Prog Rock: A Beginner’s Guide

Scot picks the 12 albums he would recommend to a new fan interested in Prog. Did he get it right?
#progrock #progressiverock #prog

[ConnorMcSchrosch]

As a young music lover who was getting bored of nowadays noise, reclaimed a new appreciation for music when I found out about prog. I had to turn 25 to ever hear about the existence of the genre, so after a quick research I had to give it a try and turned on the first spotify playlist I found of the genre. The first song was Echoes by Camel which was a great introduction for me, showing me what the genre had to offer. I had an 8 hour car drive listening to that playlist I decided to listen to pink floyds dark side of the moon as intended and I was stunned how amazing an album could be which made me decide to listen to more albums and discographies, so for the last 1 1/2 year I've been passionately exploring more music than ever before, listening to albums while most people would watch netflix or play video games.
When I tried to explain my music taste to my friends back when I was very fresh to the genre (which I still am compared to prog fans who actually grew up in the 70s) they also decided to try out a playlist and the first song on that one also echoes, but not camels but floyds, which as amazing as it is, is a very tenacious piece to chew as a beginner and I think I scared them forever, which made me very careful whenever I try to get someone into the genre, I believe there is not one list you can give to anyone to get them into prog, but you kinda have to watch how they receive the albums you give them and take in account their current music taste a bit. My go to recommendation to start would be kansas - songs for America (my favorite kansas album) but Leftoverture will do just as well, followed by dark side and we will see from there. I bought a guitarist friend of mine who mainly listens to indi a vinyl of camels I can see your house from here and he really enjoyed it, another friend who is into irish folk music I recommended Jethro Tull

[jude]

I accidentally stumbled upon “In The Court Of The Crimson King” a few years ago. That was the best time of my life and it's what got me into prog rock!

[danaaronmusic]

First, my definition is simple: Prog is rock music that doesn't follow the rules.
Second, your list is automatically awesome because it includes Folklore.
Third, as a bonus, I would slip in a few carefully selected classical and jazz albums to create the context for some of what they are hearing on the prog albums; they are probably already familiar with the rock influences that go into it.

[marcbergeron]

1. Genesis – Foxtrot
2. Emerson Lake And Palmer – Trilogy
3. Gentle Giant – Acquiring the Taste (since I discovered Gentle and it’s a long period, I considered ATT the best one but I’m slowly basculating into Three friends)
4. Caravan – In the Land Of Grey and Pink (because Richard Sinclair is irreplaceable)
5. Van Der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts (if you check the credentials you notice that Fripp is on this album)
6. PFM - Photos Of Ghosts (ex aequo with The World Became the World)
7. Ekseption – Ekseption 5
8. Aphrodite’s Child – 666 (I love the unique voice of Demis Roussos but he has made lots of muzak, often good musak)
9. King Crimson – Lizard (The first time I heard Lizard, I wanted to destroy it with an axe and it would have occurred if not of the superb artwork. It would have been such a mistake).
10. Rick Wakeman – The Six Wives Of Henry VIII.
11. Novalis – Novalis
12. Harmonium - Si On avait besoin d’une Cinquième Saison

For those who would like a glimpse into the classical roots of progressive music I suggest the immortal work of Aaron Copland.

[patrice]

Very nice list. I think I would go just a bit lighter with the following, in no particular order. Some are the same as yours:
Asia - Asia
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Peter Gabriel - Security (or Plays Live)
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood
Rush - Moving Pictures
Saga - World Apart (or In Transit)
Genesis - Duke (very accessible, many hits and still proggy)
Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Yes - The Yes Album
Big Big Train - Folklore (my current favorite band)
Steven Wilson - To The Bone (H.C.E. is a better album but I think this one is easier to digest).
King Crimson - Discipline (to me, not as demanding as ITCOTCK, and the songs are shorter)

Good video as usual 👍

[emadetemadi]

I absolutely loved Time by Pink Floyd and It was the thing that made me interested in Prog Rock. This video is exactly what I was looking for in order to explore Prog Rock on a deeper level. Fantastic work, hope more people knew about this channel

[andrewdavis]

The 12 prog albums that I would use to introduce someone to the wonderful world of prog:

01. Rush: Exit... Stage Left
02. Rush: Clockwork Angels Tour
03. Yes: Magnification
04. The Moody Blues-To Our Children’s Children’s Children
05. Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep
06. Gentle Giant- Free Hand
07. King Crimson- In The Court Of The Crimson King
08. King Crimson- Discipline
09. Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here
10. Jethro Tull- Songs From The Wood
11. Talking Heads- Remsin In Light
12. Kansas- Leftoverture

Well, what do you think?

[thebookishbryants]

Yes!! I was looking for a beginner's starter kit. I saw your appearance with Pete Pardo and I came to see what you had. I am just getting into prog at 47 years old and I needed a video like this! Thank you, sir!!

[starcloister]

Seems like you're into a lot more of the mature prog that actually progresses the genre. I'm more into the nostalgic "English dudes singing about fantasy and rural British stuff while wearing capes and playing crazy keyboard solos" kind of prog. My 12 recommendations would be:

1. Yes - Going For the One
2. Genesis - Selling England by the Pound
3. Rush - Hemispheres
4. Pendragon - The Masquerade Overture
5. IQ - Dark Matter
6. Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere
7. Tiger Moth Tales - Cocoon
8. Kansas - Leftoverture
9. ELP - Tarkus
10. Frost* - Milliontown
11. Moon Safari - Blomljud
12. Starcastle - Fountains of Light

[CressAlwein]

I'm subbing. I'm. A huge Pink Floyd, Queen and King Crimson fan and your recommendations in this vids are spot on. Cheers!

[maryelms]

Very Nice List. A couple other bands that would be good to ease people into Prog. would be CAMEL - Moonmadness and Marillion - Misplaced Childhood.

[Raggaennight]

Thank you for the beginner guide, I think with it a nice introduction of what make a song or a music progressive would help a lot.

[keithajacoby]

Fast becoming a fan Scott, thank you for opening up my program universe beyond my sphere of familiarity!

[TCatsDeepVinylTraxx]

Great starter prog albums. I could think of several others, but you got some great ones there, easy to get into, no side-long tracks, a lot less meter changes or odd time signatures, and so on. Love your Steven Wilson suggestion, I would prefer the Raven album myself. Also, pretty much any Alan Parsons album or Blue Oyster Cult album would be easy to swallow for a beginner. The best thing is to make it easy for the listener to fall in love with the genre, then throw some Gentle Giant, Bass Communion or Mars Volta on them to really challenge them....

[Jeremyracle-qbmo]

Thanks for the list ! A good intro for novices would be almost anything by Oldfield or Wakeman. I was loving their albums and I didn't even realize I was listening to "Prog" - it was just great music !

[PatSmith-cprg]

Great show Scott. Missed the hat. Loved your picks. I would have added Gentle Giant Octopus or Free Hand. I do love me some Brain Salad Surgery. On The Threshold Of A Dream would be another one. Great work.

[glennthompson]

I totally agree with your first nine choices your three last choices I don't know really a lot about them I've heard bits and pieces of them. I would probably go with marillion afraid of sunlight. This is a beginner to listen to the Prog genre. Nice picks all in all.
I love your content, keep up the fine work.

[SweaterSwagg]

Great video and channel, your passion for the music is endearing!

[fourseasons]

My picks:
1. Kansas- Point of know return
2. Supertramp- Crime of the century
3. Pink Floyd- The dark side of the moon
4. ELO- Out of the blue
5. Marillion- Misplaced childhood
6. Porcupine tree- In absentia
7. Jethro Tull- Songs from the wood
8. Rush- Moving pictures
9. Genesis- A trick of the tail
10. Dream Theater- Images and words

[kessaladel]

10- Meddle Pink Floyd
9- ELP Trilogy
8- Genesis Selling england
7-Supertramp Brother were you bound
6- Camel Mirage
5- Supertramp crime of the century
4- 21' century schizoid man King crimson
3- ELP Tarkus
2- King crimson RED
1- King crimson Larks Tongues in Aspic / Straless and Bible black ( I think i have to stop Hahahha)