Nine complex and intriguing prog rock albums from 1969

2. To Our Children's Children's Children – The Moody Blues

The progenitors of the prog genre delivered one of their finest – and most consistent – collections on their second album of 1969. It’s rare to find an album that features solo writing contributions from all five members, but the Moody Blues’ incredible depth of writing and performing talent.

Drummer Graeme Edge, for instance, wrote the opening track, “Higher and Higher" (which features the group’s trademark poetry). Frontman Justin Hayward delivers one of the group’s best-ever guitar riffs (high praise, as the group specializes in top-flight guitar parts) with “Gypsy (Of a Strange and Distant Time).”

Beyond that, Mellotron wizard Mike Pinder delivers one of his spacey, psychedelic classics with “Sun Is Still Shining” as well as the moving “Out and In.” Bassist John Lodge provides the thrilling late-album highlight “Candle of Life,” which features a stunning, feathery Mellotron part and is sung beautifully by Hayward. Last but far from least, flautist Ray Thomas provides perhaps the two most enjoyable songs on the album: the driving and powerful “Eternity Road” and the enjoyable, spacewalking jaunt “Floating.”

It's rare to find a group that could capably deliver four-part harmonies, but The Moody Blues are one of them, and the fact that their albums feature contributions from all five members – with this album being a career highlight – makes them one of the most unique (and most talented) groups of all time.