# What is the most famous instrumental song of the 20th century? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914 "2017-09-21T21:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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 30, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/121 "2017-09-30T23:03:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On the other hand, what if there’s no one definitive recording of a particular song, but it’s been performed by many different artists, and listened to and known by a very large number of people? That wouldn’t be a famous recording, but it would be a famous instrumental. This describes much of the music from the jazz age. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/122 "2017-10-01T01:25:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Out of all of the works mentioned in this thread, “Green Onions” is the only one I’ve never heard of. I find it hard to say that it’s the most famous. Glad to know that I’m not the only one who’s never heard of the not-so-famous “Green Onions”! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/123 "2017-10-01T12:36:57Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > Glad to know that I’m not the only one who’s never heard of the not-so-famous “Green Onions”! Totally cool that you and **Chronos** haven’t heard of it or heard it, but use this as an opportunity to listen to it. It is deeply good stuff. Booker T’s organ is sublime, Duck Dunn’s bass is so cool, and Steve Cropper’s guitar work, including a stinging lead that guitar geeks regularly cite to this day - it’s worth giving a listen. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/124 "2017-10-01T15:26:55Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Totally cool that you and **Chronos** haven’t heard of it or heard it, but use this as an opportunity to listen to it… While you’re at it, take in some of the group’s other pieces. Hang 'Em High is also great, and Time Is Tight is their best. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/125 "2017-10-01T15:31:45Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > _Sleepwalk_ makes me weak in the knees. I’m sad it hasn’t been mentioned yet. Good for you, **CelticKnot**! Instantly recognizable, if not by the actual title. My own favorite instrumental is definitely “The Cruel Sea” by the **The Ventures**. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s popular enough to be submitted for the OP’s purpose. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/126 "2017-10-01T15:42:00Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > Good for you, **CelticKnot**! Instantly recognizable, if not by the actual title. > > My own favorite instrumental is definitely “The Cruel Sea” by the **The Ventures**. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s popular enough to be submitted for the OP’s purpose. My favorite version of **Sleepwalk** is **Brian Setzer’s** solo version, using a bit of echo, and amazing whammy bar work to fill in a feeling of rich orchestration: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvfzxVDxl8](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvfzxVDxl8) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/127 "2017-10-01T19:19:35Z")
OK, I’d neither heard nor heard of “Sleepwalk” before, but how the heck does Setzer get both a bassline and melody out of a single guitar, there? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/128 "2017-10-01T19:31:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, I’d neither heard nor heard of “Sleepwalk” before, but how the heck does Setzer get both a bassline and melody out of a single guitar, there? It’s just that he’s that good. He’s kinda muting the lower notes so that the echo effect fills in the sound, and he more sharply picks the higher notes so they stand out. Supreme control. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/129 "2017-10-01T22:54:33Z")
Leo Kottke’s version of [Sleepwalk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLLAxd0X5Lw) If it’s from the album i think it is, there’s also an interesting version of the theme from The Night of the Hunter. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2017, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/130 "2017-10-02T05:23:31Z")
To me, the piece that illustrates the forties and The War is **Moonlight Serenade** , by Glenn Miller and the Army Air Force Band. ---
**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:** [October 2, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/131 "2017-10-02T20:09:07Z")
I don’t understand this list. Any list of “100 Greatest Instrumentals” ought to be, you know, _instrumentals_ – no sung/spoken lyrics. But just a cursory glance, and I saw several songs with well-known lyrics: “Born Free”, “Moon River”, “Don’t Be Cruel” “Fly Me to the Moon”? How do they count as instrumentals? “Embryonic Journey” by Jefferson Airplane as it is always, always, ALWAYS used in every documentary about the 1960s, up to and including Ken Burns’ new Vietnam series). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/132 "2017-10-03T01:39:25Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > “Embryonic Journey” by Jefferson Airplane as it is always, always, ALWAYS used in every documentary about the 1960s, up to and including Ken Burns’ new Vietnam series). Oddly, I don’t recognize that song at all. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/133 "2017-10-11T14:09:28Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Apache by the Shadows. > The Vision On [Gallery Theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcCHRW8G9yY). > Oxygene by Jean-Michel Jarre. > > No? Okay then. According to the movie Sample This, “Apache” is the most recorded/sampled song in the world. Usually this version: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WY-Z6wm6TMQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Incredible Bongo Band – Apache") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY-Z6wm6TMQ) (Sample This is a fascinating movie, btw, worth your time. Nice history lesson.) Here's yet another version of Apache, this one by the sublime Frank Vignola and friends. And I think we all know the worst version in the world, which has become monumental in its own right: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f6tnj7IEI0E/maxresdefault.jpg "Tommy Seebach Apache HQ (Original)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6tnj7IEI0E) ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/134 "2017-10-11T15:27:46Z")
Green Onions is one of the greatest Instro song(IMHO) that it should rate higher but my fav Instro band in the beginning was The Ventures. I started playing guitar because of them. I love playing it. Now that we have Kraftwerk which is 4 guys with their synthesizers I am fascinated with their songs. They had become my fav Instro band. Some of their songs will have a little vocals but they are well done. This is one of my fav song by them. [Kraftwerk - Neon Lights - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqmGZ_6LaUw) ---
**Author:** ![Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Snake\_Plissken\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snake_Plissken_1)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/135 "2017-10-11T19:45:40Z")
It should be ‘Villanova Junction’ by Jimi Hendrix. ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/136 "2017-10-11T22:19:43Z")
[It’s certainly this. I mean c’mon.](https://youtu.be/iy3qq7zc4EY) Heck, hundreds of sans lyrics video game themes could crowd out 98% of what’s already been suggested. …or are we all being snobs and not including them for some reason? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/137 "2017-10-11T23:59:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > My favorite version of **Sleepwalk** is **Brian Setzer’s** solo version, using a bit of echo, and amazing whammy bar work to fill in a feeling of rich orchestration: [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvfzxVDxl8](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fDvfzxVDxl8) Hi WordGuy; I like Setzer enough to be annoyed when Rolling Stone left him off their list of Top 100 Guitarist, but… that version of Sleepwalk is a working definition of “change the beauty of the melody, until it sounds just like a symphony.” If there was ever a song that didn’t need 16th notes, it’s Sleepwalk. It destroys all the sleepwalkishness. Mr Chronos, this is the [original 1959 version.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrO9ovdJ5WA) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/138 "2017-10-12T00:45:48Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Hi WordGuy; I like Setzer enough to be annoyed when Rolling Stone left him off their list of Top 100 Guitarist, but… that version of Sleepwalk is a working definition of “change the beauty of the melody, until it sounds just like a symphony.” If there was ever a song that didn’t need 16th notes, it’s Sleepwalk. It destroys all the sleepwalkishness. > > Mr Chronos, this is the [original 1959 version.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrO9ovdJ5WA) Not to mention the 9th 11th and 15th chords. He seems to be trying to quote pet sounds in places, but he leaves the sting out of the song. It makes it a different song. Is it prejudiced of me to think that this is OK on TNN but might not fly on a more citified network? It seems vegasy to me anyway. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/139 "2017-10-12T00:46:44Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Hi WordGuy; I like Setzer enough to be annoyed when Rolling Stone left him off their list of Top 100 Guitarist, but… that version of Sleepwalk is a working definition of “change the beauty of the melody, until it sounds just like a symphony.” If there was ever a song that didn’t need 16th notes, it’s Sleepwalk. It destroys all the sleepwalkishness. > > Mr Chronos, this is the [original 1959 version.](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrO9ovdJ5WA) 'Tis true, I put it’s Setzer-ifficness before its sleepwalkishness 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/140 "2017-10-12T00:50:54Z")
> [@Trancephalic](#): > > [It’s certainly this. I mean c’mon.](https://youtu.be/iy3qq7zc4EY) Heck, hundreds of sans lyrics video game themes could crowd out 98% of what’s already been suggested. > > …or are we all being snobs and not including them for some reason? No, we should not exclude them, they are good stuff. It had to be composed just like any other songs. My Commodore 64 has a fantastic sound chip as well as graphic. I had a truckload of games I bought from a mail order software house. Most of them were cracked games. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/U9Racui9jJI/maxresdefault.jpg "The Epic Commodore C64 SID Collection - 11 hours of C64 Music") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Racui9jJI&t=10850s) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914.md?page=8)