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...