I'm sitting here listening to side 2 (of 4) of "Focus 3" and remembered this thread... Not saying it's the "best" side from any prog album, but it's pretty darn good.
Focus - "Focus 3" - Side 2
"Focus III"
"Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!"
Best progressive rock album side
My intent is to seek albums which I may not own from the recommendations of you all. I ranked best sides of progressive rock albums on vinyl that I own and came up with the following list. I don't want it to undermine anything else that an artist has created. I love it all but as far as start to finish on one side this is what I came up with.
#1: Supper's Ready
#2: Terrapin Station
#3: Atom Heart Mother
#4 The Court of the King Crimson
#5 Echoes
Of course there are many more. Some may not be complete sides like Atom Heart Mother but the intent of the artisan was to make it a complete side. I had a very hard time deciding between #1 and #2. Both are very worthy in my mind.
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Can't believe no one's mentioned Soft Machine, Barclay James Harvest or Incredible String Band, all three progenitors of this genre. Barclay James Harvest was coincidently was first or one of first bands signed to Harvest Records, home of many early prog bands, I have multi volume vinyl and cd compilation of bands signed to this label purchased many years ago.
By the way, I'm a boomer NOT solely dedicated to reminiscing. I regularly stream music from virtually all genres and eras, prog rock stands up over time as legitimate genre. Some great musicianship, composition and explorations, certainly there can be excess, but what genre doesn't have it's filler. |
@bdp24 - Sure did!! Awesome piece of music. Used to know this guy who would play the entire thing on a saloon piano at a brewpub..... |
@larsman: Procol Harum’s first three albums include the contributions and influences of organist Matthew Fisher, whose musical education greatly informed the groups music (his organ part in "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" is well-known to have been copped from the J.S. Bach composition "Orchestral Suite No.3"). His departure after the A Salty Dog album resulted in them becoming imo basically just another English blues-based band, with guitarist Robin Trower moving from a supporting role to the focus of the group's style---guitar riffs instead of great chord progressions and melodies. I didn’t see and hear Procol Harum live until after Matthews departure, on the tour in support of their Home album. Though they were still a very good band (particularly drummer B.J. Wilson), they played mostly songs from the Home album, which I did not at all care for. But soon after leaving the group Matthew made two albums (the first for RCA Records, the second A & M), which I quite liked (still do). Though Matthew is not nearly the singer Gary Brooker was (R.I.P.), I liked his new songs much more than those of Brooker. |
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