3rd August 2009

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the instrumental: sean’s top 10

While I was writing the prior post on The Raconteurs’ outstanding instrumental “The Bane Rendition,” I realized there really aren’t enough rock instrumentals anymore. I’ve always been a big fan of instrumentals since I was young. And so, here’s a top-10 countdown of my favorites (because ranking things makes even inherently uninteresting things immediately interesting; see VH1’s “40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2”). Enjoy…

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10. George Benson - Breezin’.

Georges Benson - Breezin’ Live
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Act like listening to this song doesn’t make you want to immediately do all things summer. Mostly drink Country Time lemonade and listen to Tom Petty.

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9. The Allman Brothers Band - Hot ‘Lanta.

Couldn’t find a decent full version of this, probably because the song only appears on the Allmans’ live albums. Just know that Duane Allman’s furious guitar solo featured above is but a portion of the song. Dear Lord.

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8. Pink Floyd - Any Colour You Like.

I’m only familiar with some of the many great Floyd instrumentals; this is my favorite of those. Nice mix of a funky beat with some truly fantastic synth lines: a layered, ominous, and ethereal sound. Also wait for the guitar breakdown at 1:20.

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7. Average White Band - Pick Up the Pieces.

One of those “nobody-knows-it-but-everybody-knows-it” songs. So funky. Great appearance in Swingers (among hecka other movies).

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6. Led Zeppelin - Moby Dick.

Just a crushing geet line. Not to mention Jon Bonham’s epic several-minute-long drum solo.

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5. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus & Lucy.

I know, I know, it’s technically a Christmas song, and pretty wimpy. Well I’m sorry, but this is a timeless melody that never, ever gets old. Also, I really dig the subtle percussion in the song.

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4. The Who - Sparks.

One of the more badassed primarily acoustic rock songs ever made. Yes, that’s a category. And what a gem; even among the other fantastic songs from Tommy. Great usage in the first few minutes of Almost Famous as well. And just listen to John Entwistle go on that high-pitched bass solo at about 1:03.

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3. Edgar Winter - Frankenstein.

This song’s many-chapteredness makes it great:
1. Great trade-off between killer axe riffs & runs and soaring synthesizer lines.
2. A groovy little saxophone/jazz guitar melody; almost a big-band sound.
3. Cowbell initiates and guitar finishes the breakdown just before the drum solo.
4. The best drum solo in pop rock history.
5. Rhythm changeup, and a laser-ey synth line.
6. Pink Floyd-ian sound effect leading into one last drum solo, and then…
7. The primary, pounding melody comes back in for one last hurrah.

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2. Booker T & the MG’s - Green Onions.

AKA the “Sandlot song.” The smoothest two-and-a-half minutes in rock ‘n roll history. Also one of the leading candidates for the song I would choose to play each time I walked up to bat if I were able to play baseball past a ninth-grade level. (I foresee a post about baseball walk-up songs in the future, by the way.)

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1. The Allman Brothers Band - Jessica.

Couldn’t embed this, so —->

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rrMZcCfCm8

I was on a road trip through Wyoming or somewhere when I was about 11.  I was listening to my 1995-model Discman (with no anti-skip protection, obviously) and came across this song on an Allmans’ hits album.  I shortly after put this 7(+)-minute deftly-crafted instrumental on repeat for what must have been 3 straight hours. I’ve loved it ever since.

My favorite part? Glad you asked: The buildup to the piano solo from 1:39 to 2:29. Starts out with the interplay between acoustic & electric geets, accompanied by tambourine. Then maracas start up, then the congas, then the piano, then bass, and finally the drums roll us right into the elegantly-crafted piano solo. Beautiful. Easily the most re-listenable song I’ve ever heard.

Thanks for reading (and listening). Good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.