10 Essential 1970s Progressive Rock Albums
1. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
The pinnacle of prog rock popularity, the epic and diverse sounds of 'Dark Side of the Moon' revolutionised the genre's standing in 1973.
Dropping the often lengthy instrumentals that had dominated the group's sound following Syd Barrett's departure, Pink Floyd streamlined their approach here. Fortunately, they maintained their high concept lyrical style, providing a blast of heady themes, rapid fire rock and progressive stylings.
In 'Money', the group's most successful single, the typically socialist-leaning crew satirise the excesses of wealth and consumerism whilst acknowledging its changes on their own lives. Tracks such as 'Brain Damage' and 'Us and Them' offer more personal, introspective storytelling, focusing on themes such as mental illness, relationships and interpersonal communication. The album overall is about as close to capturing the human experience as music can get.
Sprouting a legacy of fan obsession a mile wide, the LP has become a cornerstone of Western pop culture in the years since its release. From frequent homages in TV and film to the bizarre conspiracy that it sinks up with 'The Wizard of Oz', the album's enjoyed endless over-analysis throughout its lifetime.
For the quartet behind it, it meant making an absolute fortune and getting involved in the budgeting and making of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', making them two for two on instant classics.