passion Play works better as a full album track,which I get is controversial
I know it's a top 10 but I'd try to find a way to include something by IQ (Last Human Gateway or the Narrow Margin, or Until the End - I could go on...), Pallas' Atlantis, Spock's Beard "The Light". Not a fan of Animals so I'd opt for Shine on or Echos to represent Floyd. With VDGG I prefer Man-Erg if that's epic enough for you
Another great video -- even though I don't listen to much prog, it remains interesting. One of the other reasons I really like your videos are the references to writers like Ruskin, Eliot, Thomas, Ginsberg -- not for the sake of wankery, but to be clear and complete in trying to describe what is important about them. I really appreciate that.
"Starless" should've been on Starless & Bible Black, but Fripp and Bruford dismissed it. One year later they needed more songs for Red so Fripp and Bruford took another look and went "oh shit that's a masterpiece let's use it"
Are you sure that's completely accurate? I know Starless was written before the Red session and performed on tour with the previous lineup, but I have a hard time believing that they left it off because they didn't didn't realize how good it was. If so, why did they play it live so much the previous tour? Sometimes bands hold songs over for various reasons.
@@willyupshaw - I remember reading that the lyrics weren't in the final form was why it wasn't on SIBB. Richard Palmer-James was sending the lyrics to the band by (snail) mail, so it took some time to get things right.
Bruford actually wrote (on piano) one of the main musical parts of Starless, so I doubt that he undervalued it. I think that the piece was simply viewed as not complete enough for SABB. The earlier live versions all have violin playing the main melody, and it was greatly improved when Fripp's gorgeously-sustained guitar later took over the violin's role. Also those early live versions have some different lyrics, which aren't nearly as good as the ones on the final studio version.
This channel is obsessed with Tales. It doesn't belong on this list and I'm glad it wasn't included, but he still couldn't get through a video without mentioning it.
There are a couple of albums on the list like animals 77, close to the edge 72, which are in bad taste to mention (yes, for sure) because they are very obvious favorites. It's nice to see Octavarium 2005, a really interesting album, unlike many of their other uninteresting albums. I want to recommend you a couple of albums that you may not have heard: Blackfield 2004; Finally George - Life is a killer 2018
It's never an easy task to compile a list of the best progressive rock albums. I would have chosen H to He Who Am The Only One by Van Der Graaf Generator. In The Land Of Grey And Pink by Caravan. You by Gong. Fish Rising by Steve Hillage. Tago Mago by Can. Wolf City by Amon Duul 2. Rubycon by Tangerine Dream. In The Court of The Crimson King by king Crimson. Warrior On The Edge of Time by Hawkind along with Close to the Edge, as it's the best album Yes produced. I was never a big fan of ELP as I found their music to be pompous and ridiculous so for me none of their albums would make the list. Matching Moles Little Red Album and albums such as Down To Earth or A Tab In The Ocean by Nektar are far more interesting than anything ELP ever cut. ☺️👍
Always loved dogs by the Floyd, probably their most underrated track in my opinion. Not really a Yes Fan but Going for the One is one my top five albums of all time and the track Tale of the Century one my favourite songs of all time, Awaken sounds pretty awesome to me as well. At the end of the day music is down to personal choice, you either like a song or you don't, it doesn't mean it is any better or worse than someone else's choices.
Nice you've included Octavarium by Dream Theater. Not their best album, but it has some excellent songs. I personally prefer "A change of seasons", probably their ultimate epic song.
I find musically speaking that Rush's 2112 track contains a dull midsection. The opening salvo and coda are superb but the restrained and prolonged mid section is rather meandering. Personally the title track from Hemispheres and Natural Science are more enticing.
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Thanks for mentioning Barrie Barlow, often overlooked when prog drummers are discussed. So much character and groove in his playing, similar to John Weathers from Gentle Giant
Close to the Edge is a masterpiece. If I could only listen to one album for the rest of my life, this would be it.
Totally! 💯%
I've listened to Close to the Edge a few times. I really WANT to love it, but I just don't. Is something wrong with me?
@@vagabond197979 Yes. I think you should seek counseling on this. 😏
@@vagabond197979 Nothing wrong with you. Not everyone has to like the same thing. You do you and don't give a crap about what others think.
1. Supper’s Ready 2. Close to the Edge 3. Echoes 4. Starless 5. Fracture 6. Tarkus 7. Atom Heart Mother Suite 8. Aqualung 9. Dogs 10. And You And I 11. Modern Music Suite 12. Battle of Epping Forrest
Bravo! Your narrative on these selections are searingly brilliant, evocative and spot on. Thank you.
Fantastic selection of classic prog epics chosen Mr Classic Album Review 👍
Here's my 10 modern Prog rock epics:
Aranami - Wonder (23:29) 2023
The Far Meadow - Travelogue (18:36) 2019
Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere (20:59) 2017
Crowned Lands - Starlifter: Fearless Pt. II (18:23) 2023
Magenta - The White Witch (20:23) 2001
Moon Safari - Other Half of the Sky (31:44) 2008
Beardfish - Sleeping In Traffic (35:44) 2008
Echolyn - Mei (49:33) 2002
Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize (17:52) 2007
Big Big Train - The Underfall Yard (22:53) 2009
Honourable mentions: Transatlantic - Whirlwind (2009), Sky Architect - The Curious One (2013), Karfagen - Land of Green (2022)
Starlifter by Crowned Lands is absolute barn-burner.
1. Tarkus-ELP. 2. Eruption-Focus. 3. Lizard-King Crimson. 4. Gates of Delirium-Yes. 5. A Plague of Lighthouse Keeper-Van Der Graff Generator. 6. Supper's Ready-Genesis. 7. In Held Twas In I- Procol Harum. 8. Echoes-Pink Floyd. 9. Illumination Theory-Dream Theater. 10. Grendel-Marillion.
Great list
Grendel? A lame Supper’s Ready pripoff!
10 - Duel With The Devil, Transatlantic
9 - Nine Feet Underground, Caravan
8 - Anesthetize, Porcupine Tree
7 - If The Sun, Glass Hammer
6 - Echoes, Pink Floyd
5 - Harvest Of Souls, IQ
4 - The Underfall Yard, Big Big Train
3 - Awaken, YES
2 - Close To The Edge, YES
1 - Supper’s Ready, Genesis
That’s todays epics. Some of them could change tomorrow, although the top five are pretty well nailed on…
I laughed out loud when you said mindshaggery. You are quite the wordsmith.
Never mind the music, listen to the reviewer
How about listening to both? @@RAFchurchlawford4469
Good list, obviously there's more. Lady Fantasy, Tubular Bells, Echoes, Nine Feet Underground, Song of Scheherazade, multiple other Yes songs.
Glad to see 2112 in there, but for me the Hemispheres title piece is even stronger.
I've thought that same thing for a while. 2112 is more "iconic", I guess.
I always had difficulty with Pawn Hearts, because it is so very densely crowded with sounds. Almost claustrophobic in a sense. It wasn't until I finally heard the album in 5.1 Surround (in the Charisma Years box), that I finally embraced it. In 5.1, the sounds are spaced apart and one can discern them so much better, which greatly aids in understanding it. For me, it was a revelation!
I love Dogs, but for prog epics from Floyd I’d have to go with Echoes. And while Close to the Edge stands out as a masterpiece, the Gates of Delirium also ranks for me. I understand your choice of Tarkus, but I would have been more inclined towards Karen Evil 9. I don’t know them well enough to pinpoint a particular track, but the Mars Volta are certainly epic. Same goes for Porcupine Tree. Thanks for these lists. I recently discovered Wobbler due to you, and this list has some music hitherto unexplored by me so I am looking forward to checking the list out in its entirety.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond is tops as is Echoes and Atom Heart Mother Suite. Karn Evil 9, Gates of Delirium, The Pinnacle, Fools Overture
Ocean Cloud ia one the finest songs Marillion has ever created, regardless of lead singer. Great to see it included here. I don't always agree with your lists, but I always discover something new to challenge my opinions and perceptions - keep up the good work, Sir!
I’d add The Adventures of Greggery Peccary by FZ. For mini-epics I submit Pantagruel’s Nativity by GG and The Everso Closely Guarded Line by Cardiacs.
The snow goose by Camel is a beautiful, epic, and Journey to the centre of the earth by Mr Wakeman.
Barry you are a man of surprises, on a Prog subject you wear a Motörhead t-shirt, nice one !
Yes I am!
My favorites are Going for the One, Close to the Edge, Relayer, Steven Wilson's The Raven Refuse to Sing. Genesis Selling England by the Pound, Wind and Wuthering, Rush Permanent Waves, Hemispheres, Transatlantic Bridge Across Forever, ELP Works Vol 1, Pink Floyd The Wall. Thank you for sharing.
I feel like he's indirectly trolling me for not finishing Ulysses.
I promise i'll do it before the end of the year!
"[Animals] . . . is just not their bag of feed."
🤣 This is one of the reasons I love your videos.
Interesting list. I' like to add Amon Duul II "Yeti" (18 min) or " The Marylin Monroe Memorial Church" (18:05 min) from Tanz der Lemminge.
I also missed Rick Wakeman's "The myth and legends of King Arthur".
Great list and hard to fault. A few personal faves are
Moonloop - Porcupine Tree
The Crossroads - Southern Empire
Echoes - Pink Floyd
The 40 minute Moonloop by Porcupine Tree has been one of my most listened to CD's for the past 5 years. You can play it no matter what you are doing.
Would have liked to see Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood in there ❤
Dogs in my fave Floyd song by miles. Mesmerising
Yep, it's an awesome tune, i love it to death too.
My favourite Pink Floyd song too and from my favourite album by them.
I would include one of Roy Harper's epics in there somewhere. Choose from Circle, McGoohan's Blues, Me And My Woman, The Lord's Prayer, One Of Those Days In England, The Game or Work Of Heart.
Here's a few I happen to like. Some may have been mentioned in the comments already, others not.
The Alan Parsons Project - The Fall of the House of Usher/To One in Paradise
Caravan - Nine Feet Underground
Citizen Cain - Somewhere but Yesterday
Earth & Fire - Atlantis suite
Earth & Fire - Song of the Marching Children
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Memoirs of an Officer and a Gentleman
The Enid - In the Region of the Summer Stars suite
IQ - The Last Human Gateway
IQ - The Outer Limits/The Wake/The Magic Roundabout
K2 - Book of the Dead Chapter 1: Infinite Voyage
Karnataka - Secrets of Angels
The Nice - Ars Longa Vita Brevis suite
The Nice - Five Bridges suite
Pattern-Seeking Animals - Lifeboat
Pendragon - Queen of Hearts suite
Procol Harum - In Held 'twas in I
Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure
Twelfth Night - The Collector
Twelfth Night - Sequences (vocal version)
Well, that's 20 to be going on with, and plenty more where that came from!
'Starless' is a crushing black opus that invokes hopeless sadness. Marvelous.
Completely agree with your enthusiasm for 'Dogs'. So hard to pick one from PF but this is a fine choice.
'Supper's Ready' deserves a much higher ranking, but I struggle to think of which one it would displace.
I think I would put Yes “Awaken” on top of the list. It was a long time since I was interested in Progressive Rock, but I would also put “Firth Of Fifth” by Genesis in there.
Close to the edge, flight of the Snow goose,The Wall, Thick as a brick, Metropolis 2 , Scenes from a memory (live), Animals, Moon madness
We share so many common music points. Keep writing and I'll keep listening.
Very nice! I am working on a list of epics 15 minutes and greater, mostly prog, but a few prog metal and metal epics as well.
Supper's Ready and Plague of Lighthouse Keepers are closely related for me as I discovered them nearly at the same time. My friend had the honor of being called a "wanker" by Armando Gallo for not giving up his seat on Cruise to the Edge a few years ago.
"Mother Nature's bastard child" I will take Grendel over any Hogarth's stuff. And Lizard by King Crimson is overlooked. Also Renaissance Song of Scheherazade.
I have to say I agree with this video 100% , I remember buying most of the albums mentioned especially Foxtrot, Close to the Edge, Thick as a Brick , Tarkus and 2112 being my favourite at that time.
You have an excellent vocabulary, I guess you could have been an English teacher in a past life 😂
Your obviously a lyric guy Barry, I wouldnt have known what any of those epics where about even though I know them well.
1.YES-Close To The Edge
2.ELP-Karn Evil 9 1st Impression
3.Transatlantic-The Whirlwind
4.Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence- Dream Theater
5. Singring & the Glass Guitar-Utopia
6.Hemispheres-Rush
7.Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part 1 - Pink Floyd
8.Paradise / The Spell- Uriah Heep
9. Stardust We Are-The Flowerkings
10. Song of Seven-Jon Anderson
I think for the sake of this exercise, you can included all of Karn Evil Impressions and all parts of Shine on you Crazy Diamonds. I believe Shine On is 9 parts in total, so part 1 alone really doesn't constitute an epic.
As usual, your opinions are not far off from mine. 2112 while not my go-to Rush (I prefer Signals & Grace, but they clearly don't fit here), is spot-on. Animals IMO, is legacy, PF's best album. Suppers Ready and Close to the Edge will likely never have any competition in regard to being at the top of the prog, saga hill. For your consideration, some off the beaten path prog-influenced suggestions: (TH-cam): "Scenes from the Box - topic" (songs: Insomnia, Hello Bicycle, Jellyfish, and Hollywood Compass).
I'll throw in
1. Awaken---Yes
2, Gates Of Delirium ----Yes.
3. Tarkus----live version, ELP
4. Karn Evil 9, live version, ELP
5. Suppers Ready---Genesis
6. Thick As A Brick---Jethro Tull
7. Sequences 2018 --Twelfth Night
8. Syzygy---MOTH live version.
9. Kansas---Magnum Opus, live version.
10. Day Of The Baphomets--The Mars Volta.
Yea... Gates of Delirium.
Title track of Pawn Hearts?????
I have to thank you for putting me onto Wobbler, all the elements of classic prog I love with just enough "excess" to truly give it validation.
Glad you enjoy it!
Some new epics for me to have a listen to there. Love Close to the Edge & 2112 but No1 for me would be Supper's Ready - like you I never tire of it. I decided at one point that I would give Plague of Lighthouse Keepers a fair go - listened to it every morning for 7 days and now love it. Especially the keyboard in the middle and the guitar at the end - had no idea that was Fripp. As I write this I see someone below has nominated Anesthetize by Porcupine Tree - I agree - I just listened to the live version this morning and that's another one with a guest guitarist, Alex from Rush.
All are good choices, Barry.
I had to make a concerted effort to to get to know the Pawn Hearts album. It is not soothing music, nor is the subject matter pleasant. When I eventually overcame the shock of it and relaxed into it, I find it to be one of the most challenging and rewarding of albums.
I would replace your choice of Yes' Close to the Edge with Relayer instead. The first side deals with the insanity of war, and is based on War and Peace according to Jon Anderson. Like Pawn Hearts, it took me years to fully appreciate this album. Whenever I listen to Relayer, I consider it to be the equivalent of a musical roller coaster ride; one goes through the twists and turns of the Gates of Delirium, eventually ending at the hymn-like, Soon. You know you have just gone through a journey after listening to it.
I enjoyed your list and your rationale for the choices. You are always very erudite, and your description of Roger Waters' singing style had me chuckling in glee. It's definitely an acquired taste, isn't it? One suggestion I'd have to add to your list would be Focus' "Hamburger Concerto."
Good choice
Excellent insight of Crimson's "Starless"!
An excellent set of reviews. I am glad you support Animals, surely the naysayers among the Floyd fans would Johnny-come-latelys or fuddy-duddy traditionalists, this was honed by more than a year of touring and tinkering, perfected into a perfectly focussed crystal of raging reflection on the world in a way the crazy diamond and prisms never could be. A perfect counterpoint to punk.
I thought the ending of 2112 meant that the Priests had won but according to Rush the "solar federation" were the ancient race of man returning to take control.
Same, I always interpreted the story as Earth had regressed after an initial burst to the stars and became a repressive theocracy. Starman (Paul Stanley?!) finds an ancient guitar from the old times, gets repressed, and gives up just as the "Solar Federation" returns to reclaim Earth and overthrow the Priests. Whether they're better or just as bad is never revealed. Time for "2122 - The Aftermath"?
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Yes.. Peart stated that it’s the calvary coming to save the day..
@@gmellett902 Yes, but as "my spirits are low in the depths of despair my lifeblood..." The cavalry arrives too late for our protagonist.
@@michaelcottle6270 Indeed.
Great start to a lazy Sunday morning with a waft through some of the greatest prog tracks in the history of man. Dave✅✅
You couldn’t argue with any of those, apart from possibly the order but all definitely and clearly fabulous pieces of Music. My number one would be Supper’s Ready and two Ocean Cloud. I’m going to check out those three recommendations given at the end.
"Thick As A Brick" and "Dogs" and "Starless" are my favourites from your list. Pink Floyd's "Echoes" from MEDDLE would also get a nod from me. My favourite potential epic from ANIMALS are all three of the animals - "Pigs" and "Sheep" and "Dogs" - depending on the day of the week.
Can’t argue with Yes (I’d go Awaken though), Crimson and Tull. As an alternative to the ‘classics’ though how about:
Inca Roads by Zappa which remains ‘mind-shagging’ly brilliant and virtuosic to this day;
The ‘Child is the Father of the Man / Surf’s Up’ section of Smile by the Beach Boys?
Home Invasion / Regret #9 by Steven Wilson which is very moving, particularly when you place it in context in the narrative of the album;
The Everso Closely Guarded Line by Cardiacs which has more than a touch of Awaken about it in certain passages?
I see what you mean about Pawn Hearts being not for the prog faint of heart. I gave A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers a listen and had to put some Sex Pistols on shortly afterwards as a bit of a palate cleanser. At least I now know that the follwing track, Theme One was the theme tune to Tommy Vance's friday night connection quiz on the Friday Rock Show.
Tull - Passion Play , Flower kings - Stardust we are ,The Truth will set you free ,Transatlantic - Whirlwind Nektar - Remember the future
One of my favorites - 'All of the Above' by Transatlantic from their album SMPT:e.
Great list. In most of cases I would add to my list. I also would add "Lady Fantasy" by Camel and "Fool's Overture" by Supertramp.
Great point, I would put Crime of the Century by Supertramp or /and Rudy. If you look at the cover like I did in 1975 you see yourself in Space listening to these tracks.
Even In The Quietest Moments is underrated
Good songs, but not epics. @@SwisstedChef2018
@@willyupshaw Fool’s overture deserves this, Rudy and Crime are maybe too short but still fantastic prog songs
I have it in on my list to do a Supertramp ranking
I would definitely agree with most of those top 10 choices, certainly 2112 and Suppers Ready. But id like to throw in a few dark horse favorites. “ A Tab in the Ocean “ by Nektar, “ The Last Human Gateway “ by
IQ, and “ In Held ‘Twas In I “ from Procol Harem. That one and “ Eruption “ by Focus are rather forgotten but worth mentioning.
Another great episode!!!
You brought me here😊
Pretty good (of course, subjective) list. I think Lark’s Tongue instead of K Crimson’s “Red” would been better.
10 is almost an impossible task- I realize. But I mighta’ squeezed Gentle Giant in place of someone. Perhaps in place of Marillion (‘cause Foxtrot)?
Octopus in fact.
But you’re taking the effort to run your channel, so. . .
Cheers from The States.
Great list. Jon Anderson can say whatever he wants about the inspiration for close to the dge, nobody understands what he's talking about. Funny enough I have all these records. Cheers!
You have a great collection
Although not a prog band, I'd give the Grateful Dead's Terrapin Part 1 from Terrapin Station an honourable mention (or I would for a live version of it at any rate).
Really good list. There are a lot of them I agree with. Here's my 10
1 Suppers Ready by Genesis
2 2112 by Rush
3 Rime Of The Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden
4 Tarkus by ELP
5 A Fools Overture by Supertramp
6 Kuiama by ELO
7 Care by Marillion
8 Movement For The Common Man by Styx
9 The Silent Spring by Yes
10 Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
Good list
I love the fact that you included the track from Octavarium, perhaps my fave album by D.T. (and not often considered as highly). Might I suggest the following alternative tracks (in no particular order): 1. "The Remembering", Yes (from TFTO); 2. "A Passion Play", Jethro Tull; 3. "Nine Feet Underground", Caravan (In the Land of Grey and Pink); 4. "Echoes", Pink Floyd (from Meddle); 4. "Duke" (entire suite), Genesis (from Duke); 5. "Mei", Echolyn (from Mei); 6."A Tab in the Ocean", Nektar (from A Tab in the Ocean); 7. "Illusions on a Double Dimple", Triumvirat (from Illusions on a Double Dimple); 8. "Crying for Help", Arena (spread over several albums). 9. "Karn Evil 9", ELP (from Karn Evil 9)' 10. "Down by the Sea", Strawbs (from Bursting at the Seams) - just had to include something by Strawbs, often overlooked as one of the early seminal prog rock bands, maybe because of their strong folk influence.
Great list
Delighted to hear "Bulbul Tarang" by SOLSTICE from their LIGHT UP album get an honourable mention. Solid.
VdGG have the top 10
Meurglys III
A Louse Is Not A Home
A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers
Man-erg
Childlike Faith In Childhood's End
The Sleepwalkers
Pioneer Over c
Lemmings
Arrow
Lost
HM - The Emperor In His War Room
Henry cow living in the heart of the best should be on the list!
I’m curious if you’ve ever heard the ‘Art Rock Suite’ off the National Lampoon’s ‘Goodbye Pop’ LP from 1976. It was created by Christopher Guest and Paul Schaefer, and is a brilliant parody of most of the Prog and Art Rock bands from that time period, with each passage in the song being a send up of a specific band. By the way, I’d love to see a Worst to Best countdown of the works of Henry Cow and Art Bears.
I've not heard it, but I'll check it out
Art Bears- obscurity award!!!!😊
Porcupine Tree's Arriving Somewhere But Not Here (12min), Anesthetize (17 min) and Moonloop (40 min) would all make my Top 10. The other 7 would all be by Yes.
…and pre-dating them all: Touch (1968 -led by Don Gallucci).
The whole album fits the stated criterion, but if we need to limit things to a single piece, then the album-ending “Seventyfive”.
Since when did "That's not my cup of tea" turn into "That's not my bag of feed", lol. Good stuff 😁
'Mind shaggery' is awesome, worthy of, at least, the first part of 'Ulysses' when it assumes a semi conventional form before going full on classical allusion/ subjective reality, and thereby becoming a bit 'mind buggery'. Anyway, most excellent work and a lark in the process.
My favourite top five: 1 Supper's Ready 2. Thick As a Brick 3. Close to the Edge 4. Tales From Topographic Oceans 5. Gates of Delirium
Good list, but I try to keep it to one track per artist
@@classicalbum In your situation you have to be seen as being fair, to an understandable degree, however, I have the luxury of being honest.
I get your point, but I do prefer to keep it to one song per artist, otherwise they become to dominated by the prog bands I love. So, with this one I consider all those wonderful Yes epics - and just allow one. Maybe that's a tad dishonest, but I do like to give other bands a crack of the whip
Nice
And you dont want to alienate other true prog fans@@classicalbum
Some obvious ones there, but a good list nevertheless👍
Just a nod to: song of scheherazade, The Underfall Yard & East Coast Racer by Big Big Train. Once around the world by It Bites, Eruption by Focus, El Dorado by Marillion and last but not least, Milliontown by Frost* 👍
An interesting take on this kind of list, as ever.
Populated by the usual suspects, although I would have found room for Mike Oldfield, Camel and Porcupine Tree, probably at the expense of the more ‘challenging’ VDGG, King Crimson & ELP.
Great list. Can't really argue with any of those tracks being on the list.👍
I'm just starting to watch. I was hoping Plague would make your list.
The band that's always left off these lists is Nektar, and the track that belongs here is Remember the Future. Like TAAB it spans a full album and objectively it stands up to any of the songs included here. I wonder if people have heard this band, and if so, why Nektar is rarely counted among the prog greats.
Migration by Bo Hansson should be on the list!
As should, perhaps, a couple of other Continental prog epics. The Brit-centric view of prog does sometimes grow a bit tiresome.
@@fabrikk60 I agree!
You are right, Van Der Graf Generators "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" is a right-of-passage listen!
It's near impossible to listen to!!
Dream Theater is my Favourite Band and I always pick the track "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" (complete version) over "Octovarium"!
Some good choices in your list though!
🤘🏻
2112, and Animals are real good albums! I love the song "Poseidon's Creation" from the Eloy album 'Ocean' from 1977. There's a newer updated version of that song from 1993 that sounds even better!!
i always considered Alan Parsons Project's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination Edgar Allen Poe" a prog rock epos, and one of the best. and I think Yes' "Endless Dream" is pretty cool.
You missed the opportunity to put Octavarium at number 8. 😀
I would add The Whirlwind by Transatlantic it elates, shocks and brings tears to my eyes an album of utter ferocity and beauty.
Great list! Sign me up for “Karn Evil 9”, “Illusions on a Double Dimple” by Triumvirat, and “The Icon” by Utopia.
Always interested in your views Barry and wouldn't argue much with your choices. Would you have placed Eruption by Focus anywhere near your top 10? I still enjoy it and think it is well structured.
Great to hear Barri more Barlow getting some love
Number 10 should be number 1
Great choices
Everything has changed for me since I've discovered Italian prog. .
I still have a lot to listen to but I worship Celeste’s Principe di un Giorno!
Which Italian prog epic pieces do you recommend? (ie, a piece that's at least 15 minutes long.)
@@fabrikk60 just gonna name some bands. The songs you'll have to check out yourself.
The Trip
Osanna
Goblin
Perigeo
La cofradia de la flor solar
Il balletto di bronzo
Il bacio della medusa
Murple
Zarathustra
Banco del mutuo soccorso
PFM
Le orme
Good luck.
Neil has said that it was the 'good guys' rather than the priests of Syrinx who assumed control at the end of 2112.
As good as "dogs" is , I have to go with Shine on You Crazy Diamond as my #1 prog epic of all time,followed closely by Close to the Edge. My third personal favorite is Steve Hillage Fish Rising.
Rounding out my top 5 are Suppers Ready and Caravan's Nine Feet Underground. If Thick as a Brick was only side 1,then it would probably be my favorite,but I find the second side of the recored tedious. I actually think Passion Play works better as a full album track,which I get is controversial
Excellent selection, but there's room to include Camel as you mentioned Snow Goose in your other review. Also Mirage and Moonmadness are classics.
I know it's a top 10 but I'd try to find a way to include something by IQ (Last Human Gateway or the Narrow Margin, or Until the End - I could go on...), Pallas' Atlantis, Spock's Beard "The Light". Not a fan of Animals so I'd opt for Shine on or Echos to represent Floyd. With VDGG I prefer Man-Erg if that's epic enough for you
Another great video -- even though I don't listen to much prog, it remains interesting. One of the other reasons I really like your videos are the references to writers like Ruskin, Eliot, Thomas, Ginsberg -- not for the sake of wankery, but to be clear and complete in trying to describe what is important about them. I really appreciate that.
Thanks for listening
"Starless" should've been on Starless & Bible Black, but Fripp and Bruford dismissed it. One year later they needed more songs for Red so Fripp and Bruford took another look and went "oh shit that's a masterpiece let's use it"
Are you sure that's completely accurate? I know Starless was written before the Red session and performed on tour with the previous lineup, but I have a hard time believing that they left it off because they didn't didn't realize how good it was. If so, why did they play it live so much the previous tour? Sometimes bands hold songs over for various reasons.
@@willyupshaw - I remember reading that the lyrics weren't in the final form was why it wasn't on SIBB. Richard Palmer-James was sending the lyrics to the band by (snail) mail, so it took some time to get things right.
Bruford actually wrote (on piano) one of the main musical parts of Starless, so I doubt that he undervalued it. I think that the piece was simply viewed as not complete enough for SABB. The earlier live versions all have violin playing the main melody, and it was greatly improved when Fripp's gorgeously-sustained guitar later took over the violin's role. Also those early live versions have some different lyrics, which aren't nearly as good as the ones on the final studio version.
Surprised you didn’t have Tales From Topographic Oceans as number one. I would think a concept album around a theme would be an epic.
This channel is obsessed with Tales. It doesn't belong on this list and I'm glad it wasn't included, but he still couldn't get through a video without mentioning it.
Yeah agree. Tales is right up there w/Close to the Edge.
My list would have to include "For Today" by Camel.
Hard to disagree with anything , two days after Bloomsday references and Edmund Burke much appreciated
El Cortejo by Bubu should be on the list!
There are a couple of albums on the list like animals 77, close to the edge 72, which are in bad taste to mention (yes, for sure) because they are very obvious favorites. It's nice to see Octavarium 2005, a really interesting album, unlike many of their other uninteresting albums. I want to recommend you a couple of albums that you may not have heard: Blackfield 2004;
Finally George - Life is a killer 2018
It's never an easy task to compile a list of the best progressive rock albums. I would have chosen H to He Who Am The Only One by Van Der Graaf Generator. In The Land Of Grey And Pink by Caravan. You by Gong. Fish Rising by Steve Hillage. Tago Mago by Can. Wolf City by Amon Duul 2. Rubycon by Tangerine Dream. In The Court of The Crimson King by king Crimson. Warrior On The Edge of Time by Hawkind along with Close to the Edge, as it's the best album Yes produced. I was never a big fan of ELP as I found their music to be pompous and ridiculous so for me none of their albums would make the list. Matching Moles Little Red Album and albums such as Down To Earth or A Tab In The Ocean by Nektar are far more interesting than anything ELP ever cut. ☺️👍
Always loved dogs by the Floyd, probably their most underrated track in my opinion. Not really a Yes Fan but Going for the One is one my top five albums of all time and the track Tale of the Century one my favourite songs of all time, Awaken sounds pretty awesome to me as well. At the end of the day music is down to personal choice, you either like a song or you don't, it doesn't mean it is any better or worse than someone else's choices.
Nice you've included Octavarium by Dream Theater. Not their best album, but it has some excellent songs. I personally prefer "A change of seasons", probably their ultimate epic song.
Osorezan by Geinoh Yamashirogumi should be on the list!
I find musically speaking that Rush's 2112 track contains a dull midsection. The opening salvo and coda are superb but the restrained and prolonged mid section is rather meandering. Personally the title track from Hemispheres and Natural Science are more enticing.