Supper's Ready Sections - Progressive Rock Music Forum

"Walking across the sitting-room.."

A simple but magic opening - great imagery. I love the ending to SR - but Lover's Leap starts the story off superbly...

As Sure As Eggs is Eggs. It is both a recapitulation and a stunning finale. I do prefer the version sung by Phil Collins on Seconds Out. He doesn't strain on the high notes like Gabriel did in the studio version.

...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...

The final part. Those highly strained vocals get my vote.

So far I've narrowed down my choice to one of four sections. The best section on its own can't be Lover's Leap, Sanctuary Man or Eggs is Eggs; the first two are only there to introduce the melodies that will be used later in the song and the ending only works because of what came before it. So that means that the best section on its own has to be one of Ikhnaton, How Dare I Be So Beautiful, Willow Farm or the Apocalypse. Fortunately a kind youtuber has posted each of the sections individually, so I took the time to listen through them one by one in various orders. And after that, I determined that the best section on its own is:

Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men

Willow Farm was a tad annoying. The Apocalypse in 9/8 starts out very well with no prior context, but it seems very lacking at the end when it doesn't transition into Eggs is Eggs. How Dare I Be So Beautiful seems like it would work fine on its own if placed between two more dynamic songs (like Musical Box and Return of the Giant Hogweed, or Dancing With The Moonlit Knight and Firth of Fifth), but doesn't do very much independently.

when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents

Dellinger wrote:

Even if this song is usually considered as several songs put together, they work together so well that I can't really imagine them as isolated sections and enjoying them, or not feeling like I need to hear the rest. However, even if it's not my favourite part of the song (really, I don't know if I could pick a favourite part of this song, actually), I believe the one that works best alone would be Willow's Farm.

Also, I have to agree here. Splitting Suppers Ready up is kinda unfair to the overall whole. The band ties together musical motifs across the many sections of the song almost flawlessly. For example, The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man, and As Sure As Eggs is Eggs is the exact same chord progression and melody. The only difference is the rhythm in the drums, the vocals, and the intensity of the performance.

Apocalypse in 9/8 hands down...

I love Willow Farm.

I shook my head and smiled a whisper knowing all about the place

someone_else wrote:

Apocalypse in 9/8 is my favourite section, but Willow Farm stands stronger as a standalone, methinks.

Agreed.

Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!

I love Apocalypse---but the finale is one of the best and moving in prog.

Apocalypse for me too.

Dig me...But don't...Bury me
I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive
Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.

Poll Question: Which section stands strongest on its own?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Lover's Leap	2	[3.64%]
The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man	5	[9.09%]
Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men	2	[3.64%]
How Dare I Be So Beautiful?	3	[5.45%]
Willow Farm	13	[23.64%]
Apocalypse in 9/8	22	[40.00%]
As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men's Feet)	8	[14.55%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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