ALOTT5MA FRIDAY PLAYLIST: In honor of the Big Man, Clarence Clemons, suggest a song with a saxophone solo for your fellow readers to enjoy. I've got two below the fold, one Clarence and one non-.
Careless Whisper by Wham! was the first thing that came to mind. I was a sax player in HS marching band when this song came out and always loved the sax part.
We also cannot have a discussion about saxophones without the great Bobby Keys. And while it's not my favorite Stones song, there's no denying "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" has some terrific sax.
Hating sax solos, I abstain. I will note that I saw Bon Iver on Colbert and there was a short baritone sax solo that sounded as if the gentleman was being introduced to the sax for the first time in his life. I kind of liked that.
This one reminds me of camp, so I will say "Electric Blue" by Icehouse. Cheesy, yes, but good. And "You Belong to the City" by Glenn Frey. What can I say? I love the 80s and I love sax solos.
At least 3 of the songs mentioned already are on that AV Club "Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone" list: http://www.avclub.com/articles/dont-blow-it-10-great-songs-nearly-ruined-by-saxop,2032/ Beauty, eye, beholder, etc.
The National Anthem, Radiohead While the complete works of Morphine is a bit broad, the solo on Buena off of Cure for Pain I always thought was tremendous
<p>Was coming to offer Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" for the Second Division, but I see I've been beaten to the punch. </p><p>Do I Have To Say His Name? Division: Come on, you want just one? Since we've already discussed "Jungleland" and "Summer on Signal Hill" above and in earlier posts, then I'm cheating with two: "Badlands" and "The Promised Land" (go to 2:35 here, and then watch Bruce react as Clarence kicks in to the solo). </p>
This might be a false memory, but doesn't "Hostile, Mass." by the Hold Steady have a sax solo? I always think of it as the "E Street Band rip-off song," but I can't remember if that's for the keyboards or sax.
Who Can It Be Now -Men at Work Need You Tonight - INXS Modern Love - David Bowie Shotgun - Junior Walker and the All Stars Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
This song is crazypants and, no sir, I do not like it, but it's notable for the fact that at one point the saxophonist plays the saxophone upside down. And I don't mean he's upside down, I mean the sax is upside down with the mouthpiece upside down in his mouth. Which I have no idea how that even works, given the nature of a single-reed instrument. http://www.youtube.com/v/CMBeqNfYEYY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
The sax solo on "Urgent" is from Junior Walker. So as long as we're going down that road, I'd suggest somthing from Junior Walker himself. "Shotgun," maybe. And something from King Curtis, the sax player whom Clarence credits with inspiring him. I'd pick "Memphis Soul Stew."
I don't know if it counts as a solo, but you got to mention "Yakkety Sax" in there somewhere. And the live version of Dire Straits' "Two Young Lovers" has an awesome sax at the end.
I am so bummed that the only Youtube video of Morphine doing "Mary Won't You Call My Name" is a live version with terrible sound quality, because that would be my pick. But "Honey White" is amazing.
Surprised to find the two that came immediately to mind haven't been mentioned yet: Randy Brecker's solo in Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksa4VjKE3RY) and Sonny Rollins' in the Stones' Waiting on a Friend (http://www.youtube.com/user/KOUJI328Z#p/u/1/I7zJdM39BXw)
Saxus interruptus. The link I posted to Waiting on a Friend cuts out midway through the song; this is whole and uncut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8MhpofxMgk
I agree that, for better or worse, You Belong To The City is the quintessential cheesy 80s sax solo (with Harden My Heart close behind). I'd also reference "I Can't Go For That" and "Maneater" by Hall and Oates and "He Can't Love You" by the Michael Stanley Band.
Someone else might have already posted it, but this site has a nice anthology of 80s sax solos, along with letter grades.
Just to get it out of the way--"Baker Street" (Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!)
ReplyDeleteYour Latest Trick, Dire Straits
ReplyDelete"Young Americans" - David Bowie
ReplyDeleteDamn, Tosy stole mine! Bastard.
ReplyDeleteCareless Whisper, George Michael
ReplyDelete"Urgent" by Foreigner.
ReplyDeleteDanger, High Voltage!, Electric Six
ReplyDeleteCareless Whisper by Wham! was the first thing that came to mind. I was a sax player in HS marching band when this song came out and always loved the sax part.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, perhaps the emotional pinnacle of saxophone solo in all of rock music, the Big Man's solo in Jungleland
ReplyDeleteSpecifically, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPEjF3LSM64 at 2'55"-3'28".
ReplyDeleteI second "Young Americans"!
ReplyDeletethat was me.
ReplyDelete"Walk on the Wild Side," Lou Reed.
ReplyDelete"Us and Them," Pink Floyd.
"Turn the Page", Bob Seger.
ReplyDeleteIt's of course better in the context of the whole album, but "Us & Them" on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll go home tonight, put my copy of that album on the turntable, lay on the floor between the speakers and just listen.
You posted Pink Floyd while I was typing - great minds think alike! (And so do ours.)
ReplyDeleteWe cannot have a discussion about saxophones without Sergio!
ReplyDeleteSaxamaphone ... saxamaphone.
ReplyDeleteHuey Lewis and the News, Heart of Rock and Roll.
ReplyDeleteJust a fun song - no comparison to Big Man intended.
We also cannot have a discussion about saxophones without the great Bobby Keys. And while it's not my favorite Stones song, there's no denying "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" has some terrific sax.
ReplyDeleteLove Vibration, Josh Rouse (I think the video fades the solo out a bit earlier than the album, but it's a great pop sax solo. Great album, too.)
ReplyDeleteThere's this little bit of weirdness from Madness that I find catchy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAx2GHUUoSo ("One Step Beyond")
ReplyDeleteSurely, there must be some Morphine on this list at some point? I'm not familiar enough with individual songs of theirs to know which one to pick.
"Disenchanted" by Everything But the Girl was, I believe, Stan Getz's last recording.
ReplyDeleteFor those who've never seen this particular Springsteen clip, FF to 1:15. Smile. Then cry.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how it happened. It all took place too quick.
ReplyDeleteI have to assume there's a sax in the brass riffs on Steely Dan's "My Old School", otherwise, "Deacon Blues" will work.
ReplyDeleteHoney White, Morphine. (Pretty much anything in the Morphine catalog is going to feature some great sax work by Dana Colley)
ReplyDeleteHating sax solos, I abstain. I will note that I saw Bon Iver on Colbert and there was a short baritone sax solo that sounded as if the gentleman was being introduced to the sax for the first time in his life. I kind of liked that.
ReplyDeleteMoondance, Van Morrison
ReplyDeleteI guess it falls more into jazz than pop, but, man oh man, do I love "Harlem Nocturne" by The Viscounts. And I had no idea there was a record label with my name:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/v/5cRuaej7_bo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
Traffic, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
ReplyDeleteThis one reminds me of camp, so I will say "Electric Blue" by Icehouse. Cheesy, yes, but good.
ReplyDeleteAnd "You Belong to the City" by Glenn Frey. What can I say? I love the 80s and I love sax solos.
Confession: When I read the words "Sax solo" that wail from "You Belong to the City" was the first bit of music my cranial jukebox produced.
ReplyDelete"Domino" by Van Morrison comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteAt least 3 of the songs mentioned already are on that AV Club "Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone" list: http://www.avclub.com/articles/dont-blow-it-10-great-songs-nearly-ruined-by-saxop,2032/ Beauty, eye, beholder, etc.
ReplyDeleteThe National Anthem, Radiohead
ReplyDeleteWhile the complete works of Morphine is a bit broad, the solo on Buena off of Cure for Pain I always thought was tremendous
Put Down the Duckie
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/v/SMAixgo_zJ4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
<p>Was coming to offer Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" for the Second Division, but I see I've been beaten to the punch.
ReplyDelete</p><p>Do I Have To Say His Name? Division: Come on, you want just one? Since we've already discussed "Jungleland" and "Summer on Signal Hill" above and in earlier posts, then I'm cheating with two: "Badlands" and "The Promised Land" (go to 2:35 here, and then watch Bruce react as Clarence kicks in to the solo).
</p>
This might be a false memory, but doesn't "Hostile, Mass." by the Hold Steady have a sax solo? I always think of it as the "E Street Band rip-off song," but I can't remember if that's for the keyboards or sax.
ReplyDelete"Harden My Heart" by Quarterflash.
ReplyDeleteA while back, VH1 had a "Two Hit Wonders" show. Quarterflash had a strong showing!
ReplyDeleteI'll substitute OMD's "If You Leave" for the already mentioned "You Belong to the City."
ReplyDeleteWho Can It Be Now -Men at Work
ReplyDeleteNeed You Tonight - INXS
Modern Love - David Bowie
Shotgun - Junior Walker and the All Stars
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
This song is crazypants and, no sir, I do not like it, but it's notable for the fact that at one point the saxophonist plays the saxophone upside down. And I don't mean he's upside down, I mean the sax is upside down with the mouthpiece upside down in his mouth. Which I have no idea how that even works, given the nature of a single-reed instrument.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/v/CMBeqNfYEYY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
The sax solo on "Urgent" is from Junior Walker. So as long as we're going down that road, I'd suggest somthing from Junior Walker himself. "Shotgun," maybe. And something from King Curtis, the sax player whom Clarence credits with inspiring him. I'd pick "Memphis Soul Stew."
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it counts as a solo, but you got to mention "Yakkety Sax" in there somewhere. And the live version of Dire Straits' "Two Young Lovers" has an awesome sax at the end.
ReplyDeleteI love "Memphis Soul Stew" Such a cool, cool song.
ReplyDeletemy guess is the mouthpiece remained rightside up. strong jaws on that guy.
ReplyDeletei kind of dig it.
I am so bummed that the only Youtube video of Morphine doing "Mary Won't You Call My Name" is a live version with terrible sound quality, because that would be my pick. But "Honey White" is amazing.
ReplyDeleteSurprised to find the two that came immediately to mind haven't been mentioned yet:
ReplyDeleteRandy Brecker's solo in Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksa4VjKE3RY)
and Sonny Rollins' in the Stones' Waiting on a Friend (http://www.youtube.com/user/KOUJI328Z#p/u/1/I7zJdM39BXw)
Saxus interruptus. The link I posted to Waiting on a Friend cuts out midway through the song; this is whole and uncut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8MhpofxMgk
ReplyDeleteI agree that, for better or worse, You Belong To The City is the quintessential cheesy 80s sax solo (with Harden My Heart close behind). I'd also reference "I Can't Go For That" and "Maneater" by Hall and Oates and "He Can't Love You" by the Michael Stanley Band.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else might have already posted it, but this site has a nice anthology of 80s sax solos, along with letter grades.
http://imacomputa.org/sax/
Bobby Keyes, Sweet Virginia. Exile
ReplyDeleteOther Brecker brother: Michael Brecker was the saxophone player (arguably the most influential sax player in the last 40 years), Randy is a trumpeter.
ReplyDeleteI'll offer up Branford Marsalis in the middle of Sting's "Children's Crusade" from the Bring on the Night album.
ReplyDelete