Stupid Dream Theater factoids.

[hefdaddy42]

Youngest brother Randy Jackson joined the group and they released one official album as The Jacksons, titled Victory.  It is the only album with all six Jackson brothers.

It's actually a pretty good album.  It's like The Jackson Five updated for the 80's.

Torture

[gzarruk]

Anyways, semantic issues aside, my point was that six!!! members of the same band share names.. You don't see that very often..

Just realized this, but Megadeth has more:

- 2 Davids (Ellefson and Mustaine)
- 3 Chris (Poland, Broderick and Adler)
- 2 James (LoMenzo and MacDonough)
- 2 Jimmys (DeGrasso and Lee Sloas, who played on one album)

And there might be more that I missed

[Orbert]

Youngest brother Randy Jackson joined the group and they released one official album as The Jacksons, titled Victory.  It is the only album with all six Jackson brothers.

It's actually a pretty good album.  It's like The Jackson Five updated for the 80's.

Torture

The way I worded that description was horrible.  Randy had joined the group years earlier, and The Jackson Five became The Jacksons because Jermaine was pursuing his solo career full-time and had left the group.  With Randy, they were back up to five, but it kinda made more sense to continue calling themselves The Jacksons, especially if you didn't know how many of them there would be from one album to the next.

Victory is, however, the only album with all six Jacksons as full-time members, as Jermaine had officially returned to the group.  Michael's solo career was going full throttle by this point, and by time the follow-up 2300 Jackson Street came out, Michael and Marlon had both left the band, though they appear on the title track.  The group officially disbanded after 2300 Jackson Street.

[Architeuthis]

I just realized that it's been just a little passed 34 months since The Astonishing was released. It has 34 tracks.. 

[Orbert]

That's Astonishing. 

[ToT-147]

100% DT factoid:

-They've never released songs with the following amount of minutes:

0 (not counting the nomac tracks)
15
17
18
20
21
25-41
43-~

Now that they've released the tracks' length for DoT, we can confirm no harm has been done to this very transcendent DT fact.. (?)

[IDontNotDoThings]

The deluxe version of the new album DOT has been confirmed to be 10 tracks and 60:51.

Co-incidentally, this is the exact same length and track count as the Mars Volta album Deloused In The Comatorium.

[Orbert]

Someone needs to write a piece on all the parallels between Distance Over Time and Deloused In The Comatorium.  Track by track, section by section, lyrics, musical hooks, everything.  Bonus points for doing this before anyone's actually heard the album yet.

[IDontNotDoThings]

Someone needs to write a piece on all the parallels between Distance Over Time and Deloused In The Comatorium.  Track by track, section by section, lyrics, musical hooks, everything.  Bonus points for doing this before anyone's actually heard the album yet.

Well, no-one wanted to do this, so I guess I'll do something.

*ahem*

-Both albums are progressive rock albums
-Both the standard DITC and the deluxe DOT have 10 tracks.
-Both the standard DITC and the deluxe DOT are 60 minutes and 51 seconds.
-Both albums have one bonus track
-Both albums have D and T in their acronyms
-Both albums have some form of a disembodied head facing sideways on the cover
-Both albums feature a lyricist not featured on any of the band's other albums (Jeremy Michael Ward and Mike Mangini)
-Both albums have their 7th track as the longest on the album
-Both albums have the closer as their second-longest track
-Both albums only have one song above the 9 minute mark
-Both albums are the second-shortest in the band's discographies
-Both albums are produced by the bands' guitarist
-DOT has a song called S2N (possibly "signal to noise") while DITC has a lot of intentional clipping

That's about all I could come up with 

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Well, no-one wanted to do this, so I guess I'll do something.

*ahem*

-Both albums feature a lyricist not featured on any of the band's other albums (Jeremy Michael Ward and Mike Mangini)

Holy crap - I've been a Volta fan for 13 years, but that one is new to me!
I just checked pictures of the vinyl credits on Discogs and, indeed, Jeremy helped with the lyrics!

I was confused because my CD didn't credit him. (In fact, Cedric is credited only a couple of songs, which always seemed weird to me.)
_____

If I may add:

-Both albums are the first by the respective band for a new label.
-Both albums have a song with the word "light" in its title.

[Orbert]

Wow, I wasn't even serious about the parallels thing (hopefully that was obvious), but of course DTF comes through with a shitton of them anyway! 

[Orbert]

-Both albums have some form of a disembodied head facing sideways on the cover

My favorite.

[dream75]

This is the first time that in DT album there are 4 songs under 5 minutes (excluding the concept)

[Rho d Berth]

Anyways, semantic issues aside, my point was that six!!! members of the same band share names.. You don't see that very often..

Just realized this, but Megadeth has more:

- 2 Davids (Ellefson and Mustaine)
- 3 Chris (Poland, Broderick and Adler)
- 2 James (LoMenzo and MacDonough)
- 2 Jimmys (DeGrasso and Lee Sloas, who played on one album)

And there might be more that I missed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kelly_Family

[Darkstarshades]

After this album, JR will probably have surpassed MP in total music time in DT, can anyone corroborate?

[krands85]

After this album, JR will probably have surpassed MP in total music time in DT, can anyone corroborate?

In terms of studio albums, he might already be ahead. MP had 4 albums before JR joined, but 2 of those were DTs shortest albums. JR has effectively had 4 albums since MP left, since The Astonishing was a double album. MP likely still ahead if you include ACOS.

[gzarruk]

After this album, JR will probably have surpassed MP in total music time in DT, can anyone corroborate?

In terms of studio albums, he might already be ahead. MP had 4 albums before JR joined, but 2 of those were DTs shortest albums. JR has effectively had 4 albums since MP left, since The Astonishing was a double album. MP likely still ahead if you include ACOS.

I did the math. Counting only studio albums and no extra official songs like ACOS, Raw Dog, demos, etc, we have:

MP era (from WDADU to BC&SL, 10 albums): 12 hours 15 minutes.
JR era (from SFAM to DOT, 10 albums): 13 hours 30 minutes.

[ToT-147]

Anyways, semantic issues aside, my point was that six!!! members of the same band share names.. You don't see that very often..

Just realized this, but Megadeth has more:

- 2 Davids (Ellefson and Mustaine)
- 3 Chris (Poland, Broderick and Adler)
- 2 James (LoMenzo and MacDonough)
- 2 Jimmys (DeGrasso and Lee Sloas, who played on one album)

And there might be more that I missed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kelly_Family

I was obviously talking about first names, but good effort..

[ToT-147]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think these are the only songs in which a backing vocalist sings alone (at first I didn't thought it would take me the time it took me to do this, probably because I didn't think about the MP and MP/JP combos ones.. Ok, so this should be it):


The Silent Man                             John Purdell

The Mirror                                   Mike Portnoy


Hollow Years                               Mike Portnoy/John Petrucci

Lines in the Sand                         Doug Pinnick


Fatal Tragedy                              Mike Portnoy/John Petrucci

Beyond This Life                          Mike Portnoy/John Petrucci

Home                                         Mike Portnoy/John Petrucci


The Glass Prison                          Mike Portnoy

Blind Faith                                  Mike Portnoy/John Petrucci

War Inside My Head                    Mike Portnoy


Full Circle                                   Mike Portnoy


Constant Motion                         Mike Portnoy

The Dark Eternal Night                Mike Portnoy

Repentance                                Mike Portnoy

Prophets of War                          Mike Portnoy and MP/JP

The Ministry of Lost Souls            John Petrucci

In the Presence of Enemies Pt 2   Mike Portnoy and MP/JP


A Nightmare to Remember           Mike Portnoy

The Shattered Fortress                Mike Portnoy

The Count of Tuscany                  Mike Portnoy



(I didn't consider Burning My Soul because I don't know who does that/those voice/s, the two songs in which Theresa Thomason participated because she doesn't really sing any lyrics, and ARoP because the "brothahood" and "fight" are just not singing at all)

[MirrorMask]

I hope some day Jordan Rudess gets added to that list. He has a nice voice that would be perfect for minimal interactions with James, such as JP does in Ministry of the Lost Souls.

[Darkstarshades]

The lack of any singing and lyric contributions from JR to DT given what he does in his solo albums is simply beyond me.

[AboutToCrash]

At Wits End is the first DT song in at the 9-9:59 range since Misunderstood, nearly 17 years ago

[erwinrafael]

The most popular Dream Theater  individual song in iTunes?

HOLLOW YEARS

Go figure.

[CDrice]

The most popular Dream Theater  individual song in iTunes?

HOLLOW YEARS

Go figure.

Well it's a nice song and it's accessible for the non fans of the band. So I guess it makes sense... maybe?

[Setlist Scotty]

Another random (and stupid) DT factoid:
Erotomania has never been played in full without Voices being played immediately after.

Also, here is a breakdown of how many DT shows each band member has performed (not including dates from the upcoming tour), according to my personal records:
JP/JM: 1563
JL: 1534
MP: 1143
JR: 1105
MM: 420
DS: 232
KM: 226
CC: 15
CD: 12
SS: 1

[TAC]

SS: 1

Setlist Scotty?

[gzarruk]

I never imagined Chris Collins did more shows with the band than Charlie

[IDontNotDoThings]

MM: 420

[MirrorMask]

So Jordan on the next tour is gonna surpass Portnoy?

He will forever be one of the most historically members of the band, one of the founding, and his name will always be tied to DT's history, but when it will come down to hard, heartless numbers, at the end of DT's carrer Portnoy's presence will be.... I won't say a footnote because it's too much exagerated, but still, the two Johns, James and Jordan will all have more albums, more shows, more years, more everything in the band that MP actually did.

[Setlist Scotty]

SS: 1

Setlist Scotty?

  I was wondering if somebody was gonna say that! Nope - Steve Stone.

He will forever be one of the most historically members of the band, one of the founding, and his name will always be tied to DT's history, but when it will come down to hard, heartless numbers, at the end of DT's carrer Portnoy's presence will be.... I won't say a footnote because it's too much exagerated, but still, the two Johns, James and Jordan will all have more albums, more shows, more years, more everything in the band that MP actually did.

While in terms of number of albums, years, shows, etc. that is true, he has surpassed them in other ways when you consider the amount of time, energy and work that he invested in the band. It'll still take a good amount of time before the other guys (aside from JP) will measure up to what MP did while in the band in terms of all the extra things he did.

[MirrorMask]

Oh well, I won't dispute that, that's why I stressed that it was all about the numbers only.

Take Michael Kiske with Helloween, for example: only 6 years in the band, 4 albums with them and 2 of them are loathed by the majority of the fanbase, but he will forever be remembered as Helloween's classic singer, even if his replacement, Andi Deris, was in the band for 24 years until his joint return. Numbers aren't everything.

[porcacultor]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think these are the only songs in which a backing vocalist sings alone (at first I didn't thought it would take me the time it took me to do this, probably because I didn't think about the MP and MP/JP combos ones.. Ok, so this should be it):

(...)

I know it wasn't the purpose of your post, but I was just noticing the other day how clearly you can tell it's JP doing backing vocals on Solitary Shell. Usually I think Portnoy used to be more upfront in the backing vocal department, so it was nice to hear that it was truly JP on that during the pre-chorus part.

[ToT-147]

He will forever be one of the most historically members of the band, one of the founding, and his name will always be tied to DT's history, but when it will come down to hard, heartless numbers, at the end of DT's carrer Portnoy's presence will be.... I won't say a footnote because it's too much exagerated, but still, the two Johns, James and Jordan will all have more albums, more shows, more years, more everything in the band that MP actually did.

While in terms of number of albums, years, shows, etc. that is true, he has surpassed them in other ways when you consider the amount of time, energy and work that he invested in the band. It'll still take a good amount of time before the other guys (aside from JP) will measure up to what MP did while in the band in terms of all the extra things he did.

Since this is brought up, is worth mentioning that is very likely that all those extra things that MP did with and for the band were mainly due to his personality and obsessive–compulsive disorder..

I'm very grateful for what he and the rest of the guys did for this band.. But I just don't see more sacrifice in Portnoy than I see in Petrucci, LaBrie, Rudess or Myung regarding effort and investment for the band..

It is important how many things all of them did for the band, but that's not all that matters.. What matters (too) is why each one of them did what they did, and what it cost them..

[IDontNotDoThings]

DT Lyricist Contributions:
JP: 93 songs
MP: 22 songs
JLB: 13 songs
KM: 10 songs
JM: 9 songs
CD: 2 songs
MM: 1 song



(working out)
JP: 93 songs
4 from WDADU (AFIL, SS, TKH, TOWHTSTS)
4 from IAW (AD, TTT, M, UAGM)
TLF
5 from A (CIAW, IF, V, TSM, S)
5 from FII (YNM, PS, HY, LITS, TAMP)
5 from SFAM (R, TMW, BTL, THE, TSCO)
6 from SDOIT (M, TGD, ATC, SS, ATCR, LT)
3 from TOT (AIA, ES, ITNOG)
5 from O (TALW, TW, IWBY, PA, O)
5 from SC (all but CM, R, POW)
4 from BCASL (all but TSF, TBOT)
8 from ADTOE (all but FFH)
6 from DT12 (all but STR)
27 from TA
5 from DOT (UA, P, BW, S2N, PBD)

MP: 22 songs
1. Take The Time
2. The Mirror
3. A Change Of Seasons
4. New Millennium
5. Burning My Soul
6. Just Let Me Breathe
7. Strange Deja Vu
8. Home
9. Finally Free
10. The Glass Prison
11. War Inside My Head
12. The Test That Stumped Them All
13. Goodnight Kiss
14. This Dying Soul
15. Honor Thy Father
16. The Root Of All Evil
17. Never Enough
18. Octavarium (Full Circle / Intervals)
19. Constant Motion
20. Repentance
21. The Shattered Fortress
22. The Best Of Times

JLB: 13 songs
1. Caught In A Web
2. Anna Lee
3. One Last Time
4. Blind Faith
5. Disappear
6. Vacant
7. Sacrificed Sons
8. Octavarium (Medicate Awakening)
9. Prophets Of War
10. Far From Heaven
11. At Wit's End
12. Out Of Reach
13. Viper King

KM: 10 songs
1. Light Fuse And Get Away
2. Only A Matter Of Time
3. Pull Me Under
4. Take The Time
5. Surrounded
6. Wait For Sleep
7. To Live Forever
8. 6:00
9. Lie
10. Space Dye Vest

JM: 9 songs
1. Take The Time
2. Learning To Live
3. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
4. Trial Of Tears
5. Fatal Tragedy
6. Breaking All Illusions
7. Surrender To Reason
8. Fall Into The Light
9. S2N

CD: 2 songs (Status Seeker and Afterlife)

MM: 1 song (Room 137)

[Setlist Scotty]

Don't forget:
Another Won (JP)
Your Majesty (JP)
A Vision (KM)
Two Far (KM)
Vital Star (KM)
March of the Tyrant (JP)
Cry for Freedom (Chris Collins)
Afterlife (Chris Collins - original lyrics/vocal melodies)
Don't Look Past Me (JP)
Raise the Knife (MP)
Where Are You Now (JP)
The Way It Used to Be (JL)
Cover My Eyes (JP)
Speak to Me (JL)