Your Best Prog Sounding Album ?

**flowerking** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Progbear

When I think “good production,” I think of something like Steely Dan’s Aja, my go-to stereo test disc.

I'm not audiophile, I probably couldn't differentiate excellent sound quality from good sound quality. But Aja was the first thing that came to my mind when I read this post. There's so much depth in the sound that you can pick up, especially on the title track, but also Deacon Blues and Black Cow.

**Zeuhlmate** · 02-01-2019

There are many, but not mentioned yet

Magma: Hhai live
Paga: Gnosis

**proggy_jazzer** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by JJ88

It's definitely not an audiophile recording IMHO, but the difference between that old Charisma CD compared to the 1994 'remaster' shames the latter. The best sounding of the 70s Genesis albums for me are Selling England... and Trick.

I agree with all this. I put it out there because the OP used the words "best sounding" which in this case I apply to the overall sound gestalt of the record, warts and all. I think Trespass was a marvelous document of the band in its early days, regardless of how it stacks up purely from in Audiophile (capitalization on purpose) terms.

For a prog album that IMO does measure up from a production standpoint, I would submit Mike Keneally's Wooden Smoke. An exquisite recording the depths of which are revealed by repeated listening.

**MudShark22** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Kavus Torabi

Mr Bungle: California.

Excellent choice as well.

**DoubleDrummer** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by starless and bible black

For me it's Pink Floyd's The Dark Side Of The Moon (30th Anniversary SACD version with 5.1 mix by James Guthrie).
Runners up are Yes' Blu-Ray releases of The Yes Album thru Relayer and KC's DVD-A releases of ITCOTCK thru Discipline.

I have all of those except the KC stuff................you are correct -- that DSOM 30th is very good.
Also, you reminded me that (although they are not uber-popular) the original releases of YES' Magnification and The Ladder are well-produced too.

**Jacob Holm-Lupo** · 02-01-2019

Fragile by Yes
Stereotomy by Alan Parsons Project
90125 by Yes
Duke and Abacab - original versions - by Genesis
Ambrosia by Ambrosia
UK by UK
Welcome to the Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (if 13 minute songs, Coleridge quotes and a Steve Howe guest appearance don't qualify as prog in your book you're narrow-minded ...)
Red and Discipline by King Crimson
Moving Pictures by Rush
Anything engineered by Ken Scott

**Plasmatopia** · 02-01-2019

Here are a couple I like for different reasons:

Sloche - J'Un Oeil
Karmakanic - Dot

**Gladiator1634** · 02-01-2019

Peter plays live a stereo only SACD . The humdrum would be the track that really stands out. Levins stick, Marrota's drums, Fast keyboards and Pete's vocals a perfect crystal clear sound and mix that really explodes out of the speakers

Steely Dan's Gaucho in 5.1 DVD AUDIO. Babylon sisters sounds like you are sitting in the studio with the band. Possibly the best song for sound quality in my entire catalogue.

**miamiscot** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Jacob Holm-Lupo

Fragile by Yes
Stereotomy by Alan Parsons Project
90125 by Yes
Duke and Abacab - original versions - by Genesis
Ambrosia by Ambrosia
UK by UK
Welcome to the Pleasuredome by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (if 13 minute songs, Coleridge quotes and a Steve Howe guest appearance don't qualify as prog in your book you're narrow-minded ...)
Red and Discipline by King Crimson
Moving Pictures by Rush
Anything engineered by Ken Scott

Nailed it.

**Steve983** · 02-01-2019

There are lots but the ones that spring to mind are

Yes-Fragile
Rush-Moving Pictures
Genesis-Selling England/Trick
Pink Floyd - Dark Side/WYWH/The Division Bell

**Trane** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Brian

Supertramp Crime of the Century, although I am sure I will think of a few others, dynamic range on the mo fi is 16.

Originally Posted by Progbear

Maybe Dark Side of the Moon? I have to admit I don’t really think a lot of prog has really good sounding, crystal clear production.

Those were always my reference records (both vinyl and CD for hunting for hi-fi chain elements (including headphones) both in the 70's and in the 90's/11's.

**tormato** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Jacob Holm-Lupo

90125 by Yes

Glad to see it mentioned here. It is one of the first CD's I ever purchased (I bought it in Singapore while on a port visit aboard USS Enterprise in 1989) and this pressing still amazes me.

My go-to's for audio quality (what I perceive it to be anyway):

Toy Matinee
King Crimson - Absent Lovers
Yes - Going for the One, the original CD mix released in the late 80s early 90s.
Eric Johnson - Venus Isle, this one floored me on first listen

**Mikhael** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by tormato

Glad to see it mentioned here. It is one of the first CD's I ever purchased (I bought it in Singapore while on a port visit aboard USS Enterprise in 1989) and this pressing still amazes me.

My go-to's for audio quality (what I perceive it to be anyway):

Toy Matinee
King Crimson - Absent Lovers
Yes - Going for the One, the original CD mix released in the late 80s early 90s.
Eric Johnson - Venus Isle, this one floored me on first listen

I've used 90125 to demo PA systems before, simply because I know the sound so well.

But GftO? Although I really like the music, I always considered this a strong candidate for a remix and/or remaster...

**tormato** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Mikhael

I've used 90125 to demo PA systems before, simply because I know the sound so well.

But GftO? Although I really like the music, I always considered this a strong candidate for a remix and/or remaster...

Could just be personal taste on GftO, but that original CD pressing always sounded good to my ears and it was one of the first CDs where I started to notice a lot of the subtleties (especially the background vocals). The remastered version never really did it for me. It also coincided with me buying my first set of decent headphones around the same time, so maybe it's just that this got heard a lot at that time.

**JJ88** · 02-01-2019

GFTO is a lousy production IMHO. That reverb-drenched sound isn't aging well. I could believe that an older CD is about as good as it will get though, as with Trespass.

**ghostsofpompeii** · 02-01-2019

The very first CD I ever purchased was "Octopus" from Gentle Giant and I can still remember the day when the music jumped from the speaker without first hearing that familiar crackle of the needle as it made contact with the vinyl. Don't know why but it still sounds like the cleanest and most sonically pleasing CD in my collection.

**Steve983** · 02-01-2019

Moon Safari's album sound sonically amazing too.

**MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by DoubleDrummer

What is that one prog album you have (vinyl, CD, tape, whatever) that you consider the best example of audiophile/reference quality ?

I own a Japanese Remaster CD of RTF's ROMANTIC WARRIOR that is an absolutely beautiful piece of work.
It sounds exceptionally outstanding in the car or on the big rig at home.
I bought the original cassette tape when it was released in 1976..............the first CD release in the 80's..............and this gem over ten years ago; still awesome music.

I agree with this one and I'll add the debut by UK for albums with excellent sound quality right out of the jacket

**MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by moecurlythanu

First to come to mind, as it usually does when this question comes up, is Mike Oldfield -Tubular Bells II.

yes, TBII is another excellent sounding album but I only have the CD. Is there a vinyl?

**refugee** · 02-01-2019

Originally Posted by Gladiator1634

Peter plays live a stereo only SACD . The humdrum would be the track that really stands out. Levins stick, Marrota's drums, Fast keyboards and Pete's vocals a perfect crystal clear sound and mix that really explodes out of the speakers

Steely Dan's Gaucho in 5.1 DVD AUDIO. Babylon sisters sounds like you are sitting in the studio with the band. Possibly the best song for sound quality in my entire catalogue.

Completely agree about Gaucho. I remember so well a friend playing it to me on a good system and being stunned by the sound quality and depth of the recording. Went straight out and bought a NAD amplifier and Mission 700 speakers....as well as the Gaucho LP. I've got the 5.1 version as well now, stunning all over again!!