Six album-ending songs to hear as we close out 2013
Posted On: 12/13/13
Written By: Nate Brunet
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Alright my friends, I’m sorry that it has come to this, but I must say farewell for now. It’s been a blast this year, but all good things must come to an end (even if it is just for a couple of months). I hope I’ve delighted you with trivia, expanded your musical tastes and given you plenty of music to jam to as we count down the last days of 2013! Since this year is soon coming to an end, I’d like to share with you my six favorite album-ending songs of all time. Happy holidays to all and have a great and safe New Year’s Eve celebration. Here’s to 2014, the amazing songs that are sure to be produced and the horrible songs we can make fun of!
“City Hall”
By: Tenacious D
Off the album: Tenacious D (2001)
The longest song of this album is also the most epic. The comedy duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass wrote this hilarious rock opera about them usurping the power at City Hall (Whose City Hall? We don’t know, but I’ll let it slide) and creating their own utopia (which, of course, includes the legalization of marijuana). The coolest trivia about this album is that the band’s friend Dave Grohl – frontman of the Foo Fighters – played drums for nine of the tracks on this album, including “City Hall.” Grohl would return for the band’s next album, The Pick of Destiny, to play drums and play the voice of the demon in the song “Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown).”
By: Tenacious D
Off the album: Tenacious D (2001)
The longest song of this album is also the most epic. The comedy duo of Jack Black and Kyle Gass wrote this hilarious rock opera about them usurping the power at City Hall (Whose City Hall? We don’t know, but I’ll let it slide) and creating their own utopia (which, of course, includes the legalization of marijuana). The coolest trivia about this album is that the band’s friend Dave Grohl – frontman of the Foo Fighters – played drums for nine of the tracks on this album, including “City Hall.” Grohl would return for the band’s next album, The Pick of Destiny, to play drums and play the voice of the demon in the song “Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown).”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
By: The Rolling Stones
Off the album: Let it Bleed (1969)
I guess I should have renamed this article “My favorite album endings that are also the longest song of the album.” When the song was first being written, frontman Mick Jagger got the idea to include a choir on the track, to which someone in the studio recommended hiring the London Bach Choir. Mick Jagger replied saying, “That will be a laugh.” The London Bach Choir performed the gospel choir vocals you hear throughout the song. Many fans incorrectly interpret this song as an attack on the political climate at the time with a bleak view of the future. What is lost is not only the “in-your-face” uplifting sound of the song, but also the next line of the song’s title. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find…you get what you need.”
By: The Rolling Stones
Off the album: Let it Bleed (1969)
I guess I should have renamed this article “My favorite album endings that are also the longest song of the album.” When the song was first being written, frontman Mick Jagger got the idea to include a choir on the track, to which someone in the studio recommended hiring the London Bach Choir. Mick Jagger replied saying, “That will be a laugh.” The London Bach Choir performed the gospel choir vocals you hear throughout the song. Many fans incorrectly interpret this song as an attack on the political climate at the time with a bleak view of the future. What is lost is not only the “in-your-face” uplifting sound of the song, but also the next line of the song’s title. “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find…you get what you need.”
“No Cars Go”/“My Body Is a Cage”
By: Arcade Fire
Off the album: Neon Bible (2007)
Both of the songs are polar opposites based on the tone of the song, but still add up to an amazing finish to this album. I like to call “No Cars Go” the band’s Disney song as it is one of the happiest songs I’ve ever heard and I can see it being played at the end of a Disney movie with everyone dancing happily in a field. “My Body Is a Cage” is much more somber, but has an emotional buildup that validates its placement on the album. “No Cars Go” was first recorded on the band’s debut EP, Arcade Fire, and is named after a side project of former percussionist, vocalist and tap dancer (read the liner notes) of the band, Brendan Reed.
By: Arcade Fire
Off the album: Neon Bible (2007)
Both of the songs are polar opposites based on the tone of the song, but still add up to an amazing finish to this album. I like to call “No Cars Go” the band’s Disney song as it is one of the happiest songs I’ve ever heard and I can see it being played at the end of a Disney movie with everyone dancing happily in a field. “My Body Is a Cage” is much more somber, but has an emotional buildup that validates its placement on the album. “No Cars Go” was first recorded on the band’s debut EP, Arcade Fire, and is named after a side project of former percussionist, vocalist and tap dancer (read the liner notes) of the band, Brendan Reed.
“How Many More Times”
By: Led Zeppelin
Off the album: Led Zeppelin I (1969)
Here’s another one to add to the list of putting the longest song on the album as the closer! Although when the song was first released, not many people knew that. On the original album sleeve, the song is listed to be 3:30 long, instead of its actual length of 8:28. This was deliberately done to garner more play on the radio. At the time, it was almost unheard of to hear a song over five minutes long, let alone eight! The trick to get DJs to play the song apparently worked, as it is one of the band’s most popular songs and was a traditional closer to the band’s early concerts.
“Brain Damage”/“Eclipse”
By: Pink Floyd
Off the album: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
These two songs combine for one of the most emotional pieces of music ever written. As a fan favorite, many have attempted to discover the true meaning of the song’s lyrics, especially the line, “and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon.” While many thought this was a riddle, bassist and vocalist Rodger Waters thought that he had spelled it out to everyone. Basically, it means that we can take advantage of all the great things this world, but we can easily lose them because of the darker intentions of people. As one of many people who were interviewed by the band about the concept of “the dark side of the moon,” Abbey Road Studios doorman Gerry O’Driscoll gave the classic line, “There is no dark side in the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark.” While that gives a bleak view on the world, I wish what he said after was included in the track as well. “The only thing that makes it look light is the sun.” Considering everything we just spoke about, that’s deep.
By: Led Zeppelin
Off the album: Led Zeppelin I (1969)
Here’s another one to add to the list of putting the longest song on the album as the closer! Although when the song was first released, not many people knew that. On the original album sleeve, the song is listed to be 3:30 long, instead of its actual length of 8:28. This was deliberately done to garner more play on the radio. At the time, it was almost unheard of to hear a song over five minutes long, let alone eight! The trick to get DJs to play the song apparently worked, as it is one of the band’s most popular songs and was a traditional closer to the band’s early concerts.
“Brain Damage”/“Eclipse”
By: Pink Floyd
Off the album: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
These two songs combine for one of the most emotional pieces of music ever written. As a fan favorite, many have attempted to discover the true meaning of the song’s lyrics, especially the line, “and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon.” While many thought this was a riddle, bassist and vocalist Rodger Waters thought that he had spelled it out to everyone. Basically, it means that we can take advantage of all the great things this world, but we can easily lose them because of the darker intentions of people. As one of many people who were interviewed by the band about the concept of “the dark side of the moon,” Abbey Road Studios doorman Gerry O’Driscoll gave the classic line, “There is no dark side in the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark.” While that gives a bleak view on the world, I wish what he said after was included in the track as well. “The only thing that makes it look light is the sun.” Considering everything we just spoke about, that’s deep.
“The Medley”
By: The Beatles
Off the album: Abbey Road (1969)
Is there anything about this album I haven’t told you already? This 16-minute, eight-song-long epic is one of the most amazing pieces of music history and you should be ashamed of yourself if you’re a music fan and haven’t given this whole album a listen. Get to it!
«Go back to the previous page.By: The Beatles
Off the album: Abbey Road (1969)
Is there anything about this album I haven’t told you already? This 16-minute, eight-song-long epic is one of the most amazing pieces of music history and you should be ashamed of yourself if you’re a music fan and haven’t given this whole album a listen. Get to it!