# What are the great Instrumentals of the Classic Rock Era? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 22, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930 "2017-09-22T01:01:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/41 "2017-09-22T16:00:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > One I just remembered: “[Rise](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vltC-O7PDYQ),” by Herb Alpert. Really? All the great instrumentals by Herb Alpert (“The Lonely Bull,” “Tijuana Taxi,” “Spanish Flea,” “Carman,” et. al.) and that’s what comes to mind first? Everything on _The Six Wives of Henry VIII_ by Rick Wakeman “Don and Dewey” by It’s a Beautiful Day ---
**Author:** ![speigel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@speigel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/speigel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/42 "2017-09-22T16:00:55Z")
Fanfare For The Common Man by Emerson, Lake & Palmer ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/43 "2017-09-22T16:16:47Z")
Camel - “The Snow Goose”. The entire album. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/44 "2017-09-22T17:19:07Z")
OK but you can’t have words to an instro. It needs to stand, walk and stop on it’s own. Also it ought to be original material. So no fanfare and no Can’t You Hear Me Knockin. Also it needs to have melodic contour and not be an excuse for noodling. I never got into VH I must admit. That’s really where rock went past classic and became whatever the 80s were, to me. I just listened to eruption again now. I have heard VH described as “Insensate fretmath” and that’s fair to me. From its rep I thought it would’ve gone more places somehow. Of course Peaches En Regalia is the bomb. The Camel LP is all Instrumental? ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/45 "2017-09-22T17:33:31Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > No mention of “Hocus Pocus” by Focus yet? Inconceivable! Does the yodeling take it out of the Instrumental category? _White Summer/Black Mountainside_ by Led Zeppelin _Any Colour You Like_ by Pink Floyd ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/46 "2017-09-22T17:41:16Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The Camel LP is all Instrumental? Yup. The album is “inspired by” a novella by Paul Gallico (the same guy who wrote “The Poseidon Adventure”). There is one track with some “doo doo doo” scat vocals, but no lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/47 "2017-09-22T17:47:05Z")
A couple from Rick Derringer’s “All American Boy”: _[Joy Ride](https://youtu.be/f0N64gJaQKA)_ and _[Time Warp](https://youtu.be/sWpmOHHni2Y)_ Not particularly great but quite amusing: Deep Purple’s [And The Address](https://youtu.be/t0FE3BXCG3w) ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/48 "2017-09-22T17:50:46Z")
> [@JHBoom](#): > > Does the yodeling take it out of the Instrumental category? > _White Summer/Black Mountainside_ by Led Zeppelin > _Any Colour You Like_ by Pink Floyd These big decisions… I’ll say that some nonsense syllables or yodelling can still count as an instrumental. It’s a good choice. I left them out cause they were one hit wonders in the US. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/49 "2017-09-22T18:29:41Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > These big decisions… > > I’ll say that some nonsense syllables or yodelling can still count as an instrumental. It’s a good choice. I left them out cause they were one hit wonders in the US. I was hesitant to name Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part Two” because of the “heys,” so I’ll go ahead and name it now. Yes, I know he’s a pedo, but it’s a good song, nonetheless. It’s the rally song for numerous sports teams, though they’ve gone to using cover versions. ---
**Author:** ![neofishboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/neofishboy/32/444_2.png) [@neofishboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neofishboy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/50 "2017-09-22T19:10:02Z")
[The Who. “Sparks”.](https://youtu.be/zNzOA_sy5DE?t=3m18s) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/51 "2017-09-22T19:21:00Z")
> [@neofishboy](#): > > [The Who. “Sparks”.](https://youtu.be/zNzOA_sy5DE?t=3m18s) My oldest guitar friend played a straight-on version of this for me when we were sophomores in high school. That’s when I knew I wouldn’t go full pro. Totally rocked. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/52 "2017-09-22T19:30:41Z")
[Sandalphon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-n64L_uTXs) - Jefferson Starship [the Sheltering Sky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU4XRRcTWTo) - King Crimson (Discipline line-up) ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/53 "2017-09-22T20:50:43Z")
Where the hell is _Jessica_ by The Allman Brothers Band? Did somebody mention it upthread and I missed it? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/54 "2017-09-22T20:54:09Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Where the hell is _Jessica_ by The Allman Brothers Band? Did somebody mention it upthread and I missed it? They’re in the OP and I soaped them up later on in the thread. To me they’re winning the thread. I think they’re the greatest group of the era for instrumentals. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/55 "2017-09-22T20:59:27Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Really? All the great instrumentals by Herb Alpert (“The Lonely Bull,” “Tijuana Taxi,” “Spanish Flea,” “Carman,” et. al.) and that’s what comes to mind first? I plead that it was late, and that the mention of Jeff Beck somehow reminded me of “Rise.” You’re right, of course. And, as my parents were big Alpert fans, I grew up listening to those albums! I guess I must not have thought of them in terms of “the Classic Rock Era,” as per the OP. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/56 "2017-09-22T22:03:02Z")
Ted Nugent - [Homebound](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sBPSwO0vR8), because it’s one I used to hear on classic rock radio. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/57 "2017-09-22T23:22:50Z")
Tubular Bells and Ommadawn by Mike Oldfield. (Excluding On Horseback, of course.) Voices there are musical instruments, not words, as Viv says in the Master of Ceremonies bit. Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire by the Mahavishnu Orchestra, led by John McLaughlin. Especially One Word, but most of the songs are fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/58 "2017-09-22T23:30:12Z")
> [@JHBoom](#): > > Does the yodeling take it out of the Instrumental category? The yodeling takes it out of the music category. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/59 "2017-09-22T23:42:45Z")
Here are great two post punk instrumentals The Minutemen Hammers and Sickles: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP-s7Sr0RVQ) The Lilac Time - Trumpets Over Montparnasse This list from NME blows my mind. I have heard virtually none but the most famous songs. > **[Instruments Speak Louder Than Words: 30 Killer Instrumentals](https://www.nme.com/list/instruments-speak-louder-than-words-30-killer-instrumentals-1293)** > > All the acts on this list feature fine singers with admirable talents, but here are the tracks where they decided to let the instruments do the talking. From Foals to Fleetwood Mac, we count down the 30 best instrumentals from normally... It looks like they were trying as hard as we are to think of everyones great instr. and not finding a lot either. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/60 "2017-09-23T00:52:58Z")
I don’t think ‘ **Foreplay** ’ by Boston has been mentioned yet. Also ‘ **Bourée** ’ by Jethro Tull. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930.md?page=4)