It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago

It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago is an album by the Paul Motian Trio recorded in July 1984 and released on ECM March the following year. The trio features guitarist Bill Frisell and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano—the three had previously recorded together on Psalm (1982), The Story of Maryam (1984), and Jack of Clubs (1985) in Motian's quintet.

It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago
Studio album by Paul Motian
Released	1 March 1985[1]
Recorded	July 1984
Studio	Tonstudio Bauer Ludwigsburg, West Germany
Genre	Avant-garde jazz, free jazz, contemporary jazz
Length	39:40
Label	ECM 1283
Producer	Manfred Eicher
Paul Motian chronology
Jack of Clubs (1985) It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (1985) Misterioso (1987)

Reception

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek stated: "This is one of the finest recordings that came from ECM in the '80s. Paul Bley led another, which featured Motian and Frisell—as well as John Surman. This set is made of the kind of music that made Manfred Eicher's ECM such a force to be reckoned with. It placed three musicians in a context that was comfortable enough to make them want to sing to one another."^[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Tom Hull	B+ ()[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Motian

1. "It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago" - 6:06
2. "Fiasco" - 7:49
3. "Conception Vessel" - 4:31
4. "Introduction" - 3:05
5. "India" - 7:26
6. "In the Year of the Dragon" - 5:56
7. "Two Women from Padua" - 5:13

Personnel

Paul Motian Trio

• Paul Motian – drums
• Bill Frisell – guitar
• Joe Lovano – tenor saxophone