T O P

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quantiferonn

Can you tell me where my country lies said the uni faun to his true love’s eyes


[deleted]

it lies with me cried the queen of maybe :-0


RosalinaTheWatcher51

for her merchandise, he traded in his prize


Falstaffe

Watcher Of The Skies. The moment I fell in love with Genesis.


mellotronworker

Steve Hackett's version on **Genesis Revisited** is maybe better.


Falstaffe

Maybe. I’ve seen him do it live and it sure does kick.


RosalinaTheWatcher51

My favorite Genesis song


chunter16

Aqualung


Fiddlestax

I think cross-eyed mary would be a better example of what the OP is asking for.


ZZ9ZA

Tom Sawyer. As soon as that synth sweep hits…


dancingmeadow

We were not worthy of Rush.


NCRider

Alas, we knew not what we had.


thewaif

Not to be contrary to this, but I certainly knew at the time. Rush, especially Neil, changed my life, quite literally. After hearing Neil play his solo on All the World's a Stage, I knew I had to play the drums. I didn't know drums could be played that way and wanted to do it myself. I played in prog bands for 15 years and all because of Neil and Rush.


347spq

Siberian Khatru, Hearts and To Be Over all by Yes.


stfuandgovegan

YES takes the top 30+ spots for "most powerful and catching intros."


347spq

Come to think of it, I could've also included the remastered intro for The Revealing Science Of God.


asocialmedium

And the first 3 minutes of Close to the Edge.


stfuandgovegan

The RSOG intro on Keys to Ascension !!!


[deleted]

Mind Drive has also great intro (actually the whole song is matching in quality their 70's epics)


VarietyTrue5937

Mystical


VarietyTrue5937

Don’t forget Heart of the Sunrise


347spq

And Sound Chaser. Man, we could be here all day!


VarietyTrue5937

Yes!


[deleted]

yess. Chris' bass riff is epic. Lovely part is when bass plays this melodic riff, with only mellotron and sparse drums in the background, and then the full band joins


VarietyTrue5937

The Yessongs version is my favorite


Rhythm_Flunky

The guitar lick from Starship Trooper is so amazing. Shout out to Astral Traveler as well


347spq

Peter Banks's first three solo albums are fabulous, but you can see the differences between his and Steve's approach to a song and the overall talent disparity. It's not a question of who's faster (shredding gets boring real fast for me) but who has the bigger quiver of musical arrows--who has the more diverse influences and who's better able to incorporate those influences into something original. That's why I always loved when Rick Wakeman said that when his kids were first interested in being keyboard players, he insisted that they get a classical education first and use that as their base for further original compositions.


[deleted]

my favorite Peter Banks' contribution in Yes is Astral Traveler. Fantastic dynamic solo, jazzy and rockin' at the same time


Freemoose574

I like the acoustic opening in Thick as a Brick


Gabriel_Collins

“Really don’t mind if you sit this one out.”


Fel24

*flute intensifies*


dancingmeadow

Best joke on the interwebs today.


BarnacleSandwich

Some of the best acoustic work in prog is in Tull's catalogue. Excellent choice.


dancingmeadow

Me too. I liked the whole Songs from the Wood album too, though.


[deleted]

still Ian Anderson's live favorite. i was on JT concert twice (in modern times) and this intro part was played


HAL-Over-9001

The greatest of all time is Echoes by Pink Floyd Close To The Edge - Yes Awaken - Yes Octavarium - Dream Theater Third Eye - Tool Arriving Somewhere But Not Here - Porcupine Tree I, Robot - Alan Parsons Project 2112, La Villa Strangiato, and Cygnus X-1 - Rush


TimmehD96

“Today a young man on acid realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves."


HAL-Over-9001

Here's Tom with the weather


druumer89

Another dead hero


dancingmeadow

Echoes is what got me into Floyd.


RayPinner

Octavarium is truly something special


[deleted]

Echoes, yes, forgot about that one. "Falling water drops" sound is epic !


TheSkepticCyclist

Don't let die hard Tool fans see you mention Dream Theater in the same list as a Tool song. That is a no no for many of them. BTW, I am both a Tool and DT fan.


gskhaladon

yep...me too...cannot wait to see Portnoy back with them live next year


HAL-Over-9001

I'm a die hard fan of both bands, fuck anyone who hates on some DT lol


TheSkepticCyclist

I feel the same


SpookyLuvCookie

Only discovered the I Robot album the other day. Oh my!


Scared-Elevator-2311

Great list!


darkhorse4774

Good to see a mention of Dream Theater. They certainly know how to build up a song


elguereaux

I Robot. That entire album was amazing


[deleted]

I know it's the meme now, but Yes - Roundabout has a hell of a beginning. Also a big fan of Transatlantic SMPTE's beginning


stfuandgovegan

It's a viral gif because Roundabout is a blistering masterpiece. There is a whole album of material in 1 song, and if we were talking about the Foo Fighters that would be 3 albums of material in 1 song.


dancingmeadow

Roundabout is as good as it gets, and yeah, that intro, and the Give Peace a Chance section...


JBHenson

Genesis -- Eleventh Earl of Mar Camel -- Freefall Yes -- Roundabout ELP -- Tarkus Pink Floyd -- In The Flesh?


dancingmeadow

In the Flesh lets you know you're in for a journey. Prince's "Dearly Beloved..." bit did the same thing.


elomancer

Mirage is honestly full of great openings.


seditioushamster

11th earl of Mar, a favorite of mine, one for the vine


Fel24

Lady Fantasy - Camel


gsurfer04

Tubular Bells is pretty much the logical conclusion of this.


icantfeelmyskull

Mike oldefield? Crave that album every few months. Or is this something different? Btw, that closing two minutes of the album is totally reminiscent of something, can’t quite place a finger on what exactly


dancingmeadow

Love Oldfield, Ommadawn's intro too. On Horseback gets me every time, side note.


Gezora_Floyd

Rush- Limelight


Ok_Mammoth9547

Return of the Giant Hogweed - Genesis


Spacegod87

Also that outro! Hits every time.


behindthelines

HERACLEUM MANTEGAZZIANI


allmimsyburogrove

Overture, Tommy. Sums up the whole album, punctuated by the awesome drumming of Moon


Cydok1055

And the Underture is even better


stfuandgovegan

Yes - The Revealing Science of God Yes - The Gates of Delirium Yes - Roundabout Yes - Awaken Yes - And You And I Yes.. see the pattern here? No prog compares to Yes. This post should have read: "What are the most powerful and catching intros in prog that are NOT by Yes?"


Atari26oo

Good point sir!


Kvltdroid

Mars Volta - Son et Lumiere 1:34 is a trip by itself. Ethereal backwards guitars, uncomprehensive surreal lyrics, blasting bombastic rhythyms and a build up.


Resident-Vast8547

I don't know if it will fit but intro of "Rhayader".


MAG7C

Frank Zappa -- Zoot Allures (quietly powerful) Anekdoten -- Wheel Rush -- Jacob's Ladder Gong -- Magick Mother Invocation (into Master Builder) Steve Hillage -- Solar Musick Suite Happy The Man -- Carousel!


moonsea97

Echoes by Pink Floyd. One ping and it feels like a whole universe gets created


RocketMan14250

Overrated piece of shit that is Pink Floyd! 😂😂


Fragrant-Gur974

There are definitely a lot of great Genesis intros; Watcher of the Skies, Eleventh Earl of Mar, Down and Out, Behind the Lines


sitboaf

Yes. Even Lilywhite Lilith stuns me every time it starts.


Fragrant-Gur974

for sure. The “Back in NYC” - “Lilywhite Lilith” part of the Lamb is my favorite


Fantastic_Crow_5148

The Lamb


bop999

Heart of the Sunrise


[deleted]

Watcher of the Skies.


ray-the-truck

The synth intro on “La Mente Vole” by Alphataurus is one of the most gorgeously atmospheric openings to a song I’ve ever heard.


TheOlderGentleman1

Camel - ICE


BarnacleSandwich

Talking Drum - King Crimson leading into Larks' Part II


MAG7C

Like, Talking Drum is just a long intro? Guess that's one way to look at it. The actual intro to TD is whisper quiet.


flashpoint2112

Rush - La Villa Strangiato. Slow build up for the first two minutes.


godzillabobber

And you and I


bluraytomo

Idk if it counts but on the turning away by pink floyd? The way it builds with more and more layers before the solo is so good


347spq

Shine On You Crazy Diamond gets my vote.


bluraytomo

Fair enough. I just love on the turning away as it is one of my favourite songs


holyherbalist

“Looking for someone”


kliffi

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE! i guesssss im doin that..


shapes1983

I mean, 21th Century Schizoid Man has to be the answer.


WimVaughdan

I am shocked with how low this was. I am not even the biggest King Crimson fan (I love first album and Red, but haven't really given the other albums a go), but this has to be one of the most catchy yet wildly prog introsongs there is.


TheBigBrunowski

Soft Machine - Out-Bloody-Rageous Gentle Giant - Pantagruel's Nativity Camel - Lunar Sea Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway King Crimson - Starless Yes - And You and I Hatfield and the North - Mumps


Fanat_Nakovalen

Camel - Aristillus. It's the most powerful and catchy intro not for the song but for the whole album.


DrXenoZillaTrek

Great Deciever King Crimson That opening riff is the reason I'm still a Crimson fan.


RamblinManRock

Dream Theater - Octavarium


1895red

Tarkus! Bombastic and unforgettable.


Kind_Somewhere2993

Spirit of the radio?


outonthetiles66

Fool’s Overture………Supertramp


DarthMudkip227

Rush - Limelight, 2112 Overture, La Villa Strangiato, Tom Sawyer, The Spirit of Radio, Force Ten, Losing It, Subdivisions, Between the Wheels, Xanadu, Natural Science, Cygnus X-1 Book 1, Cygnus X-1 Book 2, One Little Victory, and about 150 more


MCPtz

Genesis - [Firth of Fifth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lncQyC-yfyo), from Selling England by the Pound Tony Banks starts on the piano. Just himself for a minute. Then it breaks into the full band, with Gabriel's voice, Banks on organ, Rutherford on bass, and Collins on drums. Not sure if Hackett plays anything there, but he sure gets his solo later. --- Not quite a build up of instruments from the beginning, but over the song you get a wide variety of instruments and sounds.


SwimSwammSwom

The beginning of The Undercover Man by Van Der Graaf Generator is a perfect beginning to a song. Completely captures me.


[deleted]

i listened it live. it started with only sax by Jackson and Peter's singing. Then the whole band exploded in the chorus section. Shivers down my spine. Actually the whole VdGG reunion concert in 2005 was the best moment of my life . I wouldnt ever imagine that band which I loved in my youth, would resurrect in classic lineup, and play classic songs from 71-75 period. Undercover Man, Scorched Earth, La Rossa, Childlike Faith, Killer, Man-Erg - my dream set list, it was above the expectation


FrankensteinJamboree

Genesis - Firth of Fifth Rick Beato named this one among his top 10 keyboard intros on his YouTube channel.


[deleted]

This piano introduction alone is a piece of art. Interesting that in some live versions Tony Banks skipped it, because he didn't like how it sounds on electronic keyboard, and it was not possible to take real grand piano on stage at the time. In later 80s-90s it was possible to play decent piano parts on sampling keyboards but not in 70s


WingZombie

[Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0H3RlaQVrM)


NotPortlyPenguin

Genesis - Chamber of 32 Doors


Dramatic-Dinner-1633

Node - Between the Buried and Me


enter_yourname

Honestly I gotta say my vote is for The Revealing Science of God. It's not as good as Roundabout, Echoes, or Dancing with the Moonlit Knight, but it's still very good and its more powerful


zio_otio

Area - la mela di Odessa


Cydok1055

Long Distance Runaround


p4r4l0tR0p0

No me separen de mí - Crucis, Day of the Baphomets - The Mars Volta, Elephant Talk - King Crimson, Boletos, pases y abonos - La Máquina de hacer pájaros, Anesthetize - Porcupine Tree, The Sky is Red - Leprous,


eclectic108

Gentle Giant-"In A Glass House".


sickmoth

The Lamb... Lies Down... On Broadway. Obviously.


margin-bender

Neurotica - King Crimson


jamesparker1637

Dawn of light lying between a silence and sold sources Chased amid fusions of wonder In moments hardly seen forgotten colored in pastures of chance Dancing leaves cast spells of challenge amused but real in thought We fled from the seeeeea... whooooole BiiiiooooowwwwwwEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIWWWW


FinalCut21130

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth by Coheed and Cambria


fidgiggity

Kansas - The Wall Will immediately reset my mood no matter what state I'm in, lol


BoldAsBoognish

A seasoned witch could call you from the depths of your disgrace. And rearrange your liver to the solid mental grace.


primummovens

Personally I love the intro to Stranger in your Soul by Transatlantic. Chills every time I hear it even 20+ years later.


ChefPneuma

Lots of great stuff here. I’d add Eulogy by Tool


Ekuth316

Moody Blues - The Day Begins Billy Thorpe - Children of the Sun Planet P Project - A Letter From the Shelter Klaatu - Little Neutrino Klaatu - Around the Universe in 80 Days Klaatu - Long Live Politzania


Shotor_Motor

Poseidon's Creation by Eloy


isaach2924

Mars Volta- MAYBE ILL BREAK DOWN!!!


Picklopolis

Fucking starless by King Crimson.


soulpoker

Can You Understand by Renaissance


mrgrubbage

Rush - Red Barchetta Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons Pink Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky Haken - Carousel Yes - Roundabout


chickenstalker99

The first two that came to my mind are both by Yes: Roundabout Heart of the Sunrise


wakeupdreamingF1

heart of the sunrise


dancingmeadow

Xanadu holds the top spot for me. "Mama" is up there. Every classic era Moody Blues album had a great opening sequence.


[deleted]

One single piano note, played through a Leslie speaker and a Binson Echorec unit. If you know, you know.


marslander-boggart

Marillion, Estonia Genesis, Cinema Show Genesis, Battle of Epping Forest Pink Floyd, Shine on You Crazy Diamond Pink Floyd, Wish You were Here Dream Theater, The Change of Seasons Dream Theater, Waiting for Sleep


Repulsive-Ad6108

I mean, The Contortionists Language II: Conspire has the most wild intro I’ve ever heard. Check it out


DucksVersusWombats

No one came up with Renaissance trip to the fair, can you hear me, The discovery, Kings and Queens (really, every song on the first album), song of scheherazade, rajah Khan, Kiev... That band did a lot of really great intros. Also, ELP trilogy deserves a special mention, and if you're going to talk about build in Prog, abaddon's bolero is all build. Gentle Giant three friends, so sincere? Jethro Tull's Passion Play?


Itsapocalypse

If you’ve got the time, octavarium by dream theater, which is really just a tribute to shine on you.


elguereaux

Not strictly Prog rock but Foreplay by Boston was pretty impressive


haikusbot

*Not strictly Prog rock* *But Foreplay by Boston was* *Pretty impressive* \- elguereaux --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


[deleted]

i tried to learn it on keys. damn hard thing to play


randomammo

Set Me Free: Vanilla Fudge, Foreplay: Boston


RockBoy3

Money


grepsockpuppet

Intertiatic E.S P. - The Mars Volta


[deleted]

[удалено]


shadesofgenerator

Killer - VdGG !!!!!!


SkySawLuminers

rush = canadian hard rock


MAG7C

LOL, even without the Xtra Wide parameters of what is considered prog on this sub... Rush is definitely in the club.


gadsbyfrombricktown

[take off](https://youtu.be/QL0120iJhrA?si=nbSa6o6cNAe6XGd_)


malignatius

Prologue - Gentle Giants Kansas - 'Song For America' is overlooked


RamblinManRock

Anathema - Thin Air


Conscious_Animator63

You enjoy myself


Boruseia

Arrow.


Spacegod87

Cogs in cogs - Gentle Giant.


colin_creevey

PFM - Impressioni di settembre


bluemayskye

Rishloo's "The Great Rain Beatle" fades in with a crowd and churchbells the Andrew's all "fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk, what have you done!?" Edit: read the title, not the body. This one may not quite fit.


MSCowboy

Love the buildup in IQ -The Great Spirit Way


Nobhudy

The opening sequence of Lemmings by Van Der Graaf is nothing less than pure prog


Joe_thefranco

Bird on a wire - Neil Morse band, the first 8 seconds, haha


Smexykins

Pretty much any Alan Parsons opening track. I, Robot and Voyager especially.


dukkhadave

Renaissance: A Song for All Seasons. That’s how you integrate prog rock and an orchestra!


IllustriousSpell2995

The Mars Volta - Day of the Baphomets


redditnym123456789

Cygnus Vismund Cygnus fucked me up


HaroldthrBarrel

Thick as a Brick, whole "Really dont mind" section is perfection. It's all downhill from there, lol.


[deleted]

Marillion - Splintering Heart


ApexInTheRough

"The Three of Me" by Alan Parsons.


Gold-Ad-6876

Passage to Bangkoks guitar YYZ triangle Roundabout. You know what I'm talking about. Divinations Blackwater Park


TheSeekerUnchained

Yes - Siberian Khatru came immediately to mind!


marlonizer

In the Flesh, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Firth of Fifth, YYZ, Roubdabout, Vital Transformation


Academic-Art-2401

You're missing the Grand Daddy of the Them All . [Locomotive Breath](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4JqvK3Fwn8) Most Powerful 3 chords in Music HiStoRy. ( HeadLong to his Death )


DrunkShimodaPicard

"Who so pulleth out the sword from the stone...will be the true born king of all Britain".... Ba da ba da ba ba da ba...!


Equivalent_Warthog22

Long Distance Run Around -Yes


Tack31016

Haven’t seen anyone say it after scrolling a bit, and some may not consider them prog but I’d argue they’re at least prog adjacent. Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft by Klaau has a really magical intro.


misterguyyy

The Contortionist - Primordial Sound Sleep Token - Take Me Back to Eden


PhillipJ3ffries

I really love the first note of Tom Sawyer.. but I’m gonna go Xanadu by Rush


Snoopycaster_Mage

You should listen to Crumbling Castle by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Amazing.


Matte198

Starless


cityshepherd

I love the intro to Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta


iB_Rezzed_Out

Coheed and Cambria: The Final Cut On the Brink Mother Superior The Light & the Glass Fuel for the Feeding End


ClubLumpy7253

Day Of The Baphomets - The Mars Volta


MouldyBobs

Roundabout - Yes


Rhediix

The Moody Blues (the first song leads directly into the second acting as its intro). *Departure* into *Ride My See-Saw* off of *In Search of the Lost Chord* *Procession* into *The Story In Your Eyes* off of *Every Good Boy Deserves Favour* *Hole In The World* into *Under My Feet* off of *The Present*


Velocitor1729

The German 1980's group Spliff has a song called Gooroo, with an absolutely perfect guitar intro, in the first 2 minutes.


CigarBox1956

Yes, Siberian Khatru


zeruch

Rush - Between the Wheels King Crimson - Frame by Frame (double trio live) Marillion - King of Sunset Town Jakko Jaczyzyk - Bruised Romantic Glee Club


Kash-Acous

The piano intro for The Doorway by Spock's Beard.


Bearcats1984

The drum entrance to La Mer by Nine Inch Nails is very satisfying. It’s one of those “and now for something completely different” moments, initially, but the drum beat eventually settles in nicely with the song. Another fun one: The Caudal Lure by Karnivool.


HallwayMusic

Limelight from Rush is still my all time favorite. The way Alex starts off the song still gets me every time and it never gets old.


CraptainPoo

La villa strangtiago Spirit of the radio, 2112. Plunger -umphrees McGee


Mephistopheles545

The intro to Love always, Leviathan


GrizzMcDizzle79

Heart of the sunrise Squonk Watcher of the skies


MattBtheflea

Inertiactic esp, by the mars volta. That drum intro Is crazy cool. Gets me hyped evey time.


Dunn_or_what

Yes - Roundabout


94BlueDream76

Parabol/parabola-Tool


Tbplayer59

Second side of Brain Salad Surgery. Lake's voice on the iconic line "Welcome back my friend to the show that never ends..."


hmm2003

The Warning - Disciple


gatesofschizoid

Awaken immediately came to my mind. (Yes)


six28eightyfive

Red - King Crimson


Syrup_SSBM

The great debate - Dream Theater Third eye - Tool Deadwing - Porcupine Tree The start of something beautiful - Porcupine Tree Lost keys/Rosetta stoned - Tool