20+ Minute Epics from the 1970's

verslibre wrote: ELP – "Karn Evil 9" OTHER: Tangerine Dream – "Monolight" OTHER: Todd Rundgren's Utopia – "Utopia Theme" Yes – "Close to the Edge" ELP – "Tarkus"

Thanks for bringing up Utopia!

Gnik Nosmirc wrote: verslibre wrote: OTHER: Todd Rundgren's Utopia – "Utopia Theme" Thanks for bringing up Utopia!

Technically, the aforementioned Utopia Theme is sub-15 minutes long so it doesn't meet the poll's criteria. ;p However, the epic that takes the entire B side of the album, The Ikon, has 30+ minute runtime.

CttE... although I love every track up there except for Revealing Science...

Tarkus was equally inspirational as anything else in prog at the time. The overlooked side long (but not quite) classic is Aphrodites Child - And All The Seats Were Occupied. That was an insane work that overshadows most prog but no one talks about that.

Doug is right to mention Triumvirat (ok it's in the job description lol) but Illusion On A Double Dimple is clearly a great example of a band taking inspiration from ELP and making it their own. Le Orme and Banco were also bands that were very inspired by ELP and Tarkus although they didn't try to do too much like that. ELP were untouchable. I am respectful of Echoes but it hasn't aged well imo. Tarkus still sounds amazing and the likes of Wobbler and Lars Fredrick Froislie still take cues from this piece years later.

BTW calling Tarkus a piano concerto is toally wrong. It was a band piece that evolved from some piano works that Emerson had. Lake and Palmers contribution to making it something special is massive and should not be overlooked. I enjoy KE9 was well a lot and BSS is my favourite album by miles but it's nowhere near as perfect as Tarkus. Not a single wasted moment while KE9 does go round the mulberry bush a bit and kind of fizzles out. That last 5 minutes could have been better but it hits home better on live versions with the actual fireworks and Moog taking flight. On the album I would have liked a stronger climax. Still amazing and unique but I want the world and everything from ELP at this point. Just falls short but only by a tiny margin.

Oh and BTW A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers also dwarfs everything on the list imo.

Edited by richardh - July 07 2025 at 23:12

Hrychu wrote: Technically, the aforementioned Utopia Theme is sub-15 minutes long so it doesn't meet the poll's criteria. ;p However, the epic that takes the entire B side of the album, The Ikon, has 30+ minute runtime.

You're right. I got my track times mixed up. Therefore...

OTHER: "The Ikon"!

Echoes.

But can I say that it's better than CTTE or Tarkus?
Maybe not, it's how it touches my mind.

octopus-4 wrote: I would have put Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning and Song of Sheherazade in the list

Sheherazade yes.... Ashes isn't long enough?

Saperlipopette! wrote: octopus-4 wrote: I would have put Renaissance - Ashes Are Burning You too? WHy? It's 11:40 long.

Hi,

I think the LIVE version at Carnegie Hall was much longer because of the Bass Solo in it. And it also felt like the band milked a few sections some.

I went with Echoes, but Supper’s Ready would certainly push it!