Sometimes, when I’m trying to concentrate, I’m better off listening to music that has no vocals. Otherwise I get distracted and try to sing along. Sure. I could just listen to classical, instrumental jazz, or something like that, but sometimes I’m in the mood for rock.
I got inspired to think about my favorite rock bands, most of which are known more for their vocals, and try to come up with some good instrumental songs they’ve done. Here comes a new list for the iPod! I thought of with these off the top of my head:
[ul]
[li]Bouree, by Jethro Tull[/li][li]Fluff, by Black Sabbath[/li][li]Slat Key Soquel Rag, by the Doobie Brothers[/li][li]The entire Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar album by Frank Zappa (and its two sequels)[/li][li]Balboa Blue, by the Beach Boys[/li][li]Walk Don’t Run, by the Ventures[/li][li]Terrapin Flyer, by the Greatful Dead[/li][li]New Orleans, by Emerson, Lake and Palmer[/li][li]Marooned, by Pink Floyd[/li][/ul]
Some of my favorite rock instrumentals come from the older albums of Rush. The songs (and original albums) from them that come to mind are:
La Villa Strangiato (Hemispheres)
YYZ (Moving Pictures)
Where’s My Thing (Roll the Bones)
The first one is my favorite. There are also live versions (that are sometimes more fun) on their occasional live albums (see the album “Exit, Stage Left” for example)
Winter Solstice by The Tea Party
White Summer / Black Mountain Side, and Bron Yr Aur by Led Zeppelin
The Divided Sky, You Enjoy Myself, All Things Reconsidered, Eliza, and The Landlady by Phish
Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs
Little Martha and Jessica by The Allman Brothers Band
(and of course, you meant to spell Jerry’s band “The Grateful Dead”, right?)
Oh God, there are SO MANY instrumentals by Zappa, and they’re all good (but different, so some might not be your cup of tea). Some of the best are on the albums Hot Rats (instrumental except for some of “Willie the Pimp,” and great except for “The Gumbo Variations,” which tends to bore me) and Burnt Weeny Sandwich, except for the first and last songs, which are doo wop. I would have mentioned the Ventures, but you already did. Also check out the Ruins (listen to the mp3s on that site) if you’re into operatic Japanese prog noise done with drums and bass.
Although now that I think of it, they do have vocals, just not lyrics. I just automatically classify them in my head as instrumental because the lyrics are in some improvised nonsense language, so they don’t distract me. But I’m sure they have at least a few instrumental songs, but I forget which they are.
Anyway, while I’m on the subject of noise rock, the Flying Luttenbachers are also great. I recommend Systems Emerge From Complete Disorder, which is technically a solo effort from Weasel Walter, the leader of the band, with him playing all the instruments. It sounds sort of like Captain Beefheart combined with Edgard Varese and Iannis Xenakis and free jazz and hardcore punk and whatever. It really rocks, at least for people who can listen to it without wanting to gouge out their own eyes.
“Quadrophenia” and “The Rock” from Quadrophenia by The Who
“Overture”, “Sparks”, “Underture” from Tommy by The Who
“Mountain Jam” from Eat a Peach by The Allman Brothers Band
“Shine On You Crazy Diamond” (both parts) from Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (okay, it’s mostly instrumental
Also from Pink Floyd “One of These Days”.
Pink Floyd also has “A Saucerful of Secrets,” “The Grand Vizier’s Garden Party,” “Atom Heart Mother” (with one spoke line in 18 minutes of music)," and “On the Run.” Two other songs with a single spoken line in them are “Careful with that Axe Eugene” (there is a fully instrumental version entitled “Come in Number 51, Your Time is Up” on the soundtrack to “Zabriskie Point”) and “One of These Days.” “Alan’s Psychadelic Breakfast” are three instrumentals with some spoken words in the linking sections.
“Hot 'Lanta,” “Mountain Jam,” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” by the Allman Brothers Band
The Dixie Dregs and Soft Machine (after “Third” which is 3/4th instrumental) did without vocalists.
Bonzo Dog Band: “Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold,” “Music for the Head Ballet,” and “Dr. Jazz.”
Rick Wakeman’s album, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, is entirely instrumental.
Emerson, Lake, and Palmer has a lot of instrumentals, including “Hoedown.”
Santana has “Soul Sacrifice,” “Waiting,” “Shades of Time,” “Singing Winds, Crying Beasts,” and “Incident at Neshabur.”
“Greatful Dead”? Can I just call that a Freudian slip? As my cat would say, “I meant to do that.” :smack:
Great suggestions! I know some of those, but there’s a lot of new material in there. “Several Species…” by Pink Floyd is a favorite of mine, but it can get old if there isn’t enough other material in the playlist!
I didn’t mention any of the bands like the Dixie Dregs that have no vocals at all, or I would have also brought up Vangelis and some of the other “new-agey” stuff. For anyone interested in Celtic rock, by the way, check out Slainte Mhath. I just got their CD “VA,” which is great. It’s got some good instrumentals.
Scorpions have Coast to Coast
Iron Maiden Losfer Words (and a bunch of others that I can’t think of off the top of my head.
Gary Moore The Messiah Will Come Again, The Loner
Concrete Blonde - “True, Pt 2” from their first album.
Camper Van Beethoven “R’n’R Uzbekistan” from New Roman Times
Ben Folds Five - "Theme From Dr. Peyser
Pretenders “Space Invader” from their first
Suzanne Vega “Tom’s Diner (Reprise)” from Solitude Standing
On the Pixies’ “Dig For Fire” EP, there’s the “Velvety Instrumental.”
Frank Black himself has “Tossed,” from his self-titled solo debut.
And how can we forget the Beatles’ “Flying” from Magical Mystery Tour?
Also, Frank Zappa has some great ones. My favorites are “Apostrophe” from the album of the same name, and “Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing?” from Roxy and Elsewhere.
