The Top Ten Progressive Rock Albums of All-Time from Lee Abrams

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Takin' a Walk" – Episode: The Top Ten Progressive Rock Albums of All-Time from Lee Abrams

Podcast Information:

• Title: Takin' a Walk
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: The Top Ten Progressive Rock Albums of All-Time from Lee Abrams
• Release Date: August 12, 2025

Overview: In this enriching episode of Takin' a Walk, host Buzz Knight engages in a deep conversation with Lee Abrams, a renowned radio and media innovator, to explore the vast landscape of progressive rock. The episode delves into Abrams' personal journey with the genre, his criteria for selecting the top ten progressive rock albums, and the cultural and musical impact of these seminal works.

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Introduction and Guest Introduction

The episode kicks off with Buzz Knight introducing Lee Abrams as a guest, highlighting his expertise and passion for music history, particularly within the progressive rock genre.

Notable Quote:

• "Great to be here. Great to see you again." – Lee Abrams [03:47]

Personal Journey with Progressive Rock

Buzz and Lee reminisce about Lee's initial encounter with progressive rock, marking his first profound experience with Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Lee shares how this album piqued his interest and set the stage for his enduring appreciation of the genre.

Notable Quote:

• "It was just so eccentric and had great songs. ... I saw kind of a cool cover and bought it and went home and that was that." – Lee Abrams [05:24]

Integration of Progressive Rock in Radio Programming

Lee discusses the integration of progressive rock into radio during his early career, mentioning bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP) and Yes. He elaborates on the challenges of airing longer tracks, which often found their place in nighttime or overnight slots.

Notable Quote:

• "When you were first getting into programming radio stations, did progressive rock fit into that immediately or did it take some time?" – Buzz Knight [06:01]
• "We played Court of the Crimson King ... it was definitely a component." – Lee Abrams [06:38]

The Significance of Album Artwork

The conversation transitions to the importance of visual elements in progressive rock, emphasizing how album covers by artists like Roger Dean and Hypnosis complemented the music's complexity and thematic depth.

Notable Quote:

• "It was an art piece in its own. And again, it reflected the album was an extension of what you heard in the grooves." – Lee Abrams [07:12]

The Impact of Headphones on Music Appreciation

Lee recounts his transformative experience with headphones, highlighting how improved sound quality unveiled the intricate nuances of progressive rock compositions, enhancing his overall listening experience.

Notable Quote:

• "I went to EJ Corvettes, got some headphones and that really an eye opening experience. Ear opening experience." – Lee Abrams [08:17]

Near Misses: Albums That Almost Made the Top Ten

Before unveiling the list, Lee shares reflections on albums that just missed the cut, such as Aorta's Aorta, underscoring the depth and diversity within the progressive rock genre.

Notable Quote:

• "There was a Chicago band called Aorta ... it's very obscure, but it was great and I still listen to it today." – Lee Abrams [09:22]

Top Ten Progressive Rock Albums

Lee Abrams presents his curated list of the top ten progressive rock albums, providing insightful commentary on each selection's musical prowess, innovation, and enduring legacy.

10. Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon [10:03]

Lee highlights Dark Side of the Moon as a groundbreaking album that captivated a broad audience, blending dark, cinematic sounds with conceptual depth.

Notable Quote:

• "It was a monumental album. I mean, that's number 10." – Lee Abrams [11:04]

9. King Crimson – Court of the Crimson King [12:24]

Acknowledging its avant-garde approach, Lee praises the album for its brilliant production and complex arrangements, marking it as a pivotal work in progressive rock.

Notable Quote:

• "They were ahead of their time. Yeah." – Lee Abrams [13:15]

8. John and Vangelis – Friends of Mr. Cairo [13:27]

Lee presents this somewhat obscure but masterful collaboration, noting its cinematic qualities and its influence beyond the progressive rock sphere, including its impact on disco music.

Notable Quote:

• "If there was ever a song designed for headphones, it was Friends of Mr. Cairo." – Lee Abrams [14:00]

7. Pink Floyd – Piper at the Gates of Dawn [15:24]

Revisiting Pink Floyd, Lee underscores the album's originality and Sid Barrett's genius, advocating for its recognition among fans who may overlook its psychedelic essence.

Notable Quote:

• "Unfortunately, Sid... didn't stick around very long because of some acid problems." – Lee Abrams [15:24]

6. The Moody Blues – Days of Future Past [16:09]

Recognized as possibly the first concept album, Lee commends the Moody Blues for their revolutionary integration of orchestral elements with progressive rock's complexity.

Notable Quote:

• "It was so revolutionary at the time and obviously has staying power." – Lee Abrams [16:46]

5. The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour [17:30]

Defying traditional genre boundaries, Lee includes Magical Mystery Tour for its progressive elements, such as the use of Mellotrons and experimental tracks like "I Am the Walrus."

Notable Quote:

• "It's very progressive, very interesting music." – Lee Abrams [18:13]

4. Genesis – Nursery Crimes [18:22]

Lee selects Nursery Crimes for its exceptional musicianship and standout tracks like "Fountain of Salmacis," balancing progressive complexity with melodic accessibility.

Notable Quote:

• "Steve Hackett is playing on that ... it just worked." – Lee Abrams [19:04]

3. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy [19:31]

Celebrating Trilogy, Lee praises ELP for mastering the balance between musical precision and memorable melodies, particularly highlighting the piano mastery exhibited in the suite.

Notable Quote:

• "Melody is such a key to progressive rock." – Lee Abrams [21:23]

2. Yes – Close to the Edge [21:35]

Lee lauds Close to the Edge for its majestic compositions and seamless integration of multiple sections, epitomizing the essence of a progressive rock journey.

Notable Quote:

• "It's a journey and you’re very satisfied by it." – Lee Abrams [21:35]

1. Yes – Yes [23:00]

Crowning his list, Lee shares a personal anecdote about discovering the Yes album, emphasizing its cinematic quality, exceptional musicianship, and enduring emotional impact.

Notable Quote:

• "It's just magic. ... it was so amazing." – Lee Abrams [24:00]

Conclusion and Reflections

Buzz Knight commends Lee for his insightful selections and deep understanding of progressive rock, inviting him to consider future rankings beyond the top ten.

Notable Quote:

• "There's no one that I would rather be speaking with ... than you." – Buzz Knight [25:30]

Lee expresses his enthusiasm for potentially expanding the list, hinting at future episodes that could explore albums ranked 11 through 20.

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Final Thoughts: This episode of Takin' a Walk offers a comprehensive exploration of progressive rock through Lee Abrams' expert lens. From the intricate compositions of Pink Floyd and King Crimson to the melodic mastery of Yes and Genesis, listeners are treated to a rich narrative that not only highlights the pinnacle albums of the genre but also provides personal insights and historical context that deepen the appreciation for progressive rock's enduring legacy.

For enthusiasts and newcomers alike, this episode serves as both an educational journey and a passionate homage to the complexity and beauty of progressive rock music.

Transcript

[Buzz Knight]

Taking a Walk I'm Buzz Knight and welcome to another episode of Taking a Walk. This is the podcast where we stroll through music history one story at a time. Today we're going to dive deep into.

[Lee Abrams]

The mind of legendary radio innovator media innovator Lee Abrams. We're going to count down his picks.

[Buzz Knight]

For the top 10 best progressive rock albums of all time. So whether you're a lifelong prog rock fan or just curious about the genre's wildest sonic adventures, this episod episode promises to challenge your expectations and definitely expand your playlist. It's coming up after these words.

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is an I Heart Podcast.

[Lee Abrams]

This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to a concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve Go Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA Member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.

[Bob Crawford]

Please welcome aboard the Johnson Family.

[Disney Cruise Family]

The whole fam's here for the Disney Cruise. So you know we came to play. And listen. The adults are gonna have a ball. First we're chilling in the infinity pool onto massages at Sense's Spa, then gliding into Star Wars Hyperspace Lounge for a toast. We're even gonna kick back with Mickey on Disney'. That's how we get down. Cause Disney Cruise Line is where we came to play.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Buzz Knight]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.

[Lee Abrams]

It's One Small Step for Man about.

[John Lithgow]

Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Buzz Knight]

You're a great pilot, Buzz.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz starring me, John Lithgow, on the iHeartrad, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Lee Abrams]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is Such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

I'm Noah and I'm 13, and I started this podcast because, honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now, you know, with Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence. Who's got it, how they use it, and what it means for the rest of you, it's not the news. It's what the news should be if someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it. Politics is wild, and I'm definitely not here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw Know with Noah de arrasto on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Buzz Knight]

Taking a Walk Lee Abrams, welcome to the Taking A Walk podcast.

[Lee Abrams]

Great to be here. Great to see you again.

[Buzz Knight]

Always great. So we're not in person. We have walked actually in person in your backyard in the suburbs of Chicago. But since the podcast is called Taking a Walk, if you could take a walk with somebody, living or dead, who would you take a walk with? And where do you think you'd take a walk with them?

[Lee Abrams]

I'd like to do a walk with, like, Einstein. Probably learn a few things from him. And it would be along a beach somewhere talking about the universe.

[Buzz Knight]

I feel like he'd have something to say.

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah, I think he'd have a few good points. Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

What do you think he'd think of the world today, though? That's what I want to know.

[Lee Abrams]

Right? Oh, he'd be freaked out.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah. I mean, you read about what he said about the future, and it's kind of scary. And he's not that far off, so. Yeah, he'd be. He'd be freaked out by it, I'm sure. Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

Well, this episode is going to be focused on one of your favorite topics and one of my favorite topics, which is progressive rock albums, and specifically your top 10 on the progressive rock album list. But before we get to it, do you what was the first time you were personally impacted and just enamored with a progressive rock band? And. And you know what yielded being so impacted by him?

[Lee Abrams]

Well, there were really a couple. The first one was Piper at the Gates of dawn by Pink Floyd, which was just so eccentric and had great songs. And, you know, Sid Barrett was a. A mad genius himself, and it really, his personality came out on that album, and it was. It was pretty mind blowing because I had never heard of him I just was at a record store and saw kind of a cool cover and bought it and went home and that was that. It was great.

[Buzz Knight]

And it was one of those things, I bet, that you put it on and then you said, I gotta listen to that again. And I gotta listen to that again. Right.

[Lee Abrams]

Improves on that one for sure. And it was just such a. You know, nobody had ever created music like that before. It was probably more psychedelic than progressive, but at the time it was very advanced. And side two had a cut called Interstellar Overdrive, which was, I think 18 or 20 minutes long. So I think that was the first really long song I got into.

[Buzz Knight]

And when you were first getting into programming radio stations, did progressive rock fit into that immediately or did it take some time?

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, no, I think early on ELP and yes, and to a certain degree, Jethro Tell and some other bands, we played Court of the Crimson King. And so, no, it was definitely a component. Some of it was again, just too long. I mean, we play it maybe at night or overnights, but the more melodic stuff was great, no problem. And we integrated it easily into the mix.

[Buzz Knight]

What role did album artwork and packaging play in the progressive rock experience?

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, it was part of the completeness of a great progressive rock album and not only had the music going, but it had that visual that really captured the. Particularly Roger Dean, who did all the yes covers and. And also Hypnosis, which did Pink Floyd and a lot of other bands. It was just. It was an art piece in its own. And again, it reflected the album was an extension of what you heard in the grooves. And so I think it was. It had a lot of impact. And again, some of those artists, the Roger Deans and Hypnosis, were as adventurous in their art as the artists were in their music.

[Buzz Knight]

I remember, I think you came up with this branded feature for radio stations. I'm sure you did. And it yields this question, remember, for headphones only.

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, of course, yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

I love that. So do you remember the first moment you got a headphones?

[Lee Abrams]

Yes, it was a pair of those costs. I forgot the name of them, but everybody cool had one. They had the liquid pads. And the first album was Sergeant Pepper. I remember I got that album and listened to it on the home stereo and. And it was like, wow, I wonder what it sounds like in headphones. So I went to EJ Corvettes, got some headphones and that really an eye openening experience. Ear openening experience.

[Buzz Knight]

That made all the difference, didn't it? The headphones?

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, God, yeah. I still Listen almost exclusively in headphones just because you hear the nuances and headphones today, you know, the quality is great and you just hear all the, the subtleties so. Well, I love headphones.

[Buzz Knight]

So before we get to the list, are there any bands or albums that in your mind nearly made the cut, but they just missed the top 10?

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, God. That's a good question. I would say there are a lot of albums by. Well, yeah, there was one very obscure one. It was a Chicago band called Aorta and it was on Columbia Records and it's very obscure, but it was great and I still listen to it today. And that would have made my list, but when I looked at the, the top 10, it wasn't quite there. But that was one of that pretty obscure but really interesting and, and eye opening.

[Buzz Knight]

Okay, one last thing we have to disclose is I know yes, we'll be on this, this list. And I know your affection and mine for yes runs very deep, but your connection with yes even includes you getting producing credit at one point. Am I correct on that?

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah, me and Chris Squire worked on the Drama Alb under a company called Onward and we didn't make a big deal of it because of my involvement in radio. But yeah, I was pretty deeply involved in that one. And it was unfortunate because John Anderson and Rick Macon weren't around for that album. But it's a good album.

[Buzz Knight]

Otherwise, I think it's a great album.

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

All right, without further ado and what I love about this, it's going to spark questions and controversy and good hearted arguments and that's why we're here doing this. So let's, let's start with number 10 on your list, Lee Abrams of the Top 10 Progressive Rock Albums of all time. I wish I had the drum roll. Maybe we'll do that in post production.

[Lee Abrams]

Okay. Number 10, dark side of the Moon. We were talking about album covers. I think the music in that record sounds just like the COVID Very kind of dark and cinematic and conceptual. You know, great record, obviously, to survive the test of time. I think it's still on the Billboard chart and maybe not, but you know, it's. It was a groundbreaking record for progressive rock because it opened the door to so many listeners to say, hey, this is kind of cool. And they would try other bands of that genre. So it was a monumental album. I mean, that's number 10.

[Buzz Knight]

Do you think the wizard of Oz thing was just an accident that people who synced them up together and.

[Lee Abrams]

So is, you know, if you play a Beatles background back backwards it turned me on Dead man, you know. No, I don't believe any of that stuff. It's clever and interesting, but, no, I don't think it was planned. I think they were too busy to do that. And. And I actually asked Alan Parsons about it once, and he was like. He just rolled his eyes.

[Buzz Knight]

Right, so there's number 10, Pink Floyd, Dark side of the Moon. Number nine.

[Lee Abrams]

At number nine, checking in as Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson. You know, speaking of. Yes, there is a band that yes. Saw very early on play at the UFO Club or some club in London and got with the guys after the show and said, boys, we gotta practice more. Because they were so good and ahead of their time. And that had a lot of the qualities of great progressive rock records. It was very, very clever. Brilliant playing, brilliant production, interesting arrangements and. And just an amazing breakthrough album. Again, turned a lot of people on to other bands just with this new sound.

[Buzz Knight]

I love that one. And do you think they were foreshadowing the future with the song 21st Century Schizoid Man?

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah, probably. Yeah. They were ahead of their time. Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

All right, King Crimson in at number nine. And now let's roll the number eight.

[Lee Abrams]

Number eight is a weird one. A little. A little obscure, but good. And that is Friends of Mr. Cairo by John and Vangelis, another kind of yes offshoot. And what's great about that, the title track is just a cinematic masterpiece. Talk about headphones. If there was ever a song designed for headphones, it was Friends of Mr. Cairo, the song. And also had. I think it had State of Independence on it, which became a hit for Donna Summer. That's an interesting story. I. Quincy Jones called and said, what? I need a song for Donna Summer. What do you know? What do you have? And I. So I sent him an acetate of Friends of State of Independence. And he said, that's it. And he went with it. That's great. So progressive rock touches disco in that case. But it was a great underappreciated album. I think Polygram didn't really do a very good job promoting it here because it was pretty big overseas. And Vangelis added a whole new dimension to it. And he was actually auditioned Vangelis to replace Rick Wakeman. Yes. Back in the mid-70s. And the problem was he overtook the band. I mean, he was a center. He just had such command that the rest of the band just sat around with their arms folded, wondering when he's going to quit. And he also couldn't play the same thing. Twice. Oh, is that right? Yeah. So that'd be hard to tour with, but the brilliant guy. And paired with John, it just. It just worked.

[Buzz Knight]

That's a good one. That's. That's one out of. Out of left field for sure.

[Lee Abrams]

Yeah.

[Buzz Knight]

But a good one. It'll spark. It'll spark some memories for people, for sure.

[Lee Abrams]

And if they never heard of it, should pick it up or download it. It's really good.

[Buzz Knight]

All right, let's move up the ladder.

[Lee Abrams]

Number seven is. Well, we talked about it, Piper. The Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd again, very original, very eclectic. It was the album that really showed us what Sid Barrett was capable of. Unfortunately, Sid, of course, didn't stick around very long because of some acid problems, but what a. What a great. Again, when it came out, it was so fresh, so different, and I unfortunately, know a lot of Pink Floyd fans who never heard it. So I would encourage people who are fans not to expect Dark side of the Woman of the Wall, but for a really almost amusing, eccentric record with great songs, that would be the one.

[Buzz Knight]

What's up on number six?

[Lee Abrams]

Number six on the countdown is the Moody Blues. Days of Future Past, I think the first concept album. And, you know, Nights in White Satin, a little burned out on that one, but when it came out that Tuesday afternoon, the whole concept of it was great with the orchestra and it just worked. And it was a tough one because I love the Moody Blues and went through about all of their. Mainly their first seven and the couple in. In the 80s, and it was hard to pick one. But I had to go with this one because it was so revolutionary at the time and obviously has staying power.

[Buzz Knight]

I'm so glad you bring up the Moody Blues, because I think in this, you know, current state, even the current state, really, of. Of classic rock, they're sort of, you know, somewhat forgotten, and they shouldn't be. They were such an integral part of the landscape.

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, I know. Yeah. I know. They've kind of fallen through the cracks, but, my God, they still. Well, they've broken up, but when they were still together a couple years ago, they still packed in arenas, they have an audience, but, yeah, I'm surprised radio hasn't embraced it more.

[Buzz Knight]

It shouldn't be forgotten. The Moody Blues in at number six.

[Lee Abrams]

Yes.

[Buzz Knight]

And now we're heading into the territory that I think is going to really start some of the sparring. What's up on number five?

[Lee Abrams]

Okay, this is controversial because technically it's not progressive rock, but I think it's very progressive, and that's Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles. I mean, they had Mellotrons. Just listen to I Am the Walrus in headphones. That was such an adventurous record and maybe overshadowed by. By the White Album and Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper, but from a standpoint of very progressive, very interesting music, I think that was the one again, I Am the Walrus, Blue Jay Way. Some of those songs, once again, in headphones are just like, brilliant and masterful. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[Buzz Knight]

All right, well, I'm buying your. Your argument. I'm putting it in there. So you have no. No argument for me on that one.

[Lee Abrams]

All right, number four.

[Buzz Knight]

Okay, coming in at number four.

[Lee Abrams]

Number four.

Nursery Crimes by Gen. This was another one that was very similar to the Moody Blues and it was hard to pick. They had so many great albums. I like that one for. I love Steve Hackett is playing on. That is great. And there was a song, Fountain of Salamisis, which just blew my mind then and still does. That took that album into the top 10. But again, Genesis. I could have picked seven or eight other ones for sure, but it was a great record.

I mean, Genesis is the legacy of.

[Buzz Knight]

Genesis is remarkable when you think about, you know, the. The incarnations of the band, right?

[Lee Abrams]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. And now they've seamlessly went from the long extended pieces into the more pop stuff, but never really lose their. Lost their adventurous edge. I mean, even the. The Phil Collins oriented stuff in the 80s was, you know, was pretty adventurous, Pretty. Pretty progressive. So that was a hard one. But I went with Nursery Crimes.

[Buzz Knight]

Okay, good.

[Lee Abrams]

Number three is elp's trilogy. I noticed a lot of bands, it takes them, their third album to really get in the groove. And I think this one really got the ELP sound down. Emerson's playing is remarkable, particularly on the song trilogy. I mean, that piano intro is just like. With no. No metronome or drummer. He just flows beautifully. And some great, great songs on it too, I think. Very melodic of an album. You know, what it did for me, it balanced musical precision, musical excellence, with great melodies. All the songs had great melodies. And, you know, melody is such a key to progressive rock. What makes progressive great is the songs are cinematic, where you close your eyes and a movie unfolds in front of you. They're clever. Yes, they're particularly clever. Just the endings of Years in a Disgrace or Heart of the Sunrise. I mean, it's. It just blows. Blows people away, that degree of. Of cleverness. Brilliant playing, brilliant production, trilogy. Had Eddie offered, who did all the yes records too, in ELP and just got that sou a very widescreen sound. And what kills progressive rock, I think, are endless doodling at the expense of melody. And I credit ELP for is they never went overboard in the doodling. They sure could have. But they always maintained, you know, melodic structure and you could actually hum their songs, even though they were very advanced instrumentally.

[Buzz Knight]

And since drummers are such an important backbone of progressive rock, obviously the great Carl Palmer, who I think is really.

[Lee Abrams]

Not as appreciated as. As he should be as well.

No, he's not. Yeah, he's. He's a great drummer. He's still around, you know, touring, and he's really good. Some insiders said he couldn't keep time, but I never noticed that. He sounded right in time to me. Yep. But I didn't play with him.

[Buzz Knight]

Yeah. Okay. Number two.

[Lee Abrams]

Okay, we're in the top two now. Close to the Edge by yes. Just magnificent, majestic, soaring album. The song Close to the Edge is a journey. And I'll never forget the first time I listened to it. I said, what are they doing? But by about the 10th Listen, it's. Oh, I get it. It's just. It's really amazing. It's amazing how they put it together and how they actually perform it because there's so many sections and so many links between the sections and so many different things happening. But at the end of the day, you know, it's a. It's a journey and you. You're very satisfied by it. And the other two tracks, Siberian Katru was a real smoker and. And you. And I was just pastoral. Gorgeous. And what's great about those records is they sounded as good live as they did on the album. So they had. But the fact that they could reproduce those live always blew me away.

[Buzz Knight]

I love that one. That's it. That's a. That's a great one.

[Lee Abrams]

They're all great.

[Buzz Knight]

So here we are. We're up.

[Lee Abrams]

Here we are. Yes, the number one album. Okay, this one changed my life. It is the yes album by yes. When I first heard it, I was at home late at night, Sunday night, wanted to hear some music, and all the FM stations were doing public affairs or something. So I turned over to this AM station, a middle of the road AM station, wgbs, that had a underground DJ on at night for some reason, China Vallis was his name. So anyway, I tuned on WGBS, knowing maybe they're playing some music. And I caught the first bar. What I realized now is like the first couple bars of Starship Trooper. And I'd never heard anything like that, I got chills. It was everything. It was cinematic, brilliant playing, brilliant production, widescreen, amazing melodies. It was just mind blowing. So at about 11 o' clock at night, I was working on WMYQ. We were setting up a new FM station, 1971, and I remember seeing the album, going through all the records we had. And I went down there at 11, 11:30 midnight, got the album and never looked back. I still listen to it almost every day. It's just magic. And talk about another headphones record. I mean, but it had all the characteristics. It was just. It was really a stunningly beautiful album. Colorful and cinematic, just gorgeous production. And those melodies, oh my God, they're just great. And playing was. Steve Howe and Chris Squire in particular were just amazing. And Bill Bruford on drums, what I loved about him was his subtlety. He was more of a jazz player. And if you listen to a song like Starship Trooper, listen to the drum. It's so light and airy, but it just works. And that might be my favorite yes lineup, in fact, because I thought Tony K was brilliant on with the Hammond Organization. I mean, and on YouTube you can hear the songs like yours is no disgrace. Isolated, just organ. And it, it's not, it's not doodly or playing fast or anything. It's just powerful. Yeah, he got that B3 sound and it just roared and it just. Everything worked on that record. It was so amazing.

[Buzz Knight]

That's great. Lee. There's no one that I would rather be speaking with as far as a countdown of the top ten progressive rock albums of all time than you.

[Lee Abrams]

Well, I appreciate that.

[Buzz Knight]

I absolutely love your background on it and love everything that you talk about here and love you for all your work. And thanks for sharing these thoughts on on the top ten progressive rock albums of all time.

[Lee Abrams]

My pleasure. And when you want to do number 1111 through 20, let me know.

[Buzz Knight]

That sounds good. Thank you.

[Lee Abrams]

All right, great.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lee Abrams]

This episode of Taking a Walk is brought to you by Chase Sapphire Reserve. Whether I'm booking my next vacation or going to concert, Chase Sapphire Reserve is my gateway to the world's most captivating destinations. When I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I get eight times points on all the purchases I make through Chase Travel and even access to one of a kind experiences like music festivals and sports events. And that's not even mentioning how the card gets me into the Sapphire Lounge by the club at select airports nationwide. No matter where I'm walking, travel is more rewarding with Chase Sapphire Reserve. Discover [e-mail] Sapphire Reserve cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA Member FDIC, subject to credit approval terms apply.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Lee Abrams]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I am so glad you asked me this question.

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Buzz Knight]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast, Just One Small Scre about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Buzz Knight]

You're a great pilot, Buzz.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz, starring me, John Lithgow, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is an iHeart podcast.