The Vinyl Issue: Triple Albums

Three times the fun, because how could two ever be enough?

**GEORGE HARRISON **

All Things Must Pass (APPLE, 1970)

“He had all this emotion built up,” said Phil Spector. Kept to one or two tracks per record during his Beatle years, George revealed the depth of his frustration and genius with a 23 song explosion on rock’s first triple album.

YES

Yessongs (ATLANTIC, 1973)

Cloaked in Roger Dean’s fold-out artwork, _Yessongs _is a magnificently packaged live tribute to the behemoth of vintage-era Yes. When you make music as ambitious as Close To The Edge – which filled the whole of Side Five – sometimes the medium of CD is just too microscopic.

GODLEY & CREME

Consequences (MERCURY, 1977)

The more avant-garde faction of 10cc, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme made their first album as a duo not just a concept record. Not just a demonstration platform for the Gizmo guitar effect. But a triple album. It was a tale of meteorological disaster, divorce and a mystical musician.

THE BAND

The Last Waltz (WARNER BROS, 1978)

The Band’s “farewell” gig may sprawl across six sides of plastic, but it’s far from an over-indulgent live album. Each side checks in with a different roster of guests (Neils Young and Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters etc), while the third record boasts a side of Bob Dylan and Robbie Robertson’s studio recorded_ The Last Waltz Suite_ on the flip.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS

Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (VIRGIN, 1995)

A two-hour triple album seemed like prog folly during the heyday of Britpop. But Mellon Collie was a brilliant artistic statement – as emotive and exquisite as it was weighty and complex.

Classic Rock

Classic Rock is the online home of the world's best rock'n'roll magazine. We bring you breaking news, exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes features, as well as unrivalled access to the biggest names in rock music; from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Guns N’ Roses to the Rolling Stones, AC/DC to the Sex Pistols, and everything in between. Our expert writers bring you the very best on established and emerging bands plus everything you need to know about the mightiest new music releases.

Latest in
Foreigner at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2024
Foreigner will complete their Historic Farewell Tour with four different singers – and one of them has recorded Spanish versions of their hits
Linkin Park 2024
Linkin Park launch "the best song we've ever made" Up From The Bottom
Vera Farmiga in 2021
The Conjuring star Vera Farmiga announces debut album with her heavy metal band The Yagas
'Emo' Ed Sheeran busking
Watch Ed Sheeran cover Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club on the New York subway while disguised as an emo busker
A close-up shot of the Marshall Major IV on-ear headphones on a turquoise, blue and black background.
I’ve never seen the Marshall Major IV headphones this cheap before - get them for half price in Amazon’s big spring sale
Evanescence in 2025
Evanescence release new song Afterlife from Devil May Cry TV series soundtrack, have their next album in the works
Latest in Features
Tony Banks
“You only have to hear the opening sweep to reach for your lighter and wave it in the air”: Tony Banks' greatest Genesis moments
Rick Astley and Rick Wakeman
“Rick Wakeman’s solo albums were just brilliant… when I heard he was doing Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace, I bought 12 tickets”: Prog is the reason Rick Astley became a singer
Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Joe Strummer onstage
The greatest gig I've ever seen: 24 writers pick the most memorable live show of their lives
Marillion in 1984
From debauched prog revivalists to pioneers of the internet age: The Marillion albums you should definitely listen to
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
The Mars Volta
“My totalitarian rule might not be cool, but at least we’ve made interesting records. At least we polarise people”: It took The Mars Volta three years and several arguments to make Noctourniquet