Medley - The Beatles

The Medley or The Long One (16:11) sneaks in rather as it is by The Beatles and was originally presented as a series of eight separate tracks rather than one epic long track. It was on their last album, Abbey Road released in 1969. Arguably, it is the original of all that followed. The separate tracks are McCartney's You never give me your money followed by Lennon's Sun King, Mean Mr Mustard, Polythene Pam. They in turn are followed by four McCartney songs, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, Golden Slumbers, (based on Thomas Dekker's 17th-century poem), Carry That Weight, The End. The last track features Starr's only ever drum solo.

Lady Fantasy - Camel

Lady Fantasy (12:44) is one of two long tracks on either side of Camel's 1974 album Mirage, their second studio album. There are three parts to the piece, Encounter (3:47) , Smiles for You (1:25) and Lady Fantasy itself (7:32). The first and third parts include lyrics while the middle part acts as a sort of instrumental bridge (although there is plenty of instrumental work on guitars and keyboards in all three parts). All four members of the band are credited with composition.

Tarkus - Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Tarkus (20:59) takes up the first side of the original 1971 album of the same name, a name invented by Emerson. The albium was ELP's second studio album. The Tarkus track divides into seven parts of between 1:16 and 4.13 minutes - Eruption, Stones of Years, Iconoclast, Mass, Manticore, Battlefield (by Lake only, the rest being either by Emerson or Emerson and Lake). Three parts have lyrics (Stones, Mass and Battlefield). Emerson composed his parts in just six days on an upright piano at his London home. The band then rehearsed it for another six days, then recorded it. Emerson used a bit of Prokofiev to form a bridge between the two part of Eruption, which is in difficult 5/4 time.

King-Bird - Trace

The track King-Bird (22:01) is found on the second studio album by the Dutch trio Trace, their 1975 album Birds. It takes up the whole of the second side of the original vinyl album. The track is divided on the album into as many as 19 different sections, some shorter, some longer. The shorter runs are called avenues and the longer ones are given bird names. At the beginning of the track we hear church-like bells, organ, and bird calls in the background. The keyboard (piano, organ, harpsichord, synth), bass and drums instrumental track includes a pop song (Preacher Bird) sung by bassist Iaap van Eick and a track where bass features but no drum solo.

Hamburger Concerto - Focus

Hamburger Concerto (20:19) takes up the whole of the second side of the fourth studio album by the Dutch band Focus. The album came out in 1974 and was the penultimate album to feature guitrist Jan Akkerman. The "concerto" in six parts is arranged round a catchy riff by Akkerman but begins with a starter arranged by van Leer, a version of Variations on Haydn by Brahms, which ultimately relies on the St Anthony Chorale. Then comes "Rare" written by Akkerman and two lots of Medium, mostly by Akkerman and a "Well done" that includes the Dutch Christmas carol O Kerstnacht, schoner dan de dagen. The whole things is rounded off in grand prog rock style with "One for the road" where all the stops are pulled out for a wonderful finish that leaves you breathless. The piece and its parts have rarely been performed.

Heaven and Hell - Vangelis

Heaven and Hell (43:14) covers two sides of an album and came out in 1975. Vangelis did not make the mstake of putting hell on one side and heaven on the other. Earlier editions including this track listing  - Bacchanale (4:40) Symphony to the Powers B, Movements 1 and 2 (8:18) Movement 3 from symphony to the powers B (4:03) side one closing with So Long Ago, So Clear (5:00) with the voice of Jon Anderson. Then, Intestinal Bat (3:18) Needles & Bones (3:22) 12 O'Clock in two parts (8:48) Aries (2:05)  A Way (3:45). Also on vocals is Vana Verouti (12 O'Clock) and the English Chamber Choir. It was recorded in London.

Close to the Edge - Yes

Close to the Edge (18:41) is the title track of the fifth studio album by the English rock band, Yes, which came out in 1972. It took up the whole of the first side of the album. The track divides into four parts (The Solid Time of Change, Total Mass Retain, I get up I get down and Seasons of man). Although there are plenty of vocal passages the track also has long instrumental sections. The lyrics are apparently inspired by Herman Hesse's Siddhartha.  It was written by John Anderson and Steve Howe.