Progressive Epics. Classical Suites. Extended Jazz Improvisations. Some songs are just long, y’know—a matinee feature all to themselves. In this ongoing series, MusicTAP presents the best of long-form musical accompaniment for your weekend moods.

Matinee Feature for the Weekend of September 15-16, 2018: “Concerto for a Rainy Day” by Electric Light Orchestra.

While “Mr. Blue Sky” has since attained ‘signature song’ status, it first arrived in 1977 as the final movement of the ambitious “Concerto for a Rainy Day,” which comprised the entirety of Side 3 of Electric Light Orchestra’s instant-classic Out of the Blue. Taken as a whole, the “Concerto” runs a gamut of emotions beset by intense weather phenomena. It also features the King of the Vocoder, Richard Tandy. If you’re ready to let a smile be your umbrella, Jeff Lynne & Co. have an album’s side of progressive pop perfection served up for you.

 

By Craig E. Bacon

Husband, Father, Philosopher, Music/Beer/Comics Enthusiast—Craig has written for The Prog Report and ProgRadar, and now serves as de facto progressive music editor for MusicTAP. Please direct interview requests & review submissions to [email protected]