Ongoing History Daily: Album excesses

October 15, 2021 Alan Cross 0 Comments 0 min read

When it comes to releasing an album, most artists are fine with something of a standard length, something that can fill a single CD. However, there are those who believe they need to release a double album. Think Foo Fighters, the Smashing Pumpkins, and System of Down.

Then you have groups like the Clash who, in 1980, released the triple album, Sandinista. That’s gotta be the longest conventional physical album release in history, right? Well, no.

Throbbing Gristle, the British industrial pioneers, a collection called 24 Hours, which originally came as twenty-four one-hour cassettes. And a Japanese electronic dude who goes by the name Merzbow released a compilation that is fifty–that’s 50-CDs long.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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