Ten Perfect PROG Albums | RANKED 

Close to the edge is very well chosen. The main track defines the prog rock in the better way possible.

Musical preferences may be the same or different, but what I like is your sincere emotions and spontaneity.

I've been enjoying prog rock for 24 years and seeing videos like this makes me realise that I have barely scratched the surface of the genre.

Hemispheres is Rush’s prog masterwork.

Very much so ! In 1975 when I first listened to "Visions From The Emerald Beyond" I was destroyed: my life just started and I already had the ultimate experience. What other ecstasy could possibly ever happen to me? What muse came through John McLaughlin's window that night? Made in Heaven!

Led Zeppelin 4?!!! Wow, this is a huge surprise to me! I have never considered LZ as a prog band. In my book, LZ is the heavy blues band

"Moving Pictures"....great pick...and GREAT comedy relief in your video. Big smiles !!

Absolutely incredible list. Thanks so much for sharing this. Keep up the great work!

I’ve been regularly listening to Hatfield and the North’s two studio albums since the 1970’s and still love them. 50 years of perfection surely.

Thanks for the list and entertainment, Andy. I've got some albums to try out now! 😎

I really appreciate your enthusiasm.

Great list and great video! Loved the end, could watch the portal while Gong is playing! Visions of the Emerald Beyond gives me goosebumps every time I put it on...I always crank that one up so I can FEEL it.

Intelligence + entertainment + enthusiasm=Andy Edwards! Awesome video

Hands down your Most Perfect Video. Loved it! And I agree with you about Dark Side of the Moon being 6th. What I find unfathomable is your leaving Thick as a Brick off your list.

Thanks Andy, great stuff!

This video just popped up on my feed and I'm so glad it did. I made a RU-vid Music playlist on this and can't wait to listen in entirety.

Close to the edge, is the album that defines prog rock at its best, and why no one could do it better than YES.

I love you Andy! Your channel has become my favorite place to get information and entertainment on the music I love. Your English aesthetic is a wonderful treat that puts your channel second to none. Thank you, for a hilarious review.😉

I love these lists. It's great fun to hear other's thoughts and opinions.

Andy, thanks for the rant, great as always.

For me, in no particular order: King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King Yes: Fragile Genesis: Selling England by the Pound Jethro Tull: Aqualung Gentle Giant: Three Friends Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here The Moody Blues: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour Rush: A Farewell to Kings Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Trilogy Strawbs: Hero and Heroine Honorable mentions: Genesis: A Trick of the Tail Gentle Giant: Octopus Van der Graaf Generator: Godbluff ELO: Face the Music ELO: Eldorado Yes: The Yes Album Yes: Close to the Edge Pink Floyd: Animals Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick Jethro Tull: Songs from the Wood Rush: 2112 The Moody Blues: On the Threshold of a Dream The Moody Blues: To Our Children's Children's Children Genesis: Wind & Wuthering Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway Supertramp: Crime of the Century Supertramp: Crisis? What Crisis? Supertramp: Even in the Quietest Moments... Strawbs: Nomadness Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells

Well, I finally watched the whole thing. I can't say I agree with everything, but I LOVED your justifications, Andy. Especially the one about Visions of Emerald Beyond. Loved it.

One of your best, informed, and entertaining. 👍🏻

This video randomly landed in my feed and what a great find. I would love to sit down with this fella and have a few pints, spliffs and listen to this list of perfect albums in a row, and have a good long chinwag about the music, the universe & everything! Top list and even more brilliant attitude!!

UK were one of my favourite bands around 1979ish. For me, their first album is the perfect album.

"Moving Pictures" is prog, and it's awesome.

That was hilarious and mostly right in line with my own thoughts on perfect albums.

Oh man, I absolutely love the rant about OLD MUSICIANS! The rants and the lauds in your vidz are phenomenal!

Great list, lovely and funny presentation, and I *love* the fact that you included You from Gong. One of the "greatest but most overlooked albums" of that time. I've know it since the seventies and still come back to it from time to time. What a wonderful, wonderful album, and what a surprise to find it here! And, bonus, finally. someone who puts CTTE in its proper place! 't Was a joy to watch you rant :).

Andy....your best video yet!! Your analysis of this amazing music is profound and hugely entertaining at the same time!! The Mahavishnu album is out and ready to be played!! Thankyou!

Superb! Andy you are a demented genius. Music would not be the same without you. Thank you.

That was awesome!!!! 👍❤️🇬🇧👍

None of these albums comes close to Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery. Karn Evil 9 is a prog masterpiece.

Great list, Andy. Have not heard the Gong album, but will check it out immediately. The zeppelin choice could be debatable, but it’s your list, your channel, so I’ll go with it. lol Enjoyed this a bunch. Thanks

First time visiting your channel and I think I’ll stay! Very informative AND entertaining! I have no problem with your picks, I know them all but will be revisiting them 😊

Great selection..!!!

it's the Crime of the Century that you left Supertramp off of your list! 😉

Close to the Edge is the the Epitome of Progressive Rock.there are so many great albuns of Progressive Rock that is very dificult to name only 10,but Close to the Edge is the number one for me.Thank you.

You make me laugh the hardest of any RU-vidr. 😂😂😂

Can't Wait Daddy!

Moving Pictures IS perfect, indeed.

I mention Kansas. I suppose it’s easy to poke fun at their imitative takes on British prog. But surely there had to be an answer from across the pond, and in the middle of the heartland at that.

Awesome Andy

Love your style. Keep on. :)

You're right! From the Mahavishnu Orchestra I only knew Birds of fire, which I wasn't a huge fan of, but you made me give a listen to Visions of the Emerald Beyond, and it's absolutely amazing. I can't believe I was able to miss this for so long. Thanks a lot. (Talking about Genesis I'm afraid I'm more the Trick of the Tail kind of guy, but that's ok, we all know the guy with the silly voice.)

1.Close to the Edge-Yes 2.Wish You Were Here-Pink Floyd 3.Red-King Crimson 4.Fish Rising-Steve Hillage 5.Foxtrot-Genesis 6.Pawn Hearts-Van Der Graff Generator 7. In the Land of Grey and Pink-Caravan 8.Space Shanty-Khan 9. Thick as a Brick-Jethro Tull 10. Inner Mounting Flame -Mahavishnu Orchestra

What a absolutely fantastic video have a wonderful day Andy ❤😊

Brilliant. Simply Brilliant!

fantastic Andy, strangely i would almost completely reverse your choices. but i cracked up hearing you sing parts, being a drummer myself, my now deceased sweet heart used to tell me she had no idea wtf i was singing, i used to say bs to her, im singing the whole fuckin ensemble , how can you not hear it.......great job man.

Yes- Relayer Yes- Close to the Edge Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here King Crimson- Larks Tongues King Crimson- Discipline Caravan- Land of Grey and Pink Mike Oldfield- Ommadawn (yes, including the horseback song!) Camel- Snow Goose Camel- Moonmadness Jethro Tull- Thick As A Brick all perfection

This had me in stitches! On the ‘nouveau bourgeois’ Corner! Genius. You know what corner you are on with Miles and it’s scary. Fantastic work. Your tangents are on fire 😂😂😂

This guy is a treasure.

Good List. Perfect Album: Heavy Weather by Weather Report. Is it prog? Yea.

The Art of Noise tune was "Close to the Edit"

The rant after the album run through is hilarious. Thanks for the laughter. 🖖

At various times in my life, about 5 of these albums have been a then-current favorite of all albums, mostly during the 80's but still remain beloved and get listens several times a year.

Hey Andy, big fan of the channel. Just a note on the addition of the light. The reflection of the light on your glasses often masks your eyes. As you know, the eyes are an important communicator so something is lost IMO. I get that you’re experimenting so I just wanted to share some feedback. I hope it’s useful. Personally, I like the lofi, no-nonsense approach of just grabbing a camera and using the room/window light as I think it suits the philosophy of the channel but that’s just my opinion. Keep up the great work!

Pausing the video to say no gentle giant!? But Octopus is the epitome of a perfect prog album - lovely production throughout, a plethora of unique compositions and styles, a real sit down experience front to back. Ok, time to watch the rest of the video.

"Melange". Now you've really done it, Andy!

yep! finally! a good microphone!! 🤩cheers mate.. another great show too

Oh! This is so hard! For me: Yes - close yo the edge King crimson- Red Tangerine dream -Phaedra Steve Hillage- L Genesis- A trick of the tail Magma- Udu Wudu King Crimson - Discipline Kate Bush - The dreaming Porcupine tree - Stupid dream PFM - Stati di imaginazione Also, my hot take; I've never been a huge fan of Black dog

I agreed with your list especially having Gong here

Great list so far -- UK, such a great choice.

I come for knowledge. I stay for the humor. I loved your analysis of “On the Corner”.

I can't use the words I want to, but I am 100% behind you on the Rush call. Moving pictures does not have a single weak track on it.

Prog or not Dark Side is the greatest rock album of all time, Water’s latest silly dalliance does nothing to shrink it.

I pressed like Andy always do ❤

Nice, I liked and subscribed

I just found Romantic Warrior a couple years ago. Have the live album as well. Awesome! Have been a huge Stanley Clarke fan for many years, but never looked at them. Also, just bought the UK album last year.

Andy, your maniacal energy and bottomless knowledge knowledge of music is incredible. It has made me re-think many of my pre-held conceptions of prog, jazz, fusion etc. Keep up the good work mate! You are a crazy bastard, but that’s why we love you. Take Care.

A wonderful selection. Most I agree with but it is what it is.

Great list Andy and have spent the last 4 days playing some of the ones which I don’t always reach for, the Gong album in particular which I really enjoyed. The M O are albums I always reach for. Great video, very entertaining.

Outstanding list, Andy. Some more: Bruford - One of a Kind Zappa - One Size Fits All Focus - Hamburger Concerto 801 live Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Solar Fire

I saw Return to Forever perform at the 2,000+ seat Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, California when they were doing their (1977-78?) tour featuring the Romantic Warrior album. Prior to that I had seen a lot of big names; Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Doors... just to name a few. Fine as they were, none of them could compare to the absolute musicianship of the band Return to Forever. I'd had the album for a while and knew it well. Every single note was perfectly played, never a misstep, absolute masters of their instruments and perfect timing between the players.

Most enjoyable

Best click-bait ever on this channel. Enjoyable listen. Many thanks!!

I can't think of many but a few for me are a trick of the tail, thick as a brick, CTTE, relayer and wish you were here.

It was Eddie Jobson that overdubbed violin on USA

Fantastico!!!!! Bravo!!!!!

Total Entertainment!!

No order, just off top of head....based on songs/arrangements, performances, production, 1. Moving Pictures - Rush - best sounding, recorded, and performed album of all-time 2. Foxtrot - Genesis 3. Yes Album - Yes 4. Aqualung - Tull 5. Crime of the Century - Supertramp 6. For Your Pleasure - Roxy Music 7. OK Computer - Radiohead 8. Tommy - The Who 9. Physical Graffiti - Zeppelin 10. Hemispheres - Rush

Red Barchetta is pretty dark if you think about it.

Andy ! You had me in bits mate!😂🤣😅

Currently listening to your first recommendation, the album "Romatic Warrior". Absolutely incredible, the production is fantastic, as is the musicianship. Cheers!

Bitches Brew is my favorite Progressive Rock album. Is it progressive rock? Of course it is

@AndyEdwardsDrummer I do enjoy your list but IMO, you missed some: Dream Theater - Images And Words Spock's Beard - Snow Kansas - Leftoverture Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick Rush - A Farewell To Kings (I think Moving Pictures is absolutely epic, but AFTK is a more fitting choice for the Prog Rock genre) Cheers, Brent

I love that you mentioned "Visions of the Emerald Beyond." That album was very inspirational to me as a drummer, it was actually my first introduction to Mahavishnu Orchestra, it knocked my socks off, much like "In the Court of the Crimson King." Narada Michael Walden , as a drummer, is extremely underrated.

Agree 100% about moving pictures.

Does anyone else agree that 'Money' doesn't fit in with the rest of Dark Side Of The Moon?

I will only mention1, but I'll also say "why!" Genesis *A Trick of the Tail* because: Every song is high quality & adheres to Genesis' sound at the time. There is considerable variety of mood and tempo. The band continue their pioneering practice of transitioning musically from one section to another as opposed to the "butt edit" sound of records like "Court of the Crimson King," "Good Vibrations," "Take a Pebble," etc. The last track on the album combines music from several preceding songs, giving the recording a wholeness. Yes, I've heard other records that include a reprise of a single song, but this was different as it reworked several songs into a new one. There's even an Easter Egg at the end as Phil sings a line from "Suppers Ready" during the fadeout.

All's well that ends well...this video... a case in point. 🙂

Thank you for including 'Red'. It's in my list of 10 albums I would want if stranded on a desert island.

801 Live

It's good we all have different tastes. For me, none of those albums are perfect, although some are very good. The only prog albums I can think of which are perfect are The Snow Goose by Camel, The Tain by Horslips, The Dreams of Man by Pallas, Subterranea by IQ, The Visitor and Contagion by Arena (I couldn't pick), The Masquerade Overture by Pendragon, Free Hand by Gentle Giant, Second Life Syndrome by Riverside, Moonshine by Collage, The Last Bright Light by Mostly Autumn, Folklore by Big Big Train and Seasons End by Marillion. I'd also include Sleepwalking by Gerry Rafferty, which isn't generally considered to be prog, but I think it is. There's about a dozen you may not have heard of but are all amazing! Whoops! I forgot The Old Road by Martin Orford, my all-time favourite keyboards player. You probably know that album.

Thanks for your No. 10 album! Listened to it a bit on the interwebs first, but... Just bought it. 🖖

Your Stewart Lee impressions were spot on.

I have listened to Dark Side probably a dozen hundreds times over 40+ years and never thought it was prog. It simply isn't. With all it greatness, it belongs elsewhere. Perhaps Wish You - more so.

Zep IV prog? What planet are you living on?

Yes! Close to the Edge is incredible!

Thank you for reminding me to listen to Miles On The Corner.. Excellent topic re: "perfect" vs "best, etc... Very entertaining. Cheers!