# Good Instrumental Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2001, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096 "2001-01-28T06:20:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sxyzzx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sxyzzx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sxyzzx)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2001, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/21 "2001-01-28T19:56:25Z")
Anything by these artists: Apocalyptica Blue Man Group Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet Raymond Scott and the _Music for TV Dinners_ albums ---
**Author:** ![Elkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Elkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elkman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2001, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/22 "2001-01-28T20:16:14Z")
My favorites… everything they’ve recorded – Ventures Stick Shift – The Duals Trans Europe Express – Kraftwerk (mostly instrumental, a few words spoken) Theme music from Pulp Fiction everything he’s done – Henri Mancini ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/23 "2001-01-29T05:27:57Z")
the theme song from Top Gun – Anthem I think it’s called ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/24 "2001-01-29T06:06:03Z")
Zenster, great list. Sxyzzx, I’ve heard three out of those four and they’re brilliant, I may have to check out Apocalyptica. Let me add: _Jonny Quest Theme_ as played by The Reverend Horton Heat on a colleciton of cartoon theme song covers. Unfortunately, it segues into _Stop that Pigeon_, but that first minute-and-a-half just screams. _Maple Leaf Rag_ and _Solace_ by Scott Joplin. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/25 "2001-01-29T06:45:17Z")
So many of you have made comment upon my music list that I am obliged to say one thing… _ **H** appy **B** irthday_… to all of you. As I mentioned, the pieces I listed are ones that changed my life. I am able to play more than a few of them on my own instruments. I hope that you would take the time to listen to them as well. None of them will disappoint you. I have left out so many other artists, such as Andre Segovia, Django, Miles, Art Blakey, Dave Grisman, the list is endless. So sad to think that so many of the names are unknown. To all of you I offer this; Email me and I will send you a file of any of the above songs. Your curiosity will be rewarded. I cannot stress the importance of _pure_ music in my life and I hope it plays some part in yours. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/26 "2001-01-29T06:52:19Z")
The preceeding was my 2,600[sup]th[/sup] post and I am unable to think of a more suitable topic for such a replete number. All of you rock! ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/27 "2001-01-29T10:00:48Z")
Tortoise! I forgot Tortoise. Tortoise rock in all kinds of ways. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/28 "2001-01-29T10:57:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grok \* > **Check out the Red Elvises. They have a number of fantastic instrumentals, some originals and some covers. I think their best is “El Nino” which is on the album “I Want to See You Bellydance”.** The **Red Elvises** _ROCK!!!_ Also try: ‘Leave that thing alone’ and ‘La Villa Strangiato’ by **Rush** ‘D is for Dangerous’ and ‘Psychobilly Freakout’ by **The Reverend Horton Heat** (they have at least one instrumental on each album) And of course, **Stevie Ray Vaughn** ’s version of ‘Little Wing’. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/29 "2001-01-29T13:00:59Z")
_Linus and Lucy_ by Vince Guaraldi. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/30 "2001-01-29T13:44:26Z")
Anything by **Leo Kottke** , especially _Accordian Bells, Little Shoes, William Powell_ Anything by **Miles Davis**. Anything. ---
**Author:** ![DZ42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@DZ42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZ42)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/31 "2001-01-29T16:09:54Z")
“YYZ”, “La Villa Strangiato”, and a couple others from **Rush**. “Slave to the Traffic Light”, “You Enjoy Myself” + almost anything live from **Phish** “Los Endos”, “Duke’s Travels/Duke’s End” + more from **Genesis** Just a few off the top of my head. oh yeah…“Tiger Tiger” (I think - been a while) from **Duran Duran** (don’t laugh - it’s good) ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/32 "2001-01-29T16:50:54Z")
Well, since **Duran Duran** got thrown in here, I feel safe in adding _#34_ by the **Dave Matthews Band**. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by bibliophage_ > **I have always been partial to the Eagles’ “Journey of the Sorcerer” from the album One of These Nights.** Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral Arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_Hat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f0a364/32.png) [@Bad\_Hat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_Hat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/33 "2001-01-29T17:42:16Z")
British Band called Badly Drawn Boy has an album out called the Hour Of Bewilderbeast, which is nearly half instrumentals, randing from waltz balladly stuff to noisy electronic/sample based tracks. I’m very hight on them right now in general. Highly reccomended. ---
**Author:** ![kid\_charlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@kid\_charlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kid_charlemagne)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/34 "2001-01-29T18:25:48Z")
Testify, So Excited and Rude Mood - Stevie Ray Vaughan Walk Don’t Run - Ventures Classical Gas - Mason Williams In Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Bros. Europa and Samba Pa Ti - Santana Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin Trane and Kind of Bird - Gov’t Mule Afro Blue - John Coltrane ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/35 "2001-01-30T00:50:33Z")
**Magnum Opus** - Kansas **Hocus Pocus** - Focus, also the cover by Gary Hoey pretty much anything else by Gary Hoey **Communication Breakdown** - cover of the Led Zepplin song by Jeff Healey **Rodeo** and **Common Man** - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (dunno what Aaron Copeland’s reaction would be to those particular adaptations, but I like them) That Jethro Tull song with the flute solo (is that **Bouree** , Zenster?) **Frankenstein** - Edgar Winter Group ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/36 "2001-01-30T01:28:33Z")
What a list you people have compiled! I see I’ll be busy on Napster tonight 😉 Most of what I’d recommend has already been posted, but I’d also add: **Riviera Paradise** and **Little Wing** Stevie Ray Vaughn **1969** Jack Falk Project **Footprints** by anyone, but I like the version by String Cheese Incident **Manhattan** and **Trademark** Eric Johnson **Freeway Jam** and **The Pump** Jeff Beck **Flor D’Luna** Santana **Miles And Miles** Mahavishnu Orchestra ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/37 "2001-01-30T01:32:16Z")
Being a primarily instrumental musician I can vouch for Zenster’s list ~ Great Stuff. For instrumental guitar rock and rollish stuff try tunes from Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen–(awesome player, but I get tired of him after one song) Jeff Beck, Santana … Kewl rockin’ g-tar stuff w/ lyrics: Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ozzy Osborne (specifically w/ Randy Rhoads), Jimi Hendrix … [Shameless self-promo] Here’s a short instrumental tune I wrote for our former reg: Wally, a few days after he passed - [http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/AUDIOTRACK02.MP3](http://fathom.org/teemingmillions/AUDIOTRACK02.MP3) ---
**Author:** ![Skwerl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/38 "2001-01-30T02:13:56Z")
I guess I won’t get into the myriad of wonderful, voiceless techno songs out there… I’ll second “Just Like You Imagined” by NIN. And I defy all of you to listen to “Closing In” by the Living End and not pass out in ecstasy. One of the most talented groups in the world, with a supremely rockin guitar solo about 2 minutes into the song. Just thinking about it puts me in a good mood. I think it’d be perfect for your CD, **USCDiver** , considering the songs you mentioned. And “Apache” by the Incredible Bongo Band is kinda cool too, but not as rock-y as “Closing In.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/39 "2001-01-30T16:06:07Z")
The Victoria Police Pipe Band has an excellent disk called ‘Live in the Rockies’. Chiefly, I am most impressed by tune #11, entitled **The Hellbound Train**. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096/40 "2001-01-30T18:55:03Z")
Can’t believe no one has mentioned “Telstar” by the Tornadoes; the first instrumental to go to No. 1. Also, “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by the Ramrods and many others never fails to bring a smile. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-songs/52096.md?page=3)