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Tim P. Ryan's Blog
Topic: Long form pieces of music - Rock, roll, folk, filk
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fiogf49gjkf0d With Wild Mercy presenting their long-form musical journey this past weekend at MarCon, along with the CD release, I got to thinking of other long-form pieces of music I have collected over the years. Yes, I was looking for this type of albums, but a lot of them found me. (initially a response in min0tar's LJ).
Most of us are familiar with long-form connecting-story pieces of music, including Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Godspell. They kind of got me looking out for others that you all might not have heard of:
* The Survival of St. Joan - A Rock Opera by Smoke Rise -- from 1971. One of several to take on a Christian story.
* Truth of Truths - a contemporary rock opera Concept and Produced by Ray Ruff, cast of many -- Biblical passages inspired songs from Creation through Jesus and Prophecies of the end of the world.
* Moses and the Impossible Ten (multiple song types) by The London Rock Symphony, Produced and Music by Artie Wayne, Lyrics by Jody Berry -- 1972. Not just songs on the 10, but songs with the expanded story. In compatible Quadraphonic Stereo.
* The Naked Carmen - electric light show,multimedia sound extravaganza & light show Created, Written and Arranged by John Corigliano and David A. Heis Adapted from Bizet's Carman -- 1974 or a bit before. One that I put on cassette then proceeded to wear out the tape.
* The Ship - A Contemporary Folk Music Journey by Steve Meishenker and Steve Cowan -- 1972. The urge to sail, the ship, the storm, the island and the return. Another one put to tape that got wore out. This one I finally made by own CD from my LP.
Here are three that I found, but may not have listened to more than once:
* Intergalactic Touring Band, Produced by Stephan Balfas and Marty Scott -- 1977. Think I gotta listen to this again, the story starts in the year 2000.
* Lenny White presents The Adventures of Astral Pirates A Musical Space Odyssey -- 1978. Great art of the skull ship on the cover.
* Heaven & Earth by Fantasy -- 1979.
And this one that not only wore out the tape I made, it was re-released on CD:
* Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of War of The Worlds artists include Richard Burton as The Journalist, Julie Covington, David Esses, Justin Hayward and Christ Tompson -- 1978. The H. G. Wells story set in it's original time with a rockers presenting the story.
Have any of you heard of these? Heard them?
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Member Comments:
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fiogf49gjkf0d Never mind Tim. I see you have already corrected the spelling in the subject line.
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fiogf49gjkf0d Huh?
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fiogf49gjkf0d muisc? Is that a new type of music?
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fiogf49gjkf0d Hmmm.... Long form music...
I guess we can't forget Pink Floyd, and The Alan Parsons Project in the Rock category.
...and what about Mannheim Steamroller's "Fresh Aire" series. Every one of those was a concept album in the category of "Eclectic" music.
Trivia: Mannheim Steamroller's leader Chip Davis got his big break as co-author of the 1976 Mad Music-CB radio-truck drivin' hit "Convoy" with Bill Fries (C.W. McCall)... a spin-off of a very successful advertising campaign they created for the Metz Bakery (Old Home Bread).
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fiogf49gjkf0d Does "The Last Hero On Earth" by Tom Smith & "Smell No Evil" by Ookla The Mok fit?
I was going to write a theme album some years back, which would have followed the history of transport from the days of the sailing ships to space flight and into the future. The plan was to make it entirely instrumental. I completed one movement but got sidetracked into more important pursuits. I did resurrect the one piece I finished to use as a processional at my wedding, almost five years ago. Perhaps it's about time I got back to it.
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fiogf49gjkf0d I love Building A Starship from the Intergalactic Touring Band. Also Forever Autumn from Jeff Wayne's War Of the Worlds.
Don't forget Klaatu and their first 2 albums and many of the Moody Blues albums were concept albums, like Days Of Future Passed.
: ) Dave
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