# 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:** 4
**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 23, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/61 "2017-09-23T00:54:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Anything from Procol Harum Do you have a fave instr track? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/62 "2017-09-23T07:56:46Z")
[“Journey of sorcerer”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s) by the Eagles ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/63 "2017-09-23T08:49:35Z")
2112 Overture by Rush. Technically there’s one sung line at the very end, but I always took it to be the segue into the next part of the suite. However, at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they had some other group play the Overture and Geddy Lee came on at the very end to deliver the line as if it was 100% an important part of the piece even though they didn’t go on to play Temples of Syrinx. I thought that was rather odd. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/64 "2017-09-23T14:44:54Z")
Well, the classic rock era now ends around 1998, I think. That thing keeps moving forward in the past. Since that’s the case, I’ll nominate Sonic Youth - [Death to Our Friends](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5MqZaO_7Pc). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/65 "2017-09-23T15:07:14Z")
Oh, and the instrumental from the 90’s that I find to be the equal of any is Tortoise’s [Djed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYatqE7OA1Q). 14 minutes or so of krautrock-y groovy and mellow, stuff, and like an epic novel, that part sets the stage for it to go off the rails. At that point it sounds like the song has a glitch, then the glitch becomes the song. ---
**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 23, 2017, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/66 "2017-09-23T16:33:19Z")
If we’re going to extend the timeframe into the 80s, the late great Michael Hedges needs to be on the list. Here he is at Wolftrap playing [Because It’s There](https://youtu.be/jN3439l4HR0?t=2m6s) on his harp guitar. IRS Records issued a whole series of “[No Speak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.R.S._No_Speak)” instrumental albums. Tons of great stuff on those, including Pete Haycock’s [Down To Bay Six](https://youtu.be/F2qD9FbLE4U) and Wishbone Ash’s [Tangible Evidence](https://youtu.be/j4p4z4oVFdg) ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/67 "2017-09-23T16:41:55Z")
Booker T and the MGS: [Time Is Tight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50xx1_CbJTI), [Green Onions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9y-n9B_XUM) and [Hang 'Em High](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hYizCnBmqU) Hugh Masakela: [Grazing in the Grass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXZF60EPdM) Billy Preston: [Outa Space](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJVleNkJj0) and [Space Race](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9c7AuIi7A0) Young-Holt Unlimited: [Soulful Strut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX1XSOzDPik) The Mar-Keys: [Last Night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocj5zE04WGc) (It does have a tiny bit of vocal, but I think it qualifies.) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/68 "2017-09-24T00:04:01Z")
I don’t recall Yes’s _Mood For a Day_ being mentioned. > [@blondebear](#): > > I don’t know if you’d consider them “great” but I’ve always loved Todd’s \*[Breathless](https://youtu.be/2uvbsz7o1H8)\*\*. Not really “classic rock”, despite it coming out in that era, but I’d rather go with Fripp’s [_Breathless_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1GVwLwH2M). Narada Micheal Walden’s drumming here is near-orgasmic. Actually there’s even another instrumental [_Breathless_](https://youtu.be/wZB4O4h89ek?t=26)(Atomic Rooster) whose jib-cut I also dig. For this second Breathless, you’ll have to start at the 24-second mark (past the vocal intro) because for the strangest, fucked-up-est reason, the “copy video URL at current time” function will not work on this video.😕 > [@drad\_dog](#): > > Here are great two post punk instrumentals > The Minutemen Hammers and Sickles: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP-s7Sr0RVQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP-s7Sr0RVQ) Wow that’s bringing back a flood of memories. Thank-you:) I think I’ve mentioned Jeff Beck’s [_Space Boogie_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij7yR0LubxY) more than any other song at the dope. (I guess like it shitloads). [_Star Cycle_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfbNve6eJOM), also off his “There and Back” album, also deserves mention. King Crimson’s [_Fracture_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMnE14x6Dzw) and [Lark’s Tongues in Aspic. Pt. 2](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gb3wi) are instrumentals beyond the most superlative hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/69 "2017-09-24T00:28:40Z")
Lots of great ones already mentioned. I reviewed the thread and hopefully didn’t miss it, but I’m surprised no one has yet named [Love is Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjsNNcsUNzE). It didn’t really have legs, but for a couple of years, it seemed you couldn’t turn on the radio that it wasn’t playing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/70 "2017-09-24T00:40:35Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > Where the hell is _Jessica_ by The Allman Brothers Band? Did somebody mention it upthread and I missed it? _Jessica_ is great, but to me _In Memory of Elizabeth Reed_ is the go-to instrumental. Of course, if you edit out the drum solo, **nothing** can match _Mountain Jam._ Especially the monstrous power of the bit right after everybody wakes up from the drum solo. Duane kills 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 24, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/71 "2017-09-24T00:45:20Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > 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. Yeah cool, I preferred Moby Grape’s interpretation of the Caine Mutiny myself. ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/72 "2017-09-24T01:33:51Z")
I think the line between what an instrumental is and is not is defined by Archie Bell’s Tighten Up. Is is a song without the vocal? But I don't know if T.U. is or not. It's on the line. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/73 "2017-09-24T01:34:48Z")
Moody Blues, “Beyond” ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/74 "2017-09-24T01:37:28Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Santana - Samba Para Ti, Soul Sacrifice, Europa, La Fuente del Ritmo > Fleetwood Mac - Sunny Side of Heaven > Blues Project - Flute Thing > Quicksilver - Edward the Mad Shirt Grinder, Gold & Silver, Cobra > If you go early 60s, there are a zillion. > Tornadoes - Telstar > Shadows - Apache > Dick Dale - Miserlou > Chantays - Pipeline > Ventures - Walk Don’t Run > Marketts - Out of Limits > Chantays - Pipeline (A bunch of teenagers did one take for a demo and achieved perfection. Perfection, I tell ya.) I’m going to go back to my quicksilver and listen to those and the Fool esp. The Flute Thing is in the top 10 classic rock instr of all time! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/75 "2017-09-24T01:37:48Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > [“Journey of sorcerer”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rOMGIbY-9s) by the Eagles Also known for being the theme music for the original radio version of _The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy._ ETA: I should add that it was appropriated rather than composed for that purpose. ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/76 "2017-09-24T01:39:57Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Umm, right off the top of my head: > > “YYZ” by Rush > already named > already named > “Sleepwalk” Santo & Johnny Boy when you take on a challenge you’re a regular Tom Brady! Let us know when the book tour is. ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/77 "2017-09-24T01:44:59Z")
Two classics deserve mentioning: Black Sabbath - Laguna Sunrise [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ebYk6NLJhDs/hqdefault.jpg "Black Sabbath- Vol. 4- Laguna Sunrise") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebYk6NLJhDs) La Düsseldorf - Rheinita [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z9Jejk8UknU/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGDggVChyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAWNmd8TVAoe8_nSkvRA5wyjj6cLQ "💥La Duesseldorf - Rheinita🎸🎼🎷") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Jejk8UknU) ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/78 "2017-09-24T01:59:46Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Booker T and the MGS: [Time Is Tight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50xx1_CbJTI), [Green Onions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9y-n9B_XUM) and [Hang 'Em High](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hYizCnBmqU) > > Hugh Masakela: [Grazing in the Grass](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXZF60EPdM) > > Billy Preston: [Outa Space](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJVleNkJj0) and [Space Race](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9c7AuIi7A0) > > Young-Holt Unlimited: [Soulful Strut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX1XSOzDPik) > > The Mar-Keys: [Last Night](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocj5zE04WGc) (It does have a tiny bit of vocal, but I think it qualifies.) Man that’s what made it an instrumental for a while there. Neil young did it, Flat Duo Jets did it. The Title stated at the end don’t mean its not an instrumental song. Grazin in the grass is one of the all time greats. Billy Preston is very prominent instr hitmaker. Weird that Space Race reminds me of the rockford files theme. ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/79 "2017-09-24T02:10:08Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Lots of great ones already mentioned. I reviewed the thread and hopefully didn’t miss it, but I’m surprised no one has yet named [Love is Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjsNNcsUNzE). > > It didn’t really have legs, but for a couple of years, it seemed you couldn’t turn on the radio that it wasn’t playing. you mean 68-9 or later? ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930/80 "2017-09-24T02:13:10Z")
I don’t know if it counts as rock, but Meco’s _Star Wars_ medley was huge. It outsold the soundtrack recording by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-great-instrumentals-of-the-classic-rock-era/796930.md?page=5)