Thought: My favourite prog rock songs

My first real initiation into progressive rock music came when I was 16, with Dream Theater's "Train Of Thought". My cousin - probably pissed off by my emo leanings at the time - lent me his copy of the album with strict instructions that I listen to it once a day in its entirety. So fascinated was I by its unorthodox time signatures and liberal use of keyboards that I religiously stuck to my promise for the next couple of months, often exceeding the recommended listening time. Below are some of my all time prog rock favourites (listed chronologically).

A Saucerful Of Secrets/Pink floyd  (A Saucerful Of Secrets, 1968)  Just when the chaos seems palpable, Wright's organ kicks in and order is restored. I couldn't find the original, but this "Live in Pompeii" version is equally compelling.

Long Distance Runaround/Yes  (Fragile, 1971)  Stellar performances by keyboardist Rick Wakeman and bassist Chris Squire.

Come Sail Away/Styx  (The Grand Illusion, 1977)  Psychedelic keyboard solo in the second half of the song.

Tom Sawyer/Rush  (Moving Pictures, 1981)  I was a fan of this song long before I truly discovered the band.

The Waking Edge/Jethro Tull  (Crest Of A Knave, 1987)  Anderson's flute in the opening sequence. The song has quite a ballad-like feel to it, unlike their previous stuff.

New Millennium/Dream Theater  (Falling Into Infinity, 1997)  One of my favourite DT tracks, despite keyboardist Jordan Rudess' absence. Myung's bass tapping is incredible.

The Grudge/Tool  (Lateralus, 2001)  The entire album is a lesson in (often darkly) heterodox time signatures.

The Sound Of Muzak/Porcupine Tree  (In Absentia, 2002)  Drummer Gavin Harrison plays a tricky rhythm in the verse.

Endless Sacrifice/Dream Theater  (Train Of Thought, 2003)  A typical DT composition. Sweet, almost ballad-like opening melody, followed by an explosive guitar-keyboard-drum onslaught.