Music Trivia -> Super Long Pop Songs -> P
Blame Hey Jude, but there have been some very long songs that have made the radio. For the purposes of this page, please stick to songs with lyrics, that are intended for radio play (singles).
"Papa Was A Rollin' Stone ," The Temptations Lenght:6:53
In 1972, the Motown superstars The Temptations sent this Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong written song to the #1 position on the charts in November. There was a radio edited version at 3:52 that actually the Temptations sang more often "live" on TV shows and stages then radio stations actually did. Again, this was part of the idea that even Top 40 radio stations by this time were more interested in playing the longer lp versions of many tunes than the single edit that still ended up selling well. The interesting thing about the lp version vs. the single edit was the long danceable instrumental introduction before we hear the Temptations sing, and we get a little more of the story about why the father left the mother and the son alone at the end of the tune.
Peter
"Paradise By The Dashboard Light," Meat Loaf Lenght:8:28
Very nicely done, Mr. Loaf. Combines nostalgia, the promise of making love, and a little regret over the union. He even throws in a baseball announcement as a metaphor.
Brian Kelly
"A Passion Play," Jethro Tull Lenght:48.13, minus song "in the middle"
Like "Thick as a Brick", it's an album length song, pretty much...except that it's interrupted for "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles." Like Thick as a Brick, their's a significantly shorter "Radio Edit" out there
Ra'akone
"Peter And The Wolf," Weird Al Yankovic Lenght:27:50
I'M SERIOUS!!!! The track REALLY is that long! See, Al did a, shall we say, "reworking" of the classic children's story, complete with a minor musical number every minute or so. NOT as long as the solos for tracks like "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," mind you, but enough to stretch out the story to nearly half-an-hour. (From the album "Peter And The Wolf")
Jonathan S.
"Phase 4," Porcupine Tree Lenght:20 minutes and 45 seconds
The band "Porcupine Tree" released this song as track number four on the album "Voyage 34". Quite a bit of this band's music (songs) are very legnthy. They are a great band in this day and time of really a lot of pop-garbage.
Wade Brock
"Pigs," Pink Floyd Lenght:17 minutes and 13 seconds
This song from Animals is a great song. The album is tremendous. Written entirely by Roger Waters. It goes to show his lyrical skill. "Echoes" from "Meddle" is another legnthy Floyd song.
Wade Brock
"Pigs On the Wing (Parts One and Two)," Pink Floyd Lenght:About 15 Minutes
The album version(s) of this song are divided into two parts. There is howevera version of the song where both parts are combined by a nice David Gilmoure guitar solo.
Wade Brock
"The Poet and the Pendulum," Nightwish Lenght:13:53
This was even played in the radio many times when the album came out (even on pop stations and this is a metal song) since Nightwish is a huge band in Finland, where they come from.
TurmionLilja
"Polynesian Girl," Ardijah Lenght:6:37
Ra'akone
"Prophet's Song," Queen Lenght:8:17
This may be Queen's longest-running song ever. And It's on the album "A Night at the Opera".
Paul Warren
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