Introduction
What constitutes the longest song ever recorded? When we think of lengthy songs, epics like Don McLean’s "American Pie" or Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven" often come to mind. But even those classics clock in at just over 8 minutes. For this deep dive, we’ll define "longest songs" as officially released tracks that push into double-digit minute territory, excluding live recordings or remixes.
The songs spotlighted below represent a wide spectrum of genres and eras. From ambitious 1960s psychedelic rock to modern indie artists and avant-garde composers, musicians across the board have pushed boundaries when it comes to song length. Some lengthy songs were designed specifically to fill an entire album side back in the days of vinyl. Others resulted from improvised jam sessions or elaborate concept albums. A few examples have even landed in the Guinness Book of World Records for their extreme duration.
Get ready to go on a musical marathon as we explore over 30 of the longest songs ever put to tape. You may be surprised at just how far some artists have stretched the conventional 3-5 minute pop song structure into double-digit or triple-digit territory. This overview of the most ambitious long-form compositions will showcase the creative endurance required to produce these musical behemoths.
Top 10 Longest Rock & Indie Songs
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Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull (1972) – 43:50
This epic track takes up the entire first side of Jethro Tull’s 1972 concept album of the same name. Frontman Ian Anderson crafted an elaborate fictitious storyline about a young boy’s scandalous poetry to serve as a tongue-in-cheek commentary on concept albums. Clocking in at over 43 minutes, "Thick as a Brick" challenged the standard radio single format. -
Atom Heart Mother Suite by Pink Floyd (1970) – 23:44
The title track of Pink Floyd’s 1970 album is a 6-part orchestral progressive rock suite. It was performed with avant-garde composer Ron Geesin and a choir. Unconventional in structure, it shifts between folky melodies, experimental ambient passages, and a dramatic brass fanfare finale. -
Supper’s Ready by Genesis (1972) – 22:54
This complex 7-part suite takes up the entire second side of Genesis’ 1972 album Foxtrot. Referencing spiritual topics like the Apocalypse and resurrection, it progresses through different melodies and moods like a mini rock opera. Peter Gabriel’s theatrical vocals and changes in tempo/tone make it an ambitious prog rock achievement. -
Autobahn by Kraftwerk (1974) – 22:30
The classic 22-minute title track of Kraftwerk’s 1974 album uses driving motorik beats and synth melodies to capture the monotony, freedom, and modernity of traveling on Germany’s Autobahn highway system. Its innovative electronic aesthetic made it groundbreaking for the emerging electronic and synthpop genres. -
The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd (1973) – 4:44
This instrumental track on Pink Floyd’s landmark 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon features improvised wordless vocals by Clare Torry. Her emotive singing over Richard Wright’s meditative piano builds to a crescendo, meant to sonically represent the spectre of death and mortality. -
Venus in Furs by The Velvet Underground (1967) – 4:06
Driven by John Cale’s droning viola, this avant-garde rock song from 1967’s The Velvet Underground & Nico was inspired by the novel of the same name about sadomasochism. Lou Reed’s detached vocals and disturbing lyrics about domination created controversy, reflecting The Velvet Underground’s role in expanding rock music’s boundaries. -
Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground (1968) – 17:27
The epic closing track on 1968’s White Light/White Heat was recorded live in the studio, capturing the band’s raw experimental energy. With its droning guitars, pounding piano, and explicit lyrics about drug use and debauchery, "Sister Ray" broke new ground in rock music’s potential for noise, dissonance, and chaos. -
Dopesmoker by Sleep (2003) – 63:32
This stoner metal epic consists of a single song spanning over an hour, released in 2003 by the band Sleep. Originally written in the 90s, its lengthy improvisational passages, slow crushing riffs, and apocalyptic lyrics about ancient religions made it a milestone of the stoner/doom metal genre. The recording pushed the LP format to its limits. -
The Whirlwind by Transatlantic (2009) – 78:16
This prog rock opus consists of a single 77-minute song split into 12 parts. The so-called "Progstitutes" supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt and Pete Trewavas came together to create this ambitious conceptual epic about spiritual struggle. With four accomplished musicians, they were able to realize their grandest musical vision. -
The Light by Spock’s Beard (2000) – 77:17
Coming in at over 77 minutes, this six-part prog rock suite takes up the entire album of the same name by Spock’s Beard. It tells an allegorical story of a childhood outcast who takes on messianic powers, with many complex compositional twists and turns along the way. The lengthy track highlighted this band’s knack for lengthy musical narratives.
Longest Officially Released Song
The longest song to ever be officially released and hold the Guinness World Record is "Bullitt" by Japanese electronic musician Isao Tomita. This experimental track clocks in at a whopping 104 minutes long.
"Bullitt" was released in 1974 on Tomita’s album "The Mind of the Cosmos", which was inspired by science fiction films. The song is named after and loosely based on the 1968 Steve McQueen film Bullitt, incorporating synthesizer arrangements of its soundtrack composed by Lalo Schifrin.
What enabled "Bullitt" to reach such an extreme length was Tomita’s pioneering use of synthesizers to construct a sprawling sonic exploration. He utilized an early Moog modular system to generate enveloping textures and atmospheres that unfurl gradually over the track’s 104-minute duration. It has movements of ambient drifts, oscillating sequences, and cosmic soundscapes.
Due to its unconventional nature and sheer length, "Bullitt" was never intended to be a mainstream single. Instead it stands as Tomita’s creative statement, pushing the boundaries of electronic music and setting the record for the longest officially released song according to Guinness World Records. The ambitious scope and experimental techniques used on "Bullitt" make it one of the most epic tracks ever produced.
Top 5 Longest on Spotify
Streaming has given musicians more flexibility when it comes to song lengths, and Spotify hosts some of the longest tracks ever released. Here are 5 of the longest songs currently available on the platform:
1. "Sleep’s Holy Mountain" by Sleep – 63:31
This sludge metal epic by stoner rock pioneers Sleep lives up to its ambitious name. The title track off their 1992 album, it features over an hour of plodding riffs and mystical lyrics. With 1.5 million streams, it’s the most popular of Spotify’s longest tracks.
2. "Jerusalem" by Sleep – 52:38
Another monumental track from Sleep, this song from their 1999 album Dopesmoker pushes the ten minute mark. Its length allows the band to fully plunge into their signature heavy, trance-inducing sound.
3. "Mirror Reaper" by Bell Witch – 1:23:19
Weighing in at over 80 minutes, this 2017 doom metal song by the Seattle duo Bell Witch accounts for their entire album of the same name. It maintains its glacial pace and melancholy atmosphere throughout its massive length.
4. "The Gates of Slumber" by Sleep – 57:03
Sleep strikes again with this nearly hour-long ode to classic doom metal. Released in 1998 as part of their compilation album Jerusalem, it’s a plodding, sprawling epic.
5. "Curtains" by John Frusciante – 58:16
At nearly an hour long, this avant-garde composition by former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante takes listeners on a progressive, psychedelic journey. Released in 2005 on his album of the same name.
20 Longest Classic Rock Songs
Classic rock from the 1960s to the 1980s was an era of experimentation, with bands regularly creating sprawling, epic tracks that stretched the boundaries of the standard radio single. Here are 20 of the longest songs that pushed the limits in classic rock history:
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"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" by Iron Butterfly (17:05) – This 1968 psychedelic rock hit features an extended organ solo and guitar improvisation, cementing its status as one of the first classic rock epics.
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"Echoes" by Pink Floyd (23:31) – The soundscape and sonic experimentation on this 1971 art rock track makes it a standout lengthy achievement.
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"Machine Gun" by Jimi Hendrix (12:36) – Hendrix’s famous 1970 anti-war epic features his renowned guitar work and a complex, emotive composition.
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"Autobahn" by Kraftwerk (22:43) – The German band was pioneering electronic music with this 22-minute ode to the open road in 1974.
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"Close to the Edge" by Yes (18:43) – This prog rock title track pushes creative boundaries with its three-part song structure.
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"Shine On You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd (25:58) – The nine-part 1975 suite showcases the band’s instrumental virtuosity.
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"Achilles Last Stand" (10:25) and "In The Light" (8:48) by Led Zeppelin – These epic tracks off 1976’s Presence highlight Zeppelin’s rock excess.
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"Venus Isle" by Focus (27:00) – This jazz fusion jam from 1976 features extended solos and improvisation.
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"Birdland" by Weather Report (8:14) – A landmark jazz fusion song from 1977 noted for its complex time signatures.
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"Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres" by Rush (18:08) – Rush’s progressive rock and sci-fi concepts culminate in this ambitious 1978 track.
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"Super Trouper" by ABBA (9:54) – Showcasing ABBA’s brilliance, this 1980 hit has an intricate structure.
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"The Camera Eye" by Rush (11:35) – Another prog rock epic from Rush’s 1981 album Moving Pictures.
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"Bela Lugosi’s Dead" by Bauhaus (9:37) – This gothic rock song hypnotically builds over nearly 10 minutes.
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"Run Like Hell" by Pink Floyd (6:20) – Pink Floyd’s big guitar closer on The Wall album.
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"In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins (7:42) – The epic 1981 drum break seals this song’s "epic" status.
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"Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (9:08) – One of the most requested rock jams, featuring an extended 3 minute guitar solo.
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"Child in Time" by Deep Purple (10:18) – This 1970 track is built around Ian Gillan’s banshee screaming and a psychedelic organ solo.
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"You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC (3:30) – Shorter than other songs here but an anthemic guitar riff makes it an essential epic.
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"Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd (6:24) – David Gilmour’s emotive guitar solos punctuate this progressive rock staple.
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"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin (8:02) – No list would be complete without the iconic Zeppelin song featuring their longest guitar solo.
Record-Breaking Long Songs
Some of the longest songs ever recorded have also broken notable records in terms of chart performance, radio play, and live performances.
The longest song to ever appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart is "Decemba (Remix)" by Outkast’s André 3000, released in 2006. Clocking in at 12 minutes and 38 seconds, this experimental hip hop track blew past the typical 3-4 minute pop song length to become André 3000’s longest Hot 100 hit ever. While unconventional, the song’s ambitious style and creativity contributed to its appeal.
In terms of radio play, the longest song to ever be played is the live version of "The Cowboy Song" by folk artist Arlo Guthrie, lasting a staggering 33 minutes and 27 seconds. Performed at the New York Pop Festival in 1969, Guthrie’s rambling epic demonstrated the artistic freedom embraced by the counterculture generation of the 1960s. Despite its meandering length, this version of "The Cowboy Song" captivated radio DJs and audiences with its intimate, conversational style.
For live performances, the drone metal band Sleep holds the record for the longest song played in concert with their 60+ minute track "Dopesmoker." Originally released in 1999 at over an hour long, Sleep has performed even longer live versions stretching past the one hour mark. With its extremely slow tempo, repetitive riffs, and hypnotic quality, "Dopesmoker" tests the endurance of both the band and its fans when played live in its entirety. Sleep’s commitment to performing such an ambitious song exemplifies the creative spirit of underground and experimental artists.
Classical & Avant-Garde Long Songs
Classical music and avant-garde genres have produced some of the most ambitious long-form compositions and performances of all time, truly pushing the boundaries of duration.
The longest classical piece on record is the aptly named Symphony of the Crown (Kokūkyoku) composed by Satoko Fujii. This modern classical work for orchestra clocks in at a staggering 192 minutes in length when performed in full. It was originally commissioned by the Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo and debuted in 2005. The sprawling 5-hour symphony is divided into 7 movements inspired by the formation of the Japanese archipelago.
On the more avant-garde side, no discussion of long songs is complete without mentioning John Cage’s experimental piece ORGAN2/ASLSP. First composed in 1987, this conceptual work has a specified duration of 639 years based on Cage’s instructions for an adapted organ performance. In 2001, a church in Germany began a 639-year-long performance scheduled to finish in 2640, making it the longest song in terms of duration.
Other notable avant-garde long-form compositions include Erik Satie’s Vexations – a theme of under 2 minutes to be repeated 840 times for a total length of 18+ hours. Meanwhile, free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman recorded a 10-hour improvised session released as Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation. These genre-bending works showcase how some of the longest musical pieces ever conceived emerged from classical and avant-garde circles seeking to break conventions.
Long Songs on 45s & LPs
The 7-inch 45 rpm single and the 12-inch 33 1/3 rpm LP vinyl record were the dominant formats for recorded music from the 1950s through the 1980s. While not ideal for lengthy tracks, some artists managed to push the limits of what could fit on these vinyl discs.
The longest song officially released on a 7-inch 45 rpm single was an unlikely contender: "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen. This seminal 1963 garage rock hit clocks in at 6 minutes and 20 seconds, nearly filling up an entire side of a 45. The length was highly unusual for a single, essentially making it an "EP" contained on one record.
On the LP format, progressive rock groups of the 1960s and ’70s were known for filling up full album sides with epic song suites. For example, the title track of Jethro Tull’s Thick as a Brick runs 43 minutes long, taking up the entire first side of the 1972 album. Pink Floyd’s 23-minute opus "Echoes" concludes side one of their 1971 LP Meddle. However, the longest LP track award goes to experimental composer John Cage’s "ASLSP", which is slated to last 639 years via an organ performance in Germany!
While vinyl records imposed limitations on duration, they also provided a canvas for bold creative ideas. These long songs on 45s and LPs represent the ingenuity of artists pushing the boundaries of the era’s recording technology and formats.
Longest Unreleased Songs
While released songs can rack up impressive lengths, some of the longest songs ever recorded remain unreleased. These include epic studio recordings, expansive live improvisations, and endless jam sessions that were never officially put out.
Long Unreleased Studio Recordings
Many artists have recorded extraordinarily long songs in the studio that were ultimately left off albums. Progressive rock group Yes recorded the 42-minute track "Topographic Drama" in 2017 but did not include it on any album. Similarly, Tool‘s unreleased song "Problem 8: The Riemann Hypothesis" clocks in around 45 minutes but has never been officially released.
Other artists with lengthy unreleased studio tracks include:
- Pink Floyd – "Return of the Son of Nothing" (34 mins)
- Orbital – "The Longest Day" (40 mins)
- Radiohead – "How to Disappear into Strings" (17 mins)
Often these songs are just too long for traditional album formats. But their existence points to some groups’ desire to experiment with super-sized songs.
Endless Jam Sessions
Some of the longest recordings of all time come from impromptu jam sessions. The jazz fusion band Soft Machine recorded a 6-hour live jam in 1970, though only excerpts have surfaced. Groups like the Grateful Dead and Phish also have countless hours of live jam tapes.
While fascinating, these loose improvisational recordings can be aimless. But they speak to the possibility of playing endlessly when artists get lost in the moment. The longevity of these recordings will likely never be matched by officially released songs. But they reveal the creative freedom that comes with live musical exploration.
Conclusion
The longest songs ever recorded demonstrate immense artistic ambition and musical endurance from the artists behind them. Throughout music history, composers and performers have pushed the boundaries of song length for creative and sometimes experimental reasons.
The Guinness World Record holder for longest song, Isao Tomita’s "Bullitt" at 104 minutes, shows just how far an artist will go to fully explore a concept. Though challenging to record and release, Tomita’s opus stands as a testament to limitless musical imagination.
Similarly, many of the top rock epics from the 1960s through the 1980s illustrated the era’s willingness to break free from the typical three-minute pop formula. Songs like Iron Butterfly’s "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" and the Allman Brothers’ "Whipping Post" contained extended improvisational jams that gave a psychedelic rock twist to the idea of a "long song."
Even modern indie artists like Sleep have continued this tradition of marathon-length tracks, with their hour-plus song "Dopesmoker" pushing sludge metal to its extreme. Though not always radio-friendly, these songs reward patient listeners with an immersive sonic journey.
Hopefully this overview of some of the longest songs recorded has inspired curiosity into just how far musicians can stretch the idea of a "song." When done for creative expression versus gimmickry, extremely long compositions can advance the art form. Listeners owe it to themselves to put aside playlists once in a while and get lost in these musical labyrinths.