“We never ever wanted a hit, so it was irrelevant”: Quantum Jump didn’t write the longest prog single, but they took the longest word in the dictionary to Number 5 via their 1979 track The Lone Ranger

Rupert Hine.

Jazz-rock band Quantum Jump had no interest in writing hit singles when they formed in 1973. Led by keyboardist and vocalist Rupert Hine – best known for producing Rush, Saga, Kevin Ayers and others – their musical interests lay elsewhere.

Nevertheless, they wound up at Number 5 in 1979 with their irreverent song The Lone Ranger, which is most memorable for featuring the longest word in the English dictionary: Taumata-whaka-tangi-hanga-kuayuwo-tamate-aturi-pukaku-piki-maungahoronuku-pokaiawhen-uaka-tana-tahu-mataku-atanganu-akawa-miki-tora.