10 Most Epic Tracks of the 70's

[rushgoober]

Ok, this isn't a place merely to list your favorite tracks of the decade (though it can contain them), but to list your favorite EPIC tracks of the decade.

 

In terms of defining "epic," I'll go with standard dictionary definitions like "surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size" or "heroic and impressive in quality."

 

It could be less or more than 10 tracks, even. List and/or discuss other people's lists!

 

1. Pink Floyd - Echoes

2. Terry Brooks & Strange - Ruler of the Universe

3. Rush - Xanadu

4. Yes - Close to the Edge

5. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso - Canto Nomade Per Un Prigioniero Politico

6. Amon Duul II - Syntelman's March of the Roaring 70's

7. Genesis - Dancing with the Moonlit Knight

8. Rush - La Villa Strangiato

9. Faust - The Faust Tapes

10. Yes - The Revealing Science of God

11. Rush - 2112

12. King Crimson - Lizard

13. Genesis - Supper's Ready

[Mr. Not]

1. Yes - Close to the Edge

2. ELP - Tarkus

3. Vangelis - Heaven and Hell

4. Yes - Turn of the Century

5. ELO - From The Sun to the World

6. Yes - Awaken

7. ELP - Karn Evil 9

8. Rush - The Fountain of Lamneth

9. Genesis - Supper's Ready

10 Gentle Giant - The Boys in the Band

[CygnusGal]

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven...this song defines 70's epic, though not my favourite Zeppelin song

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here...the last true group album and song from The Floyd

Yes - Close to The Edge...I don't know if I prefer the album or the YesSongs version more. Mind numbing.

ELP - Karn Evil 9...part of the suite that was on Brain Salad Surgery

Rush - 2112...duh

Rush - Hemispheres, Cygnus Book II...again, duh

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells...stunning (as is Amarok) as he runs the breadth of tonal voices

Jethro Tull - Aqualung...their first epic album and song

Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick...how is Gerald Bostock these days?

Jethro Tull - A Passion Play...more intricate and nuanced than TAAB, a recovery from Chateau D'Isaster...talk to the spiders, who come to say please, politely they bend at the knees

Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery...I don't think they're going to like this very much

 

Hmmm...11. But, I could name more.

[GrandDesigner]

I'll try to do only one per band (barring Yes)

 

Yes - The Gates Of Delirium

Pink Floyd - Echoes

Rush - 2112

Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

King Crimson - Starless

Camel - Lady Fantasy

Genesis - The Cinema Show

Elton John - Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Can - Halleluhwah

Yes - Ritual

[Mr. Not]

I'll try to do only one per band (barring Yes)

 

Yes - The Gates Of Delirium

Pink Floyd - Echoes

Rush - 2112

Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

King Crimson - Starless

Camel - Lady Fantasy

Genesis - The Cinema Show

Elton John - Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Can - Halleluhwah

Yes - Ritual

 

It's hard not to make half the list Yes songs.

[rushgoober]

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven...this song defines 70's epic, though not my favourite Zeppelin song

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here...the last true group album and song from The Floyd

Yes - Close to The Edge...I don't know if I prefer the album or the YesSongs version more. Mind numbing.

ELP - Karn Evil 9...part of the suite that was on Brain Salad Surgery

Rush - 2112...duh

Rush - Hemispheres, Cygnus Book II...again, duh

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells...stunning (as is Amarok) as he runs the breadth of tonal voices

Jethro Tull - Aqualung...their first epic album and song

Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick...how is Gerald Bostock these days?

Jethro Tull - A Passion Play...more intricate and nuanced than TAAB, a recovery from Chateau D'Isaster...talk to the spiders, who come to say please, politely they bend at the knees

Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery...I don't think they're going to like this very much

 

Hmmm...11. But, I could name more.

 

I thought very seriously about Stairway to Heaven... AND Bohemian Rhapsody, but both are just so overplayed that they're far from my favorites. Both are very worthy, however, and would of course show up on more official lists than this thread.

 

I deliberated hard between 2112 and Hemispheres. I think I slightly prefer Hemispheres, but 2112 is a bit more of an epic classic. IDK, either of them deserve to be listed.

 

Finally, nice choice on Mike Oldfield - I too included a track that went for two album sides. The Faust Tapes (by Faust) is a bit of a cheat, as it was essentially many songs edited together as one big epic cut and paste track, but still, it plays as one epic song, and it's completely unique in the world of music...

[ColdFireYYZ]

No particular order:

1. Van der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers

2. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

3. Yes - Close to the Edge

4. Yes - Awaken

5. Rush - Hemipsheres

6. Rush - 2112

7. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra

8. Nektar - Remember The Future

9. Genesis - Supper's Ready

10. King Crimson - Lizard

11. Caravan - Nine Feet Underground

12. Renaissance - Song of Shehezerade

13. ELP - Tarkus

14. Yes - The Gates of Delerium

15. Harmonium - Histoire sans paroles

 

(edited to remove Procol Harum - wrong decade!)

Edited December 22, 2012 by ColdFireYYZ

[rushgoober]

I'll try to do only one per band (barring Yes)

 

Yes - The Gates Of Delirium

Pink Floyd - Echoes

Rush - 2112

Billy Joel - Scenes From An Italian Restaurant

King Crimson - Starless

Camel - Lady Fantasy

Genesis - The Cinema Show

Elton John - Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Can - Halleluhwah

Yes - Ritual

 

GREAT list, and nice to see a Can track listed! Honestly, I didn't know what track to include from Tago Mago - either Halleluhwah or Aumgn would be worthy. Also the track Soup from the Ege Bamyasi album is pretty damn epic.

[rushgoober]

No particular order:

1. Van der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers

2. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

3. Yes - Close to the Edge

4. Yes - Awaken

5. Rush - Hemipsheres

6. Rush - 2112

7. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra

8. Nektar - Remember The Future

9. Genesis - Supper's Ready

10. King Crimson - Lizard

11. Caravan - Nine Feet Underground

12. Procol Harum - In Held 'Twas In I

13. Renaissance - Song of Shehezerade

14. ELP - Tarkus

15. Yes - The Gates of Delerium

16. Harmonium - Histoire sans paroles

 

Wow, TONS of great tracks listed there! I considered the Harmonium one. The Procol Harum track is an interesting proto-prog song, but it's actually from 1968! Nice call on Museo Rosenbach. Great track, though the obscure Italian one I almost listed was Papillion by Latte E Miele. Nice call on VDGG, Nektar & Caravan - all songs I considered. :cheers:

[Na na na]

Deep Purple - Child In Time

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Miles Davis - Prelude (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)

Yes - Starship Trooper

Yes - Close To The Edge

Led Zeppelin - In My Time Of Dying

Rush - The Fountain Of Lamneth

Rush - 2112

Rush - Xanadu

Rush - Hemispheres

[ColdFireYYZ]

No particular order:

1. Van der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers

2. Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

3. Yes - Close to the Edge

4. Yes - Awaken

5. Rush - Hemipsheres

6. Rush - 2112

7. Museo Rosenbach - Zarathustra

8. Nektar - Remember The Future

9. Genesis - Supper's Ready

10. King Crimson - Lizard

11. Caravan - Nine Feet Underground

12. Procol Harum - In Held 'Twas In I

13. Renaissance - Song of Shehezerade

14. ELP - Tarkus

15. Yes - The Gates of Delerium

16. Harmonium - Histoire sans paroles

 

Wow, TONS of great tracks listed there! I considered the Harmonium one. The Procol Harum track is an interesting proto-prog song, but it's actually from 1968! Nice call on Museo Rosenbach. Great track, though the obscure Italian one I almost listed was Papillion by Latte E Miele. Nice call on VDGG, Nektar & Caravan - all songs I considered. :cheers:

I forgot that the Procol Harum track was from the 60s! I've heard of Latte E Miele but I've never listened to them. I'll check them out.

Edited December 22, 2012 by ColdFireYYZ

[driventotheedge]

How about "Dogs" from Animals?

[Powderfinger]

Close to the Edge

And You and I

Echoes

Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres

Supper's Ready

Dogs

The Revealing Science of God

Xanadu

Won't Get Fooled Again

Heart of the Sunrise

 

Honorable Mention: Like a Hurricane, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, The Cinema Show

Edited December 23, 2012 by Powderfinger

[ReRushed]

King Crimson - "Starless"

Television - "Marquee Moon"

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Like a Hurricane"

Van Der Graaf Generator - "Man-Erg"

Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Lou Reed - "Street Hassle"

Public Image Ltd. - "Albatross'

Can - "Halleluhwah"

David Bowie - "Station to Station"

Yes - "Starship Trooper"

Buzzcocks - "Why Can't I Touch It?"

Bob Dylan - "Idiot Wind"

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - "Mirror Man"

Neu - "Negativland"

Edited December 23, 2012 by ReRushed

[Na na na]

King Crimson - "Starless"

Television - "Marquee Moon"

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Like a Hurricane"

Van Der Graaf Generator - "Man-Erg"

Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Lou Reed - "Street Hassle"

Public Image Ltd. - "Albatross'

Can - "Halleluhwah"

David Bowie - "Station to Station"

Yes - "Starship Trooper"

Buzzcocks - "Why Can't I Touch It?"

Bob Dylan - "Idiot Wind"

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - "Mirror Man"

Neu - "Negativland"

 

Marquee Moon & Station To Station almost made my list :)

[rushgoober]

Close to the Edge

And You and I

Echoes

Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres

Supper's Ready

Dogs

The Revealing Science of God

Xanadu

Won't Get Fooled Again

Heart of the Sunrise

 

Honorable Mention: Like a Hurricane, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, The Cinema Show

 

Hard to argue with any of those titles! :)

 

If I was going to choose a Who track, however, the one I seriously considered was Love Reign O'er Me, or even better, though they are officially two tracks, are The Rock/Love Reign O'er Me, which is ridiculously epic.

[rushgoober]

Deep Purple - Child In Time

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Miles Davis - Prelude (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)

Yes - Starship Trooper

Yes - Close To The Edge

Led Zeppelin - In My Time Of Dying

Rush - The Fountain Of Lamneth

Rush - 2112

Rush - Xanadu

Rush - Hemispheres

 

Cool to throw some Miles in there.

 

If I was going to add a Zep song, besides the very obvious Stairway, it'd be my favorite track by them, The Battle of Evermore. It's arguably not long enough, but it is such an epic track to me - one of my favorite songs of all time.

[rushgoober]

King Crimson - "Starless"

Television - "Marquee Moon"

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Like a Hurricane"

Van Der Graaf Generator - "Man-Erg"

Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Lou Reed - "Street Hassle"

Public Image Ltd. - "Albatross'

Can - "Halleluhwah"

David Bowie - "Station to Station"

Yes - "Starship Trooper"

Buzzcocks - "Why Can't I Touch It?"

Bob Dylan - "Idiot Wind"

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - "Mirror Man"

Neu - "Negativland"

 

Who would've thought, a SECOND vote for Can's Halleluwah? :o

 

And it's nice to see some love for Captain Beefheart.

 

Station to Station is a great track. Nice call! In a similar vein, I'd also throw into the mix Hallogallo by Neu! Another great 70's epics by Bowie is The Width of a Circle.

[Na na na]

Deep Purple - Child In Time

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Miles Davis - Prelude (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)

Yes - Starship Trooper

Yes - Close To The Edge

Led Zeppelin - In My Time Of Dying

Rush - The Fountain Of Lamneth

Rush - 2112

Rush - Xanadu

Rush - Hemispheres

 

Cool to throw some Miles in there.

 

If I was going to add a Zep song, besides the very obvious Stairway, it'd be my favorite track by them, The Battle of Evermore. It's arguably not long enough, but it is such an epic track to me - one of my favorite songs of all time.

 

In The Light...almost found it's way to my list, one of my fav Zeppelin tracks.

[Na na na]

Megalomania by Black Sabbath is pretty epic...

[Powderfinger]

Close to the Edge

And You and I

Echoes

Cygnus X-1, Book II: Hemispheres

Supper's Ready

Dogs

The Revealing Science of God

Xanadu

Won't Get Fooled Again

Heart of the Sunrise

 

Honorable Mention: Like a Hurricane, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, The Cinema Show

 

Hard to argue with any of those titles! :)

 

If I was going to choose a Who track, however, the one I seriously considered was Love Reign O'er Me, or even better, though they are officially two tracks, are The Rock/Love Reign O'er Me, which is ridiculously epic.

 

Funny you should mention that. I actually wanted to include Love Reign O'er Me, but I wasn't sure if it qualified as an epic due to its shorter length. But I'm with you, Love Reign... coupled with The Rock certainly registers as an epic in my book!

[Powderfinger]

King Crimson - "Starless"

Television - "Marquee Moon"

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - "Like a Hurricane"

Van Der Graaf Generator - "Man-Erg"

Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Lou Reed - "Street Hassle"

Public Image Ltd. - "Albatross'

Can - "Halleluhwah"

David Bowie - "Station to Station"

Yes - "Starship Trooper"

Buzzcocks - "Why Can't I Touch It?"

Bob Dylan - "Idiot Wind"

Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band - "Mirror Man"

Neu - "Negativland"

 

Good call on "Street Hassle" and "Idiot Wind"! I just listened to the New York session version of "Idiot Wind" yesterday. Lyrically epic! I always feel emotionally exhausted after giving it a spin.

[Na na na]

Eagle by ABBA

[driventotheedge]

Hotel California?

 

I know a lot folks here are not fans of The Eagles, but still the guitar interchange between Felder and Walsh in that song is really good. Also, the last track on the same album, The Last Resort is worthy of consideration too.

[treeduck]

Megalomania by Black Sabbath is pretty epic...

And War Pigs! :haz: