When I was six years-old I first saw Disney's "Fantasia" and was completely enraptured by the "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" scene, with those fluttering wings, spinning orbs, glowing flowers and the enchanted drowsiness of twilight. Later as a teen, I was transfixed by fantasy novels by Tolkien, Piers Anthony, Stephen R Donaldson and Lord Dunsany. Heavy metal was in its most bloated stage at that time, but had great album cover art and lyrics featuring dragons, elves, fairies, swords and kings. Soon I began to delve backward to the medieval leanings of the post-psychedelic era -- bands like King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Yes, The Moody Blues and Queen had all started out as devotees to fantasy, and their music transported me to the most spectral places. During these times, the world outside my teenage bedroom didn't exist and I felt triumphant and powerful. Here's a list I've been building for years (and am still adding to). It came in handy when I wrote my fantasy screenplay "Vermillion", which was a finalist at L.A.'s Shriekfest in 2012.
I hope the music takes you where it has taken me.
Fantasy Rock & Folk 1967 - 1975
1. King Crimson - The Court Of The Crimson Kimg
2. Yes - We Have Heaven
3. Fairport Convention - Fotheringay
4. Magna Carta - Ring Of Stones
5. Strawbs - Witchwood
6. Bert Jansch & John Renbourn - East Wind
7. Pentangle - Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
8. Incredible String Band - Witches Hat
9. Donovan - Three King Fishers
10. Steve Hackett - The Hermit
11. Renaissance - Black Flame
12. Jethro Tull - Witch's Promise
13. Jefferson Airplane - Embryonic Journey
14. Uriah Heep - The Wizard
15. The Guess Who - Talisman
16. Loudest Whisper - Children Of The Dawn
17. Forest - Blue Bell Dance
18. T. Rex - Trelawny Lawn
19. Anthony Phillips - God If I Saw Her Now
20. Pink Floyd - The Gnome
21. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Guinnevere
22. Strawbs - Dragonfly
23. Gwydion Penderwen - The Wintry Queen
24. The Nice - Flower King Of Flies
25. Thin Lizzy - Eire
26. Mark Fry - Behold The Neirids
27. Led Zeppelin - Battle Of Evermore
28. Emerson Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man
29. Donovan - Atlantis
30. John Renbourn - The Lady & The Unicorn
31. Rush - Rivendell
32. Queen - White Queen (As It Began)
33. The Moody Blues - Are You Sitting Comfortably & Suite
34. Fairport Convention - End Of A Holiday
