Which Progressive Rock Group Also Excelled in a Psychedelic/Trance

Pink Floyd is a psychedelic/progressive rock group formed in London, England, in 1965. They are known for their energetic and improvisational live performances and for their concept albums.

Yes

Close to the Edge

Close to the Edge is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock group Yes, released in September 1972 on Atlantic Records. It was their last album before singer Jon Anderson left the group temporarily and the last to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman until his return in 1983. The artwork for Close to the Edge was created by Roger Dean.

After completing a world tour in support of their previous album, Fragile (1971), Yes began work on their next album in early 1972 at Advision Studios in London. The band wrote and rehearsed songs for two months before going into the studio, during which time Anderson came up with “And You and I”. The album was recorded over a three-month period from May to July 1972. Some of Dean’s artwork from Close to the Edge was featured on an album cover by German rock group REO Speedwagon five years later.

Critical reception to Close to the Edge was positive and it is widely regarded as one of Yes’ best albums, as well as one of the greatest progressive rock albums ever made. In 1973, it won a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package. It has been certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The Yes Album

The Yes Album is the third studio album by the English rock band Yes, released on 19 February 1971 by Atlantic Records. It was the group’s first album to feature guitarist Steve Howe, who replaced Peter Banks in 1970, as well as their last to feature keyboardist Tony Kaye before he was replaced by Rick Wakeman in 1971. The album was the first to be written and performed entirely by the five-member lineup of Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White and Tony Kaye.

The Yes Album reached number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and number 33 on the US Billboard 200. It received positive reviews from critics upon release and has since been recognised as one of the classic albums of progressive rock. In 2014, it was voted number 380 in Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition.

Fragile

Fragile is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock group Yes, released on 26 November 1971 on Atlantic Records. It was the first Yes album to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and the last with original bassist Chris Squire and drummer Bill Bruford before they both departed in 1972.

The album was recorded following the success of their tour to support Roundabout, which led to large audiences across North America and Europe. Fragile was written and recorded quickly to capitalize on this momentum.

The album cover was designed by Roger Dean, who would go on to design several more of their album covers. The inner sleeve featured a collage of photographs taken during recording sessions. The title is derived from an interview in which Wakeman described the band at that time as being “fragile”.

Fragile peaked at number 4 in the UK and number 7 in the US, where it was certified gold by the RIAA in February 1972. It has been reissued several times on CD and vinyl, most recently in 2019 as a part of The Aladdin Sane 40th Anniversary Edition box set.

King Crimson

King Crimson is a British progressive rock group that was formed in 1968. The group has been influential in the development of progressive rock and has also been credited with helping to pioneer the genre of psychedelic/trance music. King Crimson has released a total of 13 studio albums, the most recent of which, “The Elements of King Crimson”, was released in 2014. The group has undergone numerous lineup changes over the years, with guitarist Robert Fripp being the only constant member.

In the Court of the Crimson King

In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 on Island Records in England and Atlantic Records in America. The album was recorded at Wessex Sound Studios in Highbury, Islington, North London, and engineered by Robin Thompson. Additionally, five studio takes of “Drop In” were included as part of the 40th anniversary release of In the Court of the Crimson King. These tracks were recorded during the album’s initial sessions at Wessex Studios in May 1969, with bassist Peter Giles replacing Gordon Haskell, who had departed prior to these recordings.

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King Crimson is a progressive rock group that formed in London, England in 1968. The band has had a strong influence on the development of progressive rock, and their unique blend of psychedelic and trance-like elements has helped them create some of the most iconic and timeless music in the genre. Over the years, King Crimson has undergone many lineup changes, but the core members have always been founder Robert Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford. The band has released 13 studio albums, including their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King, which is often considered to be one of the greatest progressive rock albums of all time.

Discipline

King Crimson is a progressive rock group that also excelled in a psychedelic/trance music style. They were one of the most innovative and influential bands of their time, and their music is still relevant today. “Discipline” is one of their most famous and iconic songs.

Pink Floyd

Formed in 1965, Pink Floyd is one of the most commercially successful and influential rock groups of all time. The band initially earned recognition for their psychedelic or space rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Pink Floyd’s debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, was released in 1967. The album was heavily influenced by Syd Barrett’s interest in the psychedelic and trance music scenes, and includes many elements of those genres. Although the album was not commercially successful at the time, it has since become regarded as one of the best debut albums in rock history.

A Saucerful of Secrets

Released in 1968, Pink Floyd’s second album was their first without founding member Syd Barrett. Although Barrett’s presence is still felt – most notably on the 12-string acoustic intro to “Remember a Day” and the eerie, pitch-bent screams that close “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” – it’s obvious that Pink Floyd are now Waters’, Wright’s, and Mason’s group. On A Saucerful of Secrets, they move away from Barrett’s psychedelic pop and toward extended jams (“A Saucerful of Secrets”, “Careful with That Axe, Eugene”) and atmospheric sound effects (“Let There Be More Light”). The result is a more ambitious album than The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, pointing toward the band’s experimental side.

Ummagumma

Pink Floyd’s second album, 1969’s Ummagumma, was a double LP of new material. The first disc contained live renditions of several early Pink Floyd songs, including “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and “Careful with That Axe, Eugene.” The second disc was a collection of solo material recorded by each member of the band. Roger Waters contributed the pastoral “Grantchester Meadows” and the reflective “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict.” Richard Wright’s contributions were the hypnotic “Sysyphus,” parts one and two, and “The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party.” David Gilmour’s tracks were the bluesy “The Narrow Way,” parts one and two. Nick Mason’s only contribution was the percussion-heavy instrumental “Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict.”

Genesis

Formed in 1967, Genesis was one of the first English progressive rock groups. Though they had some commercial success with their earlier, more pop-oriented material, it was with their 1974 album, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,” that they truly broke through to a wider audience. This was followed by their most successful album, “A Trick of the Tail” (1976), which saw the group moving in a more commercial, pop direction.

Foxtrot

Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released in October 1972 on Charisma Records. It was their first album to reach the top 10 in the UK Albums Chart. The album’s critical and commercial success saw the band’s international profile rise, particularly in the US, where it peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Foxtrot includes several of the band’s most popular songs, including “Watcher of the Skies”, “Get ’em Out by Friday”, “Can-Utility and the Coastliners”, and the 22-minute title track “Supper’s Ready”. These tracks were supplemented by several shorter songs and instrumental pieces which reflected Hackett’s growing interest in jazz and world music. The inclusion of two long tracks on a single album was an early indication of Genesis’ progressive rock leanings.

The album marked a change in direction for Genesis, with keyboardist Tony Banks using a Mellotron for the first time to generate choir-like sounds on several tracks. Banks would later use Mellotrons more frequently, particularly on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Trick of the Tail (1976). His use of ARP and EMS synthesizers also increased from this point onwards. This was also Hackett’s last album with Genesis until 1977’s Wind & Wuthering due to his increasing dissatisfaction with life on the road; he would leave after Foxtrot’s supporting tour ended in August 1973.

Selling England by the Pound

Selling England by the Pound is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on 19 October 1973 on Charisma Records. It reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 70 in the US. The album came to represent the peak of the group’s commercial success and critical approval, due largely to the concept-based song “Supper’s Ready”, which originally occupied side two of the record. It was a direct response to criticisms levelled at 1971’s Nursery Cryme, which was deemed too whimsical and lightweight in comparison with contemporary works by groups such as Pink Floyd and Yes. In contrast, Selling England by the Pound was a more serious work inspired by English culture and history, especially that of the Victorian era.

The album exhibited a more complex approach to songwriting, with each track featuring different moods, textures and time signatures. The band made greater use of keyboards and guitar pedals to create an unusual sound palette for a rock band at that time. several tracks also featured Robert Fripp on guitar; he had previously contributed to two tracks from Nursery Cryme but this was his first formal collaboration with Genesis. Mike Rutherford’s bass playing was also more prominent than on previous albums.

Thematically, much of Selling England by the Pound is concerned with English heritage and culture: “Dancing With The Moonlit Knight” alludes to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales; “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” is an ode to British fashion; while “Firth Of Fifth” references both Shakespeare’s King Lear and James Joyce’s Ulysses in its lyrics about an Irish migrant leaving his homeland for America . . .

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Formed in 1967, Genesis originally consisted of singer Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Anthony Phillips, bassist Mike Rutherford, and drummer and percussionist Chris Stewart. The band’s debut album, From Genesis to Revelation was released in early 1969 on the Decca label. The album was very much in the style of the time, with Gabriel’s florid lyrics telling religious stories set to a backdrop of Baroque pop arrangements. It was not a commercial success and the band began to move away from their original sound, incorporating more prog-rock elements into their music.

Their next album Trespass (1970) was a turning point for the band, with more complex music and lyrics that explored themes of fantasy and nostalgia. The album was not well-received by critics or audiences at the time, but has since been retrospectively praised as an influential work in the development of progressive rock.

After Phillips left the band due to health problems, he was replaced by guitarist Steve Hackett for their next album Nursery Cryme (1971). This album saw the beginning of Gabriel’s use of costumes and theatrical elements during live performances, which would become one of his trademark stage show features. The album also marked the first appearance of drummer Phil Collins, who would go on to become one of the most popular artists in both pop and progressive rock.

Foxtrot (1972) continued in a similar vein to Nursery Cryme with complex arrangements and long pieces such as “Watcher of the Skies” and “Supper’s Ready”. Selling England by the Pound (1973) was another critical and commercial success for Genesis, featuring their most popular single “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”, which helped to increase their audience outside of England.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) was a double album concept piece written by Gabriel about an urban youth named Rael who experiences a series of bizarre adventures in New York City. The story is surreal and often nonsensical, but it is held together by strong musical performances from all members of the band. This was Gabriel’s last album with Genesis before he left to pursue a solo career. He would be replaced by singer Phil Collins for their next album A Trick of the Tail (1976).