Progressive rock albums
1. The Beatles: Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland (1968)
3. Yes: Close to the Edge (1972)
4. Genesis: Foxtrot (1972)
5. Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
6. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy (1973)
7. Marillion: Misplaced Childhood (1985)
8. Ozric Tentacles: Live Underslunky (1992)
9. Spock’s Beard: The Kindness of Strangers (1997)
10. The Mars Volta: Deloused in the Comatorium (2003)
Compiled by arts, humanities and social sciences lecturer Jarl Ahlkvist with help from students who have taken his Progressive Music in the Rock Era course. Ahlkvist defines “progressive rock” as rock music that has a countercultural sensibility; combines rock music with other styles and traditions of music (such as folk, jazz and classical); places a high value on innovation, virtuosity and experimentation; and is self-consciously cerebral—a “thinking person’s rock music.” Ahlkvist says his list is biased in favor of albums combining these four elements in unique ways to make music that he enjoys.