Iron Butterfly

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968) C+

You only care about Iron Butterfly for one album, and you only care about that album for one song. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is the archetypal Aquarian excess, the three minute single version is worthless, you need the song in its seventeen minute glory. It's never more than moderately engaging, although it does build to a climax that's the peak because it's the end. Before that you get solos of unexceptional musicianship and just enough melody to keep you awake. The achievement isn't length alone, but it's completely dependent on it, like watching a marathon. It's something you have to listen to once, if only to better appreciate one of Bart Simpson's finest pranks. (Homer: "Remember when we used to make out to this hymn?")