I absolutely loved (and still do) SRC’s version of Hall of the Mountain King. The lead guitar still sounds perfect more than 50 years later.
Another rock take of a classical composition that still blows me away half a century later is (the long version of) Love Sculpture’s ‘Sabre Dance’. I was impressed back then and remain impressed today.
Are there other great rock versions of classical stuff out there, especially less appreciated ones?
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, best exemplfied by Pictures at an Exhibition. The album also includes their kickass version of “Nutrocker.”
I was gonna report you to a mod had you linked to the crazy psychedelic video of ELP’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Man, the 70s were weird!
A famous one is Jethro Tull’s version of J.S. Bach’s Bouree in E Minor.
Blood Sweat and Tears did Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie based on Trois Gymnopedies.
Electric Light Orchestra did a cover of In the Hall of the Mountain King, as well, which I like quite a lot.
While not rock, Glen Campbell’s cover of the William Tell Overture was a staple of his live shows, and it was the B-side of his hit Southern Nights.
1956 LP album, “Will Success Spoil Rock-Maninoff?”. Pianist Rosa Linda smokes the keyboard with jazzed-up selections from Rachmaninoff and others. (Note for example the track titled “Carmen has a Bizet day”.)
(I posted this also a few days ago in the thread about album with puns in their titles.)
ELP also recorded Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man (not “classical”, but orchestral) and the hymn Jerusalem.
Classically trained Yes keyboardist (trained to be a concert pianist) Rick Wakeman performed a number of classical pieces, including Clare de Lune and Swan Lake.
Any such list has to include “Joy” by Apollo 100. Based on Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”:
And let's not forget Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven," based on, as you might guess, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony:ELO’s Roll Over, Beethoven begins with an orchestra playing a few measures of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24”.
I presume “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is considered ‘classical’, but I don’t know about “Shchedryk”.
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Any such list has to include “Joy” by Apollo 100. Based on Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”:
And let's not forget Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven," based on, as you might guess, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony: [/QUOTE]If we’re including these as “rock,” not that I’m complaining mind you, then I’m gonna nominate Deodato’s version of “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” YouTube link
The use of this song behind Chance’s first trip into the outside world in Being There is, IMHO, one of the most inspired examples of music in the movies ever.
Blackfoot Sue - 1812 overture
It’s not rock, but “Please Don’t Play Your Violin At Night” is Beethoven’s Wig’s take on Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
I had totally forgotten that. Great piece.
Another excellent one I had forgotten.
Deep Purple did a live version of Ode To Joy with Ritchie Blackmore leading the way and a laser-light animated Beethoven looking on and conducting.
James Gang did an awesome take on Ravel’s Boléro in the middle of “The Bomber.” JAMES GANG -The Bomber: Closet Queen / Boléro / Cast Your Fate to the Wind - YouTube