The "core seven" albums, ranked best to least best!

1. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (1971): No weak links - absolutely epitomizes the band's sound and songwriting.

2. Days of Future Passed (1967): Yes, it's a masterpiece, but also sounds a little too "mid-1960s". A huge leap forward for British Invasion pop.

3. On the Threshold of a Dream (1969): Strong songs/performances from front to back, although Ray's songs are little too cute.

4. To our Children's Children's Children (1969): The space flight (or is it life after death? or maybe post-nuke survival?) theme never grows old.

5. Seventh Sojourn (1972): I hated this album when I first heard it, but it slowly grew on me - their quietest, slowest album. The desert cover is appropriate.

6. A Question of Balance (1970): They were trying to write songs they could perform live - some hits, but also some misses.

7. In Search of the Lost Chord (1968): "Ride My Seesaw" is over-played. "Legend of a Mind" is a bore. "House of Four Doors" is awful. The rest is great (despite some late 1960's cliches)!