Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Sound and the Fury: Instrumentals- No Lyrics Please, Just Music...

Redartz:   Ah, music. It's great to just sit and listen, it's a vast improvement over silence as background to whatever you're doing. But sometimes, the lyrics to that music can be a bit distracting. Sometimes, it's nice to simply enjoy the instruments and the notes they produce. Hence today's look at instrumental music. 

Now obviously some genres lend themselves to instrumental performance more than others. Classical and jazz are two that come immediately to mind. And for our discussion this week, I don't intend to limit things; but for my contribution today, I'll stick to popular music. 

And that limitation still leaves a lot to cover. Our beloved Bronze age alone has produced quite a few memorable instrumental hits (and many great wordless tunes that don't classify as 'hits'). In fact, I referenced one of my favorites just last week: MFSB's "T.S.O.P."; also known as the theme to Soul Train. And yes, I know that the Three Degrees supply some fine singing towards the end, but the main focus of that incredible song is the rythem, the beat, the jazzy instrumentation. It's impossible to stay still while that song is playing. 

Another favorite of mine is "Rise" by Herb Alpert. Now that truly qualifies as a hit, as it topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in 1979. I'd liked Herb (and his Tijuana Brass) for years by then, as their records were some of the few contemporary artists my parents played when I was a kid. So hearing this auditory gem was like revisiting an old friend....



Several years earlier, another instrumental song made the top ten, and even higher on my personal playlist. Mike Oldfields' "Tubular Bells", aka the theme from the Exorcist. If you play the full album cut it eventually segues into Mr. Oldfield verbal introduction to a progression of instruments, but the 'single' version everyone recognizes has no words. It sure packs a punch...



Next up: a great album cut from the incredible Alan Parsons Project (from the lp "The Turn of a Friendly Card"). The APP have a number of instrumental songs amongst their repertoire, and this one is phenomenal; a highlight from that lp: "The Gold Bug"...



Finally, here's one more favorite of mine; one that may be a bit more obscure. A friend in college introduced me to both the artist and this song; a favor for which I'm eternally grateful. Gary Numan, and "I Nearly Married a Human"...




All right, the turntable is set. I started the playlist, the rest is up to you. Do like to skip the lyrics occasionally, and if so, what instrumental tunes make your list? Do you have any 'less well known' suggestions of some fine instrumentals? This week, let's let the music speak for itself, while we speak about it...

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here are some that come to mind:

Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis
Oxygene Part IV - Jean Michel Jarre
Magic Fly - Space
The Crunch - The Rah Band
Arrival - ABBA
Wonderful Land - Shadows
Heaven And Hell - Vangelis (theme from Carl Sagan's Cosmos TV series)
Stranger On The Shore - Acker Bilk
Albatross - Fleetwood Mac
The Floral Dance - Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band
Shepherd Moons - Enya
Storms In Africa - Enya
Annie's Song - James Galway (yes, originally by John Denver but Galway's instrumental version reached #3 in the UK singles chart in 1978)

Humanbelly said...

"Classical Gas" was surely a favorite back in the Bronze Age itself, yep?

I tend to be an easy mark for strong movie themes, and there are three right off the top of my head that never fail to bring me pure joy:

1) The march from "1941" (Theme was a lot better than the odd film, tbh-) I'll stop working to listen to this and march around and fist-pump and grin and conduct. . . and basically act an unrepentant fool. . . ha!

2) The theme/suite from "Quigley Down Under" (Basil Poledouris)-- pretty much the same as above.

3) The march from "The Great Escape"-- it exudes an extraordinary sense of energetic hope in a film where that same hope is hard to realize and sustain. It's a movie that (spoilers) does NOT end well for the vast majority of main characters. . . and yet you're left feeling oddly upbeat. . .

HB

Selenarch said...

It was a tad before my time, but I'd say David Axelrod's Song of Innocence fits as a good soundtrack to the 5 or 10 years that followed.

A lot of John Carpenter movie soundtracks are still pretty listenable and the trend to rediscover that synthesizer sound has produced some great new stuff as in the soundtrack to "It Follows."

Humanbelly said...

Y'know-- it's almost a side-topic, but I've always, always thought of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" as being an instrumental hit, rather than a song. It's just that the featured instrument happens to be her extraordinary voice. The entire song is basically the repetition of, what, two lines? Golly, I love that piece--- the chord stacking---

HB

Anonymous said...

Some Rock / Orchestral pieces:

‘Toccata’ by ELP — has always sounded like the soundtrack to an unfilmed LOTR battle sequence to me — maybe animated, with production design by Roger Dean — also ‘Karn Evil 9 Second Impression’

A completely different ‘Toccata’ by Sky

‘Joy’ by Apollo 100

‘Christmas Eve : Sarajevo” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

“Hocus Pocus” by Focus (if we don’t count the yodeling as lyrics)

And some Movie Music tracks:

John Barry — the Title Theme for ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (there’s a kick-ass rocked-up techno version by Propellerheads, too)

Also by Barry — Title Theme from THE BLACK HOLE

Toto’s DUNE score

Barry Adamson’s ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ and other awesome tracks from the LOST HIGHWAY soundtrack

And various tracks from Bernard Herrmann (ooh, those NORTH BY NORTHWEST titles), Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams of course, Basil Poledouris, Morricone, etc etc.

-b.t.

Anonymous said...


Oh, and two soundtrack cuts by Tangerine Dream : “Betrayal” from SORCERER and “Dr. Destructo” from THIEF

-b.t.

Steve Does Comics said...

Apart from the ones already mentioned, the first one that leaps to mind is Apache by The Shadows, featuring some of the greatest, twangiest guitar of all time.

Oh, and also, Going Home by Mark Knopfler.

Unknown said...

Vangelis - Blade Runner soundtrack
Various soundtrack music from Tangerine Dream, including The Dream is Always the Same from Risky Business.

I just purchased John Carpenter's Anthology soundtrack. So great.

Anonymous said...

"Casino Royale" and "A Taste of Honey" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

"Take Five" by Dave Brubeck

"Soul Sacrifice" by Santana (the studio version is awesome, but the live version from "Wodstock" is just otherworldly)

"Fire On High" by ELO at their ELO-iest

'Harlem Nocturne' by The Viscounts

"Love's Theme" by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra

"Theme From S.W.A.T." by Rhythm Heritage

"Theme from Hawaii Five O" by The Ventures

"James Bond Theme" by Moby

BUCKAROO BANZAI "End Titles"

- b.t.

Redartz said...

Wow, so many great references already! Thanks to all; you've given me many new suggestions to add to my 'intrumental' playlist...

Colin J- you named a bunch of winners, and several new to me. That Vangelis tune is quite nice; forgot that was used on "Cosmos". Also forgot about ABBA's "Arrival". Shame on me...

HB- nice reference to Donna Summer, and by extension her producer Georgio Moroder. He did the great instrumental theme for "Midnight Express" : "Chase". And I'd fully agree about "I Feel Love", and the surgically fine quality of Summer's vocals.

b.t.- YES! You mentioned John Barry, and specifically a Bond soundtrack! Barry's incredible score for "Thunderball" is a big part of why that film works so well. Magnificent.

Selenarch- thanks for highlighting John Carpenter's soundtracks. Will definitely have to refresh my musical memory there.

Steve DC- "Apache"; very cool. I too love that 'twangy guitar'...

Unknown- that Blade Runner soundtrack was incredible. Had that 'back in the day'; wish I'd kept it.

Graham said...

Lots of good tunes mentioned here, for sure. My favorite instrumental is "Green Onions," by Booker T & the M.G.'s. Just nice and greasy funk from a young bunch of Memphis kids that's as good now as it was in the early 60's.

mark said...



Another good one was the 2001 theme Also Sprach Zarathrustra version by Deodato, used so beautifully in Being There.

Charlie Horse 47 said...

Ok... early bronze...

Frankenstein by Edgar Winter Group

And, as a weird, slightly pre-bronze contribution...

The Beatles soloing in Abbey Road. Ringo's drum solo is famous! Even if he can't replicate it, lol!

Solid Bronze...

Rockit by Herbie Hancock!

Edo Bosnar said...

Just remembered one of my favorite instrumental albums ever: Fresh Aire III by Mannheim Steamroller.

Disneymarvel said...

As a big fan of jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, 2 of his hits that made it into main public listening were:

1. The Theme from Rocky - which he says put his kids through college after breaking into the Top 40;
2. Give It One - Which was used for at least one season as the theme for St. Louis Cardinals Baseball radio broadcasts;

The Jazz/Rock group Chicago has many jazz riffs in many instrumental songs that I continue to love.

Edo Bosnar said...

My comment from earlier today disappeared...

Redartz said...

Mark- that Deodato cut is wonderful (and triggers memories of 7th. Grade).

Edo- Mannheim Steamroller (and Trans Siberian Orchestra) are frequently played at our house during the holidays. As to your missing comment, I'll see what I can do...

Disneymarvel- many thanks for mentioning Chicago. I've heard much of their work, but don't recall any instrumentals. Now I'll have to look harder...

Humanbelly said...

Oh wow-- plumbing jr high-era memories brought up another (earlier) one that would fit into the I FEEL LOVE sub-category: HOCUS POCUS (by Focus). And then of course it's B-side, HOCUS POCUS 2 (by Focus). I think it was kind of a minor hit over here in the states, yeah? Northern European band that played a REALLY fast (albeit unconventional) rock riff-- and the vocals were a combination of yodeling and a bit of scat. Am I describing that correctly? Anyone remember them?

In retrospect, I couldn't even say it was "good", y'know? But boy does it carry an aura of fondness with it, that record. . . heh

HB

Anonymous said...

I've remembered some more instrumentals:

In Dulci Jubilo - Mike Oldfield (this is one of my favourite Christmas pop tunes but I still forgot about it in my earlier list, D'OH!)

Children - Robert Miles (apparently this was a tribute to all the young people killed in traffic accidents on Europe's roads)

Telstar - Tornadoes (Margaret Thatcher said this was one of her favourite tunes!)

Doop - Doop (this 1920s-style tune was #1 in the UK singles chart for 3 weeks in 1994)

Fanfare For The Common Man - originally by Aaron Copeland but it was also a hit for Emerson, Lake & Palmer, reaching #2 in the UK in 1977.

Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss, but famously used in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Edo Bosnar said...

Don't know if my first comment yesterday disappeared because I had too many links in it, but here it is again, sans links (they're easy enough to find on YouTube by typing in the artist and track title), to the best of my memory:

The main theme to The Warriors

Rush: La Villa Strangiato and YYZ

Daft Punk: Da Funk (I know it's not everyone's taste, but I just love it)

Frank Zappa's Hot Rats - the entire album (there's only vocals on one track, Willie the Pimp, by the incomparable Captain Beefheart). Probably my favorite Zappa album.

And HB, I agree with you about Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", i.e. I think of it as an instrumental piece as well. In that regard, I'd recommend giving a listen to "We Have Heaven" by Yes (from my favorite album of theirs, Fragile). It's just a bunch of overlaid vocals by Jon Anderson. Also on that same album are two short instrumentals that I also love: "Cans and Brahms" and "The Fish."
That latter track leads me to the guitar-playing virtuosity of Steve Howe. Do yourself a favor, and find any YouTube video of him playing "The Clap" and "Mood for a Day" (two tracks from the earlier days of Yes) or "Sketches in the Sun." Or really, any concert footage of him (there's some good ones from the Montrose Jazz Festival in particular).
And don't get me started on jazz, or I could just go on making endless lists of stuff I love by, say, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, The Modern Jazz Quartet or Branford Marsalis. I'll just leave this one recommendation, since I see the whole album is posted on YouTube: Sketches of Spain - by Miles Davis, in collaboration with Gil Evans.

Anonymous said...

"Take It Off The Top" and "Odyssey" by Dixie Dregs

- b.t.

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