# What is the best rock instrumental of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 21, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198 "2012-08-21T19:41:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/41 "2012-08-21T22:05:19Z")
GLORIA!!! No…wait - ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/42 "2012-08-21T22:45:21Z")
So many to choose from. “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny “Tommib” by Squarepusher “Forgotten Panties” by Sylvain Sylvain “The Lonely Man Theme” by Joe Harnell “Angela” by Bob James “Love Theme” by Joe Satriani “I Wonder” by Mahavishnu Orchestra “Sleep” by Slowdive ---
**Author:** ![goonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@goonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goonhead)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/43 "2012-08-21T23:57:20Z")
“Albatross” by Fleetwood Mac (the Peter Green - Danny Kirwan - Jeremy Spencer incarnation) “Apostrophe” by Frank Zappa / Mothers of Invention ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/44 "2012-08-22T00:14:34Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re all wrong. The answer is [Frankenstein](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQbkFp16cw) by the Edgar Winter Group. Winter, Winter, chicken dinner ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/45 "2012-08-22T00:42:35Z")
Lots of great suggestions. How about the bridge in “School” by Supertramp? ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/46 "2012-08-22T00:49:23Z")
I’ll go with “Green Onions”. Honorable mention to “Cliffs of Dover” by Eric Johnson. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/47 "2012-08-22T02:21:05Z")
How about my favorites? “Listen,” The Clash “Eruption,” Van Halen “Reggatta de Blanc,” The Police “The Draize Train,” The Smiths “Radiation,” Electronic “Incubation,” Joy Division “Press Play,” Stone Temple Pilots “Gresham Blues,” Level 42 “Oscillate Wildly,” The Smiths “Sexy Boy,” Air “A Forest,” The Cure “Rotating Head,” The (English) Beat “Little Wing,” Stevie Ray Vaughan “Please Go To Sleep,” Kirsty MacColl (might not be rock, granted) “Summer Madness,” Kool & The Gang (again, might not be rock, but I could list about twenty K&TG instrumental tracks that are hand dipped in awesome) “Tour de France,” Kraftwerk “Scream in Blue,” Midnight Oil “The Perfect Kiss (Instrumental),” New Order (is this cheating?) “Space Invader,” Pretenders ---
**Author:** ![MisterPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@MisterPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterPeabody)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/48 "2012-08-22T02:26:51Z")
I know it’s got one spoken phrase in it but I like One of These Days - Pink Floyd plus some Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser and Peter Gunn Theme and ahh yeah The Star Spangled Banner - Jimi Hendrix ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/49 "2012-08-22T02:46:32Z")
Wishbone Ash did some tasty stuff on their instrumental album\* Nouveau Calls\*. I really like the opener, [Tangible Evidence](http://youtu.be/hj3ApyTg7Rg). ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/50 "2012-08-22T03:28:57Z")
Some great choices above, which I’ll avoid "me too"ing. So: Frank Zappa - Black Napkins Wishbone Ash - FUBB Wishbone Ash - Outward Bound Jethro Tull - Bouree Jethro Tull - Dharma for One Pink Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky But I have to acknowledge that Hendrix’s Star-spangled Banner rips the guts out of anything else ever recorded, pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/51 "2012-08-22T04:07:20Z")
Alan Parsons Project — I, Robot Alan Parsons Project — In the Lap of the Gods Alan Parsons Project — Lucifer Pink Floyd — Atom Heart Mother Pink Floyd — Obscured By Clouds ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/52 "2012-08-22T05:37:22Z")
“A fifth of Beethoven” by Walter Murphy Also, if it counts as rock, most of Chip Davis’ Manheim Steamroller work. SS ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/53 "2012-08-22T05:52:09Z")
Didn’t Zappa have an entire album of instrumentals, called “Shut Up And Play Your Guitar”??? edit: yes, he did: > **[Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shut_Up_%27n_Play_Yer_Guitar)** > > The project Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar consisting of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More and Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar is a series of albums by Frank Zappa. The albums consist solely of electric guitar instrumentals and improvised solos (mostly) played live by Zappa and featuring a wide variety of backing musicians. > The music was well received by critics, and Zappa subsequently produced additional albums focusing solely on guitar-oriented in... ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/54 "2012-08-22T06:42:21Z")
Another vote for “Green Onions”, but only for second place. Number one goes to “[The Supernatural](http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=supernatural+bluesbreakers&oq=supernatural+bluesbreakers&gs_l=youtube.3..0.9951.12858.0.13487.14.7.0.7.7.0.51.274.7.7.0...0.0...1ac.OycBHu9kr3g)” by the Bluesbreakers with Peter Green on lead guitar. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/55 "2012-08-22T06:44:02Z")
Forgot to add to the above; Chuck Mangione’s “Chase the clouds Away”. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/56 "2012-08-22T08:53:54Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > “Incubation,” Joy Division For me, a toss-up between this and Jimi’s _Star Spangled Banner_ ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/57 "2012-08-22T10:18:39Z")
[Lana’s Theme, by Tangerine Dream](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJVouCbneGM) [Sirius, by the Alan Parsons Project](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVPRLUNtY-k) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/58 "2012-08-22T10:26:43Z")
Bad version in previous post, so here’s a better one: [Sirius, by the Alan Parsons Project](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phMdx-X_i9c) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/59 "2012-08-22T12:55:02Z")
“Misirlou” by Bobby Fuller. I love Dick Dale, but ---- Bobby Fuller. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/60 "2012-08-22T13:16:44Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > As far as Tommy goes, I’d pick Sparks over the Underture, especially [live](http://youtu.be/0Gwd5yolZj0?t=3m22s) right towards the end when Pete takes off. Aren’t they pretty much the same tune? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198.md?page=4)