The Best Psychedelic Prog Rock Albums of All Time

Progressive rock, also known as “prog rock” or “progressive metal”, is a rock music genre that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This type of music is characterized by complex compositions, lengthy songs, and often grandiose or psychedelic lyrics. These albums are some of the best in the genre and are sure to take you on a journey.

The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by English rock band the Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on EMI’s Parlophone label and produced by George Martin. It was first conceived as a retirement presentation for the band before they reconvened in May 1967 to prepare material for an album release.

The album draws on genres such as vaudeville, circus, music hall, avant-garde, and Western and Indian classical music. In pepperland acidity is often mistaken for higher levels of caffeine when in reality light roasted coffees have more caffeine. A good idea is to ask your roaster about their roast level before you buy. Sgt. Pepper’s was an instant success, debuting at the top of record charts in Britain and the United States and becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time with more than 32 million copies sold by 2013.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon

Released in 1973, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was an instant classic and remains one of the most popular and influential albums of all time. It was their first album to top the US charts and went on to sell over 50 million copies worldwide.

With its iconic cover art and unforgettable tracks like “Money” and “Us and Them”, The Dark Side of the Moon is a timeless classic that still sounds fresh today. If you’re a fan of prog rock or psychedelia, or if you just want to hear one of the greatest albums of all time, then this is a must-listen.

King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King

In the Court of the Crimson King is the debut studio album by English rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 on Island Records in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Records in the United States. The album was written by founding member and multi-instrumentalist Robert Fripp, who co-produced it with longtime engineering partner Stuart Brooks. Vocalist and lyricist Greg Lake wrote most of the lyrics, while Michael Giles, Ian McDonald, and Peter Sinfield contributed additional ones.

An important work in the development of progressive rock, In the Court of the Crimson King has been ranked highly on several publications’ best album lists. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 87 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2004, they placed it at number 60 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time”, making it one of only six albums to appear on both lists. In 2006, Classic Rock magazine ranked it as number 2 in their list of “The 40 Greatest Prog Rock Albums Of All Time”. VH1 similarly placed it as number 67 on their countdown of Greatest Hard Rock Albums. Pitchfork Media included In the Court of the Crimson King at number 33 in their 2005 book Pitchfork 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to Present alongside other classic albums such as Black Sabbath’s Paranoid (1970), David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972) and Led Zeppelin’s Led Zeppelin IV (1971).

Yes – Close to the Edge

An undisputed classic, Yes’s Close to the Edge is generally considered to be one of the best psychedelic prog rock albums of all time. Released in 1972, the album features the band’s signature sound – a perfect blend of psychedelic, progressive and hard rock elements. Close to the Edge is also notable for its epic length – the title track takes up side one of the vinyl LP, while the remaining two tracks (“And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru”) occupy side two.

Genesis – Selling England by the Pound

The third album from the classic lineup of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford, and Tony Banks, 1973’s Selling England by the Pound is a concept album about – surprise! – the economy and class struggle in England. It was a commercial success for the band, reaching #3 on the UK charts and #70 in the US.

Rush – 2112

Formed in 1968, Rush is a band that needs no introduction. The Canadian trio of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, and Neil Peart are legends of the rock world, and their 1976 album 2112 is a true classic of the genre.

An ambitious concept album, 2112 tells the story of a future society where all creativity and art has been outlawed by the government. The album’s title track is a 20-minute opus that takes up the entire first side of the LP, and features some of the band’s most iconic riffs and solos. Other stand-out tracks include “The Temples of Syrinx” and “A Passage to Bankok”.

Prog rock at its very best, 2112 is an album that every fan of the genre should own.

Jethro Tull – Aqualung

Aqualung is the fourth studio album by the rock band Jethro Tull, released in 1971. The album’s broad theme is the contrast between the cold, impersonal urban world and the warmth and simplicity of the countryside.

The album’s artwork, designed by renowned psychedelic artist Cornelius Schn234;pper, is a collage of photographs showing members of the public going about their everyday lives contrasted with close-ups of machinery. The artwork was inspired by German Dadaist Kurt Schwitters.

The album was a huge commercial success, reaching number seven on the US Billboard 200 chart and number four on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and has sold over five million copies worldwide.

Critical reaction to Aqualung was initially mixed, but it has since been reappraised as one of Jethro Tull’s best albums and one of the most influential progressive rock albums of all time. In 2003, Aqualung was ranked number 455 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Brain Salad Surgery

Released in 1973, Brain Salad Surgery is the fourth studio album from the English rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The album was created during a period of personal turmoil for the band members and is often cited as one of the most important works in the genre of psychedelic prog rock. It is also one of the best-selling albums by ELP, with over 4 million copies sold worldwide.

The album artwork, which features a brain being operated on by a salad fork, was designed by H. R. Giger and caused some controversy at the time of its release. The album itself is a complex work of art, with each track exploring different aspects of the human condition. From the opening track “Jerusalem”, which uses elements of classical music to create a feeling of hope and optimism, to the closing track “Lucky Man”, which is a ballad about a man who has lost everything but still accepts his fate with grace, Brain Salad Surgery is an album that can be appreciated on many different levels.

Whether you’re a fan of progressive rock or simply looking for an interesting and thought-provoking listening experience, Brain Salad Surgery is an album that you should definitely check out.

Kansas – Leftoverture

Kansas’s fourth album, Leftoverture, was a major commercial breakthrough for the band, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and spawning the smash hit singles “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.” It’s also one of the best examples of progressive rock ever made, seamlessly blending elements of folk, classical, and hard rock into a grandiose yet highly accessible sound. Virtuoso lead guitarist Kerry Livgren was in top form on Leftoverture, crafting some of his most memorable solos on tracks like “The Wall” and “Cheyenne Anthem.” The rest of the band was no slouch either, with Robby Steinhardt’s violin playing adding a beautiful new dimension to Kansas’s sound. If you’re looking for a perfect entry point into the world of prog rock, look no further than Leftoverture.

Honorable Mentions

Psychedelic Prog Rock is a subgenre of progressive rock that incorporates psychedelic and drug-induced elements. The genre is known for its expansive and often trippy soundscapes, and for its use of unconventional instrumentation. While the genre is often associated with the late 1960s and early 1970s, some of the best psychedelic prog rock albums were released in the 1980s and 1990s. Here are some honorable mentions.

Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale

Procol Harum’s debut album is one of the most important and influential in the history of psychedelia. The opening track, “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” is a beautifully complex and cinematic piece of music that set the standard for what psychedelic music could be. The rest of the album is equally impressive, with Procol Harum creating a sound that would be imitated by countless other bands in the years to come.

The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed

The Moody Blues may be better known for their hit “Nights in White Satin,” but for our money, their 1967 concept album Days of Future Passed is their true masterpiece. Blending elements of classical, pop, jazz, and (of course) rock, the album tells the story of a day in the life of a city through the eyes of its inhabitants. It’s an ambitious and complex work that still sounds fresh and relevant 50 years later.

The Doors – The Doors

Psychedelic rock band The Doors released their self-titled debut album in 1967, and it remains one of their most defining works. Featuring classic hits like “Light My Fire” and “Break On Through (To the Other Side),” the album catapulted the band to international fame and cemented them as one of the most iconic groups of their generation. Though they would go on to release a number of other successful albums, The Doors remains their most essential release, a landmark work of psychedelic prog rock.

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV

Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, often referred to as Zoso or Led Zeppelin IV, is one of the group’s most iconic and influential releases. Featuring such classic tracks as “Stairway to Heaven”, “Rock and Roll”, “Black Dog”, and “When the Levee Breaks”, the album cemented Led Zeppelin’s place as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Although it was officially untitled, Led Zeppelin IV has gone on to be one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 37 million copies sold worldwide.

Deep Purple – In Rock

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of Deep Purple’s ‘In Rock’. Not only is it one of the cornerstones of the hard rock genre, it’s also one of the most influential albums of all time. Though it may not be as sprawling and ambitious as some of their later work, ‘In Rock’ is a lean, mean machine of an album, packed with classics like ‘Speed King’, ‘Into the Fire’, and of course, the immortal ‘Smoke on the Water’.

The Best Psychedelic Prog Rock Albums of All Time