The Most Expensive Prog Rock Albums Ever Sold on Discogs

It’s time for another breakdown of the most expensive vinyl, cassettes, and CDs sold in the Discogs Marketplace. If you’re a regular reader of Discogs, then you’re familiar with our monthly roundups of pricey items, which usually feature classic records, limited LPs, and a coveted 7-inch releases.

We’re switching things up a bit and looking more closely at one specific genre: prog rock. Below you’ll find the most expensive prog-rock records ever sold on Discogs.

Prog rock, short for progressive rock, is a subgenre that was birthed in the 1960s and popularized across the United Kingdom and the United States. The style is closely associated with early psychedelic rock but often painted as more artistic, symphonic, orchestral, and complex. If we paint with even broad strokes to describe prog rock to those new to the genre, you can expect ambiance, poetic lyrics, long instrumentals, and plenty of experimentation.

As you scroll down, you’ll immediately notice a few themes. First off, there are no CDs or cassettes among the top 30 — only vinyl. Early-1970s releases from the United Kingdom dominate. In fact, there are only three albums not released in the ’70s (two from 1969 and one from 1982) and 14 from countries other than the UK (mostly Italy, Germany, and the United States).

The ’70s drops make sense because, according to the Database, that decade gave us the second-highest amount of genre releases (beat only by the 2010s). However, the most expensive list contrasts with the most collected and top-selling records in the style, which are predominantly by Pink Floyd, as well as what many prog rock fans would define as essential listening, which includes the likes of King Crimson, Yes, and Gentle Giant.

Why the difference? Well, a lot of the most expensive records are also the most rare. On the list, you’ll find a large swatch of test pressings and limited-edition releases. For example, the album at the No. 1 spot — The Love Cycle by Forever Amber, a short-lived British band with only one album — allegedly only has 99 copies in existence, and the No. 2 record, A Fleeting Glance, was created for charity.

You’ll also notice a few repeats from Genesis, Cherry Five, Mellow Candle, Room, and David Bowie. That’s because multiple copies of the same release sold for high price tags. Let’s take a closer look at that live test pressing from Genesis: There are only 16 known copies in the world and the median price on Discogs ($3,647.06) is steeper than some of the individual sales on this list! The Database calls it the “rarest official Genesis record in existence.”

Are any of the records in your collection? What about these specific releases? What are you spinning them on? If we had even one of these beauties, we would have put them on something as nice as the Technics SL-1000R. When you’ve got quality, you need a quality turntable to match.

Top 30 Most Expensive Prog Rock Albums

Pete Fine – On A Day Of Crystaline Thought

Sold for $2,500.00
Label: Not On Label
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Country: US
Released: 1974
Gäa – Auf Der Bahn Zum Uranus

Sold for $2,546.51
Label: Kerston Records
Format: Vinyl, Album, LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1973
Motiffe – Motiffe

Sold for $2,551.91
Label: Deroy
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Chicken Bones – Hardrock In Concert

Sold for $2,558.14
Label: Procom Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 1976
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World

Sold for $2,558.14
Label: Mercury
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1971
Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs

Sold for $2,558.14
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Room – Pre-Flight

Sold for $2,790.70
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World

Sold for $2,790.70
Label: Mercury
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1971
Serenity – Piece Of Mind

Sold for $2,800.00
Label: Down Under
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: New Zealand
Released: 1972
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon

Sold for $2,905.81
Label: Harvest
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: 1973
Genesis – From Genesis To Revelation

Sold for $2,906.98
Label: Decca
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genesis – Live At Leicester / Manchester

Sold for $3,139.53
Label: Philips
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Test Pressing, Stereo
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1973
Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs

Sold for $3,250.00
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon

Sold for $3,313.95
Label: Harvest
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold Sleeve
Country: UK
Released: 1973
Apoteosi – Apoteosi

Sold for $3,430.23
Label: Said Record
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Italy
Released: 1975
Cherry Five – Cherry Five

Sold for $3,488.36
Label: Cinevox
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: Italy
Released: 1975
Five Day Rain – Five Day Rain

Sold for $3,488.37
Label: Not On Label
Format: Not On Label
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs

Sold for $3,720.93
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Room – Pre-Flight

Sold for $3,720.93
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
カウント・バッファローウガンダ (アフリカン・ロックの夜明け) / Count Buffalo – Uganda (Dawn of African Rock)

Sold for $3,795.43
Label: Toshiba Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Quadraphonic, Box Set with Obi
Country: Japan
Released: 1972
Analogy – Analogy

Sold for $4,069.77
Label: Dischi Produzioni Ventotto
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Italy
Released: 1972
Genesis – Live At Leicester / Manchester

Sold for $4,069.77
Label: Philips
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Test Pressing, Stereo
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1973
Cherry Five – Cherry Five

Sold for $4,069.77
Label: Cinevox
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: Italy
Released: 1975
Pink Floyd – Meddle

Sold for $4,400.00
Label: EMI
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Blue Transparent
Country: Colombia
Released: 1982
Steel Mill – Green Eyed God

Sold for $4,418.60
Label: Penny Farthing
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1975
Mellow Candle – Swaddling Songs

Sold for $4,593.02
Label: Deram
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Capitolo 6 – Frutti Per Kagua

Sold for $4,651.16
Label: it
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: Italy
Released: 1972
Metaphysical Animation – Metaphysical Animation

Sold for $5,000.00
Label: Not On Label
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1973
A Fleeting Glance – A Fleeting Glance

Sold for $5,813.95
Label: Not On Label
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Forever Amber – The Love Cycle

Sold for $6,382.98
Label: Advance
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1969