"1-Sided"/Diamonds in the rough

Continuing this ongoing analysis of progressive rock, here's 2 posts 4 the price of 1....

The "1-sided album" effect seems fairly common in prog -- that being the effect when 1 side of an album is clearly brilliantly planned, composed & performed, whereas the other side seems more like plunging off a cliff.
My favorite Xample of this is Camel's THE SINGLE FACTOR (1982) -- which I 1st discovered a cassette of in that same San Antonio, Texas, Target store in 1983 where I stumbled over that series of Italian best-of "Storia E Musica" cassettes I wrote about awhile back.
Like sevral other prog albums I'm about 2 list, Side 2 of THE SINGLE FACTOR seemed among the best, most consistent, most rockin' & ear-grabbing work I'd ever heard by Camel. But the 1st side seemed as if it were done by a completely diffrent band -- tired, schlogging, lethargic, lifeless. Going thru the motions. Contractual Obligation.
It wasn't 'til I found a vinyl copy of the album years later & got a look at the inner sleeve that I learned about summa the stress behind the making of the album: The fact that drummer Andy Ward had left, that British Decca had applied some pressure 2 get the album done, & that guitarist/leader Andy Latimer completed the album with help from members of the Alan Parsons Project & tons of special guests -- like former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips, former Sky & Curved Air keyboardist Francis Monkman, & original Camel keyboard whiz Peter Bardens.
This at least Xplained why some of the album sounded confused & distracted. But it couldn't Xplain how Side 2 came out so solid -- with the classic intertwining melodic guitars of "Sasquatch," the FURIOUS guitar midsection & overall feeling of anger & frustration in "Manic," & the poignant gtr epilogue "End Peace."
But as I looked around & listened more over the years, it seemed 2 me like this "1-sided-ness" happened rather a lot in prog, 4 whatever reason. At least 2 me.
A few other Xamples of albums with 1 outstandingly strong side:
Jethro Tull: MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY (1975), Side 2.
Be-Bop Deluxe: SUNBURST FINISH (1975), Side 1.
Kate Bush: THE KICK INSIDE (1978), Side 1.
Camel: BREATHLESS (1978), Side 1.
Hawkwind: HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL (1974), Side 2.
Supertramp: EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS (1977), Side 2.
Mike Oldfield: TUBULAR BELLS (1973), OMMADAWN (1976), INCANTATIONS (1978), all Side 1.
Gryphon: RAINDANCE (1975), Side 2.
Al Stewart: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE (1974), Side 2.
Tangerine Dream: ENCORE/LIVE (1977), Side 3.
Saga: WORLDS APART (1982), Side 1.
Not sure why this seems 2 happen so often -- or if it only seems that way 2 me. Also curious about why Side 2 of a single album so often seems the stronger of the 2 -- U'd think the artist would wanna put all the best stuff on Side 1 2 grab yer ear right off, yes...?

...Then there's those albums where brilliant bits & pieces R sprinkled thruout, but not all 2gether, not all on 1 side -- albums that U keep just cos the Good Stuff is so damn GOOD. If anything, this sorta thing happens WAY MORE OFTEN than the "1-sided" effect. This is where U havta sift out those diamonds in the rough.
Some Xamples:
Jethro Tull: SONGS FROM THE WOOD (1977). At least 4 great songs, scattered all over....
Manfred Mann's Earth Band: CHANCE (1980). "Stranded" is freaking BRILLIANT, summa the rest is at least "intresting" ... in a robotic, mechanical, then-high-tech sorta way....
Spirit: TWELVE DREAMS OF DOCTOR SARDONICUS (1970). 7 great songs, all clumped at the beginning & the end.
Gentle Giant: FREE HAND (1975). The beginning & the Nd R mush, but there's 5 great songs squoze in the middle.
Barclay James Harvest: GONE TO EARTH (1977). 3 pretty-great songs scattered thruout, but the rest is merely avg....
Gentle Giant: THREE FRIENDS (1972). "Schooldays," "Peel the Paint" & "Mister Class and Quality" R all high-quality Giant. But summa the rest is mush. & it's 2 short....
Caravan: BLIND DOG AT ST. DUNSTAN'S (1976). 2 gorgeous pieces buried at the Nd, a couple above-avg at the Bginning, + a bit of silliness & 1 real dog.
Gentle Giant: OCTOPUS (1973). 3/4 of a solid 1st side, but only the haunting "Think of Me With Kindness" lifts Side 2.
Rare Bird: EPIC FOREST (1972). The title track & "Birdman" R both pretty great. 2 bad there's 7 more dull songs here.
Rush: MOVING PICTURES (1981). "The Camera Eye" is a gorgeous 10-minute mood piece & "Red Barchetta"'s great. 1/2 the rest U've heard 2 much. & there was a reason U never heard the other 2 trax....
Genesis: ...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE... (1978). Well, the more adventurous 1/2 of it's pretty great ("Undertow," "Burning Rope," "Snowbound," "Deep in the Motherlode," "Down and Out," "The Lady Lies"). But the rest gets pretty dull.
Moody Blues: LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER (1981). I love these guys, but they've hardly ever done a side without something U HAVE 2 skip....
Pink Floyd: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (1973). Maybe what I need's a CD. The 1st track I can listen 2 on Side 1 is "The Great Gig in the Sky." After that, I don't have 2 many problems....
King Crimson: IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING (1969). Still think there's 2 (pretty great) heavy-Moody-Blues trax & "Schizoid Man." & that's all....
David Sancious & Tone: TRANSFORMATION (THE SPEED OF LOVE) (1976). 2 great, gorgeous pieces. Out of 4. But 1 of 'em takes up a whole side....
Nektar: THRU THE EARS (1977). 2 pretty-great sides. But a lotta filler.
Genesis: WIND AND WUTHERING (1977). 3&1/2 great songs. & speaking of filler....
Camel: I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE (1979). 3 pretty great songs. & a lot more filler....
ELP: WORKS VOLUME 1 (1977). 3 solid pieces spread over 4 sides....

Not everything can always B a masterpiece -- not every album, not every book, not every post. I understand that. Sometimes U just gotta do the best U can with what U have. But the perfectionist in me would love more consistency....