# Best instrumentals of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043 "2002-11-03T00:46:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/21 "2002-11-03T13:56:22Z")
I agree with **HenrySpencer** about the Dirty Three. I’d add _moya_ and _the dead flag blues_ by Godspeed You Black Emperor. and there’s plenty plenty plenty by Tortoise that I like. In the Jazz genre, _the Midget_ by Art Blakey is my favourite. I like wanky post-rock music. Go me! ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/22 "2002-11-03T14:33:13Z")
Focusing on pop and rock: 1. Samba pa ti - Santana 2. Albatross - Fleetwood Mac 3. Equinoxe II - Jean Michel Jarre 4. Focus III - Focus 5. Europe - Santana ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/23 "2002-11-03T15:39:53Z")
:eek: No mention of Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/24 "2002-11-03T15:50:42Z")
Take Five Green Onions 🙂 Pipeline Walk, Don’t Run Jerusalem Ridge (Bluegrass, by Kenny Baker) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/25 "2002-11-03T15:55:28Z")
Popcorn - Hot Butter Theme from Mission Impossible - Lilo Schiffrin ---
**Author:** ![koawala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@koawala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koawala)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/26 "2002-11-03T18:58:06Z")
In The Hall Of The Mountain King is by Edvard Grieg Ride Of The Valkyries is by Richard Wagner to correct post by Derleth ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/27 "2002-11-03T19:34:49Z")
_Duelin’ Banjos_ _Orange Blossom Special_ ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/28 "2002-11-03T20:00:56Z")
Some instrumentals that come to mind and have not been mentioned yet: For modern era: _Funeral for a Friend_ by Elton John _Is There Anybody Out There?_ by Pink Floyd Classical: _Tocatta and Fugue_ by J. S. Bach Latin: _Mediterranean Sundance_ by Al di Meola ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/29 "2002-11-03T20:01:27Z")
Since bluegrass made it into the thread already (Thanks, **JCofM**!) I’ll nominate _Orange Blossom Special_, as done by Vassar Clements. And Bach did wonderful things with an organ. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/30 "2002-11-03T20:08:29Z")
Some instrumentals that come to mind and have not been mentioned yet: For modern era: _Funeral for a Friend_ by Elton John _Is There Anybody Out There?_ by Pink Floyd Classical: _Tocatta and Fugue_ by J. S. Bach Latin: _Mediterranean Sundance_ by Al di Meola ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/31 "2002-11-03T20:14:35Z")
Some instrumentals that come to mind and have not been mentioned yet: For modern era: _Funeral for a Friend_ by Elton John _Is There Anybody Out There?_ by Pink Floyd Classical: _Tocatta and Fugue_ by J. S. Bach Latin: _Mediterranean Sundance_ by Al di Meola ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/32 "2002-11-03T20:31:39Z")
Since bluegrass made it into the thread already (Thanks, **JCofM**!) I’ll nominate _Orange Blossom Special_, as done by Vassar Clements. And Bach did wonderful things with an organ. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/33 "2002-11-03T20:35:16Z")
Since bluegrass made it into the thread already (Thanks, **JCofM**!) I’ll nominate _Orange Blossom Special_, preferably as done by Vassar Clements. (And on preview I see that **samclem** beat me to it. And Bach did wonderful things with an organ. ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Brad\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/34 "2002-11-03T21:49:43Z")
Dream (live), by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Right? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/35 "2002-11-03T21:57:20Z")
Off-topic, but actually imprtant. If you don’t want to double/triple post, follow one rule: When you hit “submit reply” , YOU JUST POSTED. YOUR POST WENT THROUGH. Don’t believe anything the board or your browser tells you after you post. DON’T hit refresh. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/36 "2002-11-03T22:11:22Z")
**Afternoon of a Faun** – Debussy \*\* Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor Op.13\*\* ("Pathetique) Several excerpts from **Carmen** (when done instrumentally) **"The Aquarium"** from _Carnival of the Animals_ **Pavane for a Dead Princess** **Ruby** (also like it in vocal) **Stella By Starlight** **Honky Tonk, pt. 2** **Raunchy** ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/37 "2002-11-03T22:34:22Z")
This is a thread that is suffering significantly from the lack of mention of the **Alan Parsons Project** : “Fall of the House of Usher” from _Tales of Mystery and Imagination_ “Nucleus” from _I, Robot_ (the spacey trippy one that fades into “Day After Day”) “In the Lap of the Gods” from _Pyramid_ “Lucifer” from _Eve_ ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/38 "2002-11-04T01:09:35Z")
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice - Paul Dukas…? ---
**Author:** ![TheTailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@TheTailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheTailor)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/39 "2002-11-04T01:25:19Z")
These seem to me a bit away from all the current posts, but I’d go with the last 2 minutes of “November Rain” by Guns and Roses, and “Only in Dreams” by Weezer ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2002, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043/40 "2002-11-04T03:52:52Z")
I love G 'n R as much as the next guy, but **BEST INSTRUMENTAL OF ALL TIME???** Jesus, get out more dude. I’ll nominate; Barber’s _Adagio for Strings_ Beethoven _Symphony No. 7_ & _Piano Concerto No. 5_ Miles Davis _Freddy Freeloader_ Duke Ellington _The Far East Suite_ and Oscar Peterson _Happy-Go-Lucky Local_ It swings baby, Yeah! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-instrumentals-of-all-time/135043.md?page=3)