# Your favourite instrumental rock/jazz/pop/hiphop tune **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 6, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031 "2022-09-06T02:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 6, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/21 "2022-09-06T15:31:44Z")
I.R.S. Records released a whole series of instrumental albums under the [No Speak label](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I.R.S._No_Speak). Lots of really tasty tracks to choose from, Hard to pick just one, but for today I’ll choose _Spikes_ by Pete Haycock: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uiOsIfoPHy0/maxresdefault.jpg "Spikes") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiOsIfoPHy0) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/22 "2022-09-06T15:39:19Z")
Not sure if this is Surf Rock or Rockabilly but here’s “Forty Miles of Bad Road”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uyrAJAUarpQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Duane Eddy with Marty Stuart - 40 Miles Of Bad Road") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyrAJAUarpQ) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/23 "2022-09-06T15:56:56Z")
Here’s one of the prettiest surf instrumentals ever recorded [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QU1DbYFLWbs/hqdefault.jpg "Los Straitjackets "Pacifica"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU1DbYFLWbs) ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/24 "2022-09-06T16:25:28Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Whammer Jammer. The song that launched a thousand blues harp players. IIRC this is the song that was used in _Problem Child 2_ during the infamous tilt-a-whirl scene. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/25 "2022-09-06T17:07:40Z")
Picked up Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s WORKS album. As a twenty-something, I was surprised at suddenly loving a piano concerto. Here’s the First Movement, studio version, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (and the score!). 2:09 is where the piano comes in…and has SO much fun. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/A8ztO9bYtX0/hqdefault.jpg "Keith Emerson - Piano Concerto No. 1 (with score)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8ztO9bYtX0) . Want more energy? Here’s the Third Movement (Toccata Con Fuoco), live, with everyone going gonzo: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n3JEaXQ18kA/hqdefault.jpg "Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Piano Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement - Live In Montreal, 1977") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3JEaXQ18kA) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/26 "2022-09-06T17:11:00Z")
This version of In a Sentimental Mood [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sCQfTNOC5aE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGHIgNShyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCMgVeZSx9xx-FHHu3AF5rbc0uxYA "Duke Ellington & John Coltrane - In a sentimental mood") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCQfTNOC5aE) ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/27 "2022-09-06T18:39:29Z")
Way too many to choose from, but amongst others… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kTLoi2Uxtqg/hqdefault.jpg "Jennings Farm Blues | Led Zeppelin (HQ)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTLoi2Uxtqg) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GSv6SEN3SKo/hqdefault.jpg "Noonward Race by the Mahavishnu Orchestra") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSv6SEN3SKo) ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/28 "2022-09-06T18:53:58Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “Take Five,” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. That piece is in 5/4 time and it, along with a few others (Jethro Tull’s _Living In The Past_ and the theme to Mission Impossible I’ve discovered are THE best ways to interrupt a persistent earworm. Something about the 5/4 time signature just corrects your mental record skip I guess. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Here’s one of the prettiest surf instrumentals ever recorded Los Straitjackets RULE! How about the greatest rock guitarist teamed up with a wicked keyboardist? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eW73VIz7ctU/hqdefault.jpg "Jeff Beck - Blue Wind") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW73VIz7ctU) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/29 "2022-09-06T19:00:05Z")
Two of my favorites have already been mentioned (Frankenstein and Jessica), but this thread isn’t complete without one of the best instrumental groups ever, Booker T And The MG’s. Everybody knows “Green Onions”, and it’s great, but I like “Melting Pot” even better. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wPAwForZRGA/maxresdefault.jpg "Booker T. and the M.G.'s - Melting Pot") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPAwForZRGA) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/30 "2022-09-06T19:08:36Z")
It’s not mentioned in the title, but does Country count too? Here are my three favorite Country instrumentals: (the first two are at the blurry line between Country and Rock anyway, just like the last between Country and Pop) Buck Owens - Buckaroo [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-2VLIO14dns/maxresdefault.jpg "Buck Owens - Buckaroo - 1965") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2VLIO14dns) And clearly in that tradition, “Nashville West” by the band of the same name (the nucleus of many later Country Rock bands), with Clarence White on guitar: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_Ztj15SkjHg/hqdefault.jpg "NASHVILLE WEST - (ft. Clarence White) - Intro & Reprise - 1967") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ztj15SkjHg) And a piano classic, Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OPss6C_-QUA/maxresdefault.jpg "Last Date (Remastered)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPss6C_-QUA) ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/31 "2022-09-06T19:24:53Z")
In the Smooth Jazz genre, it would have to be **DREAMS** by The Rippingtons, from the **Moonlighting** album. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeysBrother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@MonkeysBrother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeysBrother)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/32 "2022-09-06T19:26:26Z")
Well, just thanks a lot, everybody. I guess I really didn’t plan on getting anything done for the next hour or two… And now I’m sure I won’t, having to listen to all those suggestions. (Seriously, thanks. Some great stuff In there that I’ve never heard.) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/33 "2022-09-06T19:33:57Z")
Oh, I forgot my favorite Hip Hop (or rather Funk) instrumental, “In 3’s” by the Beastie Boys. It’s so damned cool and funky and not even three minutes long. Of course it was already retro when it came out 30 years ago, that’s why the Beastie Boys were called old school. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LfB_w1JWQW0/maxresdefault.jpg "In 3's (Remastered 2009)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfB_w1JWQW0) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/34 "2022-09-06T19:37:33Z")
To carry on with the Beastie Boys, this is Mix Master Mike doing his thing (he did a lot of work with the BBs). Absolutely mesmerizing watching him work. I have only a marginal understanding of what he’s actually doing, but I know he’s good enough that he’s permanently banned from all DJ competitions world-wide. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YDabknwwZQA/hqdefault.jpg "Mix Master Mike's DJ Performance | House Of Strombo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDabknwwZQA) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/35 "2022-09-06T19:45:59Z")
I could pick a bunch of Santana tracks, but here’s one I particularly enjoy: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/HTPOyXP4pJk/maxresdefault.jpg "Santana - EUROPA [Best Live Version 1979]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTPOyXP4pJk) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/36 "2022-09-06T20:07:26Z")
“Watermelon in Easter Hay” by Frank Zappa is utterly gorgeous, and turned me from a casual listener into a fan. I suppose technically it’s not 100% instrumental, because it opens with the annoying whispered narration by The Central Scrutinizer that mars the rest of the Joe’s Garage trilogy. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_3cu8sDa90Y/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-CYAC0AWKAgwIABABGFwgUyhlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAQZ8IZuT9sUn4APLvVfSqxuz8LUA "Frank Zappa - Watermelon In Easter Hay") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3cu8sDa90Y) Speaking of Zappa, my runner-up pick would have to be “Sofa” in the live version off the _Zappa in New York_ album. Also, I’d say the long (18 minute) version of “Elegia” by New Order would be right up there. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JsaPb3DjIbw/maxresdefault.jpg "New Order - Elegia (Full Version) [High Quality]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsaPb3DjIbw) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/37 "2022-09-06T20:08:50Z")
The Peter Gunn Theme. By Mancini ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/38 "2022-09-06T20:12:21Z")
One of my favorite FZ instrumentals: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zXP_pr7np-o/hqdefault.jpg "Frank Zappa-Apostrophe'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXP_pr7np-o) …with Jack Bruce and Jim Gordon. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/39 "2022-09-06T20:18:07Z")
Ooh, nice one, thanks! > [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > The Peter Gunn Theme. > By Mancini I have SIXTEEN different versions of that piece and they all rock. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/40 "2022-09-06T20:47:11Z")
I have whole mixtapes of rock, and jazz, and jazz-rock instrumentals, some of which have already been mentioned. To limit myself to two, one rock, one jazz, neither famous. Danny Kirwan’s “Sunny Side of Heaven” by Fleetwood Mac, a song that lives up to its title. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9BujGOSvIZw/maxresdefault.jpg "Sunny Side of Heaven") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BujGOSvIZw) And for jazz, the one-of-a-kind track “Computer Incantations for World Peace” with Jean-Luc Ponty playing all the instruments. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b9niluBPIro/hqdefault.jpg "Jean-Luc Ponty - Computer Incantations for World Peace") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9niluBPIro) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031.md?page=3)