Entertainment For Lively Minds
Long songs that you actually like listening to
Fifteen years ago or so, I was - as I am now - into various musical artists that would occasionally be guilty of the odd long song. And when I say long, I mean over ten minutes. I'm talking about Neil Young's Down By The River, Cowgirl In the Sand and Change Your Mind; about Bob Dylan's Sad Eyed Lady Of the Lowlands or Joey. Hendrix's Voodoo Chile, lots of Pink Floyd stuff, that kind of thing (although, in the case of Pink Floyd, most of their stuff was that long and so I was less tolerant of them). Anyway, as much as I liked these artists, I used to sort of dread their long songs. Then, one day, Bob Dylan's Highlands was suddenly the perfect length, and I found out that I'd chilled out a little and become able to relish - even get lost in - these long songs.
Last night, Derek and the Dominos' live recording of Got To Get Better In A Little While came on, and I decided that it is my favourite long song. I never ever get bored of it. It's funky as hell - I don't dance, and it gets me very twitchy - and never outstays its welcome. If you have a fourteen minute drive ahead of you, and you want to get there fairly quickly - or should I say, safely but with a burning sense of purpose - then I can think of nothing better than this song. I mean, if I'm being picky, I prefer the mix of the original release, but this'll do:
http://open.spotify.com/track/463fmGpAUnfKuKFifjEhwO
So. Massive. What's your favourite long song?
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Bring It On
Oh the stick I'm going to get. In the last week I must have listened to Grendel by Marillion half a dozen times. Better than Supper's Ready according to me and my pal Colin.
This Strange Posting
On the same subject, I regularly listen to the long Marillion track "This Strange Engine".
Grendel
Grendel could not have existed without Genesis having first written Supper's Ready; Grendel simply being Supper's Ready re-arranged. Personally I prefer the H era.
Agreed
Although the Genesis/Supper's Ready influence is overwhelming, there's just an innocence about Grendel. It sounds like the band is thrilled to be playing a prog epic on the same scale as their heroes. I always thought of Marillion as being less talented young heirs to the prog throne in the same way that Iron Maiden inherited the British metal one. For me it's about successive generations having a love for a previously established genre and wanting bring it to a younger audience. I'm pretty sure that for huge numbers of young guys Grendel and Marillion were the route back to classic prog.
I would, however, reassert my point; Grendel is a coherent song with different sections as opposed to a collection of snippets making a long track.
Moving swiftly on...
Supper's Ready.
Plus 100s of others. Play some long!
But...
What makes it a 'song' as opposed to a collection of snippets which make an admittedly brilliant 'track'?
Caravan
Van's live version from Too Late To Stop Now. It's not necessarily a long song, but a long performance, with a wonderful 'introduce the band' section, and then some amazing vocal dynamics from The Man.
I thought you meant the Canterbury Band
They've got loads, but having just listed Roy Harper's goodies below I'm going to stick to recommending Nine Feet Underground from In The Land Of Grey and Pink.
Van
I love this too, but for me it can't quite knock the version from The Last Waltz off the top spot.
Dexys
"This Is What She's Like" from Don't Stand Me Down.
http://thesongsthatpeoplesing.blogspot.com/2008/04/whats-she-like.html
which says pretty much everything on the subject!
the wordless....
...description of what she's like makes my heart sing. It came on my Ipod last night just as I was arriving home, high quality kebab in one hand and tenuous grasp on sobriety in the other and ended up sat on the doorstop for 12 minutes so as not to spoil it by having to explain myself to the good lady inside.
Don't Stand Me Down
is my fave album
Great pick
Agree...
...great song from a great album - remember going into a record shop when it was released and they were playing it. Kevin Rowland - a very talented bloke.
Roy Harper (again)
Roy is a king of the long song:
McGoohan's Blues on Folkjokeopus was his entree. It's not really my favourite of his long songs.
Stormcock was 4 long songs: Hors d'oeuvres; The Same Old Rock; One man rock 'n roll band and Me and My Woman. The last one is my favourite there.
Lifemask featured the side long The Lord's Prayer which is pretty good.
HQ featured the excellent The Game, which took up about 2/3 of side 1. Old Cricketer, my all time favourite song, is fairly long at around 8 minutes.
Bullinamingvase had the brilliant One Of Those Days In England (parts 2 - 10) which took up all of side 2.
The Unknown Soldier was pretty restrained, but tremendous Short And Sweet would be quite long by many other artists standards.
Work Of Heart had the title track taking up all of Side 2. Not his most consistent long 'un but the odd excellent passage.
Burn The World came out on CD with a studio and live version of the title song which was the only song. I'm not sure we needed it.
The Dream Society returned Roy to top class long song form with the splendid These Fifty Years.
And that's about it. Most of them are pretty good.
Jack Orion...
The version by Pentangle on Cruel Sister, one of my favourite tracks short or long, 18:43 minutes of sublimity.
Get down to Soulsville
And visit with Isaac.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix (18:44)
Walk On By (12:03)
Something (11:46)
The Look Of Love (11:14)
Close To You (9:05)
Lay it on me!
Durn!
You beat me to it. By The Time I Get To Phoenix is pretty spectacular.
How's about Autobahn by The Kraftwerk? all 22 minutes worth. I "entertain" my family by putting it on in the car and, after 10 minutes or so, announcing "barely half way through, yet!"
agree with previous two..
Hot buttered Soul is a classic lp of long tracks.
Kraftwerk also sprang to mind.
Nobody mentioned The Doors yet ? LA Woman or The End - Brilliant records
Brings a whole new dynamic to
"Are we nearly there yet??"
The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again (8:32)
Only 3:18 but
Life Is A Long Song!
http://open.spotify.com/track/128WGUhCYm9q6DwKUIofjc
Twelfth Night
The Collector from the "Collectors Item" cd, classic bit of prog, 19 glorious minutes.
Ping!
Echoes
And from Zeppelin:-
In My Time of Dying and Achilles Last Stand plus the long Voodoo Chile
I'd take The Musical Box over Supper's Ready as it's a cohesive song, not a collection of fragments.
I hear that ping...
...every day. It's the text alert tone on my phone. However, I have a confession. These days I listen to the greatest hits 16 and a half minute version.
Lightweight :-)
Talking of Zeppelin...
What about Dazed and Confused, off Song Remains the Same (29:18!). Don't care what anyone says - a tour de force if ever there was one.
Pah! That was the single edit :-)
The longest Dazed boot I have is well over 40 minutes
Carouselambra
which I prefer to Achilles' Last Stand.
As for other long 'uns (all of which sit on the iPod and are all over 9 minutes long):
floyd: Pigs (Three Different Ones) and Sheep from Animals
Echoes, Shine On (both sections)
Jean Michel Jarre's Ethnicolor (from Zoolook) and Oxygene V
The Move's Feel Too Good (pretty nearly ten mins, well over nine anyhow)
Sisters Of Mercy - This Corrosion
FRank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops and Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk
The Temptations' 'Smiling Faces Sometimes'...
clocks in at 12 minutes plus. I have to be in the right mood to listen to it, but when I am it's wonderful.
Great
Fine recommendation Sir, just had a listen on Spotify but isn't it weird that you can't buy it on itunes or 7Digital without buying the whole album, a blog search methinks, the Man can't say I didn't try to pay for it.
am I allowed to say
I prefer David Ruffin's shorter, mellower version? But then I prefer Brother David to most things.
Sorry - back to long - off to Listen to the Lion - yer man there
Ooh, ooh, thought of another one!
"I Trawl The Megahertz" by Paddy McAloon. Has this song (and indeed album) been discussed here before? I guess it could be a bit of a Marmite job - and I think it's terrific. Lovely hook, but desperately sad lyric.
Gorgeous
Absolutely gorgeous. Haven't listened to that for a little while. Where's my iTunes?
Agreed!
Had it on in my office at work this morning. It's a brilliant piece. I first heard it when Stuart Maconie played it on his Freakzone. Absolutely nailed me.
Discovery
Like finding treasure on your doorstep. Thanks everyone above for nominating this. It had passed me by completely.
Just listened. And now I'm in tears
Listended to it this morning....
... McAloon's a genius - isn't something Sprout related being released later this year?
Traffic - Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
The definitive version is from 'On The Road' with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section but this (much much later) version gives you the general idea .. http://open.spotify.com/track/4X7Ut6ie0sq1PSqDXXoYIT
Excellent call on Derek and the Dominos' live 'Got To Get Better In A Little While'. Clapton still does a great version in his live set.
Ara Batur - Sigur Ros
Not a second too long.
http://open.spotify.com/track/5RCROXwqL0MBdNGCffXfdV
10 minutes and 14 seconds of brilliance
Station To Station.
Love long tracks. Zappa's Gumbo Variations is marvellous, but perhaps not a song? More a jam really - brilliant though. And Sister Ray - unlistenable noise for many, exciting stuff for me though. Not bothered what Lou's going on about but it's a fantastic racket instrumentally.
Telegraph road
is still enjoyable although i am sure Dire Straits are not the peoples choice these days. Neither are Supertramp but I do really like Hide in your shell which is fairly long.
Neil Young
all of 'em, sorry Like A Hurricane, particularly the Weld version.
Yes - Close To The Edge.
Weld...
...also contains the best ever versions of Cortez The Killer and Tonight's The Night, I reckon.
Agreed
and Powderfinger.
Agreed
and Powderfinger.
More Neil
Ordinary People came up on the MP3 player this afternoon, followed not long after by Julian Cope with Safesurfer.
The full length Crime In The City is rather good. If you haven't heard it, available at your favourite torrent site most likely.
Crime In The City
Good call.
did you steal my iPod?
...
"Tubular Bells"
Not strictly a song but I love it.
Hell, yeah
and Amarok, containing the now infamous description of Richard Branson hidden in Morse Code.
Can's 'Halleluhwah'
Eighteen and a half minutes, and when it finally fades, I always think, 'I wish that went on a bit longer'.
'Sao Paulo' by the Guillemots is pretty good as well.
(I'm assuming that metal and jazz stuff is for another time.)
Guillemots
That tune got me through a pretty rough time last year. Sometimes it's nice to fall into a long tune and stay there.
Cinema Show - Genesis
11 minutes and 6 seconds - and I love every moment.
Thick as a Brick
Is that one song or two?
A few spring to mind
Sigur Ros have plenty - Svefn-g-englar, Vidrar Vel Til Loftarasa, Popplagid (which is especially great as the finale to their live shows), Saeglopur, Festival and Ara Batur.
Pink Floyd's Echoes never seems as long as it actually is. Same for Dream Theater's Octavarium, which is 24 minutes long and very Floyd-like in parts.
Selling England By The Pound is my pick of Genesis' albums, and there's a good few long songs on there including The Cinema Show which has been already mentioned and the opening song, Dancing With The Moonlight Knight.
Other bands who I find are always good for a long song are Godspeed You! Black Emperor (fave track: Moya) and Explosions In The Sky.
Not one, not two, but three monsters from the same album...
I've actually come to the conclusion that the two cd version of "Marbles" by Marillion is probably my favourite album of all time.
I still remember the first time I heard it - one of those occasions where I cleared the decks of all distractions for an entire afternoon in order to sit down and really concentrate on it. I've got the attention span of a slightly concussed gnat as a rule - if gnats are in the habit of thinking about the next album they're going to listen to before the current one's even got through track one.
This one was different, though. Pretty much every track is perfect in mine sight, but the three epics are the ones that seal it. "The Invisible Man" kicks off CD1 - thirteen minutes to you, chief - a real slow build that begins with some seriously grumbling bass from yer man Trewavas before heading off into a mix that's precisely fifty percent Floyd and fifty percent Gabriel era Genesis.
CD1 finishes with "Ocean Cloud" (another eighteen minutes well spent) - troubles and travails on the ocean wave, or one man in a particularly proggy boat. If you ever wondered what it might be like to be caught in the middle of the sea in an open boat when suddenly you're attacked by Steve Howe, the mid-section of this may well be just the ticket.
CD2 careers all over the place, and also houses my two favourite songs ever. I've only just realised this, but it seems to be true, dammit. "You're Gone" is wonderful, but is just shaded into second place by... "Neverland". I've listened to this song in all sorts of situations, all sorts of places. Walking home in a thunderstorm. Standing on the deck of a boat in the middle of the Irish Sea in the dead of night. Walking by a canal in Musselburgh early one Christmas Morning. It never fails to leave me choked with admiration. It's perfect.
h provides a granstanding vocal. Mark Kelly appears to have smuggled a grand piano into the studio for the sake of a crashing series of descending chords in the lengthy fadeout (and a rather lovely little set of ascending triplets as well). Steve Rothery hauls out the old "crying guitar" effect from the earliest days, while the respected firm of Trewavas and Mosely keep things on the tracks. Believe me, the sequence that starts with h beginning to echo his own vocals, while Mark moogs for all he's worth in the background, through to the windchimes that close it all off... whoof. Gets me right here (thumps chest, descends into coughing fit).
Yes, that's the one. You might just be able to tell that I quite like it...
Spotify only has the single CD version, so no "Ocean Cloud". But you can enjoy a cheeky little two out of three here. While you're at it, have a go at "You're Gone". You can come and join me in a spell of grinning maniacally at how good the little sods can be if you like.
http://open.spotify.com/album/5OXLlxUMyOSn8BFl65o6F2
Here's some
Presence of the One 8:44 Ian McNabb Truth and Beauty
After The Fall 10:11 Saint Low Saint Low
Ride On 10:11 Oh Susanna Sleepy Little Sailor
Too Close To Heaven 12:30 The Waterboys Too Close to Heaven
These all rely on a slow build, adding textures and instrumentation at each verse. I actually prefer "Bang on the Ear" to "Too Close to Heaven" but I felt it was too short.
BTW, am I first to big up Mary Lorson here, either thru' Saint Low, her more or less solo project, or her other band "Madder Rose". Wonderfully evocative singer.
I was also looking for that long one, last track side 2 from Van's "St Dominics Preview" but found I hadn't got it on i-pod.
Truth and Beauty
is an album that gets played here a lot when we can get the moat cleaned out to get to the music room etc etc.
Wonderful summer album, but for long tracks McNabb wise I'd go with May You Always.
Or even
German Soldiers Helmet or What she did to my mind and You must be prepared to dream by McNabb in slightly rockier style. He does like a long song doesn't he ?
Probably
the Neil Young fascination.
It's something that came from his solo career onwards.
The Icies had pretty short ones, Nirvana onwards.
What she did to my mind was an Icies song I know, but it was the pretend Icies really, the other two had gone.
Van Morrison's...
... Summertime In England.
Bob Dylan's Desolation Row
David Bowie's Sweet Thing/Candidate/Sweet Thing(reprise)
I'm sure there's more...
Bowie again
Cygnet Committee and Memory of A Free Festival ("it was ragged and naive/it was heaven").
Quicksand, Bewlay Brothers.
Oh, and Dylan - the New York Sessions version of Idiot Wind.
Donna Summer
Love to Love You Baby 16.53
I Feel Love 8.15
long and sexy to boot.
Lily, Rosemary & the Jack of Hearts
I'm not a huge Dylan fan but I love this song.
King Crimson
Someone had to do it, and no-one has so far....
"Starless" off "RED". 12 minutes or so that completely put the final nail in the coffin of 70's KC. Borne out of considerable anguish (according to Bruford)it's the best thing they did in the 70's.
Can I also mention Peter Hammill and VDGG?
For Hammill - "Flight" off "A Black Box" and "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" by the mighty G!
From Can "Yoo Doo Right".
Oh yes!
Fine, FINE choices, Grant.
The first one of which I thought was Tenemos Roads by National Health, but I would listen to ANY long-form songs by Hammill/VDGG at almost any time.
It Takes Me Somewhere Else...
...not sure exactly where, but I can listen to Gillian Welch's "I Dream A Highway" from Time (The Revelator) and just disappear. I know it's essentially the same set of chords throughout the entire 14:40, but it has the subtlest changes as the song moves and drifts - just wonderful!
Great shout...
I love that song and the album as a whole. And when is there going to be a new record? It's been years!
Hear (and also) Hear
I agree entirely - an object lesson in subtle simplicity.
Great shout
for Too close to heaven. Also saw them a couple of years ago do a fabulous live version of Red Army Blues - greatly extended and with a lot of menace.
Also Tom Waits Road to peace.
Dexys Midnight runnners - Until I believe in your soul (magnificent)
John Martyn - Johnny too bad
Several
Ultrasound's "Everything Picture" at 39.13 - beware, a good 25 minute's worth of this could best be described as a cacophony of noise.
Flowered Up's "Weekender" at 12.55. Mediocre band, but what a single.
The Orb "Blue Room" at 39.58. Seem to recall that rather than perform it on TOTP, they decided to play chess on the show instead.
Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight" at 14.32. The first rap hit, and one to which I can recite every last word, somewhat pointlessly.
Propaganda "Dr Mabuse" at 10.42 - incredible record, hasn't dated at all despite it's use of 80's technology.
Scott Walker "Clara" from the Drift at 12.44. Beautiful and terrifying, like most of that album.
Soft Cell's "Martin" at 10.14 - scary in a silly way.
Jane's Addiction "Three Days" at 10.42 - never a big fan of this band, but a fantastic track.
Might be a bit short for this thread, but at 7.26, depending on what day you ask me, Richard Harris' "MacArthur Park" may be the greatest pop record ever made.
And further votes for Paddy McAloon, Dexy's "What She's Like" and Isaac Hayes "Phoenix" from me.
Sparklehorse
"Dreamt for light years in the belly of a mountain"
from the album with the same name.
Not a second too long...
http://open.spotify.com/track/5GmyKOGWSJmw4xSpNFRTJI
A few other personal favs
Gotta go with McArthur Park
A very cellular song - The Incredible Strings Band
Also:
Close to The Edge - Yes
Space is The Place - Sun Ra
Virtually any track by Fela Kuti
Newborn - Elbow
Standing by for abuse, but....
Close To The Edge
Yes
No abuse on this site for liking Yes!
Try admitting to a fondness for Supertramp, however, and you're buggered.
Cripes
That's a bit harsh!
I LOVE
Supertramp
What about?
Television's Marquee Moon, 11 minutes, or so, of earth shaking genius.
Paul Quinn & The Independent Group
Will I Ever Be Inside You?
It's the ten minute long title track from the 94/95 Postcard release from one time Bourgie Bourgie singer, that goes through a lovely moody trip-hop meets Bowie in Berlin journey, taking in some operatic vocals and some groovy atmospherics. One of the great lost albums of all time.
Orbital's Girl With The Sun In Her Head from their In Sides album, which is a great album filled with long songs. About 75 minutes long over about ten songs.
7-Minute-Plus Monsters!
I made a playlist of mine on my Creative Zen a while back, here are some of my favourite entries:
Morrissey - The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils (11.22)
Gomez - Buena Vista (8.59)
Roy Harper - The Monster (8.56)
Beth Orton - Touch Me With Your Love (7.27)
Doves - The Cedar Room (7.38)
The La's - Looking Glass (7.52)
The Wedding Present - Interstate 5 (8.05)
Richard Ashcroft - Check The Meaning (8.08)
The Wannadies - That's All (8.38)
Neil Young - Crime In The City (8.44)
Grandaddy - He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot (8.52)
Mew - Comforting Sounds (8.53)
Wilting Doves
Doves' The Cedar Room is a good choice. I'm struggling with their new album,it seems really bland. Maybe it needs a few more listens, thier first album was great.
Same here
The new album hasn't grabbed me at all.
Can I mention Joni?
Of course, as an old progger I find it difficult to think of favourite songs that clock in at under 5 minutes. However, many of my long favourites have been mentioned by others here.
Joni realised in her 70s heyday that the perfect song should be around 7 or 8 minutes, ergo Hejira, Coyote, Refuge of the Roads, Harry's House/Centrepiece, The Sire of Sorrow, etc etc etc.
Also, a special mention must go out to Pat Metheny, for Are You Going With Me?
Song for Sharon
I can keep my cool at poker
But I'm a fool when love's at stake
Tip of the Iceberg
Come one, Martin. You know you want more.
First Circle, Every Day I Thank You, San Lorenzo, To the End of the World, and for maximum effect, The Way Up? Not The Epic, though - the most inappropriately titled PM track to date.
And if we're talking Joni, does anyone ever listen to Paprika Plains? I can cope about once every five years and mostly for Jaco and Wayne Shorter on the last section.
Used to listen to P P when I had a vinyl copy
Must admit life seems to be going too fast for it these days ... but still have it on a pretty decent CD (though not the HDCD issue, got Shadows and Light in that form).
As far as PM goes, I listen to "As falls Wichita" every so often ... remember hearing that first from the late Tommy Vance, bless 'im.
Of course you're right...
...but I'm at a conference and very busy at the moment. I was going to mention The Way Up, but as it's split into four tracks it doesn't really count. Pretty much everything on Travels does it for me.
Is The Decemberists' new album one song or seventeen, as the tracklisting claims? If Suppers Ready is one song, I think The Hazards of Love should be regarded as such as well.
BTW I like Paprika Plains, but not as much as some of Joni's other epics.
How about Miles Davis as well - In a Silent Way especially....
The Hazards Of Love
Onstage, do The Decemberists introduce 'The Hazards Of Love' as a song and play the entire piece start to finish, in the correct order?
Fairport Convention / Spiritualized / Nick Cave
Fairport Convention 'A Sailor's Life' from Unhalfbricking (1969) 11mins 8secs. Beautiful, naive & genius. Could take another four minutes at least. Hypnotically brilliant.
Anything from Spiritualized's Lazer Guided Melodies (1992) but especially 'Shine A Light' 7mins 16secs... actually cheaper & better than taking drugs (so I'm told...)
Nick Cave 'More News From Nowhere' 7mins 58secs, from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (2008) Rifftastic - I just want to hear it again & again... and those lyrics, my goodness!
If you'd asked me 20 years ago I might have mentioned The Doors, but I don't enjoy hearing them now...
Mogwa!
There could be many entries here, but for me:
Mogwai Fear Satan - Mogwai
So, so brilliant. Even though it's 16 minutes long, I have listened to it countless times, often while lying in bed, about to go to sleep. I love it so much!
Now you try!: spotify:track:5VbwpidFnDjDcVGMAzBZd8
Close runner up is British Sea Power's genuinely epic 'Lately'.
Josh Ritter - Thin Blue Flame
Beautiful and precarious, builds up like the tower of Babel made of playing cards, and absolutely mind blowing when live.
Oh and best of all you can get all nine(ish) minutes of it for free at: http://www.joshritter.com/news.php
(the link is half way down the page on the left).
MacArthur Park
beyond doubt.
Wickerman by Pulp
Jarvis just keeps going and going, switching between whispering, conversational chatting, crooning and singing whilst the guitars, strings and backing singers ebb and flow behind him. Dozens of listens in, the moment where the music falls away as Jarvis says "I immediately knew I'd entered a completely different world" still gives me chills.
Van
Summertime In England. 'nuff said.
Brian Eno: "Thursday Afternoon"
Brian Eno's "Thursday Afternoon" may have many virtues, but brevity isn't one of them.
It weighhs in at 61 (sixty-one) minutes. Oooh, missus, what a whopper. Or something.
and I even once turned my TV on it's side
as he suggested needed to be done in order to appreciate the Thursday Afternoon video as it's creator intended
Couldn't you just
lie down?
John Martyn's "Small hours"
Appropriate for the time I'm writing this. Quite Sublime.
also "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by the Temptations- Another late-night-lovely of similar length.
Two guilty pleasures
November Rain
Freebird
A good definition of 'a long song' could be...
one that has to be split in two in order to post it on Youtube.
Here's 13 minutes of Freebird as the sun went down at Knebworth '76 - brings back memories :-)
(although Ronnie Van Zant always looked a spare part during the guitar solo - why didn't he just go offstage for a bit?)
'Fess up, the Stimp
Could you be arsed to stay to the bitter end after the Stones came on hours and hours late? I slunk away and slept under a tree shortly after Little Red Rooster.
Alcohol etc had taken it's toll by the time the ftones came on
I can remember barely anything about their set :-(
Skynyrd,
were they not the Greatest Fucking Rock and roll Band EVER!!
I was there!
I was about 100 yards from the stage and during the guitar solos people in front of me started standing up....so eventually I had to and looked behind me - to see 250,000 people playing air guitar. Ahhhh, memories. Incidentally they were miles better than the Stones.
Lou reed -heroin
rocn roll animal version
13 minutes 12 seconds of masterful evocative lyrics in this paean to smack punctuated with towering guitar solos and duels between steve hunter( no relation) and dick wagner
worn out 2 records and still love it
Street Hassle
I'd like to vote for Street Hassle, which I bought on a monochrome 12" single over thirty years ago, with Heroin and Venus in Furs on the B side, if I remember correctly; I foolishly thought every Lou Reed solo song would be of this quality; I am an older and a wiser man now.
street hassle
haha. i bought and thought the same - introduced me to the velvet underground too.
couple of other longuers while i'm here
smashing pumpkins drown
buzzcocks pulsebeat (comparatively long)
sonic youth the long one (hits of sunshine?) off 1000 leaves
donna summer i feel love long 16min mix is awesome
underworld 8 ball
Prince
Controversy, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry (the album version), most of the 1999 album. The purple one was always at his best for me when he gave himself space to spread his wings and fly.
Got To Give It Up
by Marvin Gaye.
Over 11 minutes of gloriously measured funk.
My daughter (3) and I dance to this in the kitchen. Both of us incredibly seriously. It's quite a sight.
Got To GIve It Up
Astoundingly good, with a bass that can only be described as spring-loaded.
How did I forget about this one earlier?
And More
Prince - Gonna Be A Beautiful Night [some time ago someone here said they hated it; I didn't get around to responding, but I love it]
Fairport Convention - Sloth, Tam Lin and Matty Groves
Laura Nyro - Map To The Treasure
Annabel Lamb - Red Soil
Jane Siberry - Oh My My
Kate Bush - Nocturn
Yo La Tengo
Pass the Hatchet, I think I'm Godkind - 10:47 of perfect music for the ipod at the gym.
Marquee Moon by television
And a bit too short for this, but I have long loved Bob Dylan's Black Diamond Bay
Rifferama
I’m oddly partial to a basic riff repeated over and over again for a very long time, so I’ll offer up The Wedding Present’s mesmerising ‘Take Me’, off Bizarro.
Then there’s the old ‘Two verses and a 10-minute instrumental interlude’ trick, as seen in the live version of ‘Kitty’s Back’ (Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - Hammersmith Odeon 1975) and the immortal ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ (Iron Butterfly).
Of those already mentioned, I’m a big fan of the live versions of ‘Freebird’ and ‘Like A Hurricane’.
Last but not least, my all-time favourite song: ‘Jungleland’.
If that's the case, you'll love this
Neil Young's Loose Change from the masterful yet unfairly reviled "Broken Arrow" LP. He hits a chord at about 2:48, and it's just that chord forever onwards - go Neil! http://open.spotify.com/track/5uhCbpJDiAyvf8qswdhj8D
Loan Me A Dime
12 minutes from the 'Boz Scaggs' album - it starts slowly, builds and then changes time from a slow 4 to a jazz swing feel - the horns blowing hard with Duane Allman's guitar soaring over the top.
Allegedly the band/session men played on for 2 hours!
Bloody typical.....
Loan me a dime/Scaggs, Summertime in England/Morrison, Got to get better etc/Derek & Dominos, Jack Orion/Pentangle, Feel to good/Move, Light up etc(live)/Traffic, I dream a highway/Welch, I trawl the megahertz/MacAloon, This is what she's like/Dexy's, all these long songs I don't actually have, despite having broad chunks of their other repertoire. Can I download as individual tracks? Can I hell, if available on Play.com, Amazon or i-tunes, guess what, album only............
Liddles!!!!!!
This is actually a problem that needs addressing as this prejudices the income of these artists, if these company honour the concept of mp3 royalties. Whilst I could buy the LPs, given I already have 21 albums on my wishlist, I do have bottoms to my pockets...........
Rosalita
Bruce.
Stranglers - Down In The
Stranglers - Down In The Sewer
Yes - Roundabout
Extreme - Everything Under The Sun
Toad The Wet Sprocket - I Will Not Take These Things For Granted
Matty Groves
hits the spot EVERY time. Remind me again, who was that Geetar player?
matty groves
had never heard of this til today - but heard great version by marc carroll only this afternoon, and then checked out fairport
a bit like when i heard lonesome death of hattie carroll by bequiffed 80s folkgirl Franc, and that lead me to Dylan
and like hearing neu on xfm some years ago and thinking it was the new stereolab
Harold Budd - "As Long As I Can Hold My Breath"
Harold Budd's "As Long As I Can Hold My Breath" weighs in at a fairly intimidating 69 minutes and 30 seconds. It's a real toe-tapper, though, so you never get bored.
Joanna Newsom's 'Ys' album
Five tracks, the shortest of which is over 7 minutes long. I thought it would irritate me to the point of violence, but it's one of the most extraordinary things I've ever heard.
Downloading Long Songs
I agree, when it comes to digital downloads you shouldn't have to buy the whole album to get a long song, I would accept a price within the $1.30 - $3.00 range to get an 8 minute or longer song.
__
Yes' 1972 - 1974 output
Pink Floyd - Nick's Boogie, Echoes and Dogs
Frank Zappa - Little House I Used to Live in
Genesis - Supper's Ready
The Who - My Generation live at Leeds version
Long Songs
Neil Young: Down By The River
Neil Young: Cowgirl in the Sand
Neil Young: Change Your Mind
Grateful Dead doing Bob Dylan
King Crimson: Moonchild
SRV: Tin Pan Alley (Live)
Echoes Live from Gdansk... Rick Wrights last Big Show
Rick Wakeman: Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Rick Wakeman: King Arthur
Rush: 2112
Lindisfarne: We Can Swing Together (Live)
Bob Dylan: Highlands
Being a old fan of Prog Rock, there are SO MANY others
prog-free picks
I grew up on 7" singles so it took me many years to get into the mammoth tracks.
Miles Davis - anything from "In A Silent Way" (two tracks around 19 minutes), and "A Tribute to Jack Johnson" (two tracks around 25 mins each)
Pharaoh Sanders - Black Unity (37:20). Amazing groove, ebbs and flows. It took me several listens to get all the way through, but I'm really glad I made the effort to expand my listening. I remember reading in the John Martin bio that he was a big fan of this.
Gavin Bryars - Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet (can't check time as for some reason it's not on my ipod). Spooky and dreamy - not for everyday listening, but splendid nonetheless.
Many many
but in particular:
Genesis - Firth of fifth (playing now)
Yes - Awaken
Decemberists - Mariners revenge song
and I've been known to 'sing' Pink Floyd's Dogs (with guitar solos - don't ask) on many occasions after the odd sherbet or two. All together now!
You've got to be crazy
Gotta have a real need
Gotta sleep on your toes
And when you're on the street
Howoooolll... etc etc
You must be a laugh on Karaoke night Mr Pirrip!
...I prefer The Revealing Science of God myself. Oddly, no karaoke bar seems to have it...
116 posts and not ONE single mention of..........
Jungleland by Springsteen.....! Shame on you!!! Shame on us.......
Some other long 'uns but good 'uns off the top of my head......
Incident on 57th Street - Springsteen
You Must Be Prepared to Dream - Ian McNabb & Crazy Horse
I am the Resurrection - The Stone Roses
Had to Cry Today - Blind Faith
Tender - Blur
Dark Star
Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you the undisputed masters of long, the New Potato Caboose Hitmakers: The Grateful Dead.
For something a tad more modern, try Super Going (a paltry 12:26) by Boredoms from the, er, superb Super AE album.
As the resident Deadhead...
I've been *really* trying to avoid posting any Dead for fear of incurring the wrath of the Massive.
In defence of the Mississipi Half-Step Uptown Toodle-Oo Hitmakers, can I point out that, at each of the recent gigs I attended, they played 18 songs.
Having said that, I'm listening to a show from the recent tour and, according to iTunes, none of those 18 songs are under 10 minutes and three are in excess of 20 minutes :-)
All wi doin is defendin
A sterling defence of the Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion Hitmakers - that's damn good value for money.
um... long tracks.
Sorry, chaps; never got the point of the Dead, or Springsteen, or La Zimmerman. However, you'll find long track delight on Tangerine Dream's 'Ricochet'. Peas'n'luvv...
Arlo
Alice's Restaurant - with due respect to the Word podcast. I can listen to it over and over again. He did it live at the Rhythm Festival three years ago. I never thought I would hear it live - a magical 20 or so minutes.
weekender
flowered up's' weekender' (both weatherall mixes)
Gilbert Street
by Sweet Thursday.
I used to own this LP 35 odd years ago, Sweet Thursday being a shortlived group beleagured by a record company that folded shortly after putting out their only record. Mind you, if their record company and management were taking the same stuff as were the group, or what they sound to be, it would make chaos no surprise, there being little competition for "most stoned music" until the Dandy Warhols many a long year later. The group featured Nicky Hopkins and Cat Stevens sidesman, Alun Davies. I recently managed to track it down and, sure, it has dated, but it brought back all those 5th form vibes.
Lovely stuff.
Another I'd forgotten
Bananas, by Man. Mentioned yet? Helped make digging the garden a pleasure this morning.
Bang Up To Date
Madness' fantastic title track from the new album "The Liberty of Norton Folgate", weighing in at 10.12.
I don't believe it
I've come to this thread really late.
But no mention of perenniel favourites Layla and Staiway to Heaven. But we have votes for a song with bonkers lyrics, badly sung. Macarther Park indeed - complete tosh.
Lots for me to investigate, so thanks for Dexys, Paddy McAloon and Josh Ritter. These had all passed me by.
My favourite of all time, so far, Wishbone Ash's Phoenix.
The Great Concert of Charles Mingus
If you like jazz and you like tracks that go on a bit (mea culpa on both counts), then this little gem is an absolute embarrassment of riches:
It's got 4 (count 'em - FOUR!) tracks that clock in over the 20-minute mark, with "Meditations on Integration" being the absolute pick.
Eric Dolphy, blowing free and wild on the alto sax, bass clarinet and flute, is brilliant on this record. Actually, it's completely superfluous to say that. All you need to say is that Eric Dolphy is on the record. He was always brilliant...
Long, but I never seem to notice
Neil Young - Like A Hurricane
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
Stiff Little Fingers - Johnny Was
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood Side 1
Who - Won't Get Fooled Again
Who - Doctor Jimmy
Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Buzzcocks - I Believe
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird
Long and brittle.
Marquee Moon of course. It stops and leaves you bereft that it's not even longer.
Sugarhill Gang...
..." Rapper's Delight " ( 13&1/2 or so minute long version ) , possibly...
Sugarhill Gang...
..." Rapper's Delight " ( 13&1/2 or so minute long version ) , possibly...
Gotta chime in Buzzcock-wise...
...as well.........Perhaps Wizzard's " Meet me At The Jailhouse " ? Wweeelll...You said " LIKE listening " ( hehhehhehhehhehhehheh ),,,I;m having some of the climax parts in G'n'Rs' " November rain " echoing thru my mind as I wrote this , but.........
Can I add?
Big Country - Porrohman
2009 gives us another classic long song
I give you Madness - The Liberty of Norton Folgate.
I generally find any song over 5 minutes pretty unlistenable, but this (and Dexys "This is What She's Like) are both exceptions
How long is long?
The longest songs I know that I like are "Same Deep Water as You" and "Fascination Street" by The Cure (from the album Disintegration), and a couple of songs from RHCP's Freaky Styley.
Long...
greater than 15 minutes?
As I said at the beginning
I draw the line at ten.
Ten over Ten
Thanks to the magic of iTunes I can reveal my 10 favourite long songs, ranked in order of ‘most played’
1. Cowgirl (Bedrock Mix) – Underworld 11.51 (34)
2. Carmella (Four Tet Remix) – Beth Orton 11.46 (27)
3. Smokebelch II (Entry) – The Sabres of Paradise 11.45 (20)
4. Visions of You (Weatherall remix) – Jah Wobble feat Sinead O’Connor 10.23 (20)
5. Sinnerman – Nina Simone 10.20 (19)
6. Full Metal Jackoff – Jello Biafra with D.O.A 13.57 (19)
7. Confusion (Pump Panel Remix) – New Order 10.21 (14)
8. Marbles – Plastikman 11.08 (12)
9. 1,000,000 Died to Make This Sound – Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra 14.43 (12)
10. Weekender (Weatherall’s Audrey is a Little Bit Partial Mix) 14.43 (11)