Longest song by a popular singer/ band

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: PoppaGator
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:41 PM

"A great songwriter is one who can say the most, in an entertaining and/or arresting way, in the shortest possible amount of time?? Discuss!"

Well, there's such a thing as too short a song. It takes few moments to establish a mood or "groove," and then you want to spend a modicum of time enjoying what's been established. The more interesting and compelling the song, the longer you can get away with stretching it out, but the generally accepted "happy medium" seems to be about three minutes.

I just wonder whether this is a "natural" optimum length for songs, based upon some inborn attention-span parameters shared by all humans, or if it's something that has been imposed upon our generations by our shared experience of recorded music, nothing more than our becoming accustomed to the song-length limitations of first the 78 rpm single and then the 45.

As a solo performer, I don't generally include the instrumental "breaks" that are so often part of the original (or at least the best-known) recordings of many songs I "cover," and so my renditions may tend to be about a half-minute or so shorter than versions by groups/bands featuring instrumental soloists. In some cases, I'll compensate by repeating the bridge and the final verse/chorus an extra time, especially when the audience seems receptive and sufficiently caught up in the song.

Discuss!

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 11:08 AM

When The Ramsey Lewis Trio played club dates in Los Angeles during the 1960's, they could stretch "The In Crowd" to an entire set in itself, sometimes as long as 30-45 minutes, or longer. I doubt they ever recorded anything close to that in length, however, unless someone knows of a bootleg tape. Of course, it's not folk, but Ramsey's music does have some folk and gospel roots.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 11:04 AM

"Love Chronicles" is an interesting song....a personal epic...and it's actually composed of 3 or four different tunes (all quite good) which are linked together into one enormous song.

Early Al Stewart material is very frank on the confessional side as regards his love life at the time. He later became a good deal more circumspect in his writing.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:46 AM

Erik Satie's Vexations must be a contender- at 18 hours 40 minutes when first performed in full in 1963. John Cage and John Cale were in the relay team that performed it, and I think they count as "popular".

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: the button
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 10:35 AM

The shortest has got to be "You suffer," by Napalm Death -- under a second. (And it got radio-play).

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 09:56 AM

For shortest - Oh, hangman stay thy ggrrll...

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 09:40 AM

Spark's Magic Piano runs to 20mins and 35 secs.
OK I know it's not really a song as such, but some of us enjoy nostalgia!

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Mike B.
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 01:52 AM

Jean Redpath's version of "The Grey Silkie" runs about eight minutes.

Don McLean's "American Pie" and Phil Ochs' "Crucifixion" should also be mentioned.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Bill S from Perth
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 10:13 PM

I note a couple of claims of the shortest songs. Tom Paxton's second shortest must be the Ballad of Spiro Agnew. Here are the full lyrics.
"I'll sing of Spiro Agnew and all the things he's done"

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: vectis
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 08:39 PM

Gordon Hall's version of The Molecatcher mus hold the record.
He did it as an encore once. He started it at 10.55 and finally finsihed at 11.25, a pint and three cigarettes later. I reckon he was making the verses up as he went along.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 02:37 PM

"Al Stewart's Love Chronicles sounded like a very long song back in 1969(or whenever)."


Love Chronicles - Al Stewart 1969

title track length - 18-minutes

Charlotte (the Sunday view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 01:29 PM

Although not in real contention for longest, the two-part version of "Susie Q" done by CCR ran pretty long.

SC

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Folkiedave
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 01:20 PM

Chris Woods "England In Ribbons" off the "Trespassers" CD is 13.00 minutes.

And I have played it on my radio show. (Walked off to the cafe next door ordered and drank a coffee - and walked back into the studio as it finished).

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: oldhippie
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 11:51 AM

Lets not forget Dylan "Desolation Row" and Harry Chapin "Taxi" / "Sequel"

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 05:10 AM

Late Breaking news:

The next chord change in the performance of John Cage's As Slow As Possible which began in 2001 will occur on 5 July 2008. The first movement will end as soon as 2073.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 03:28 AM

Refried boogie? Not sure I could stand listening to the same song for 40 minutes.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 02:54 AM

Ewan MacColls version of Tam Lin is pretty long but Bob Dylans ' Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie ' is an epic, it's bloody good as well.

eric

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: number 6
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 02:02 AM

Not the longest song (15 min. or so), but worth mentioning here in this thread ... "The Hymns From The Grand Terrace" a Jimmy webb composition sung by Richard Harris.

biLL

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Genie
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 01:42 AM

Didn't the original, full version of Stairway To Heaven also go on for about 10 minutes?


Legend has it that some songs, eg., Marty Robbins's El Paso and Don McLean's American Pie became hits largely BECAUSE of their length -- that DJs would play long songs like that just so they could take a much needed potty break.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 05:12 PM

Al Stewart's Love Chronicles sounded like a very long song back in 1969(or whenever).

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Zhenya
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 05:09 PM

Whoops - Completely missed the stipulation that the song had to be by a popular band! Not surprising, as I have very little mainstream music in my collection.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Zhenya
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 05:07 PM

Just got curious and checked my iTunes tracks in order by playing time. Looks like the longest single song track I have is Jody Stecher singing Barbary Ellen, at 12:45. It's on his album, Oh the Wind and Rain.

In terms of tune sets, there's one at 27:38 from Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, on the Live in Seattle album.

The longest combo song and tune set I have is The Green Fields of America on the album Kilkelly (Moloney, O'Connell and Keane) which clocks in at 21:24. (I'm afraid the song Kilkelly itself on this album comes in at a measly 6:47.)

And for honorable mention, Jean Ritchie's version of Little Musgrave is 12:03. (That's on her album Ballads from Her Appalachian Family Tradition.)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 04:50 PM

"'Baby Pink Lemonade' which is over 60 minutes long"

the actual length of this piece seems to vary depending on the gig, somwhat like The Grateful Dead and their songs

Charlotte (enquiries made)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Nigel Spencer (cookieloss)
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 04:15 PM

Almost anything by Japanese space rockers Acid Mothers Temple. There's one track, called (I think) 'Baby Pink Lemonade' which is over 60 minutes long.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 02:04 PM

"Kilkelly Ireland" deserves an honorable mention.

Gordon Bok has recorded several long saga such as "Peter Kagan and the Wind."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 12:40 PM

"Easy...Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands bob dylan
Took up the whole side on I believe Blond(e) on Blond(e)."

It does indeed take up the whole of side four of Blonde on Blonde, but:

Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" – 11 minutes 23 seconds

Charlotte (having retrieved Blonde on Blonde from the record collection)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 12:33 PM

Theoretically Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells is one song (the "lyrics" being spoken by Viv Stanshall on the original and by John Cleese on Tubular Bells 2003) it runs for a total of 48 mins and 56 seconds on two sides of the record

"Tubular Bells, Part 1" — 25:36
"Tubular Bells, Part 2" — 23:20

Charlotte (on piano and goodwill)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: topical tom
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 12:19 PM

Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant"?

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: curmudgeon
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 11:18 AM

If memory serves correctly, Ewan MacColl's rendition of   Constance of Cleveland,
runs the entire side of the original LP - Tom

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Gene Burton
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 11:05 AM

A great songwriter is one who can say the most, in an entertaining and/or arresting way, in the shortest possible amount of time?? Discuss!

(not sure I'd absolutely always go along with the above myself, but it's one plausible working definition)

BTW, I've always had something of a soft spot for Mark Knopfler's extended guitar workouts, which is odd 'cos when it comes to other guitarists I can't stand 'em...

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: goatfell
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 10:49 AM

tom paxton's song a lament for a lost election.


dah, dah, dah, shit.

Tom

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Snuffy
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 10:11 AM

What about the shortest? Anyone beat The Son of Noah's Brother on The Big Huge by the Incredible String Band? This weighs in at a massive SIXTEEN SECONDS.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 07:47 AM

Easy...Sad eyed Lady of the Lowlands bob dylan Took up the whole side on I believe Blond on Blond.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Mooh
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 06:28 AM

The aforementioned Thick As A Brick was 22:45 on one side and 21:05 on the other side of the LP, mixed no differently on the cd.

I dig it.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 02:47 AM

Cream's "Spoonful" was about 17 minutes, too, and the Nice did a version of a Dylan song that took the entire side of an LP. Tangerine Dream I think did some stuff of comparable length, but no words.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 02:44 AM

Surely the released version of Refried Boogie (and wasn't it actually Refried Hockey Boogie?) on their second album was not anything like that long? One side of a vinyl LP did not run over 40 minutes.

How about Tubular Bells? There are the occasional words which might just make it a song.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: DMcG
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 02:19 AM

Child ballad number 117, "A gest of Robyn Hood", must surely be a contender at 456 verses.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Grab
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 08:31 PM

No-one's mentioned Dire Straits - the studio version of "Telegraph Road" clocked 14:15. And it'd be impossible to talk about longest popular songs without "American Pie".

Don't think live versions and jam sessions really count, do they? I mean, anyone can noodle round 12-bar or other easy progressions for ten-fifteen minutes without hardly trying. The challenge is saying what you have to say in a reasonable duration, not just giving in to diarrhoea of the fretboard.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 07:44 PM

Did anyone mention Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull? As much as I like Canned Heat, the tune is a bit repeatative.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 05:13 PM

I never knew that about "Reuben James," which I first learned from Sing Out magazine, where a much shorter version of the lyrics appeared sometime in the mid-1960s.

Of course, I know that the chorus asked "What were their names, tell me what were their names, did you have a friend on the good Reuben James?" I just didn't know that the lesser-known verses answered the question ~ completely, if you knew Woody's entire lyric.

Interesting that his later lyric, "Deportees," was also similarly concerned about the names and identities of modest "common" folk who would otherwise be forgotten after a tragic demise. A recurring theme, and obviously a serious concern of Woody Guthrie's

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 05:00 PM

Pete Seeger has mentioned that Woody definitely wanted to name all crew members, but Seeger talked him out of it.

One of Woody's longer songs is Tom Joad, which condenses Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath into about 7 minutes. It was covered by Country Joe MacDonald in the early 1970's.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,LDB
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:17 PM

What would have been the longest folk song recorded would certainly be the Original Woody Guthrie song, "Ruben James." However, there are conflicting reports that the original, in which every member of the crew was named, was recorded. It is well documented that the shorter version of the song that became popular by the Almanac Singers caused some disagreement by Woody.

It should also be noted that the one mentioned above did not have the Joe Hellerman ending - that came later.

Examples of a shortened version of the original version are:

There's Harold Hammer Beasley, a first rate man at sea
From Hinton, West Virginia, he had his first degree.
There's Jim Franklin Benson, a good machinist's mate
Come up from North Carolina, to sail the Reuben James.

Dennis Howard Daniel, Glen Jones and Howard Vore
Hartwell Byrd and Raymond Cook, Ed Musselwhite and more
Remember Leonard Keever, Gene Evans and Donald Kapp
Who gave their all to fight about this famous fighting ship.

Ant there were 86 killed. There has also been speculation that Woody also wanted the rest of the crew mentioned,

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:11 PM

"Like A Rolling Stone" and, later, "Hey Jude," were said to have been ground-breakingly long for radio play when they were current hits, but I don't think either one was nearly as long as the various album cuts cited above.

Also, the 7-minute-plus "El Paso" was just about as long, and came out much much earlier. I had not been aware of that until just now. I'm certainly familiar with the song, just didn't realize how long it is ~ I suppose that shows that I've always enjoyed it enough not to get all fidgity waiting for it to conclude. (While I've certainly heard Marty Robbins sing it, I am most familiar with the song as part of the Grateful Dead catalog; among Dead songs, aseven minute running time is unremarkable: about an average duration, maybe even less.)

Another notable long song: Ray Charles' ground-breaking live-in-the-studio "What'd I Say?" was split in half to make a two sided single, "Part 1" and "Part 2." That may have been the first such two-part two-sided 45 single. The Isely Brothers "Shout" came later and was more clearly broken in half; the breaking-point is pretty well known since innumerable cover bands have long performed this popular number to include the transition passage that begins "Now wai-ai-ait a minute!"

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: GUEST,The Mole Catcher's unplugged Apprentice
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 04:01 PM

The Live at The Fillmore disc of Cream's Wheels of Fire double LP set has:

Spoonful - 16:44

Toad - 15:53

Charlotte (the view from Ma and Pa's piano stool)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:47 PM

A few from the Incredible String Band:

09:02 El Wool Suite (U)
09:17 Ducks on a Pond (Wee Tam)
09:24 Maya (The Big Huge)
10:18 Light in Time of Darkness/Good to See You (U)
10:53 Darling Belle (Liquid Acrobat as regards the Air)
12:55 A Very Cellular Song (The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter)
14:46 White Bird (Changing Horses)
15:22 Rainbow (U)
16:04 Creation (Changing Horses)

Later albums (Earthspan & No Ruinous Feud) have no timings anywhere, but may have songs of similar lengths

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:21 PM

Okay, LEJ. It's a shame that Julio Iglesias never did a 45-minute song, eh? Think how great THAT would be! ;-)

Well, looks like maybe Canned Heat takes the prize, then, for "Refried Boogie".

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: The Mole Catcher's Apprentice (inactive)
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:15 PM

The 22 minute version of 'Tall Ships' by Show of Hands

Charlotte (is attempting to arrange this song for the piano)

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Leadbelly
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:10 PM

That's right, Don, and when this record entered the hit parades they have had some trouble to play this title comletely.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:09 PM

LH, I was tongue-in-cheek on Edmund Fitzgerald. I like it and think Gordon is a great songwriter.

Subject: RE: Longest song by a popular singer/ band
From: Don Firth
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:02 PM

At one time, about three minutes was the max for radio play. Then along came Marty Robbins' recording of "El Paso." Ran for about seven minutes if I remember correctly.

Don Firth