Mostly Autumn – The Last Bright Light
I probably don’t need to say anything else about this to the readers of this blog!

Odin Dragonfly – Offerings
Ditto

Bach: the six Partitas and Sonatas for Violin Solo – Lara St. John
This is the most perfect music ever written anywhere in the history of music. I can’t imagine life without listening to it. I could have picked any of half-a-dozen recordings I have, but St. John’s, though not generally recognised as a definitive version, is the one that affected me most.

Pink Floyd – The Wall
Nuff said.

Deep Purple – Machine Head
I know it’s almost the cliche choice for Purple (once you discount MIJ), but it honestly deserves its reputation. As Jon Lord said, “it’s got the excitement of In Rock and the musicality of Fireball”. So while I love both those albums (probably more than I do MH), this is the more rounded choice for a desert island.

Yes – Close to the Edge
The title track alone is worth taking. The other two tracks are merely the second and third best songs in their catalogue

Meat Loaf – Bat out of Hell
One of the first rock albums I ever owned. It’s simply a masterpiece of composition and performance. I’m not sure why more prog fans don’t overtly embrace this album, because to me all the hallmarks of prog are to be found here, as well as all of the traditional feel-good-rock bombast you could ever want.

Iamthemorning – Lighthouse
Maybe I’m being over-hasty in putting a 2016 album in the list, but this is an emotionally-devestating masterpiece that I’m sure will still have the same effect on me for years to come.

2.) Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On? Seriously, my number two.

3.) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – Deja Vu. No modern act did harmonies better.

4.) Genesis – The Lamb. Yes, Wind and Wuthering is actually my favorite due to its production values, but The Lamb is the one I reach for more than any other.

5.) Pink Floyd – Roger’s Dad Died in the War, and Then He Got Mad and Spit on a Fan. Again, Animals is the strongest, but I keep reaching more for The Wall these days. However, I have a bunch of live bootlegs from ’75-’77, and man, live they were on fire, especially in ’75. I’m actually playing those more than studio stuff.

6.) Railroad Earth – a couple of random shows (they allow taping) with what I sometimes call prog-grass.

7.) Jethro Tull – Songs from the Wood. My absolutely favorite Tull album.

There’s more, but that’s a good start. For me, PT would be The Sky Moves Sideways, and Wilson solo would be The Raven. I only like HCE through Routine, and back again on Happy Returns. Too much guitar.

The Old.

Strawbs – Grave New World – This is without doubt my all time favourite.
Yes – Tales from Topographic Oceans – the Steven Wilson re-mix.
King Crimson – In the Court of the Crimson King.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here.

The New

Panic Room – Esscence I don’t think this can be disqualified as a) its not live and b) its not exactly a compilation either even though it has old songs.)
Mostly Autumn – Dressed in Voices
Big Big Train – Folklore
Steven Wilson – Hand.Cannot.Erase

Shocking – No Fairport Convention, No Richard Thompson, no Genesis, no Greenslade no Touchstone and a zillion others. They may turn up on tomorrows list.

Logos – Tangerine Dream – yes I know it’s a live album but the tracks weren’t on a previous studio album so I’m claiming it.
Agaetis Byrjun – Sigur Ros. I had that very smug feeling when Takk came out & people started talking about SR & I’d been listening to them for years
Gathering Light – Karnataka. Not enough time to write just how special this album is for me
Clutching At Straws – Marillion. Marillion were the band that changed my musical listening when I heard Real to Reel the first time.
Operation Mindcrime – Queensryche – saw this performed almost theatre like in London when I was a teen, still love the album now
Carmine Meo – Emma Shapplin. The only singer left on my bucket list of gigs to go to before I die
In My Tribe – 10000 Maniacs – quite old now, but for me their music hasn’t dated & some of Merchant’s lyrics still convey the same power now.
For All We Shared – Mostly Autumn. Very very hard to choose a fave studio album. I’ll change my mind tomorrow

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Genesis – Selling England By The Pound
Marillion – Clutching At Straws
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Panic Room – Skin
Mostly Autumn – Passengers
Odin Dragonfly – Offerings

ADHD the worst? Them’s fightin’ words! I always felt that ADHD is what ELP should have sounded like (not an ELP fan…). Bass driven, thick, with oodles of keys, and wanders off into interesting territory before bringing you back to an awesome riff. Absolutely love it. Like a Beethoven symphony, I can’t hear a bit of it without wanting to listen to the whole thing.