Lists

Top 10 Two-Parter Songs

By Brent Chittenden

It’s hard to write one good song. Try it some time. What’s even harder is writing two good songs. Especially two good songs that go together. That flow into one another. These are songs that more often than not, get played back to back on the radio or it’s one song in two different parts.  So thanks to our loyal reader Norm Dykstra – Swain’s suggestion, we have the Top Ten Two Parters of All Time!

10) Jane’s Addicition & Diamanda Galas – Sex is Violent

Taken from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack, this is almost a mash up of the JA classic Ted, Just Admit It and Diamanda’s take on the classic I Put A Spell On You. But both songs are in two distinct parts until the very end of the track but yet very complimentary.

9) The Kings – The Beat Goes On / Switchin’ to Glide

I’ve never really noticed that this Canadian rock radio staple was a two parter until Norm pointed it out.

8) Slipknot – Vermillion parts 1 & 2

While never played together, this two songs are two parts of a whole, or at least it seems when you play them back to back.

7) Nine Inch Nails – A Warm Place / Eraser

Not explicitly a two part song but they just flow into one another so well that I had to include them on this list.

6) Led Zeppelin – Heartbreaker / Living Loving Maid

I love how Heartbreaker is kind of the heavy rock blues number and then it segues into Living Loving Maid and ups the tempo a bit.

5) Pink Floyd – Time / Great Gig In The Sky

Okay this is sort of a cheat as there is also a reprise of Breathe in here as well but on most classic rock radio you hear Time and Great Gig In The Sky together. To be fair, the entirety of Darkside of the Moon does pretty much demand to be played in one sitting.

4) The Guess Who – No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature

This is what happens when Burton Cummings has a song in the key of F# and Randy Bachman has another song in the same key but both are a little too short for an LP.

3) Queen – We Will Rock You / We Are The Champions

Got to hand it to Queen. Not only did they right two songs that  are rock standards but both have become huge anthems for sporting events.

2) Rush – Overture / The Temples of Syrinx

While like Darkside of the Moon, you should probably sit down and listen to the entire 2112 album at once, Overture and The Temples of Syrinx have to played together.

1) The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / With A Little Help From My Friends

It’s almost impossible to imagine these songs apart since they are so intertwined with one another.

 

What songs did I miss? What other two parts should have been included? If you have a list sugestion you want us to cover, by all means leave your ideas in the coment box below or drop us an email!

Brent Chittenden

Brent Chittenden is a freelance writer with a gift for the geek. Currently a writer with A Journal Of Musical Things and a podcaster with True North Nerds, he's also written for Comic Book Daily, Explore Music and a dozen other places. Currently, he is the co-host of the True North Nerds podcast. You can find out more at www.facebook.com/bcchittenden

Brent Chittenden has 195 posts and counting. See all posts by Brent Chittenden

10 thoughts on “Top 10 Two-Parter Songs

  • the easy one is Tools Wings for Marie Pt.1 & 2. but most songs tool make have a opening track before the opening of the 2nd track. parabol/parabola

    Reply
  • How about The Load Out and Stay by Jackson Browne?

    Reply
  • My favourites are
    1)Need You Tonight-Mediate from INXS
    and
    2) BrainStew-Jaded by green day
    3) Paranoid Android – Radiohead

    and the ultimate would be
    4) Ok Computer-In Rainbows 0110 – Radiohead's epic decade long mix.

    Reply
  • How about instrumentals within a song that are long and different enough to pass for another song?

    Layla – Derek & The Dominos
    MacArthur Park – Richard Harris
    I Am The Resurrection – Stone Roses
    I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home) – Grand Funk Railroad (OK there's lyrics, but still sounds like a separate song)

    Reply
  • My favorite would be Metallica the unforgiven part 1, 2&3
    That is all.

    Reply
  • Travelin man–Beautiful loser by Bob Seger

    Reply
  • Boston – Foreplay/Longtime

    Reply
  • “Feeling that Way” and “Anytime” by Journey

    Reply
  • Shawn Desman; Electric & Night Like This

    Reply
  • INXS; Need You Tonight & Mediate
    George Michael; I Need Your Sex Parts 1 & 2

    Reply

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