Here's why I think they are essential:

THICK AS A BRICK - A giant 43 minute epic that shows off prog at its most adventurous.

FIRST UTTERENCE - An essential prog folk album that I feel features just how beautiful prog can be.

THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY - While a bit long, this album has Peter Gabriel's story telling turned up to 11, while having some bangers like In the Cage and The Lamia.

ONE SIZE FITS ALL - Frank Zappa's satirical prog album is also just really damn good, it features a wide variety of instruments and a great sense of humor.

THE DREAMING - Kate Bush's most "artistic" and boundary pushing album, it pushed the progressive pop genre forward and once is really damn good.

BITCHES BREW - A wonderfully bizarre trek through a truly avant-garde soundscape that still sounds ahead of its time today.

MIRAGE - This one is simply a staple album full of bangers (you already know that though lmao)

SING TO GOD - This being a more "modern" take on progressive rock, this album wonderfully blends prog's ambition with punk's pure energy into what I believe is a 100% necessary listen.

NEU! 75' - This I believe is Neu's most consistent work, showing off their krautrock sound and ambient music

TECHNIQUE OF RELIEF - I just think this one's really good so I included it. It's also essential because it adds some variety to the list in my opinion.

HELLFIRE - The newest album, this is similar to Sing to God where it blends prog with a lot of newer developments in music and is honestly just wildly weird!

FRAGILE - The definitive Yes album (alternatively I could have put Close to the Edge)

SCHEHERAZADE AND OTHER STORIES - This one just is I guess lol it has a really good epic

THE GREAT DECEIVER (LIVE) - I believe King Crimson's music shines best live, so here you get probably their best era and a lot of their best songs performed excellently live!

ANOTHER GREEN WORLD - Brian Eno is an amazing producer, so here you have kind of his best solo effort.

ASCENSION - Like Bitches Brew, this is an incredibly influential avant-garde jazz album.



Feel free to tell me why my choices are shite if you want lol  

I saw someone make an essential prog list recently, so I decided to make one as well.