{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox album | name = The Polite Force | type = Album | artist = Egg | cover = Polite force.jpg | alt = | released = February 1971 | recorded = May 1970 | studio = Morgan Studios, London | genre = Progressive rock | length = 42:20 | label = Deram | producer = Neil Slaven | prev_title = Egg | prev_year = 1970 | next_title = The Civil Surface | next_year = 1974 }} {{Music ratings | rev1 =Allmusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-polite-force-r6639/review | title = Egg The Polite Force review | accessdate = 2011-12-06 | last = Eder | first = Bruce | work = Allmusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation}}</ref> | rev2 =''Classic Rock'' | rev2Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Henderson | first1 = Paul | title = Classic Rock | chapter = Egg 'The Polite Force' | volume = 76 | publisher = Future Publishing Ltd | date = February 2005 | location = London, UK | pages = 102}}</ref> | noprose = yes }}
'''''The Polite Force''''' is the second album by British band Egg, released in February 1971.
== Music == ''The Polite Force'' employs lengthy song forms, and incorporates "serious classical influences," according to Bruce Eder of AllMusic. The sound has drawn comparisons to Emerson, Lake and Palmer. According to Eder: "Dave Stewart's organ playing is as aggressive and melodic as Keith Emerson's, and he accomplishes a lot with less in the way of high-speed histrionics."<ref name="allmusic.com">{{Citation |title=The Polite Force - Egg {{!}} Album {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-polite-force-mw0000261107 |access-date=2025-06-18 |language=en}}</ref> According to ''Classic Rock Magazine'': "How the hell do you explain Egg? Ludicrous, verging on pompous, as much as these Brits tried to avoid accusations of musical arrogance they were guilty as charged."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Dome |first=Malcolm |last2=Ewing |first2=Jerry |last3=Henderson |first3=Paul |last4=Bartonpublished |first4=Geoff |date=2021-09-30 |title=20 mostly brilliant but also ridiculous progressive rock albums |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/20-mostly-brilliant-but-also-ridiculous-progressive-rock-albums |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Louder |language=en}}</ref>
== Legacy == Bruce Eder of AllMusic wrote: "The album is diverting enough in its successful spots to carry the rest of it, but there are some missteps -- including one track dominated by guest horn players -- that were enough to keep this album from being a favorite, even among art-rock fanatics."<ref name="allmusic.com"/> ''Classic Rock'' called the album "a glorious example of being up your own arse."<ref name=":0" />
==Track listing==
{{Track listing | headline = Side One | title1 = A Visit to Newport Hospital | writer1 = Mont Campbell, Dave Stewart | length1 = 8:19 | title2 = Contrasong | writer2 = Campbell | length2 = 4:19 | title3 = Boilk | writer3 = Stewart | length3 = 9:15 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Side Two | title1 = Long Piece No. 3 — Part 1 | writer1 = Campbell | length1 = 5:07 | title2 = Long Piece No. 3 — Part 2 | writer2 = Campbell | length2 = 7:37 | title3 = Long Piece No. 3 — Part 3 | writer3 = Campbell | length3 = 5:02 | title4 = Long Piece No. 3 — Part 4 | writer4 = Campbell | length4 = 2:51 }}
The tracks all appear separately with spaces in between them on both the long playing record and the Compact Disc. On the original long playing record from Deram, "Long Piece No. 3" is listed with the four parts. A time of 20:42 is given as the overall length of the piece, with separate incremental lengths of time given for each of the parts. The reference to the side number and tracks therein is the same as the vinyl album. In turn, the compact disc has 7 tracks.
==Personnel== * Dave Stewart – organ, piano, tone generator, Mellotron * Mont Campbell – bass, vocals (1, 2); piano and organ on "Long Piece No. 3 - Part 1"; French horn on "Long Piece No. 3 - Part 2" * Clive Brooks – drums
===Guests=== * Henry Lowther – trumpet on "Contrasong" * Mike Davis – trumpet on "Contrasong" * Bob Downes – tenor saxophone on "Contrasong" * Tony Roberts – tenor saxophone on "Contrasong"
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.calyx-canterbury.fr/lyrics/egg/02.html Lyrics to ''The Polite Force'']
{{Egg}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Polite Force, The}} Egg albums Category:1971 albums Category:Deram Records albums