Classic Rock Bottom

Another week another playlist, but this one may turn into couple/three posts as I've discovered many variations on the theme. And just what is that theme you ask? It's songs with extended intros, and for my first crack at this I've elected to exclude songs that have named intros, for example Foreplay/Long Time, or Funeral For a Friend/Loves Lie Bleeding. Also, no real hard core representation from prog bands on this list or this would have been way too easy. Those would have to be extra epic! Maybe we do that next time? But this time its just cool extended intros... These have to be at least 1 minute in length. So let take listen to see what I've turned up and then let me know what came to your mind (or google search)...


Enjoy!


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/sgabbert/a1pmaktt

Al Stewart
Year of the Cat
1976

1 - Year of the Cat

Al Stewart had found his voice on Past, Present & Future and found his sound on Modern Times. He then perfected it all on 1976's Year of the Cat, arguably his masterpiece. There is no overarching theme here, as there was on its two immediate predecessors, but the impossible lushness of Alan Parsons' production and Stewart's evocative Continental narratives give the record a welcome feeling of cohesion that keeps the record enchanting as it moves from "Lord Grenville" to "Midas Shadow" to "Broadway Hotel," before it ends with the haunting title track. Along the way, Stewart doesn't dwell too deeply in any area, preferring to trace out mysteries with his evocative lyrical imagery and a spinning array of self-consciously sophisticated music, songs that evoke American and European folk and pop with a deliberate grace. This could be unbearably precious if it didn't work so well. Stewart is detached from his music, but only in the sense that he gives this album a stylish elegance, and Parsons is his perfect foil, giving the music a rich, panoramic sweep that mimics Stewart's globe-trotting songs

John Cougar
John Cougar
1979

2 - I Need A Lover

"I Need a Lover," upon the release of this album, became a Top 40 hit in the U.S. after having been a No. 1 hit in Australia in 1978 when it was released as a single from A Biography. "Miami" was also a hit single in Australia and became his second Top 40 hit in that country. "I Need a Lover" was subsequently covered by Pat Benatar on her album In the Heat of the Night. In the U.S., however, "Small Paradise" was released as a single in place of "Miami," but it was not very successful, peaking at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100. During concerts to promote the album, guitarist Mike Wanchic would trade lead vocals with Mellencamp on "Miami."

Styx
The Grand Illusion
1977

3 - Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)

Other than being their first platinum-selling album, The Grand Illusion led Styx steadfastly into the domain of AOR rock. Built on the strengths of "Come Sail Away"'s ballad-to-rock metamorphosis, which gained them their second Top Ten hit, and on the high harmonies of newcomer Tommy Shaw throughout "Fooling Yourself," The Grand Illusion introduced Styx to the gates of commercial stardom. The pulverized growl of "Miss America" reveals the group's guitar-savvy approach to six-string rock, while De Young pretentiously struts his singing prowess throughout the title track. Shaw's induction into the band has clearly settled, and his guitar work, along with James Young's, is full and extremely sharp where it matters most. Even the songwriting is more effluent than Crystal Ball, which was released one year earlier, shedding their mystical song motifs for a more audience-pleasing lyric and chord counterpoise. Reaching number six on the album charts, The Grand Illusion was the first to display the gelled accomplishments of both Tommy Shaw and Dennis De Young as a tandem.

Supertramp
Crime of the Century
1974

4 - Bloody Well Right

Supertramp came into their own on their third album, 1974's Crime of the Century, as their lineup gelled but, more importantly, so did their sound. The group still betrayed a heavy Pink Floyd influence, particularly in its expansive art rock arrangements graced by saxophones, but Supertramp isn't nearly as spooky as Floyd -- they're snarky collegiate elitists, an art rock variation on Steely Dan or perhaps a less difficult 10cc, filled with cutting jokes and allusions, best heard on "Bloody Well Right." This streak would later flourish on Breakfast in America, but it's present enough to give them their own character. Also present is a slight sentimental streak and a heavy fondness for pop, heard on "Dreamer," a soaring piece of art pop that became their first big hit. That and "Bloody Well Right" are the concise pop moments on the record; the rest of Crime of the Century is atmospheric like Dark Side of the Moon, but with a lighter feel and a Beatles bent.

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Great topic! I like a good long intro. 

Al Stewart - Good intro to an okay song. I don't have more to say about that. I can see, much better music on this list, though.

John Cougar - Got this album in the start of the 90's. Had already been a fan of Mellencamp since '85. I was surprised, how good this album was/is, when I heard it. Now it really reminds me of 1991 or around that time. I like this intro very much and the song. Heavy drums at the end! I was thinking about a Mellencamp-VOTW, but you guys know all his video's, I guess. I should do it, though, because he's pretty important in my personal musical-journey. Especially 1985-1995.

STYX - I haven't heard this song more than probably twice. And now the third time. Nice intro. Good band. Very good song. This time, the intro ain't "the whole song", and I really like that. At the synth-solo, I get a Genesis-vibe. Man, I should also had been a Styx-fan in the late 70's, and not only a KISS-Van Halen-Cheap Trick-fan.

SUPERTRAMP - I LOVE this album!! I didn't buy it until maybe 10 years ago, but I knew some of the songs from way back. When I then bought a Best Of Supertramp in 2000 or around that time, I was blown away by the fact that, all 5 or 6 songs from this album was sooo strong, and I eventually bought the album. One of my favorite Prog-albums, if you really can call it Prog. This is definitley music for me!!! No Supertramp-VOTW, though, because there's not much to pick from on youtube, sadly.

Who are you and what did you do with my friend Niels? Haha...

Sometimes you just hit the spot, usually you don't......she said last night.

"Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty. I think it's exactly one minute before he starts singing.

"Child Of Vision" by Supertramp is well over a minute unless you don't want to count it since Hodgson does yell out "Hey!" within the first minute.

Count it! Love child of vision...

Oh, I have MORE:

Queen--The Night Comes Down

Wishbone Ash--Warrior

Traffic--The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys

Molly Hatchet--Fall Of The Peacemakers

The Outlaws--Green Grass And High Tides

.....plus probably a billion other country-rock songs if you really, really think about it.

Hated that Al Stewart song when I heard it on the radio back in the 70's. Then liked it in the 80's and beyond. Great album.

Ok........this song has always bugged the crap out of me. I like long intros, but there's such a thing as an intro that is WAAAAAAAAAY too long. This is that song. At least Pat Benatar got it right????

You know what made me buy the single of "Come Sail Away"? It was a short skiing film shown before a movie. That song was playing and I dug it. The album? Eh. I'm not a huge fan of TGI for some reason.

This is a definitve Supertramp album. Everything is perfect and it sounds fantastic, no matter what format. Yes, this album, not "Breakfast In America" is the definitive Supertramp album. I said it, so it must be true.

Interesting SHT, but I think there are quite a few songs with at least a minute intro?     

SO, should I extended the intro time to longer for the next playlist?  Maybe I can do like 4 or 5 and name them something like..

Long Intros...

Longer Intros...

Longest Intros...

Longerest Intros...

Longer than Longerest Intros...

...  and then wrap up with 

Really Long Instrumentals...

The instrumentals should have a couple of words at the very end.

??  Not sure what you mean...

Because the intros get longer, so the final group should have a few words at the end so that, instead of the song being completely instrumental, it can be a really, really, really long intro.

Nevermind...

Year of the Cat - I was never a fan of this song, but I've heard it recently and I liked it better at that time.  That whole intro was in my left ear only.  I do like the sound of the piano and acoustic strumming, they go together very well.  And that rhythm electric guitar in the right ear.  Wow, this song is much better put together than I ever realized.  What does the rest of this album sound like?  

I Need A Lover - I've heard this one a million and one times.  I love how this intro was designed.  It sounds like the song is gonna start several times, but the intro just keeps going.  Nice choice here.  Oh yeah, I much prefer this version to Benatar's version.

Fooling Yourself - I just love the way LG plays this intro (couldn't resist impersonating Jon :-) ). We know this is a great song.  I love DeYoung, you know that, but I still claim Tommy Shaw as my favorite band member.  But I'd take DeYoung on keyboards any day of the week.

Bloody Well Right - Was this long intro heard on the single version?  If so, I don't really remember it.  That is some sweet ivory tickling as well as some great guitar licks.  But I never liked the song back in the day, I was more of a fan of Goodbye Stranger.  Wow, this does sound like Pink Floyd when the vocals kick in.  Never noticed that either, probably because I didn't listen to PF back then either.  

Bat Out Of Hell has a killer extended intro that is just under two minutes.  That's the one that immediately comes to mind for me.

Alan Parsons is the producer of that Al Stewart album so it has a familiar sound if that peaks any interest.  Its a pretty good album, that and Time Passages are worth having in my collection. I spin them somewhat frequently.

I know your Supertramp fandom is low, but Crime of the Century is a must have even for the casual fan.  Great great album!

As for Benatars version of this song, I agree with you and Jon.  She did a great job on it.  And that In The Heat of the Night album is very strong!  A must have IMO

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