4 Epic ’70s Songs That Prove We Can Handle More Than 3 Minutes

In the early days of radio, songs were short and sweet—usually under three minutes. But by the mid-1960s, things began to change. Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” hit the charts in 1965, breaking the mold with a track that lasted over six minutes. This gave other artists the confidence to stretch the boundaries, and by the 1970s, it wasn’t surprising for a hit song to be a longer, more elaborate piece.

The key wasn’t the song length itself—it was how the music evolved. If a song could hold the listener’s attention, it had the potential to become a classic. Here are four epic ’70s tracks that prove our attention spans are longer than we think.

“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” – The Temptations
One of the longest tracks in Motown history, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” runs over 12 minutes—but honestly, it could go on for hours and still keep listeners hooked. The deep groove, laid down by The Funk Brothers, builds a powerful foundation. When the vocals finally come in—almost four minutes into the track—they deliver a heavy dose of raw emotion.

The song tells the heartbreaking story of a son seeking the truth about his estranged father and his mother’s brutally honest answers. It’s a tale of loss and betrayal, yet the rhythm and soul somehow make you want to dance. No wonder it remains one of the most iconic songs to come out of Hitsville U.S.A.

“Mountain Jam” – The Allman Brothers Band
“Mountain Jam” is another 1970s epic that showcases the power of an extended jam session. Its roots trace back to a 1969 improvisation at the Fillmore East, where Duane Allman, Jerry Garcia, and Peter Green were caught jamming by legendary promoter Bill Graham. That initial riff evolved into what became “Mountain Jam”—a track that stretches over 33 minutes.

Released on the Eat a Peach album, the song is a true showcase of instrumental prowess. Based on Donovan’s “There Is a Mountain,” it features extended guitar solos and spontaneous improvisation. With talent like Allman, Garcia, and Green, you can keep a jam going longer than any sitcom episode—and no one’s complaining.

“2112” – Rush
Rush’s “2112” is a perfect example of how a long song can still find massive popularity. Clocking in at 20 minutes, the track is a multi-part progressive rock journey. By the time the band released 2112 in 1976, album-oriented radio was thriving, and listeners were more than willing to immerse themselves in an extended musical odyssey.

The song opens with “Overture” and “The Temples of Syrinx,” which were even released as a standalone single. But the full 2112 experience, including five additional sections, is a masterclass in complex arrangements and ambitious storytelling.

“Kashmir” – Led Zeppelin
“Kashmir” might not be as long as some of the other songs on this list, but it delivers the same epic, larger-than-life energy that defines Led Zeppelin’s legacy. Running at just over eight minutes, the track shows that a song doesn’t have to be 20 or 30 minutes long to feel monumental.

Jimmy Page lays down a droning, hypnotic guitar pattern that’s become one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history. This riff serves as the backbone of the entire track, which flows through shifting time signatures and rich layers of instrumentation. The result feels like a journey through multiple sonic landscapes—always moving forward, yet never quite arriving. It’s immersive, cinematic, and undeniably Zeppelin.