# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/61 "2012-08-22T13:16:55Z")
> [@OtisCampbellWasRight](#): > > Green Onions. > > Thread OVA! I’ll raise you: Freddie King’s “Hideaway” ! So THERE. This thread is SO OVER :eek: 🆒 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/62 "2012-08-22T13:26:22Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > 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. I came back in to nominate this. I geek out about that song in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508278), post #21. What a great, great song - and amazing playing that Carlos Santana fans need to hear. and **Atomic Mama** - oh yeah, love Freddie King. I love \*\*The Stumble \*\*and **San Ho-Zay** , too!! I hope \*\*Rumble \*\*by Link Wray - is mentioned - gotta go back and check the thread…yep, post #32. yay. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/63 "2012-08-22T13:33:09Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Pink Floyd - The Great Gig in the Sky I would have gone for this were it not for the fact that it’s not an instrumental track. There are no lyrics (unless the lyrics are “oooooohh oooohh aaaaaaahhh ooooohhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!..”) but it’s a vocal nonetheless. So I’ll go with your other choice instead: > [@](#): > > But I have to acknowledge that Hendrix’s Star-spangled Banner rips the guts out of anything else ever recorded, pretty much. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/64 "2012-08-22T13:35:44Z")
I like: [How Stupid, Mr. Bates - The Police](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0kUlxK4Q6Y) [4 - The Cruel Sea](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOKZM9iRLr4) [Orion - Metallica](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAXsg4g7rGg) Oldfield probably doesn’t qualify but [QE2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tcr5w3L8iE) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/65 "2012-08-22T13:43:30Z")
> [@Cugel](#): > > Oldfield probably doesn’t qualify but [QE2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tcr5w3L8iE) And if he does, \*\*Tubular Bells \*\*needs to be in the running. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/66 "2012-08-22T15:06:32Z")
> [@Tad](#): > > Pink Floyd (AKA: Syd Barrett; AKA: When Pink Floyd was good) - [Interstellar Overdrive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq5t7Y_BYIM) and [Astronomy Domine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJh9OLlXenM)… What an amazing record. But “Astronomy Domine” isn’t an instrumental. (I was thinking of nominating “Careful With That Axe, Eugene” although it does have that one lyric… plus of course the wordless vocal which is a major part of the song.) ---
**Author:** ![Bass\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bass\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bass_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/67 "2012-08-22T15:07:15Z")
Africano – Earth Wind and Fire A Pauper in Paradise – Gino Vannelli ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/68 "2012-08-22T15:11:23Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > And if he does, \*\*Tubular Bells \*\*needs to be in the running. The Viv Stanshall vocals might disqualify this one (although they’re not integral to the piece in my opinion). ---
**Author:** ![Tad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tad)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/69 "2012-08-22T15:17:39Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > But “Astronomy Domine” isn’t an instrumental. (I was thinking of nominating “Careful With That Axe, Eugene” although it does have that one lyric… plus of course the wordless vocal which is a major part of the song.) Ah right, forgot the lyrics. Good call. Seems like I need to listen to that record more. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/70 "2012-08-22T16:23:32Z")
[Bloodline - The Storm](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbhjDwS846g) Joe Bonamassa and friends [Liquid Tension Experiment - Biaxident](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYYOtEZeQl0) Tony Levin, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess [Focus - Sylvia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ly_bCQ2dY) the “Hocus Pocus” band Lots of Dregs songs including [Attila The Hun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slkd-jIIPjI), [I’m Freaking Out](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDC43Tm3RQ8) and [Take It Off The Top](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX-A4HvoGu8) [Blue Oyster Cult - Buck’s Boogie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T79XuHOpWA), the live version from On Your Feet Or On Your Knees Some Allman Brothers songs seemed to have been overlooked: [True Gravity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6H28i3kXu8), [Instrumental Illness](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLKd1mM5JDg), Pegasus (which doesn’t appear to be on Youtube anymore), Les Brers in A Minor, Mountain Jam, High Falls, Kind of a Bird, etc… [Santana - Every Step Of The Way](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVLGWT9jFM) and [All The Love Of The Universe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viBwrETreok) Very much Jeff Beck – [Freeway Jam](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFi94V3jIUg), [Blue Wind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_E7IJ5-LP8), ['Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC02wGj5gPw) (with Tal, of course) and so on and so on Which reminds me of [Stanley Clarke - School Days](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMQ7xGxI3ME) (feel free to not think of this as rock, I suppose) [Ronnie Montrose - Town Without Pity](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEa2PHGf7AQ) There’s probably more. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/71 "2012-08-22T17:13:27Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Jethro Tull - Bouree > Jethro Tull - Dharma for One “Dharma for One” does have lyrics at the beginning, so unfortunately it’s out. (Some people might quibble with “Bouree” on the basis of Ian Anderson’s vocalizations, but I consider it an instrumental.) ---
**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/72 "2012-08-22T17:27:33Z")
> [@DfrntBreign](#): > > [Focus - Sylvia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ly_bCQ2dY) the “Hocus Pocus” band I don’t think that Focus counts, as they were a purely instrumental band throughout their career. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/73 "2012-08-22T17:34:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I don’t think that Focus counts, as they were a purely instrumental band throughout their career. Doesn’t that knock out Booker T and the MGs, too? I can’t think of any non-instrumentals by them (though I only know a few of their songs: “Green Onions,” “Time is Tight,” “Hip Hug Her.” ---
**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:** [August 22, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/74 "2012-08-22T17:57:18Z")
My personal favourite is “Quadrophenia” rather obviously from the album of the same name, or “Hallogallo” by NEU! But a well earned tip of the hat to many of the others mentioned here, it’s all good stuff and continues to bolster my Grooveshark playlist. ---
**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, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/75 "2012-08-22T18:45:42Z")
> [@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. > [@tdn](#): > > Aren’t they pretty much the same tune? I suppose so…I’ve always thought of Underture as sort of a reprise of Sparks. When they play the “Tommy Medley” live, Sparks is one of the best parts of the whole show. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/76 "2012-08-22T19:33:49Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > 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. Greeny just kills on ‘The Supernatural’, of course, but I need to give some support for an under-appreciated Harvey Mandel. Check out the slow burn of ‘Wade In The Water’ or the fireworks on ‘Midnight Sun II’. As Miles would say… “Cat can play”. ’ ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/77 "2012-08-22T20:48:37Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re all wrong. The answer is [Frankenstein](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfQbkFp16cw) by the Edgar Winter Group. +1 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/78 "2012-08-22T21:11:38Z")
Journey of the Sorcerer - Eagles Better known as the theme music for the radio version of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/79 "2012-08-22T21:51:45Z")
Not really the best rock instrumental, but [Captain Coconut](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxYnrzRy-Gs) by Jimi Hendrix needs a mention, if for no other reason, for having someone credited for playing a slinky. ---
**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 23, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198/80 "2012-08-23T01:19:56Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I would have gone for this were it not for the fact that it’s not an instrumental track. There are no lyrics (unless the lyrics are “oooooohh oooohh aaaaaaahhh ooooohhh AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!..”) but it’s a vocal nonetheless. I was considering the voice work there as an instrument, not as singing per se. But I’m not wedded to that, I can see both sides. > [@cjepson](#): > > “Dharma for One” does have lyrics at the beginning, so unfortunately it’s out. I’ll have to check this when I get home, but I thought that was only on the live version? The studio one does not? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-rock-instrumental-of-all-time/632198.md?page=5)