The "Holy Trinity" (Glorious song transitions)

[jazz2896]

Does anyone else have those special moments when you're listening to an album where a certain succession of songs just make you.. well..
Where the juxtaposition of several songs flowing one after the other is just so beautifully crafted that it makes the album so much better, or just straight up makes the album in the first place? It's kind of a confusing idea to explain, so I'll just write down some of my favorite examples..

Beefheart's Doc at the Radar Station- Flavor bud Living--Sheriff of Hong Kong-- Making Love to a Vampire with a Monkey on my Knee
Genesis The Lamb- Back in NYC-- Hairless Heart-- Counting out Time
Zappa Roxy and Elsewhere- Village of the Sun-- Echidna's Arf-- Don't You Ever Wash That Thing
Peter Hammill Silent Corner- Red Shift-- Rubicon-- A Louse is Not a Home

Anyone else have those moments?

[the winter tree]

I really love side 2 (on the LP) of SAGA's "World's Apart". A great flow to the whole side and the transition from song to song.

[Lopez]

Side one of the Byrds' The Notorious Byrd Brothers: Natural Harmony-Draft Morning-Wasn't Born to Follow.

What makes the flow of these so good is that one song drifted into the next; there is no 3- or 4-second pause between songs.

[jeffo621]

Never really thought about it, but PFM's Storia di un Minuto seems to do it really well, as does Gentle Giant's Three Friends

[Blah_Blah_Woof_Woof]

Side one of the Byrds' The Notorious Byrd Brothers: Natural Harmony-Draft Morning-Wasn't Born to Follow.

What makes the flow of these so good is that one song drifted into the next; there is no 3- or 4-second pause between songs.

That album is magical! I didn't get it at the time but revisiting it years later blew my little mind.

The Moody Blues segued between songs on their early albums. This technique makes each record immersive and memorable. I liked how a double LP compilation of the MBs used the same smooth transition of songs.

One other transitional album side would be on A Wizard, A True Star by Todd

Side two of Sgt. Pepper ain't too shabby either!

[Interstellar]

PF Dark Side of The Moon - well the whole thing, especially Us And THem - Any Colour You Like - Brain Damage - Eclipse
Marillion - Side 2 of Afraid Of Sunlight. Out of this World, Afraid Of Sunlight, Beyond You - King
NoMan - Together We're Stranger. The whole album.
Ange - Side 2 of Par Les Fils de Mandrin

[Blah_Blah_Woof_Woof]

Side two of Touch. Listened with headphones on acid many times.

[Blah_Blah_Woof_Woof]

Lumpy Gravy

[gearHed289]

FM - Surveillance:

Orion/Horizons/Random Harvest

[walt]

Talk Talk-The Colour Of Spring.The first three songs are about as great a 1-2-3 punch as i know of in rock music.

[rickawakeman]

Iluvatar-the last three songs on "A Story Two Days Wide" ( Better Days/ Even Angels Fall/ Indian Rain) have always to my ears flowed into one another in a way that upon my first few listens (15 years ago?) moved me to tears.

[nosebone]

Bruford - One of a Kind

Best flow album of instrumental prog I can think of.

[progeezer's ghost]

Dream Theater- Falling Into Infinity: Hollow Years»Burning My Soul»Hell's Kitchen»Lines in the Sand (I know, that's four tracks; but the 'bookends' are my favorites of the lot.)

Steven Wilson- Hand.Cannot.Erase.: Transience, Ancestral, Happy Returns

Pink Floyd had more than a few.

...and many more that escape me presently.

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Never really thought about it, but PFM's Storia di un Minuto seems to do it really well

^^^
this

every piece that follows the preceding piece is sheer magic
no album flows as well .

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

I think my favorite such moment in rock is the transition from the end of "Behind Blue Eyes" to the thundering entrance of "Won't Get Fooled Again" (which is, itself, the greatest rock anthem of all time).

[bob_32_116]

Porcupine Tree - Small Fish/Burning Sky/Fadeaway
Moody Blues - Painted Smile/Reflective Smile/Veteran Cosmic Rocker
SMiLE - practically the whole thing
Jimmy Webb - Land's End/Asleep On the Wind

[No Pride]

Bruford - One of a Kind

Best flow album of instrumental prog I can think of.

Yup!

XTC's "Skylarking;" Ballet for a Rainy Day/1,000 Umbrellas/Season Cycle

[MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER]

Bruford - One of a Kind

Best flow album of instrumental prog I can think of.

that's a great one too!
DSOTM is also a perfect example

and I'll add the debut album by UK as an album with perfect flow

[JKL2000]

If it hasn't been mentioned, most of Caravan's Grey & Pink.

[schlongasaurus]

Marillion-hotel hobbies/warm wet circles/ that time of the night is about as good as it gets

[undergroundrailroad]

The opening stretch of the first Hatfield and the North album.
Oh, and that last stretch of the first Hatfield and the North album.
Ogre Battle/Fairy Feller's Masterstroke/Nevermore/March of the Black Queen
Death On Two Legs/Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon/I'm in Love with My Car/You're My Best Friend/39
Gray Traitors/Cafffkaff/May Your Will Be Done, Dear Lord (from Wigwam's Fairyport)
Side two of Heart's Doug and Butterfly.
Drowning Witch/Envelopes/Teenage Prostitute

[tonewalk]

PF Dark Side of The Moon - well the whole thing, especially Us And THem - Any Colour You Like - Brain Damage - Eclipse

Yes!

Also:

Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Custard Pie/The Rover/In my time of Dying
Richard and Linda Thompson: I want to see the bright lights tonight - Calvary Cross/Withered and Died/IWTSTBLT
Frank Zappa: You are what you is - Mudd Club/The Meek shall Inherit Nothing/Dumb all Over
VdGG: Still Life - La Rossa/My Room/Childlike Faith
Van Morrison: Astral Weeks - Was going to suggest Cypress Avenue/The way Young Lovers Do/Madame George, but you could perm any three from eight

[No Pride]

Death On Two Legs/Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon/I'm in Love with My Car/You're My Best Friend/39

I consider ANatO to be Queen's masterpiece, but you're right, "Sweet Lady," which comes after the 5 tracks you mentioned is a dip in quality; in fact for me, it's the only weak tune on the whole album (though I like the bridge).

[jazz2896]

The opening stretch of the first Hatfield and the North album.
Oh, and that last stretch of the first Hatfield and the North album.
Ogre Battle/Fairy Feller's Masterstroke/Nevermore/March of the Black Queen

These two I agree with 100%, those albums have been on my recent playlists too, should've thought about that. The entirety of side 2 of Queen II is pretty glorious.

[Progbear]

The first example to come to mind isn’t even prog, it’s the transition from “Chameleon” to “Gypsy Moths” on Labelle’s Chameleon album. But oh my, is it ever exhilarating.