[Fiji Hill]

The most complex pop song of all time? Hardly. Using dynamics, tempo changes, instrumental solos, etc., Paul Whiteman waxed some sophisticated discs that were very pleasing to the ear.

Together--Paul Whiteman & His Concert Orchestra (1928)

Night & Day--Paul whiteman & His Concert Orchestra (1933)

[chajin]

Using dynamics, tempo changes, instrumental solos, etc., Paul Whiteman waxed some sophisticated discs that were very pleasing to the ear.

Let's be fair: practically anything from the post-Cohan Broadway era is more complex than practically anything from the 21st century pop-[c]rap music industry, and that includes Inka Dinka Doo, Celery Stalks at Midnight, and Open The Door, Richard, much less practically anything by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Lerner/Lowe, or Rodgers/Hammerstein--or the two best students of Darius Milhaud, Brubeck and Bacharach.

[a fool in paradise]

Pop? Those are oldies. ;P

< /sarc >

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

Good post! Listened to "Together", it is complex. Not so sure of the complexity of chords played by the entire ensemble, but a good example of how key changes don't need to be limited to just one or two.

Once upon a time I recorded multitrack vocals of only me doing barber shop (9th, 11th, and 13th chord) harmony's like the Anderson sisters just for the humor of it.