Instrumentals that get Radio Airplay...

[Mr. Juice]

Yes, some are bummed that they won't be hearing the soothing sounds of vocals from the lips of the Beastie Boys, and some even fear that this new "instrumental" album will disqualify the Scientists of Sound from getting any love on the radio. As I sat back in my easy chair last night and took a puff from my pipe (yes, I was wearing my velvet smoking jacket), I thought of some classic (rock/pop) instrumental songs that are still being played quite frequently on the radio. See, all hope is not lost:

"Green Onions," Book T. & the MG's
"Soulful Strut," Young-Holt Unlimited
"Axel F," Harold Faltermeyer

All of these are both catchy and very recognizable (although that frog from England did a good job of almost ruining the latter).

Can you guys think of anymore?

NOTE: Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Pt. 1 & 2" have been disqualified since the vocals "Hey" appear throughout the duration of both songs. Also "Chariots of Fire" was taken off the list for lacking a sufficient rock/pop punch.

[buddmonkey]

Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group(y)

[abcdefz]

"A Fifth of Beethoven" - Walter something.

"Stars Wars Theme/Catina Band" - Meco (?)

"Theme from A Summer Place"

"Theme from Romeo and Juliet"

[abcdefz]

...did Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" have vocals? I think it might have.

[Mr. Juice]

Oooh! "Rockit" is a good one!

[camo]

what was that recent mogwai track?

[Lo_Lyfe]

I don't care about the radio. Least of all a radio station that wouldn't play instrumental music.

:confused:

[Shamus]

Didn't the "Art of Noise" have a popular song in the 80's I don't remember the name but I do remember the video had a punkrock midget chick smashing a piano or something like that?

[The Ron]

Can you guys think of anymore?


I constantly hear the new instrumental song "Ecstacy of Gold" from Metallica on the radio.

[abcdefz]

I think instrumentals used to be way more acceptable, then they sort of died off except for the occasional novelty item. There's no reason to think that it couldn't happen again. It just kind of depends on what the corporations and tastemakers want to shove down our throats.

I'd think that if they made a pretty irresistible video for a pretty irresistible track that could work on TV + Youtube, they'd have a good shot. There's a lot of good will out there for these guys.

[b i o n i c]

in sounds from way out gets used on TV all the time, and their supposed to be paid for that. i won't be suprised to hear this album used in the same way

[Lo_Lyfe]

Sunrise (a show here that is pretty much 'Good Morning Australia') uses Song for Junior, Groove Holmes and Sabrosa when they cut out to a break on occasion. They even used Kashmir once. The show is presented by and aimed at squares, but they have someone kind of hip doing the production.

Does anyone else think it was disgusting that Futterman's Rule never made it onto In Sounds?

[martijn]

i dont give a f**k if this album doesn't reach the top40!, i only want the album to be good.

[b i o n i c]

seriously, who cares

[Brother McDuff]

seriously, who cares


some of us do. i won't lose sleep if the record doesn't get airplay on the radio, but i'm still interested to see if it will, and if it does what the masses will think of it.

[cj hood]

CHiPs theme song...

[Jiberish]

The Allman Brothers Band has a sick instrumental

[abcdefz]

Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield (?)

[abcdefz]

Here -- I just pulled these from AMG:


1 Rebel Rouser
Duane Eddy 2:24

2 Topsy, Pt. 2
Cozy Cole 3:37

3 Teen Beat
Sandy Nelson 2:27

4 Bongo Rock
Preston Epps 2:11

5 Tequila
Champs 2:14

6 Poor Boy
Royaltones 2:21

7 Guitar Boogie Shuffle
Virtues 2:39

8 The Happy Organ
Cortez, Dave "Baby" 2:04

9 Raunchy
Justis Bill & His Orchestra 2:23

10 Walkin' With Mr. Lee
Allen, Lee & His Band 2:29

11 Forty Miles of Bad Road
Duane Eddy 2:08

12 Raw-Hide
Wray, Link & The Wraymen 2:09
13 In the Mood Fields, Ernie & His ... 2:36
Fields, Ernie & His Orchestra

14 Woo-Hoo
Rock A Teens 2:07

15 Red River Rock
Johnny & the Hurricanes 2:14

16 Sleepwalk
Santo & Johnny 2:25

17 Rumble
Wray, Link & the Wraymen 2:28

18 Harlem Nocturne
Viscounts 2:22

19 Walk, Don't Run
Ventures 2:07

20 Wild Weekend
Rebels 2:17

21 Let's Go (Pony)
Routers 2:20

22 Memphis
Lonnie Mack 2:33

23 Bumble Boogie
B. Bumble & The Stingers 2:12

24 (Ghost) Riders in the Sky
Ramrods 2:42

25 Apache
Jorgen Ingmann & Hi ... 3:03
Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar

26 Beatnik Fly
Johnny & the Hurricanes 2:11

27 Wheels
String A Longs 1:58

28 Bulldog
Fireballs 2:14

29 The Madison Time, Pt. 1
Bryant, Ray Combo 3:10

30 Telstar
Tornados 3:20

31 Out of Limits
Marketts 2:08

32 Wham!
Lonnie Mack 2:15

33 Nut Rocker
B. Bumble & The Stingers 2:02

34 Because They're Young
Eddy, Duane & the Rebels 2:00

35 No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)
T Bones 2:20

36 Classical Gas
Mason Williams 3:04

37 Joy
Apollo One Hundred ... 2:48
Apollo One Hundred, Tom Parker

38 Outa-Space
Billy Preston 4:12

39 T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)
MFSB, Three Degrees 3:38

40 The Hustle
Van McCoy ... 3:47
Van McCoy, Soul City Symphony

41 Movin'
Brass Construction 3:53

42 Sun Goddess
Ramsey Lewis ... 3:11
Ramsey Lewis, Earth, Wind & Fire

43 Whole Lotta Love
Curtis, King & The ... 2:46
Curtis, King & The Kingpins

44 Daybreaker
Electric Light Orchestra 3:35

45 Also Sprach Zarathurstra (Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey)
Deodato 5:07

46 Rock & Roll, Pt. 2
Gary Glitter 3:05

47 Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band 3:05

48 A Fifth of Beethoven
Murphy, Walter & Th ... 3:05
Murphy, Walter & The Big Apple Band

49 Popcorn
Hot Butter 2:35

50 Express
BT Express 3:35

51 Jungle Fever
Chakachas 4:24

52 K-Jee
Nite Liters 4:06

53 Apricot Brandy
Rhinoceros 2:01

54 Frankenstein
Edgar Winter 3:25

55 Green Onions
Booker T. & the MG's 2:56

56 Grazing in the Grass
Hugh Masekela 2:40

57 The Horse
Nobles, Cliff & Company 2:42

58 Soul Twist
Curtis, King & The ... 2:50
Curtis, King & The Noble Knights

59 Last Night
Mar Keys 2:39

60 The "In" Crowd
Lewis, Ramsey Trio 3:19

61 Soul Finger
Bar Kays 2:23

62 Soul Makossa
Manu Dibango 4:31

63 Twine Time
Cash, Alvin & The C ... 2:25
Cash, Alvin & The Crawlers

64 Soulful Strut
Young-Holt Unlimited 3:02

65 Hang 'Em High
Booker T. & the MG's 3:56

66 Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Cannonball Adderley 3:11

67 El Watusi
Barretto, Ray Y Su ... 2:44
Barretto, Ray Y Su Charanga Moderna

68 Watermelon Man
Mongo Santamaria 2:28

69 Viva Tirado, Pt. 1
Chicano 4:44

70 Hip Hug-Her
Booker T. & the MG's 2:26

71 Wack Wack
Young-Holt Trio 2:59

72 Time Is Tight
Booker T. & the MG's 3:14

73 Pipeline
Chantays 2:22

74 Mr. Moto
Bel Airs 2:11

75 Wipe Out
Bel Airs 2:40

76 Underwater
Frogmen 2:08

77 Misirlou
Dale, Dick & The De ... 2:16
Dale, Dick & The Del-Tones

78 Diamond Head
Ventures 2:04

79 Baja
Astronauts 2:27

80 Surfer's Stomp
Mar-Kets 1:59

81 Bustin' Surfboards
Tornadoes 2:29

82 Penetration
Pyramid 2:04

83 Mr. Rebel
Eddie & The Showmen 1:58

84 Fiberglass Jungle
Crossfires 2:13

85 K-39
Challengers 2:14

86 Point Panic
Surfaris 2:19

87 Let's Go Trippin'
Dale, Dick & The De ... 2:09

88 Surf Rider
Lively Ones 3:22

89 Soul Surfer
Johnny Fortune 2:34

90 The Lonely Surfer
Jack Nitzsche 2:35

[b i o n i c]

some of us do. i won't lose sleep if the record doesn't get airplay on the radio, but i'm still interested to see if it will, and if it does what the masses will think of it.


i love the bb's and all but why does it matter at all to any of us 'how well' the record does.

the only explanation i can think of is people want them to do well so that they'll keep making music, but i hope that they'd do that regardless

[cj hood]

whether a beasite record gets radio play has never ever been a concern of mine.....

[Laver1969]

I am very interested to see how this album is promoted. Will this album have a similar financial backing as TT5B. What is Capitol's expectation of the album?

I'm not so interested in if it'll be chart-topper and that stuff. But more on the business end. I think the Beasties made the album because they love making music...but how do they sell the instrumental idea to the label?

[balohna]

I think Capitol learned the value of letting them do whatever they want. Paul's Boutique might have sold like shit at first, but now everyone that's into music owns a copy. I don't think the public really has the attention span for instrumental songs on the radio, but a strong video could push this album. I can imagine rock stations playing part of a song and then cutting it off and being like "new Beastie Boys... blahblahblah" and then playing Nickelback or something.

[TAFKASB]

Didn't the "Art of Noise" have a popular song in the 80's I don't remember the name but I do remember the video had a punkrock midget chick smashing a piano or something like that?

Yes they did..I believe it was called Tom Gun :)

[Brother McDuff]

i love the bb's and all but why does it matter at all to any of us 'how well' the record does.


like i said before, it's not a concern to me, i'm just curious as to how people will react to it. be it radio programmers or the general public. if they do or don't like it, it won't change my opinion of it in the least, i just think it'll be an interesting opening week.

[pm0ney]

What the hells the matter with you?! You didn't include Kool & The Gang's Summer Madness!!!! The greatest instrumental track EVER.

[milkboy009]

What the hells the matter with you?! You didn't include Kool & The Gang's Summer Madness!!!! The greatest instrumental track EVER.

SO TRUUUUUUUUE!
and what about the Incredible Bongo Band's version of apache?

[Brother McDuff]

alotta chemical bros. and crystal method hits have been instrumental. maybe not made with instruments but vocal-less nonetheless.

[Pootytang]

Jimmy Smith's Rootdown didn't make that list :mad:

[discopants]

Papaa Got a Brand New Pigbag
by Pigbag

[Brother McDuff]

Jimmy Smith's Rootdown didn't make that list :mad:

i don't think that was a commercial hit though? was it? it was a phenomenal instrumental, but i don't think it was getting considerable, or even any airplay.

[Mr. Juice]

The Alan Parsons Project had that "Sirius" instrumental that the Chicago Bulls used for their starting lineup intros in the '90s. They used to play it on the radio every so often.

[acamus]

Joe Satriani has had several instrumentals that get radio play. Most notable "Summer Song".

[b-grrrlie]

Here -- I just pulled these from AMG:
.....

and most of these are from the 50's or 60's...


40 The Hustle
Van McCoy ... 3:47
Van McCoy, Soul City Symphony

but does this qualify as an instrumental then? They do shout Do the hustle! every now and then!

[abcdefz]

...that's why I passed the buck on authorship, as well. :)


I remember learning a dance at 4-H Camp to "The Alley Cat Song."