10 Best Progressive Rock Albums Of All Time
5. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Following up 'Dark Side of the Moon' was always going to be a tall order. The group just about manage to pull it off with this 1975 classic. Still reeling from the mysterious state of founding member Syd Barrett after his 1968 departure, Pink Floyd centred much of the album's lyrics around him.
'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is about as a grand scale a musical ode as one can find in prog rock. Over nine parts in two instalments just over the 25 minute mark when put together, the group assembled an epic tribute to their creatively gifted but psychologically troubled, drug-addled friend.
Barrett reportedly turned up during recordings for the album and was unrecognisable. According to keyboardist Richard Wright, Barrett was unimpressed with their work, a sentiment shared by many critics at the time. Considered flat and disappointing by many, reappraisals in the years since have allowed 'Wish You Were Here' to grow drastically in stature.
Its complex but oddly matter of fact approach to lyrical storytelling made it a notable departure from the headier work of their earlier LPs. The end result was an emotional, multi-layered piece bookended by a masterful tribute to an old friend. Musically high concept and epically paced, the album remains an iconic bit of work almost 50 years on from its release.