You Crazy Diamond?

Spiders (Kidsmoke) - positively motorik!

Ironically, this live version has a rather shortened intro compared to the album version - but I couldn't resist posting it! Great guitar at the start....

Only 3:04 long, yet it's not until 1:30 until you hear the first vocal...

by 1970s American band Pablo Cruise winds it way through various Wakeman-like passages, and some typically climactic 70s guitar soloing, before the singer finally gets his chance at 5:42.

On Some Faraway Beach, from Here Come The Warm Jets. It's as though you get the fade-out first, then (eventually, 3 minutes in) the vocal. Wonderful song.

Maybe not the longest intro but on the album, it's 3.54 before the first of September arrives, which is longer than many entire songs.

Sweet Jane...the live version from Rock n Roll Animal might not be the longest,it might be cheating as it's live but it's the best.

but I'd still make this my nomination-it certainly makes the impact of the actual singing greater [part two is also on the YouTube]

Well some one had to put it here didn't they. Not just the intro to the song but the album, fantastic.

Sufjan Stevens's Sister - a beautiful song indeed - from the Seven Swans LP is about six minutes long with a (roughly) four and a half minute intro. It includes the word 'crochet' in its lyrics. I can't think of any other song that does.

Isn't it about half an hour before they start singing?

This might be disqualified due to being too proggy but this 24 minute track runs for 5 mins 32 secs before the first vocal. Also, there's flute so this one does qualify for the WIndy Pops topic:

old before dear old Viv Stanshall starts his introductions...

At 2.30 perhaps not the longest but surely the most effective?

...the song, one of their very best I reckon, lasts 4:54 - the first vocals don't come in till 2:12, so almost halfway through the track

Imagination's first album. Ah, what a period piece it is, and not in a bad way. I suspect it might hold up pretty well today, and Leee John sure could sing. Anyway, So Good So Right has an intro longer than Penelope Cruz's eyelashes.

...but this is LONG:

Stupid video. I couldn't find a version that didn't either have a stupid video, or two teenagers doing a prolapse-inducing cover version.

with no main song until 6.40 or so:

Indeed a five year wait and an intro that lasts 4 min 59 secs
in the 90's!!

and an outro that lasts 2 min 40

Miles Davis's "Yesternow" from "Tribute to Jack Johnson" is 25 mins 34 seconds long. It's only in the final few seconds that there are any vocals - those of actor Brock Peters.

"Blue Monday"
"Sound And Vision"

Tubular Bells! The stately VS taking over right at the end of side two...hats off to Mike O for playing the long game!