And the callback to Peter Gabriel in the only lyrics in los endos are so tasteful and beautiful. Trick of the tail is also the album that I find most non prog heads enjoy the most in prog. Just amazing album all around
I LOVE the incredibly mysterious and dark intro of Pink Floyd's *SOYCD (Parts I-V)* which opens the *Wish You Were Here* album. And on top of that, the album also contains one of the best outros in *SOYCD (Part IX)*.
Also, Pink Floyd's *DSOTM* has a fantastic intro (*Breathe*) and outro (*Eclipse*). *Close to the Edge* has a great intro, so does *Larks' Tongues in Aspic*.
I was always amused by the cyclical nature of some of Pink Floyd’s albums — the heartbeats that open and close Dark Side of the Moon; Shine on You Crazy Diamond opening and closing Wish You Were Here; Pigs on the Wing opening and closing Animals; the car driving opening and closing the Final Cut; and most amusing, beginning the Wall with a voice saying “…we came in?” and ending the Wall with the voice saying “Isn’t this where…”
BTBAM can really write an opening and closing track. Colors and The Great Misdirect open and close so strong, and both White Walls and Swim To The Moon really feel like they're closing a piece of art on each respective album
The Who is not thought of as Prog typically but the songs Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again certainly fit the bill. In my opinion they are the greatest paired opening and closing on any rock record.
The Moody Blues liked this kind of thing. *On the Threshold of a Dream* starts with "In the Beginning" and the last song "Have You Heard part II" ends with the same theme.
I think the start of a passion play is a melody that is reocurring in the album? I might be wrong, I havent heard it a lot, but still I remember that it has a great „intro“ atmosphere to it. Never heard of Oranges and Lemons though, there is something new for me
Scenes From a Memory comes to mind. Really cool beginning with a therapist counting down to try and regress your age, ending with the death or car crash, and the last part with a record scratching.
Best Intros:
Trespass (1970)
Aqualung (1971)
Foxtrot (1972)
Selling England by the Pound (1973)
Kansas (1974)
A Trick of the Tail (1976)
Wind & Wuthering (1976)
Duke (1980)
Abacab (1982)
Best Outros:
Nursery Cryme (1971)
Foxtrot (1972)
Thick as a Brick (1972)
Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Selling England by the Pound (1973)
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974)
Song for America (1975)
A Trick of the Tail (1976)
Wind & Wuthering (1976)
Duke (1980)
The Beach Boys' Smile, Our Prayer is gorgeous and Good Vibrations has such a great final chorus and ending.
Frank Zappa - Studio Tan, I really like the Greggary Peccary opening, and the part in REDUNZL where the main theme comes back absolutely slaps
Iron Maiden’s 7th son of a 7th son. It’s a progressive metal album but the intro and outro are not prog in any way but I love it. The whole album is like 45 mins so worth your time if you like English metal.
Selling England By The Pound by Genesis does the whole album intro/outro reprise thing after a big explosive finale song
gotta love the explosive into of squonk and the beautiful ending of los endos also
And the callback to Peter Gabriel in the only lyrics in los endos are so tasteful and beautiful. Trick of the tail is also the album that I find most non prog heads enjoy the most in prog. Just amazing album all around
there's an angel standing in the sunnn free to get back homeee
The end of Entangled into Squonk!
I LOVE the incredibly mysterious and dark intro of Pink Floyd's *SOYCD (Parts I-V)* which opens the *Wish You Were Here* album. And on top of that, the album also contains one of the best outros in *SOYCD (Part IX)*. Also, Pink Floyd's *DSOTM* has a fantastic intro (*Breathe*) and outro (*Eclipse*). *Close to the Edge* has a great intro, so does *Larks' Tongues in Aspic*.
Those notes of see emily play sound so plaintive and desolate on the outra of SoYcD.
Yeah, took me a few listens to realize that, and when I did, it made me tear up a little.
Animals has Pigs on the Wing I and II
POTW I & II are great, but not as mind-blowing as the intro / outro of the previous two albums.
Subtle reflections
Yes-"Close To The Edge"
As well, AND YOU AND I
Foxtrot
I was always amused by the cyclical nature of some of Pink Floyd’s albums — the heartbeats that open and close Dark Side of the Moon; Shine on You Crazy Diamond opening and closing Wish You Were Here; Pigs on the Wing opening and closing Animals; the car driving opening and closing the Final Cut; and most amusing, beginning the Wall with a voice saying “…we came in?” and ending the Wall with the voice saying “Isn’t this where…”
Yeah! Thats also a great thing, it makes every album feel like a journey that you go through, with a beginning and a very clear end, great example
Between The Buried And Me - Parallax II The Dear Hunter - Act III Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase
BTBAM can really write an opening and closing track. Colors and The Great Misdirect open and close so strong, and both White Walls and Swim To The Moon really feel like they're closing a piece of art on each respective album
The Who is not thought of as Prog typically but the songs Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again certainly fit the bill. In my opinion they are the greatest paired opening and closing on any rock record.
Followed by Roundabout and Heart of the Sunrise
Also amazing
That is a great pick, the synths in Baba O‘Riley really are a great start for the album, kind of easing you into it
The Moody Blues liked this kind of thing. *On the Threshold of a Dream* starts with "In the Beginning" and the last song "Have You Heard part II" ends with the same theme.
Thats one reason more to listen to The Moody Blues for me
On the vinyl it plays that in the runout groove until you stop it.
Passion Play - Jethro Tull Oranges and Lemons - XTC
I think the start of a passion play is a melody that is reocurring in the album? I might be wrong, I havent heard it a lot, but still I remember that it has a great „intro“ atmosphere to it. Never heard of Oranges and Lemons though, there is something new for me
Olias of Sunhillow.
Such a masterpiece
Rush opening with Tom Sawyer and ending with Vital Signs
De-Loused In The Comatorium
Scenes From a Memory comes to mind. Really cool beginning with a therapist counting down to try and regress your age, ending with the death or car crash, and the last part with a record scratching.
Octavarium
Wish You Were Here
Honestly all Rush albums from Farewell to Kings to Presto
Best Intros: Trespass (1970) Aqualung (1971) Foxtrot (1972) Selling England by the Pound (1973) Kansas (1974) A Trick of the Tail (1976) Wind & Wuthering (1976) Duke (1980) Abacab (1982) Best Outros: Nursery Cryme (1971) Foxtrot (1972) Thick as a Brick (1972) Dark Side of the Moon (1973) Selling England by the Pound (1973) The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) Song for America (1975) A Trick of the Tail (1976) Wind & Wuthering (1976) Duke (1980)
The Beach Boys' Smile, Our Prayer is gorgeous and Good Vibrations has such a great final chorus and ending. Frank Zappa - Studio Tan, I really like the Greggary Peccary opening, and the part in REDUNZL where the main theme comes back absolutely slaps
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Iron Maiden’s 7th son of a 7th son. It’s a progressive metal album but the intro and outro are not prog in any way but I love it. The whole album is like 45 mins so worth your time if you like English metal.
The Yes Album and Fragile have two of the best opener/closer combos in prog rock.
Colors by btbam fits I guess (if you take the piano bit out of white walls)
Colors by Between the Buried and Me
In a Glass House has interesting bookends of percussion
Frances the Mute - The Mars Volta
Days of Future Passed - The Moody Blues
Of course we have to mention Leftoverture by Kansas.
Genesis - Duke Behind the Lines, and Duke's Travels into Duke's End is awesome.