On That Note - Instrumentals

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MeanDean

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In an earlier edition of one of my entries of OTN, someone commented hoping we would do a posting on instrumentals. This week's entry will be my attempt to cover the subject. Lots of product and scope, so I'm probably just hitting most of the familiar stuff, but of course it wouldn't be a MeanDean post without my favorite little obscure nuggets for you. Since there are so many I will post them in packets of no more than 5 (as that is the limit as to the number of embedded links in a post allowed on CF.)

In a younger stage MeanDean was sort of an anti-instrumental snob. "Put some words in there, make it a real song!" Somewhere along the line I got over that and thankfully have come to appreciate the simplistic beauty of an instrumental presentation without vocal overlay.

So, on that note (Ha, see how I did that!) Lets get on with this.

(Caveat: Some of these do have some words or back up stuff in them, but not being a picky guy, I'm tossing them all in the instrumental bin for your enjoyment)

The way my mind categorizes them always starts with the early Rock and Roll/Surf Classics:

Wipe Out - Surfaris


Walk, Don't Run - Ventures


Green Onions - Booker T and the MG's


Tequila - The Champs


Pipeline - The Chantays
 
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cyclones500

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A general question, attempting an educated guess: Was it more common for groups to release instrumentals as A-sides back in '50-60s and maybe into the late 70s, then it tapered to a rare occurrence after that?
 

cyclones500

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I have yet to grow tired of “Green Onions." It isn’t even a complex tune, and it’s been around for what, 65 years? Maybe perfect balance of subtlety and instrumental buildup, for lack of better description.

Any time I chop green onions for a recipe, the song comes into my head.
 

MeanDean

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A general question, attempting an educated guess: Was it more common for groups to release instrumentals as A-sides back in '50-60s and maybe into the late 70s, then it tapered to a rare occurrence after that?

There was definitely a period in the early 60's when the instrumental was in it's heyday. Surf instrumentals were a big thing. But just instrumentals in general. Once the Brit Inv hit they were way less common. Eventually it was pretty much just movie or TV themes.
 
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MeanDean

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I have yet to grow tired of “Green Onions." It isn’t even a complex tune, and it’s been around for what, 65 years? Maybe perfect balance of subtlety and instrumental buildup, for lack of better description.

Any time I chop green onions for a recipe, the song comes into my head.

For me its the build up to the race on Paradise Road between John Milner in his Deuce Coupe and Bob Falfa in his wicked '55 Chevy.
 
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matclone

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I have yet to grow tired of “Green Onions." It isn’t even a complex tune, and it’s been around for what, 65 years? Maybe perfect balance of subtlety and instrumental buildup, for lack of better description.

The Stax band from Memphis mastered that that kind of thing, evident on their records in the mid to late 60s. Sitting on the Dock of the Bay is another well known example, but they had many. Yours is a good description.
 
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Acylum

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Is Wipeout technically an instrumental? Always thought there was one line at the beginning- “Ha ha ha ha, Wipeout”. One of my favorites would be Nugent’s Homebound.
 

oldman

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Nov 5, 2009
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In an earlier edition of one of my entries of OTN, someone commented hoping we would do a posting on instrumentals. This week's entry will be my attempt to cover the subject. Lots of product and scope, so I'm probably just hitting most of the familiar stuff, but of course it wouldn't be a MeanDean post without my favorite little obscure nuggets for you. Since there are so many I will post them in packets of no more than 5 (as that is the limit as to the number of embedded links in a post allowed on CF.)

In a younger stage MeanDean was sort of an anti-instrumental snob. "Put some words in there, make it a real song!" Somewhere along the line I got over that and thankfully have come to appreciate the simplistic beauty of an instrumental presentation without vocal overlay.

So, on that note (Ha, see how I did that!) Lets get on with this.

(Caveat: Some of these do have some words or back up stuff in them, but not being a picky guy, I'm tossing them all in the instrumental bin for your enjoyment)

The way my mind categorizes them always starts with the early Rock and Roll/Surf Classics:

Wipe Out - Surfaris


Walk, Don't Run - Ventures


Green Onions - Booker T and the MG's


Tequila - The Champs


Pipeline - The Chantays

All great ones!
 

matclone

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Nov 13, 2016
9,148
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Juliet of the Spirits, by Nino Rota (especially like theme starting at 1:35), composer of all sorts of great music including The Godfather and Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet.
 
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