The instrument makes the song

[H2IZCOOL]

Juggie's thread about saxaphone solos in the '80s, was the inspiration for me to start this thread. It's about songs - regardless of era that would be average/mundane, perhaps (no I don't mean like RL! ), but there is an unusual choice of instruments in the song that sets it apart.

For example, let me present Brenda Lee's "Losing You" from 1963. It is a more or less pretty but fairly standard rock ballad from the day. However, the featured instrument in this song is a trumpet. Sure, a common enough instrument, and used (along with other brass) to a great extent a few years later with the advent of the jazz/rock sounds of the likes of Chicago and BS&T. But ...in the erly '60s? In a standard rock ballad? Pretty uncommon, I would say.

Anyway, please ignore the poor quality video and just close your eyes and listen to a trumpet turn a standard rock ballad into a gem!



Please feel free both to comment on this song and/or add your own examples.

[Dawn]

One that comes to mind for me is Firefall's "Strange Way." It's a solid rock song on its own, but it's the flute solo near the end that takes it from good to absolutely stellar. So much so, that the radio/single edit pales by comparison, as most of the flute is missing in that version.

[H2IZCOOL]

Aug 1, 2010 19:13:54 GMT -5 Dawn said:

One that comes to mind for me is Firefall's "Strange Way." It's a solid rock song on its own, but it's the flute solo near the end that takes it from good to absolutely stellar. So much so, that the radio/single edit pales by comparison, as most of the flute is missing in that version.

Great choice, Dawn!! That's one of my favorite songs (top 500) - yes ... WITH the flute solo!

[Jughead]

I was going to add a song that incorporated a flute brilliantly as well...Nights In White Satin.

[m c dornan]

Harpsichord!
Doesn't the intro sound like the MASH theme song?

[m c dornan]

Another trumpet song, for a country-mariachi sound.