Favorite "Rock" Instrumental

Cafe Society
1

For various values of “Rock”. Personally, the lyrics of a song are far more likely to hook me than the music, no matter how sublime. But even I appreciate a truly outstanding instrumental when it comes around.

Everyone knows (and most love) Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band. What’s not to love? But I think I like Little Martha even more.

Booker T and the MGs with Green Onions, selected by at least one person with way too much time on their hands as the best ever.

Black Mountain Side is a contender, particularly when paired with White Summer

I can still remember the first time I put on a cassette of Master of Puppets and heard Orion, lo these many (many, sigh) years ago.

But the one that I listen to over and over. The one I can listen to until my ears bleed and never feel “Well, I’ve heard that enough,” is Chanty ** by Son Volt. It’s 1:28 that will stop, albeit briefly, whatever raging idiocy my mind has twisted itself into and force me to just listen.

Your favorites?

** While the others are all links to a studio version of the song in question on Youtube, I can’t find one for Chanty. This link goes to a Korean site with a 30 second clip that backs a Volkswagen TDI commercial. Which, in some ways is fitting, considering that’s where I first heard the song and spent months trying to track down the artist and title.

2

I’d seriously consider Tomoyasu Hotei’s Battle Without Honor or Humanityone of the greatest rock instrumentals of all time.

3

“Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Group.
“Pick Up the Pieces” by the Average White Band.
“Moby Dick” by Led Zeppelin.

For various values of “rock,” I’d also consider “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris and “Pipeline” by the Chantays.

And for instrumental regardless of genre, I’d have to mention the “Pink Panther” theme by Henry Mancini. Yeah, it’s not rock, but it’s still hella-cool.

4

I’d have to go with most of the Black Mages playlist. I especially like Those Who Fight Further. I have a couple of their CDs, and I’m thinking of buying some more.

5

So glad you asked. I once again have the honor of sharing with y’all my favorite piece of intrumental music. The late Mrs. Remains, shocked me by having this played for our first dance. “Black napkins” by Frank Zappa. This version is played by Franks son, Dweezil.

6

There’s so many:
*
Interstellar Overdrive* by Pink Floyd (from The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn)
Every Step Of The Way by Santana (from Caravanserai)
We Love You Lil by Eric Burdon And The Animals (from The Twain Shall Meet)
Peaches En Regalia by Frank Zappa (from Hot Rats)
Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun by M83 (from Before The Dawn Heals Us)
Calvary by Quicksilver Messenger Service (from Happy Trails) - if you allow the single cry of “Who did he think he was?”
Birdman of Alcatraz by Rick Wakeman (from Criminal Record)
Earth by The Third Ear Band (from The Third Ear Band)

To name but a few.

7

I like several of the songs already named.

John Frusciante’s 3 minute solo/coda at the end of the RHCPs’ Turn It Again is orgasmic. He said it was a tribute to Hendrix, and you can hear it.

Neil Young’s Emperor of Wyoming is perfect in every possible way.

So is Mark Knopfler’s Going Home from his Local Hero soundtrack.

8

YYZ by Rush

Transylvania by Iron Maiden

Asleep In The Desert by ZZ Top

9

I prefer Booker T & the MG’s “Time is Tight” to “Green Onions.”

The Red Elvises, “El Niño” reminds me of Dick Dale’s “Misirlou”, and both are great.

“Pipeline” by The Chanteys is a classic, with good reason. The Viscounts version of “Harlem Nocturne” is full of sax-y goodness, and Link Wray’s “Rumble” is menacing.

I have a fondness for “Lana’” by Tangerine Dream, from the* Risky Business *soundtrack.

Geez I love YouTube.

10

I was going to suggest Hocus Pocus by Focus, but it has yodeling.
So… only one real choice. Miserlou. It this case, Miserlou '95. I don’t think ‘hup hey’ disqualifies it.

Edit: Hi-5, Left Blank.

11

Also worth mentioning, both by Link Ray:
Rumble
Switchblade

Fun facts: A: Link Ray invented the power chord. B: Rumble was not allowed to be named on American Bandstand, as it was thought it might incite a riot.

12

FWIW, I’d count it. No words. I’d count “Tequila” as well, if someone were predisposed to nominate it. Shouting out one word, or “Yeah!”, or using voice as a instrument (non-verbal) doesn’t disqualify a song as an instrumental in my happy little world. I’m not the OP though.

13

One of my favourite styles of music is German cosmic music of the '70s, which is all instrumental (and usually very long). So there’s a a lot of Klaus Schulze’s and Tangerine Dream’s stuff that I like; for example, *Floating *by Klaus Schulze from Moondawn.

14

Beck’s Bolero

15

If we’re talking Jeff Beck, I’d go for Definitely Maybe or Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers.

16

As long as we’re talking Jeff Beck, I’m good.

17

If I could only pick one song of theirs, I would go with In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (this is live video shot at the Fillmore East in 1970).

18

The Brothers didn’t make any shitty music, but Elizabeth is my favorite, too.

The boundary crossings of these “nearly rock” things might appeal to some:

Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser

Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk (Parts 1 and 2)

19

The last time (or, at least, one of the times) this topic came up, I listed Whippin’ Post, and I think it was you Marley who corrected me by saying that it wasn’t an instrumental. This exemplifies a problem for me because, even now, I have to think hard to remember any singing; the playing is *so *good that the singing just becomes reduntant. So, in listing great instrumentals, I have to double check that there aren’t any vocals.

I’ll put in a vote for Elizabeth Reed, too.

20

There’s no doubt this is instrumental, maybe even “rock” but it has some purty pitchers!

Sandy Nelson - Teen Beat (1960)

And though you’d have to push your definition some, this played on the “rock” station back when I was getting my driver’s license: “Topsy Part I” Cozy Cole (Part II is nearby)