Best musical pieces over 11 minutes long

[Masterofreality]

Ok, it's summer and time for another musical discussion. This time, how about the best musical pieces over 11 minutes long?

Even in the greatest days of WMMS and WEBN, for example, this stuff hardly ever got played, unless you were listening at 3:00am, but this stuff is epic nonetheless. Some of the best virtuoso work ever done by certain performers is on the extended pieces.

Here then is my list. Headphones are recommended for listening:

-Dogs- Pink Floyd from Animals
-Gates of Delirium- Yes from Relayer
-Ordinary People- Neil Young from Chrome Dreams II
-Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands- Bob Dylan from Blonde on Blonde
-Symphony #9- Ludwig Von Beethoven
-Walk on By-Isaac Hayes from Hot Buttered Soul
-Bitches Brew- Miles Davis from Bitches Brew

Sorry. Inagaddadvida didn't make the list. A little too ponderous for me.

[Titanxman04]

Any Pink Floyd song is considered to be one of the greatest, but over 11 minutes long, most live versions of Comfortably Numb, and High Hopes. But also have to go with Pigs, from the Animals album.

[Atlas]

Any Pink Floyd song is considered to be one of the greatest, but over 11 minutes long, most live versions of Comfortably Numb, and High Hopes. But also have to go with Pigs, from the Animals album.

By WEBN standards all Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin songs are the greatest ever. I wished they would realize that those songs are over 30 years old and do away with them.

[wkrq59]

Any Mozart, Beethoven, Bach , Schumann, Brahms opus. And throw in a two-disc set of Billy Joel's best plus a serious dose of Sinatra:D:D

[XU 87]

Ok, it's summer and time for another musical discussion. This time, how about the best musical pieces over 11 minutes long?


Sorry. Inagaddadvida didn't make the list. A little too ponderous for me.

The greatest 11+ minute song in music history didn't make your list? The shame.

And I would also include "Thick as a Brick" to your list.

[Titanxman04]

By WEBN standards all Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin songs are the greatest ever. I wished they would realize that those songs are over 30 years old and do away with them.

I'm sorry you feel that way, friend. I'm not a big fan of "early Pink Floyd". Much more so a fan of their later works, such as from Division Bell and Momentary Lapse of Reason.

While my opinions will be greatly contested, I feel the strength of Pink Floyd was David Gilmour. His guitar work and lyric writing was what continued well past Roger Waters leaving. Listen to Waters' solo albums after his departure, and I just don't think the quality is nearly as what is was as when he was performing and writing with Gilmour, Mason, and Wright.

[American X]

Three Days - Jane's Addiction

Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd

Xavier Fight Song (Mack Truck Extended Club Mix) - Xavier Band

[chico]

Dire Straits live version of "Tunnel of Love"

Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend"

I don't know if this counts but Joe Jackson did a live medley of motown songs which is great and lasts about 15 minutes.

"Foreplay/Long Time" by Boston is a classic but I don't think it quite gets to 11 minutes.

[Muskie]

-Bitches Brew- Miles Davis from Bitches Brew

By far one of the best "songs" ever.

[Smooth]

All of Rush's long songs. 2112. Hemispheres. The Fountain of Lamneth. Necromancer.

Do You Feel Like We Do from Frampton Comes Alive.

Machine Gun from Band of Gypsys (that's how they spelled it).

There are many live performances that are long enough, but I think only those released on CD/tape/album should count. Grateful Dead (and other jam bands) should not count because every song is more than 11 minutes so it's an even-a-blind-squirrell-gets-a-nut phenomenon.

[pickledpigsfeet]

"B-Boy Bouillabaisse" by the Beastie Boys off of Paul's Boutique is a classic, its like 5 songs mashed into one. Hello Brooklyn!

[Masterofreality]

And I would also include "Thick as a Brick" to your list.

Yep, no doubt. Very valid.


Dire Straits live version of "Tunnel of Love"


There is one Dire Straits' epic that I considered, but not Tunnel of Love.
My choice would be Telegraph Road. To me, that is Knopfler at his best.

[chico]

Yep, no doubt. Very valid.



There is one Dire Straits' epic that I considered, but not Tunnel of Love.
My choice would be Telegraph Road. To me, that is Knopfler at his best.

Yeah, "Telegraph Road" is a great song as well - can't go wrong with either one. "Once Upon a Time in the West" is also right up there - the entire "Alchemy" album is fantastic.

Knopfler is a truly under-appreciated artist - the guy is an excellent songwriter, not only with Dire Straits but with soundtracks (Local Hero, Princess Bride) and is a great guitar player.

[Atlas]

I do want to mention the classin "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" by Iron Maiden. That was a classic

[sweet16]

Dire Straits live version of "Tunnel of Love"

Elton John's "Funeral for a Friend"

I don't know if this counts but Joe Jackson did a live medley of motown songs which is great and lasts about 15 minutes.

"Foreplay/Long Time" by Boston is a classic but I don't think it quite gets to 11 minutes.

Ah Chico, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is one of my all-time favorites. The buildup and transition from Funeral into LLB sends chills down my spine. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anyplace where I can download it.

[Xman95]

Anything by Celine Dion. Wait, those aren't good. But that woman is so painful to listen to that all her songs seem like they last much longer than 11 minutes. It's kind of like watching Keanu Reeves try to act.

[Xman95]

"B-Boy Bouillabaisse" by the Beastie Boys off of Paul's Boutique is a classic, its like 5 songs mashed into one. Hello Brooklyn!

New York, New York, it's a helluva town...

[chico]

Ah Chico, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is one of my all-time favorites. The buildup and transition from Funeral into LLB sends chills down my spine. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anyplace where I can download it.

Try the public library if you're in Cincy. They probably have it. If not, maybe the one where you live might have it. Itunes has it but you have to buy the entire album.

[nickgyp]

Not sure if it goes 11 minutes but Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" is a classic.

[Masterofreality]

Not sure if it goes 11 minutes but Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" is a classic.

Yep, nick, it qualifies...and is an excellent contribution to the thread, sir!

Dream Gerrard from When the Eagle Flies and Roll Right Stones from Shootout at the Fantasy Factory are other excellent "Traffic" classics of qualifying length.

[Lloyd Braun]

I am a big guitar fan, so for me it's Voodoo Child by Hendrix with special guest Steve Winwood.

[Kahns Krazy]

Mostly because it was the soundtrack to some really good times in high school, I have a special affinity for Dazed and Confused from The Song Remains the Same.

[nuts4xu]

I think one of the best piece of music that is 11 minutes long is my skin flute. The music typically ends much later than 11 minutes and only women can play the full song.

[wkrq59]

Ah Chico, Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding is one of my all-time favorites. The buildup and transition from Funeral into LLB sends chills down my spine. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anyplace where I can download it.

Try Pirate Bay.org--Note, forget Pirate Bay.com..It's a pay site. Also try googling it and then download as an audio file or even mp3:D:D

[Smooth]

I do want to mention the classin "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" by Iron Maiden. That was a classic

Technically, it's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" so this is an opportunity to remind you to heed your signature. Having said that, I love that song, and all of Side Two of Powerslave. The Maiden's finest.

[Masterofreality]

I think one of the best piece of music that is 11 minutes long is my skin flute. The music typically ends much later than 11 minutes and only women can play the full song.

The climax to that tune is something to behold.

All move far, far, far away.

[Emp]

I'm curious, MOR, why did you pick 11 min?

Great thread, recalling some greats and introduced to new (for me) sounds.

It seemed longer at the time because no one was doing anything over 3 min, but Light My Fire album version only clocks under 7 min. Many a wasted evening buzzed and screaming to the poor neighbors in North Avondale.

Just Like a Woman clocks less than that, so fails the MOR test. Blonde on Blonde is still one of my faves. And the Porno version is excellent accompanyment to the Skin Flute Album of which Nuts speaks so eloquently.

[ThrowDownDBrown]

The End by The Doors

[Fred Garvin]

Any Mozart, Beethoven, Bach , Schumann, Brahms opus. And throw in a two-disc set of Billy Joel's best plus a serious dose of Sinatra:D:D

Am i the only one who thinks the inclusion of Billy Joel is a bit of an anachronism?

[Emp]

The End by The Doors

Cringe. I loved the Doors, but I think The End is a pretentious piece of crapola. Only McArthur Park grates on me more as a long 60s song, but mercifully its actually only about 7 min, but seemed like forever.

[Fred Garvin]

Don't get me wrong, I like much of what's been mentioned. Still, I think the 11 minute song appeals to some of the groups that would become the most pretentious pseudo-classical composers of that era. Floyd at their worst. Rick Wakeman and Yes.

There is a slew of these types who fell in love with the possibilties afforded them by advances in studio technology such as multi tracking.

[BENWAR]

The End by The Doors

This was the song that we used to listen to while doing a Wesselman.

Snipe, Kahns and Fred have never completed a Wesselman.

[Fred Garvin]

This was the song that we used to listen to while doing a Wesselman.

Snipe, Kahns and Fred have never completed a Wesselman.

Liar. As you well know Stan Burrell and I completed a Wesselman on the way to the Western Bowl. Stan's was malt liquor. I've retired but Stan continues with Wesselamans to this day. He even twitters his Wesselmans.

[STL_XUfan]

Not sure if it goes 11 minutes but Traffic's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" is a classic.


I would say my favorite would be a toss up between Bitches Brew and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

[Masterofreality]

Not on my Top List, but close that I'm surprised that no one mentioned-

Tubular Bells Part One (the theme song from the movie Exorcist). Over 25 minutes and all instruments were played by Mike Oldfield.

Side Two is Tubular Bells Part Two. It only lasts 22 plus minutes.

[Masterofreality]

I'm curious, MOR, why did you pick 11 min?


That's because that would mean that a single song lasted more than 1/2 of one side of a typical vinyl 33 1/3 record of 20 minutes. Some producers were able to squeeze more out than 20 minutes but that was the usual. I guess that I was just always fascinated that an artist could use up more than 1/2 of an entire album side with one composition.

I also like the number 11. It works very well in Blackjack.

[American X]

Cracked Guide to Progressive Rock (http://www.cracked.com/funny-2359-progressive-rock/)

Sample:

http://cdn-www.cracked.com/articleimages/ob/04_graph_of_a_typical_prog_band.png

[xnatic03]

"Reach Down" by Temple of the Dog is a pretty good one....

[bobbiemcgee]

IRON BUTTERFLY - IN A GADDA DA VIDA

Great for drunken stupors

[paulxu]

Is that BBC in the spandex? I thought he played keyboards.