“Vehicle” - Ides of March
“25 or 6 to 4” - Chicago
“Uptight” - Stevie Wonder
Almost anything by Steely Dan.
Also, Earth, Wind and Fire.
Lots of British 80s stuff, across genres, but Ska is always a safe bet:
Pigbag
Madness
Waterboys
Spandau Ballet
And on the other side of the globe, Men at Work
My first thought was anything by Chicago (early stuff), but that’s on the OP. Someone already mentioned Steely Dan, so how about King Crimson.
I always think of Elton John: Honky Cat
OK maybe this isn’t the definitive version, but gotta give it up to the Oakland crew – they are some bad boys:
Late in the Evening, Paul Simon. (Link is to a performance with Art Garfunkel, although the song is originally from Simon’s solo career.)
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
…was gonna mention Supergroove. Awesome band. Here’s another of my favourites:
Keeping it Kiwi: Southside of Bombay with “Whats the time Mr Wolf.”
And here’s Fat Freddy’s Drop with Wandering Eye.
Mr. Skin by Spirit
House in the Country by the original lineup (i.e., with Al Kooper) of Blood Sweat and Tears
Pick Up the Pieces by Average White Band
Soul Finger by the Bar-Kays
Jungle Boogie by Kool & the Gang
Grazing in the Grass by Hugh Masekela
Go Down Gambling ** Blood Sweat & Tears**
Also check out **Al Kooper **material.
Everything on here, Herb Alpert’s Whipped Cream and Other Delights.
Pretty much anything by Bim Skala Bim.
Cantaloop, Low Rider, You Can Call Me Al - some of my favorite trumpet riffs.
Poppa’s Got a Brand New Bag, James Brown
The Doors’ Touch Me.
Big fan of the sax riffs in
Wham!'s “Careless Whisper”
Foreigner’s “Urgent” (Junior Walker on sax; nice solo, too)
Rolling Stone’s “Waiting On a Friend” (Sonny Rollins on sax)
Have also always enjoyed the long, brass-driven segue between Chicago’s “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” and “Get Away” on Chicago 16.