RANT- Epic Length Songs That Suck (w/Martin Popoff)

[@michaelhasse2568]

Pete stated - we might piss off some people, show starts, pete immediately pissed off

[@mikephillips8810]

Ha ha well said!

[@kiplambert64]

When Martin said he does not like "Child in Time", I was expecting Pete to go Fred Sanford .."I'm coming, Elizabeth, this is the big one!!"

[@dereks7745]

I felt the same way, haha. I felt a slight heart palpitation. Child In Time is incredible.

[@darlatidwell6255]

Child in Time is masterpiece material in so many ways.

[@tomfisher2103]

There was a tremor in the force.

[@phillipweber6059]

That is perfectly stated!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cinianfanian7972]

@@phillipweber6059 I'm not a big fan of this songs too

[@Dagger-Deep]

"I hate child of time" Never heard anyone ever say that before.

[@haferstenproductions3515]

Well now you have after watching this video LMAO

[@itkojecockot]

one of the greatest tracks of all time...... and I'm not even the biggest DP fan

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

That's because you've never met me! Plink plonk, wail, wail, random riff, wail wail, wail, up the tempo, fade.

[@deansmith6593]

Never heard anyone say that "Screaming for Vengeance" has too many hair metal like songs and that Def Leppard is Metal before either. Oh that Martin :D

[@scociolopath]

@@multi-purposebiped7419 Wail, wail is perhaps too generous. How about shrill slightly out of tune shrieking the same three notes over and over and over and over and over and over at different volumes for an extended period.

[@mikewhiteley641]

Child In Time-You can almost see a trickle of blood on Pete's chin as he bites his tongue for 5 minutes.

[@highcurrent1125]

Haaaa...you took the words right outta my mouth!! Man...thats a death stare!

[@DonHornsby]

Ha! Pete took it well. I was surprised that Martin chose that one for his first pick! Personally, I love "Child In Time" - but understand Martin's distaste for it. It's a classic tune for me!

[@ilj1259]

Martin is a punk rocker at heart... he needs to do a Sex Pistols book.

[@mikewhiteley641]

@@ilj1259 Having read all 4 of Martin's books on Deep Purple,I was surprised that he slagged one of the band's anthems so vigorously.He has also said that he doesn't like Made In Japan much ,either.

[@jazzpunk]

...guaranteed Pete was swallowing some blood! ;-O

[@ndmich88]

Dear Martin…I sincerely congratulate you for having balls. None of Pete’s other guests have the capacity to piss me off more than you! 🤣 Seriously? Child in Time?! Damn! Still love your takes and passion for music…even when you’re wrong! 🤣✌️

[@ScottyKirk1]

Martin and I will agree to disagree MANY times. But I will say he puts up some good arguments occasionally.

[@sandorfintor]

this dude is an Evil Nerd.

[@nighthunter3171]

what do you have against child in time?

[@chrisparnham]

I went and listened to Draw the Line after Martin's praise for real screaming and I think he needs to listen again. It's Steve Tyler trying to do a falsetto and not getting there. Ian's scream is not a falsetto and he's pitch-perfect with his screams ask any trained vocalist. Martin must exist in a different version of the universe from the rest of us.

[@keithf_]

@Just Iceman Well said. Gillan is awesome on 'Child' and so is Dio on Rainbow's 'Rising'

[@dereks7745]

If you don't see Martin on this channel anymore after today you know why.

[@Squirrelconga]

Just a....child in....t...🤭...time...

[@mikewest1542]

These 2 guys are great together, they seem to bounce ideas and discussions off each other !

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

No loss there !! Lol

[@dvg4104]

@@ronniefarnsworth6465 -- They're all expendable, except Alo.

[@dereks7745]

@@dvg4104 And Butch Jones. He's great too.

[@MartyMurray]

I can say one thing about "Stairway To Heaven," it's a lot of fun to play. I learned it from a transcription written by Jimmy Page back in the 70's, and after getting it down, I played it often for many years. These days I tend to avoid it because I have some arthritis issues with my hands at times, but when I'm in the mood, I just kick it out, and people love it.

[@jasonleonard4000]

"This is longer than my longest gown!" - - possibly Rick Wakeman Too damn funny! Love you guys, great episode!

[@chrismorgan7494]

That was hilarious 😅

[@chrismorgan7494]

"Not even two curries on my keyboard will get me through this." 😅

[@christopherlawson4592]

I think Rick called it Tobie's graphic ko cart. He did not like it

[@christopherlawson4592]

Tobie's graphic go cart

[@gemini2012100]

I almost spit out my water when he said that!

[@brucefranklin6295]

I can understand where Martin is coming from on Child in Time,because I used to skip it a lot when playing In Rock.It was really one of the most intense live moments I have ever experienced at a concert though and no I wasn't on drugs.The sheer volume in dynamics at the point when Gillan is hitting the high screams was so intense that when the band finally broke off into the solo section it was a relief. An unforgettable musical moment in my concert experiences.

[@tomfisher2103]

Love Child in Time. One of my favorite epic long songs, Gates of Delirium by Yes. A masterpiece from beginning to end, Jon Anderson's voice and Steve Howes playing during the "Soon" part at the end get me everytime. The heavy parts are mind blowing IMO.

[@chrisman3965]

Stairway and Kashmir are 2 LZ songs I never ever wanna hear again.

[@jamesadkisson7510]

When the guy that wears a cape thinks you've gone too far.

[@TheIndependentLens]

I'm still at the beginning of this, so don't know if they discuss it later. I'm going to put in "In a Gadda Da Vidda" by Iron Butterfly. It is absolutely nothing and they keep it up for over 17 minutes!

[@trickygoose2]

A work colleague lent me the album once and I much preferred the other side.

[@chrismorgan7494]

My dad had a friend who took that album, heated it up in a frying pan and shaped it into a huge ashtray. He apparently loved that album.

[@davidl570]

MontcomHorror Agree...................it's boring as hell! And did they REALLY have to include ANOTHER version (which is actually a couple of minutes longer than the original) on the Iron Butterfly Live album??

[@Protometal66]

And it happens to be one of my favorite long songs lol. I guess different strokes for different folks

[@misate8993]

I am shocked that Martin don't like Child In Time. For me its the best Purple song ever. That solo is gorgeous.

[@PhilBaird1]

It's the one they'll be remembered for many years from now. The best song they ever did and it works on all counts. I'd put it in rock's top ten recordings. Martin needs to drop this contrarian conceit and come back into the fold. He's a really knowledgeable and interesting guy but too often lacks perspective and judgement.

[@keithf_]

I love Child In Time and Stairway to Heaven ... and I'm not the least bit shocked that Martin Popoff doesn't like them. There really isn't much that we agree on, apart from to disagree.

[@chriswoosley1697]

it does suck ,I agree with Martin,..much better in the catalogue...MUCH BETTER

[@peterjames8039]

Pete, you absolutely broke my heart when I saw you picked A Treatise On Cosmic Fire. Initiation for me is my ultimate escapist album. It is not an album that I would ever listen to during the day. It is the perfect album in my opinion for when you’re alone in the house at night, you slip inside your bed, dim all the lights, put your headphones on, and press play. From the very first second, this album takes me to another universe, with all the soaring soundscapes Todd creates with his unmistakable melodies and the absolute dreamlike keyboard sounds that are present throughout. For me the whole album works as a single continuous piece of music for the duration of its 67 minutes. I love all of Todd’s classic 70s albums, but out of all of them, Initiation is an experience like no other. Simply put, Initiation is my Dark Side Of The Moon. An album that could be made today and still sound every bit as breathtaking as it did when released all the way back in 1975.

[@knightvisioniixv]

This was the most enjoyable description of this album that I've read in quite some time. As much as I love the vast majority of Rundgren's catalogue (Solo and Utopia, included), Initiation - from top to bottom - is my favourite thing he ever did, and for all the reasons you mention. All 67 minutes of it. A Treatise is the ultimate (yet unexpected) climax to an already mind-altering album. But, I *knew* Pete would not like this 35-minute piece which is mostly synth/electronic-based. And that is fine - many have mixed opinions on the work, as it really isn't for everyone.

[@h.m.7218]

When the album was released, he said it was his best musical achievement although he knew it wouldn't be recognized as such.

[@turntabillist]

It is a sublime moment in Stairway To Heaven, when Bonham FINALLY enters the picture, after an eternal 4 minutes or something, then Plant sings the line, "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow", THAT is the sound of perfection...

[@nazaholicable]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Every time I hear this song, it is the part I am waiting for, like the guitar solo in Underneath your Pillow by IT BITES, or the guitar outro on King Harvest - THE BAND.

[@skybluemarshall]

Child In Time is one of my guilty pleasures. I don't feel guilty for listening to it. I feel guilty for singing along with Gillan and falsley believing that I'm hitting most of the notes correctly.

[@KawaTony1964]

Oh man - Martin and I are gonna FIGHT!!!! (not really) He doesn't like "When the Music's Over" either. And that time he put "Highway to Hell" on the list of top 10 albums that only have 1 good side. Put 'em up, Martin!!! PUT 'EM UP!!!

[@b.g.5869]

Well, he does do a podcast called "The Contrarians"...

[@sebastiankirby5159]

@Martin Popoff the Maiden song? Yeah, that blows

[@ellamcclanahan9811]

Yeah I don't know about vodka sometimes I think he must of had a stroke highway to hell is ac/DC best album period

[@MetalPersonJ]

@@sebastiankirby5159 That is the worst piece of shit ever.

[@KawaTony1964]

@@ellamcclanahan9811 I agree. I like it even better than "Back in Black", and I have no problem whatsoever with side 2.

[@shaunsmith3538]

Oh my day!!! When Martin said he didn't like Child in Time it felt like he'd just said my wife was ugly! 😨 then when he added he didnt like Stairway to Heaven it felt like he'd told me my kids were ugly too! 😨 😂great show though guys! 👍

[@WhizzRichardThompson]

He's definitely Mr Contrary.

[@PhilBaird1]

@@WhizzRichardThompson More knowledge than judgement sometimes...

[@WhatsWrongWithTheStreet]

Man, I love Stairway to Heaven. If you ignore classic rock radio, you never hear it and it doesn't get old.

[@nsgobbi]

Long songs are not necessarily good or bad. Supper’s Ready is fantastic, because it tells a story, make sense. All the longs from Dream Theater, IMHO, are the contrary. They are more wasted solos or proficiency demos.

[@anfrankogezamartincic1161]

Child/Stairway are great songs,but overplayed. It's too much. Not bad at all

[@elfensteen5222]

TALES is just fantastic !! and I love the guitar sound from Steve on this, Rick's keyboard is amazing.. it takes time to delve into this, I can listen to this album every day.. beautiful

[@stephanea5364]

It's my favorite Yes record, it's a like freaking journey.

[@BrainiacFingers]

I bought Tales back in 1975 when I was 14 and it didn't present me with any problems. I liked it straight away and, after three or four listens, I could point out all the thematic material woven throughout the four songs. I've never understood why some people find it "difficult" or incomprehensible.

[@kylekirchhevel9097]

Now I have to go listen to Child In Time just to remind myself how totally wrong Martin is :)

[@cleftturnip7774]

I don't believe a word Martin says

[@josephcoughlin4088]

As I understand it, ELP was having a disagreement with their record label, and reportedly purposefully made Love Beach like they did to spite them. I suppose it was their 'Contractual Obligation' album. (Let's see who gets that)

[@jeremybravo9345]

Love the guitar solo in stairway to heaven.

[@Leo-ci9kc]

That song still gives me the chills.

[@73challenger5031]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enXSZXZ3Zph_mLs Watch Jimmy explain Stairway. You can see how proud he is of this song.

[@brucefranklin6295]

One of the best compositional guitar solos of all time.

[@bbutler5090]

Pure art. My favorite.

[@jerrywoods4066]

Child in time a lot better than that

[@cleftturnip7774]

I sometimes wonder what Martin is actually hearing. I love child in time. I just can't imagine what he's hearing

[@leighj3717]

manowar - 'Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts'

[@Jake-pw7rj]

"Child In Time" is epic and dark. It needed to be on an album that was so heavy. It has an anti war message like Black Sabbath's "War Pigs." "Deep Purple In Rock" was a leap forward for the whole metal genre. "Stairway To Heaven" is massively overplayed, but with a band that only made ten albums, everything they ever released was massively overplayed. The title is "Epic songs that suck." There was a direct reason that "Stairway" was played on classic rock radio billions of times. It never "sucked." Perhaps, a better comment would be, "It sucks that the song is overplayed."

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Predictable reactions in the comments unlike Martin and Pete who defended their choices with sound reasoning and explanation. Fun show and it proves everybody hears things differently and likes different things.

[@mck7646]

Yeah I don't get why some can't understand that it's possible to not like a well regarded rock song. Stairway to heaven was cool the first 50 times I heard it, after that the song lost it's staying power with me. I can't listen to it anymore and I can definitely see how someone might not like it.

[@razorboyXVII]

@@mck7646 Totally agree!

[@petepassiglia8564]

@@mck7646 if you don’t listen to stairway 30 times a year, you never tire of it. I know I don’t

[@Veaseify]

@@mck7646 Robert Plant didn't like it apparently but I have never seen it explained why.

[@Grandizer8989]

True Story about Stairway. I was in 9th Grade in the mid 80s and on the bus to school when someone in the back with a boom box played it. Back then, the song was never on the radio, and if you wanted to hear it, you or a friend had to own it. So, many of us were hearing it for the first or second time. And for the first time in high school history, a bus was as quiet as church as we listened and took it in. I think the bus driver appreciated it too because he must’ve slowed down enough to let us here the whole song before dropping us off since it ended just as we pulled up at school.

[@mike04574]

didnt he have a walkman

[@b.g.5869]

Where did you live? Stairway To Heaven was a staple of all major AOR/classic rock radio stations in the mid 80s; you definitely didn't need to rely on someone to play it for you. Moreover, the odds that a bus driver in the mid 80s had never heard Stairway To Heaven are about as likely as them having never heard of coffee.

[@MuzixMaker]

@@b.g.5869 Yeah try mid 70s.

[@b.g.5869]

@@MuzixMaker Are you a kid or something? Stairway To Heaven was ubiquitous on rock radio in the mid 80s. In the US at least. Maybe you're a Millennial from Uzbekistan or something.

[@MuzixMaker]

B. Joseph Are you a jerk or something? StH was released in 1971. It was played endlessly on rock radio stations in the NYC metro area from the early 70’s on. It didn’t “start “ in the mid 80’s, which was my point.

[@paulh6673]

Even though this video was all the usual good lighthearted fun, quite a few people should use it as a learning tool as to how to be secure in your own tastes/beliefs. It seems that (esp in recent times) if someone starts talking online about the best type of furniture polish, the discussion can end up with someone threatening to kill someone else's mother. I really appreciate the occasional challenge to 'conventional wisdom' that Martin brings to the conversation. I mean at this point Child in Time and Stairway have secured their place in music history and it won't hurt you if someone doesn't like them. And Pete, as someone who totally respects Martin's opinion/knowledge, can sit back and be amused at this crazy talk! Great stuff.

[@ianagnew8286]

Seeing as Martin is doing a book about The Damned at the moment, surprised he didn't pick Curtain Call which takes up side 3 of their 4th album.

[@ledzeplover58]

I've been buying Martin's books for years and have strongly disagreed with him for all of those. That being said,he is a brilliant writer and I have nothing but respect for his opinions and analysis's. His appearances are by far my favorite episodes on SOT.

[@SuperToombs]

Me as well. Martin does not like tool..and tool is one of my all time favs. However it does grate my nerves that they can't release an album in under 7 years.

[@husq48]

In my first Doors tribute band we performed "Celebration of the Lizard King" at a biker bar, they looked at us like we were from Mars! Some places loved it. Btw, it's not a song, it's a piece showcasing his poetry.

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

Martin revenge for " London Calling " ...classy

[@wernermoritz882]

Revenge? I don‘t remember what Pete said… I thought he liked the record, didn‘t he?

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

@@wernermoritz882 Favorite Pete song but he spit on favorite Martin album " London Calling " from Clash a month ago . Martin waits him in ambush ...

[@wernermoritz882]

@@aleksandarfrick2656 Ah, in which episode?

[@wernermoritz882]

@@aleksandarfrick2656 I remember Pete said he listened to the album for the first time not so long ago and kind of liked it.

[@ledzeplover58]

@@wernermoritz882 Nah,said he tried but just didn't care for it. Problem is Martin directed him to the wrong album as far as something a metalhead would like-that would be Give 'Em Enough Rope.

[@terryjohnson5275]

As soon as I saw this title I immediately thought Treatise on Cosmic Fire, didnt think it would be picked then Pete throws it in as his final pick. Love that Martin has the cojones to pick Child in Time and Stairway to Heaven - I dont agree with him but I respect his choices - for Zeppelin I would definitely go with Dazed and Confused live.

[@andrewlaitres9080]

Stairway is a classic. Overplayed but a masterpiece.

[@nellgwenn]

But who's fault is it if it was overplayed? It was the radio listener's fault, not the song. I know in our little group of Rock fans when a song like Stairway comes on, a song we all love, we avoided it like the plague. If we were in a car and it came on we changed the channel, or put in a tape. We actively avoided unintentionally listening to it so as to not get sick of it. If you actively listened to it every time it came on, you can't complain it was overplayed. The song does not suck.

[@billymac72]

What’s the take on Gillan’s vocal being falsetto? I don’t think it is, except when he’s doing the lower range “ooh ooh ooh” stuff, but not when the tune kicks into high gear. I think that was Ian’s natural, high range at that time.

[@knightvisioniixv]

I was going to comment on this. I'm no die-hard Ian Gillan (or Deep Purple) fan by any means, but I'm not so sure if Martin was technically correct on calling those parts falsetto. I think Gillan was actually getting up there with those notes.

[@crazyguy43]

It's definitely not falsetto.

[@abdulbashur]

Agree…. Falsetto??? Never…. Child in Time is one of the examples of Ian Gillan showing is one of the best voices on Hard Rock History. On the other hand, the Falsetto could be trained and is a way of singing used by many, even very famous…. And is not synonym of lack of quality, and could be trained in order to expand range.

[@wernermoritz882]

To me it doesn‘t really matter, never liked his style and voice. But of course he is a great singer.

[@andrew10pd34]

A quick google yields the following "in falsetto, the (vocal) folds remain slightly more open than in head voice. The resulting sound is light, thin, and airy" - if that helps. I do remember seeing Jon Lord saying that Gillan could hit "the A above high C - full voice" - who am I to argue?

[@stevekosak8624]

i love Martin !!!!you know how many foreheads are wrinkled during this episode!! mine too child in time?? oh shit you got to love his honesty and take of it!

[@ripleycrow]

I just discovered your channel over the weekend. I must have watched your videos for eight hours straight yesterday. Love your content, man. Crazy to find a commentator that lines up so much with all of the bands I love. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@73challenger5031]

'Stairway" was ingrained into our brains for so long and we were told it's the #1 rock song of all time by rock stations that everyone just went along with that idea. When I go to LZ, I rarely listen to it. I prefer "Levee" over everything they've done but, LZ I, II and III are better arranged and musically stronger albums, IMO.

[@jormungandr7885]

It's funny that Martin doesn't like Child in Time, because that is pretty much the ONLY Deep Purple song I really love. I'm not a huge fan of purple, and I like Rainbow a lot more.

[@63mckenzie]

Mistreated (particularly the live version) drives me mad.

[@spaceace4387]

What? Child In Time freaking rocks

[@jormungandr7885]

@@spaceace4387 I don't think you read my comment.

[@spaceace4387]

@@jormungandr7885 I did

[@b.g.5869]

Child In Time isn't the only Deep Purple song I like, but it is my favorite song of theirs and is the song that made me fall in love with the band. Sucks to learn it's largely a ripoff of another band's song.

[@JohnMacRae23]

Tales from Topographic Oceans is such an easy target for this... but I love every note. Lyrics... yeah i get what Martin is saying, but at least they're open to interpretation... always thought they were more based in fantasy then any actual religious overtones... all the Yes Lyrics for that matter.

[@KawaTony1964]

OMG - "Child in Time" is on your list?!?!? That's utterly ridiculous. That song is epic.

[@jazzpunk]

...and definitely better LIVE!

[@stefandanev8117]

@@jazzpunk child in time is too much screaming falcetto for me

[@hellojimmypage]

Stefan I'm guessing you not a big metal fan. Screaming, piercing vocals are an essential characteristic of heavy music. Not sure you will enjoy Mercyful Fate then...

[@SB-kr1dw]

Martin is testing Pete to see what it will take to get a two week suspension from SoT. He must jog with a wheelbarrow in front of him with those kind of cajones ;)

[@stefandanev8117]

@@hellojimmypage there are people who can do high pitch voice that i like a lot like dickinson.... tet i can not like all of it and in the case of child in ime i dont like it

[@PetesCDVinylWorld]

As a Zappa fan I never liked Billy the Mountain, and the Flo and Eddie lineup is my least favorite era

[@ledzeplover58]

While good producers Flo and Eddie are not,in the least,funny.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

I have to agree with Martin (and I often do not) about Child In Time. It's just redundant. Though his comment about falsetto singing was silly. And yes, a lot of Topographic is a lot of repeats and filler. And experimental nonsense. And way, way too many guitar solos. As for BIlly and the Mountain -- I feel that way about a lot of Zappa's stuff. Just puerile indulgence.

[@Gedsparrow81]

I couldn't get into The Celebration of the Lizard until i got really high and tripped hard on it. Loved it since then.

[@jazzpunk]

@Terry Brown Ya hadda be there! ;-)

[@Gedsparrow81]

@Terry Brown yeah, but not everyone likes to or wants to trip.

[@Johnny-lr5jt]

They should've pared it back to "Celebration Of The Gecko"

[@luisdeleon2905]

Although I love half of these songs that were mentioned. This was such a fun episode. Especially that 32 minute dazed and confused rib. Hopefully there’s a part 2.

[@ameliacharles2284]

Child In Time!!!!!!! I know it's a personal choice, but please, I'm not a Deep Purple fan, I quite like them, but that song is one of the greatest ever

[@lladnar69]

Here are some y'all missed: I'm Your Captain-Grand Funk, Sympathy for the Devil-Stones, any Bob Seager song after '75, Hey Jude- Beatles, there are so many... Great topic!

[@hanksta34]

Agreed.

[@kingofallmediums2123]

I’m Your Captain? Great song!

[@LaPiernaDeMiAbuela]

I was expecting the whole "The Astonishing" album to come up.

[@ognir66]

I still wonder what they were thinking when they made that record. Absolutely dreadful.

[@marius9372]

I like a couple of moments and ideas (the "jazzy" tracks are very interesting, for instance) but yeah, at the end of the day most of the album is uninspired and dull, which is a shame. I still prefer it to Distance over time though, that album sounds just very cliché to me, even though I like most of those songs

[@chrissmith3668]

That was the first DT album to really disappoint me.

[@robertsaul234]

I seldom agree with Martin and this show is no exception.

[@Katzeninsel1]

Definitely "The Angel and The Gambler" from Iron Maiden. Nearly 10 minutes chorus.

[@stephanea5364]

So true, that song has no business being that long.

[@courtjester9678]

lmao, this song is my #1 pick for epic awfulness.

[@metaldams78]

I was in a college dorm in 1998 when nobody in that place but me got metal. I played that song when it was new and everyone in the dorm hated it. It momentarily made me think maybe they were right about metal before I came to my senses.

[@mikem.7921]

I love it and totally get what they were trying to do

[@Magnum_Opus_1124]

@Andrew Carroll Or choosing the singer for those last two 1990's albums.

[@GrahamS67]

"not much happening other than the dynamics, and a great performance" 🤯

[@stevemcgill355]

Ummagumma's studio cuts were very trippy but there was a market for that back then. I think Gilmour's The Narrow Way is primo psychedelia and Waters Grantchester Meadows is one of my fave Floyd songs.

[@derekroberts6654]

“Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict” is Waters’ “Revolution #9”

[@26scootinkitten19]

I'm with Martin on "Stairway To Heaven".....not sure if I've ever loved that song. And "Bohemian Rhapsody"sssssSSSSSSSUCKS!!! epically.... I never could stand that song. I know there's a few more.

[@Larjschoen1]

Great show, but my blood pressure is a bit high now! Pete, you are admittedly not a synth fan, so we wouldn’t think you would like Todd Rundgren’s “. . . Cosmic Fire”, but for us synth music fans, especially from the 70’s, this is gold and WAY ahead of its time. Todd is the one and only artist that has tackled almost every genre of music out there, a true wizard!

[@alexhicks5889]

Roger Powell helped him a lot with this one.

[@belowthepale8943]

Haven't even finished the video yet, but I agree with you 100 percent on "Billy The Mountain", Pete. That song just seemed like a self indulgent discourse in Zappa compositions.

[@stevewhiteside4525]

I don't see how the lyrics of Yes can be viewed as creepy and cult like, especially when you listen to heavy metal. Jon Anderson himself (can't find the clip) said in an early interview how the words to his songs were meant to be more like sounds for the voice as an instrument. The best prog lyrics sound like they mean something but without meaning anything - that's the bloody point!, they're a very abstract painting that allows your mind to wander wherever the words take you.

[@chiragchittar4179]

Great picks agree with all of pete's picks and reasons. I am a huge fan of child in time but I can understand it getting too repetitive for some My picks Dream theater-count of Tuscany Ash ra tempel-traumaschine Iron maiden-the talisman King crimson-providence Opeth-moon above sun below

[@g-pa-Rok-n-Tok]

Not trying to start shit, but The Doors never did It for me.

[@Benjaminhill4408]

I respect that🤝 I like the doors, not my favorite, but they are so unique.

[@wernermoritz882]

Wrong Thread.

[@bbutler5090]

I’m with you. I like them. But never completely understood the popularity. I get bored with them quicker than I probably should.

[@jerrywoods4066]

Me either , did have I guy worked with biggest doors fan I ever met. He seen them like 3 times back in the day. However he did say they were awful live, but listening to the music his favorite. Always thought that was strange

[@davidl570]

@@jerrywoods4066 ................days?

[@b.g.5869]

This is an easy one: Lou Reed "Metal Machine Music"; every 'song' on it.

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Agreed. I played this album once and never put it near a turntable again.

[@ursaminorjim]

I, umm....kinda _love_ that album. Ha!

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

@@ursaminorjim Proof once again of the SoT maxim: "We all hear things differently." Never be ashamed of the music that you like - or for that matter, also the music that you don't like.

[@Tonymanero1960]

I recently bought the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed (solo) boxed sets online and I have enjoyed both. Fortunately, the Lou Reed boxed set only includes 1:32 seconds from MMM.

[@ursaminorjim]

@@johnmichaelwilliams6694 Exactly!

[@lexpeters735]

Pete I totally agree with Celebration Of The Lizard. I was caught up the the Morrison mystique and was constantly reading references to this unrecorded epic of mythical proportions. It was further enhanced when the lyrics were included on the inner cover of Waiting For Sun, only to hear a snippet with Not To Touch The Earth. Years later while reading a review of the Doors In Concert, the reviewer ranted overwhelmingly about the amazing, long overdue inclusion of none other than The Celebration Of The Lizard. Hearing it for the first time with great expectation my reaction was WTF! What a disjointed mess! After all these years, try as I may, my opinion hasn't changed.

[@etamommy]

Correct - poetry or not - it flat out stinks on a rock and roll record!

[@Magnum_Opus_1124]

I am not sure if this would count or not but the extended playout version of "Shadow of the Hierophant" on Steve Hackett's 'Voyage of the Acolyte' album. The original version is pushing it with how long the repetitive ending is, but the extended version is unbearable.

[@Radzoso]

Writing a good long song is challenging. And classical composers like Beethoven take it to another level.

[@steveseim]

The first six minutes of this video was "great television," as they say. It almost looked like Pete was going to cry. I'm going to miss watching you, Martin. LOL

[@stephanea5364]

Why do you say that? Martin won't participate anymore? I didn't watch the whole vid yet.

[@steveseim]

@@stephanea5364 I was just joking, because Martin explains why he hates Pete's favorite song. :D

[@stephanea5364]

@@steveseim Ahahah Good one.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

I f*cking LOVE "Treatise On Cosmic Fire" and will defend it to my dying day. Despite the density, obtuse-ity, and bloat, it has *so many great hooks* buried within it. Todd can't help writing catchy, harmonically brilliant motifs, despite his best self-sabotaging efforts - case in point. Do I listen to it regularly? No. But I *always* play it through when I put on Initiation!

[@bassvibasics479]

YES! "Treatise" is stupendous- every second of it.

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

My wife bought some wind chimes. When I arrived home it took me at least five minutes to realise it wasn't King Crimson playing Moonchild. And then Wishbone Ash just had to spoil a perfect album with 11+ minutes of Handy. Fortunately they got out of jail by following it with 10+ epic minutes of Phoenix.

[@multi-purposebiped7419]

Even though they're my favourite prog band and have done loads of great long songs, VDGG don't get a free pass for the 20+ minutes of Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild).

[@preving]

Hey Pete, got an idea for your podcast: Favorite James Bond film?

[@garychilders6634]

Stairway one of the best songs ever written!

[@ilj1259]

I never get tired of it... a classic rock classic.

[@MuzixMaker]

@@ilj1259 you haven’t lived until you have heard Tiny Tim’s rendition.

[@ronnelson1979]

I like the guitar solo in "Stairway..", one of my favorites.

[@erniefernandez1927]

Stairway to Heaven Sucks?!?! Overplayed-YES! Overated-NO!

[@leepassmore7032]

It's become almost as much a cliche to say Stairway sucks as to declare it the greatest rock song ever.

[@mck7646]

I actually think Martin makes a strong case against Stairway, it is a bit hippy trippy and less musically interesting than the other tracks on IV. When I first heard it I loved it but I'd be okay with never hearing it again and it doesn't captivate me the way a song like close to the edge does.

[@stefandanev8117]

stairway to heaven? really?

[@derekroberts6654]

Maybe because it’s so overplayed. This is why it’s hard to listen to classic rock radio anymore, it’s the same dang thing over and over and over again 🙄

[@Muni517]

I love Zappa, but the entire episode of his collaboration with Flo and Eddie evades me. I share your point of view.

[@slaydesaid8741]

Great show! And unsurprisingly, some random commentators in this section are angry about Martin's choices. Someone even wanted MP to show an "objective source" who agreed with him on a certain thing... "Objective source"? Seriously? Anyway... None of you mentioned one of the more obvious ones to me, although it's not long enough for Pete to include it, I guess. But what about Number Nine... Number nine... Number Nine? I believe it's their longest track even. Definitely not a classic..., well not in a good sense, anyway ;--)

[@dragonfly1694]

Pete's pick of 'Billy The Mountain' was unexpected, but his aversion to Flo & Eddie explains his reluctance of that era. It is a difficult period to digest, with perhaps too many in-jokes for the home listener. But there are flashes of musical brilliance & what was to come with Aynsley Dunbar on drums, whom carried over into the next phase of 'Waka/Jawaka' & 'The Grand Wazoo'. But it sounds like they're having a ball & indeed, you can't do that on stage anymore.

[@arvispinkletter5324]

The Flo and Eddie era of the Mothers/Zappa's band was probably my least favourite. Too much self-parody, too many jokes that don't land, and other eras keep my attention better long after the novelty of the humour wears off.

[@bassvibasics479]

I concur. They just aren't funny.

[@connollyc]

"You can't write a heavy metal song about a fish." Jinjer would like to know your location..

[@donhadfield2835]

Right or wrong Martin is fine to have an opinion oddly enough I have an opinion too. I loved Child In Time when it first came out, played it to death. Hasn't aged well for me, I like the other tracks and albums much more now. Like Pete said, this and Stairway To Heaven are fine one or twice a year. but thats about it.

[@breakaleg10]

I once put on "Waiting For Coustaeu" by Jean-Michel Jarre. 45 minutes of him playing his synths and trying to relive past glory (Oxygene and Equinoxe) while adding sounds for the ocean. I would have preferred a 12-15 minute version. This is too much. Martin is right about Stairway To Heaven. They perfected this 2 years later with Rain Song.

[@brianseneca3546]

Martin I get what you are saying about Stairway and its been OVERPLAYED! BUT you are slightly older than me and can probably remember this when it was new. The chord changes may seem pedestrian now, but you cannot deny that fact that at least in its time it was a masterpiece. I am totally tired of it but I respect its importance.

[@Ianmackable]

"Singring and the Glass Guitar", from Todd Rundgren's Utopia's 1977 album RA, is a song I've flip-flopped on over the years. It's eighteen minutes long, a vaguely Arthurian/Tolkienesque "electric fairytale" involving the saving of the world through the unlocking and playing of the titular guitar. Featuring a squeaky-voiced narrator (Todd on helium, maybe), it's structured as a way to give every band member a solo spotlight. I bought the album when it was new, and I'll admit I was entranced by the song. (I was fourteen at the time, by the way.) Not long after, though, I was swept up in the punk wave, and there just didn't seem to be a way to have "Singring" and the Clash in my life at the same time. The song suddenly seemed to embody all the worst, most indulgent and overblown aspects of prog. But then, with time, a different perspective occurred to me: was Todd actually parodying prog? Kind of like his Meat Loaf production parodied Springsteen? Heard that way, it's a blast. I played it a few weeks ago, for the first time in at least 25 years, and I loved it. Tomorrow, who knows, I might find it embarrassing again.

[@chrisbywater275]

I bought Ra and Sex Pistols and had no problem listening to both - other than a slight discomfort with the fairy tale

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

I think the thing about "Singring" which is either brilliant or cringey, depending on your viewpoint - it's probably the most self-aware prog epic ever written. The whole thing is very tongue-in-cheek and goofy, despite the serious, intricate bombast of the music itself. I love it for what it is and get a good chuckle out of it each time I listen to it...but I get why folks don't dig it! haha

[@liquidvizionsmadferit]

It pains me to say this because they are my all time favorite band and I love all of their long songs except for this one... The Cure - Carnage Visors. A 28 minute instrumental. I guess it was fine for where they were at back then in 1981 when they were dropping acid left and right but it's not a song I ever listen to. It's also not one they ever play. It was short lived. By the time they got off the LSD around 84 it was just a memory. But they made amazing dark music then that remains some of my favorite stuff they ever did. But that Carnage Visors song was a one time thing so it's fine for what it is. Robert Smith was asked about it a few years ago and he said he can't even remember that much about it and called it a experimental wreck. It was done during the Faith sessions and we completed that album and it turned out fucking amazing but we had been up for days and were coming down hard and instead of sleep we did Carnage Visors when we should have just went to bed. Lol

[@MrAitraining]

Good topic and show. I always felt many songs were overly considered "classics" because they were 8 minutes long.

[@MetalPersonJ]

Martin hates songs that start mellow. Fine, but I'd like to hear Martin's explanation on why his favorite song on Oceanborn is Swanheart (From his collector's guide to 90s book). Or 95% of modern Iron Maiden for that matter.

[@eduardocardona235]

Whattttttt! Child in Time is a Perfect Song! Can`t Believe Martin Popoff. The falseto is Great! The Solo is Great! The Drums are Great! Everything is Great!

[@cool927]

Stairway to Heaven is a classic. Overplayed? yes.

[@yeslyrics8018]

Exact same with Bohemian Rhapsody

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

"Child In Time" is a great song but it kinda slows the album down. I think it should be later in the track sequencing.

[@RyderWestwood]

How can someone not like Child In Time...? I respect his opinion, but wow!

[@kingofallmediums2123]

What is the matter with Martin Popoff 😂

[@rael2099]

Martin being an absolute contrarian with Stairway to Heaven, lol. STH was so huge still in the 80s that a local indie radio station dedicated a whole day to the song, played it 24 hours straight!

[@gamleskalle1]

Wrong title when people mention Purple, Queen and Zeppelin.

[@robertunwin1148]

You can hang me upside down and nail me to a cross and I will still never recant my admiration for Topographic Oceans. I freaking love that album!

[@rubicon-oh9km]

You keep loving that drivel. Hell, I'd take The Ladder over that abomination and that IS saying something.

[@robertunwin1148]

@@rubicon-oh9km Burn the heretic! :D

[@ronniefarnsworth6465]

Martin sure is a Strange one !!! : D

[@Norshammar72]

I LOVE Child In Time. It works all the time. The longer the better. My fave version is the Stockholm 1970 with Denmark 1972 coming in second!

[@eduardocalvo9631]

I consider Frank Zappa's brief (thank God!) Flo and Eddie era pretty much a stinker. Waka Jawaka, the first album post Flo and Eddie, was a breath of fresh air and kickstarted Frank's golden era. But I have to give it to Dazed and Confused from The Song Remains the Same (I never get past the middle part with Page bringing out strange noises from his guitar using a violin bow).

[@peterm.fitzpatrick7735]

When I was first getting acquainted with Led -Z's Four as a pre-teen, I was instinctively drawn to "Battle of Evermore", long before "Stairway".

[@lahloonatic]

I am laughing so hard watching Pete as Martin delivers on Child in Time. I agree with Pete, by the way, except that I would never “get it”. Then straight into love beach? Classic episode already!

[@knightvisioniixv]

Pete prefaces the video by saying that some of the choices mentioned might get to some people (That was for damn sure, judging by many of the comments, lol.) He lets Martin kick things off, and what happens? He immediately goes *straight* for the jugular, as he rips into Pete's fav song from his fav band, and along the way, rips into his fav singer. Talk about hitting the Trifecta. FUNNIEST shit, I swear; it was comedy gold! Played the first five or so minutes of the video multiple times, just to watch Pete's face/expression, and laugh my ASS off!!!

[@neugey]

Yes - And You and I (has never clicked with me, seems too mellow to be a long song, feels long and meandering) Machine Head - A Farewell to Arms (feels drawn out and might work better at 5-6 minutes) Blind Faith - Do What You Like (a chore to get through with improv solo's that aren't all that well-performed) Metallica - All Within My Hands (there was a good song in here after all once they changed the arrangement and cut down the length for S&M2) Tool - Pushit (it's not bad, but doesn't work as well for me as other Tool long tracks)

[@drachireidnoc6659]

Stairway to Heaven is one of the greatest songs of all time, iconic solo

[@b.g.5869]

The exercise of trying to like something that you don't is pointless, but a lot of people do it. It typically happens when a band you initially loved because of their music jumps the shark, and you then try to force yourself to like their newer music, even though it does nothing for you, because you love the band. I fell into this trap with Rush (this phenomenon in fact is probably most common amongst Rush fans with regards to their albums after Moving Pictures). I found Signals, Grace Under Pressure, and Power Windows to be incredibly disappointing, but I tried to like them. The tipping point for me was Power Windows. I remember listening to it repeatedly, trying to like it, and at some point I took a break from it and happened to listen to "Exit Stage Left", and after listening to Power Windows, it really underscored how bland they had become, and I finally was able to accept that Rush just wasn't for me anymore, and hadn't been in a long time, and it was pointless to try to like their new stuff just because I liked their old stuff. They did rebound a bit in the mid 90s and 2000s, but oh well. At least they were always great live.

[@yauybob]

And then there are fans like me who got into Rush in 1998 and absolutely love albums like Power Windows but had to put some more effort into things like Caress of Steel. Fortunately, I really do love all of Rush's albums.

[@b.g.5869]

@@yauybob It goes both ways for sure. It goes many ways. I appreciate your perspective. I don't hate any Rush album. I like all of them in one way or another. But I just think the first 8 are GOAT level stuff and the stuff after Moving Pictures? Not so much. Clockwork Angels was a great final album though for sure. I like a lot of stuff on their last few albums. I don't enjoy the albums between Signals and Counterparts for the most part except for a few tracks here and there.

[@arnaudb.7669]

In my opinion "A Treatise On Cosmic Fire" is with "The Ikon" the best thing Todd has ever done.But i understand why that's not everybody favorite =)

[@knightvisioniixv]

A Treatise is my favorite Todd tune. Very electronic, and trance-inducing. Not for everyone, though.

[@ledzeplover58]

The Ikon is a masterpiece.

[@frankelgueta1350]

I will brace myself for the outrage that will come from butthurt Zepptards, but so much of Zeppelin’s output can be categorized and discussed in this video: Carouselambra, Going To California, Tea For One (great intro, but that’s it), Kashmir (droning, boring, repetitive), The Rain Song, the entire Song Remains The Same album, No Quarter (studio and live), Hats Off To Roy Harper (wtf even is that??)….I could go on and on. Absolute boring shit. And all of them way too long.