First Side Long Prog Epic?

Snow Dog wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: Snow Dog wrote: Cygnus X-2 wrote: Snow Dog wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: hmmm..... Procol Harum's "in Held Twas I" was 1968, I believe that's the first real prog side long epic The Nice's 1968-1969 "Ars Longa Vita Brevis" and "Five Bridges" are both able candidates, but are now split into seperate tracks on CD Does that matter, so is Tarkus and many others! Where is Tarkus multiple tracks on a cd? On all the cd's I have with Tarkus on it, Tarkus is always one track. On the original album they are seperated, you can see by looking at the grooves. On Cd it depends on who issued it, I think thatthe Sanctuary version is the one that has it as one track. I own the Rhino reissue (and I own an older copy, I don't why I bought it again), and they both are one track. Yuo'll have to believe me then that they are seperate, Three Fayes will tell you the same.

All right... I'll believe you.

BaldFriede wrote: It matters if the record company puts pauses between the "tracks". Example for that is the first CD-edition of "Please Don't Touch" by Steve Hackett. The songs all merge into each other, yet for some reason the record company that produced the first CD-version of "Please Don't Touch" was of the opinion there should be a few seconds silence between the tracks. which made the album unlistenable to in the CD-version.

Although we were'nt talking about pauses between tracks, I've only noticed what you mention between these tracks!

7. Land of a Thousand Autumns (1:57)
8. Please Don't Touch (3:39)

If only Hackett could get all his early albums on Camino Records ( his own label) all these problems could be sorted out!

To be quite honest, I don't think that Zappa track is ANYTHING- it's unclassifiable, and to me, unlistenable- I always stop the CD before this 'song' comes on. Actually, I think the first UK vinyl of 'Freak Out' actually omitted it from the running order, showing how unmarketable that song was (that said, I think they cut other, slightly poppier, if thats not a contradiction in terms with Zappa, tracks too, defeating that theory )

In fact, it's suddenly hit me that Zappa's 'King Kong', from 'Uncle Meat' could be a contender, which was one of the first tracks that I would identify as 'progressive' ever attempted.

Even earlier, Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy', which was in fact 2 sides long, dates from 1968 (recorded in 1967 I think, too) and that was possibly the most daring album ever attempted by someone who was considered a 'rock' musician at the time.

Soft Machine's 'Third' album was probably the first (double) album to feature 4 side long tracks from 1970, and was, I think, the last until Yes' 'Tales From Topographic Oceans'.

gabbel ratchett wrote: I have that album, bought it new in the '60's, side 4 is indeed only filled with "Return of the son of the monster magnet". Although it is short, it is a side long track. No time restraints were included in this topic to my knowledge. And to say that it is barely prog is to say that it is prog. Granted, it is not like "Suppers Ready" or "Close To The Edge",("Close To The Edge" is only 18:50) what would you expect in 1966?

This Zappa song is only about 12 minutes long, so I'll go for either " In Held Twas in I" or "Ars Longa" , both from 1968