I idly put a playlist together of great guitar instrumentals. As we have to have rules for these things they are:
1. Must be melodic
2. Meaningless shredding is not allowed
3. Only one piece per artist
4. All genres positively encouraged
However I have quickly realised I have major artists missing (no Bert, no John Mc, no RT) and no recent entries – are instrumentals even a thing any more?
Pitch in and I will add (if I like it…)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5NcIuc5NwObbguM9TWsYlB?si=03353bee202148af
You’ve got John Mayall and the Bluebreakers twice. That’s breaking your own rules. Rule 3, to be precise. Or do you get preferential treatment? Or is it simply corruption – did you bribe yourself? What’s going on exactly?
For Jeff Beck I’d have probably chosen ‘Cos We’ve Ended As Lovers’
For Rainbow I absolutely, definitely, incontrovertibly would have chosen ‘Weiss Heim’
I’d add:
Cloud – Little Axe
Manoir de Mes Reves – Django Reinhardt
Cloudy Day – J.J. Cale
Meet Martin Riggs – Eric Clapton
White – Frank Ocean (feat. John Meyer)
and my personal favourite:
The Three of Us – Ben Harper
Well The Supernatural is really Peter Green hence apparent duplication. I thought about CWEAL for JB. Could have gone either way TBH. Changed just to keep you happy Gal.
Rainbow, though, stays as SIS. It inspired my school band to do a heavy rock version of “Apache” which was quite magnificent but sadly never recorded so you will all have to imagine.
Sweet Dreams by Roy Buchanan
Nice
Deffo.
I’ll be back later – but I’ll just jot these down while I think on…
…and I hope this counts, despite the vocalese…
If we are allowing a short burst of tantamount-to-talking, then Roy Buchanan’s ‘The Messiah Will Come Again’ simply has to be in there, it’s just amazing. This little song tells you a lot about Roy. I hope Roy found his peace. He left me with this heartbreaking blues, and I am grateful for that.
Oh yes!
Leeds Poly, 25th May, 50p
See now, I’ve gone for Cloudy Day by J.J. Cale. @twang, if you only add one J.J. Cale to the Spotify playlist, don’t just make it a simple question of musical taste – instead, choose based on who you prefer out of me and fitterstoke.
Don’t go down that road @Gary – you’ll only end up sad and disappointed…
Check out the newly revised Spotify list and weep.
Oh, Twang…how could you? Did Solihull mean nothing, after all?
Ry Cooder – Think it’s Going to Work Out Fine from Bop Til You Drop
and Dark End of the Street from Boomer’s Story
Think
Dark
Because Twang failed to adhere to Rule 3 you assume you can do the same? Perhaps you think it’s time Rule 3 was scrapped altogether? Perhaps you’d like to abolish the monarchy, get rid of the House of Lords and tear up the Universal Declaration of Human Rights while we’re at it?
All of the above please.
While i realise it’s a tall order, be great if you could get it sorted for Xmas
Can’t have two. But “I think it’s gonna…” is so brilliant I can’t imagine how I forgot it. Also added David Lindley.
@Twang and @Jaygee I believe Ry’s version on Bop Til You Drop was based on the great Otis Rush instrumental Everything’s Going To Be Alright which was on Volume 2 of the great Chicago The Blues Today series that came out circa 1966.
Cheers, JW
Apart from the name, didn’t know squat about OR until I heard that. Given his love of breathing new life into old songs, his TIGTWOF is obviously another of his many heartfelt tips of the hat to those on whose shoulders he stands
Pixies – Cecilia-Ann
Elton John – Out of the Blue
Duane Eddy – Because they’re Young
Mason Williams – Classical Gas
Ooh, and Focus – Sylvia
Good work Milk
There’s another terrific Mason Williams guitar song called
Saturday Night at the World
MW is not only a hugely talented guitarist, but also a very good writer (the Smothers Brothers) and helped get Steve Martin started.
Amazed his albums, Sharepickers and Hand Made aren’t much better known
And this:
Flew as a bird – Richard Thompson
Fleet. Meanwhile I was going to have quick rattle thru’ Grizzly Man for an appropriate snippet.
Flee as a Bird.
Cross dressing bassist from Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Free Foxes?
Greta Van Free?
This last sounds like pretty heavy supergroup. Front page headline of the Melody Maker guaranteed.
Oh great shout for Cecilia-Anne!
Stiff Little Fingers – Go For It
My all-time favourite instrumental – from the post-Jan Akkerman version of Brainbox (1969), written by his replacement Rudy de Queljoe.
Not on Spotty sadly Colin.
The instrumental edit from the 20-minute ‘Jack Orion’ by Pentangle is outstanding in my book…
Bit of yer modern classical – Toru Takemitsu
Oh, yes…
Nice one
Instrumental by default…
Surely the lovely Bron-Y-Aur would be the pick for Zep?
A different option, certainly…
@Twang how about the beautiful Earl Gray by “Danny Kirwan’s” Fleetwood Mac? That would allow Albatross by “Peter Green’s” Fleetwood Mac 😉
Mmm it’s tricky this. I think I’m coming round to the idea that the player is the thing, so the fact that both were in the same band doesn’t matter, it’s the play which is the thing. I think.
I love this but it’s probably not what you’re after.
The Smiths!
I came here to suggest Martin Taylor’s Kwame. Here he is explaining how to play it, sadly I think I would need 12 hands and six brains (and a book of matches). Skip to 3:28 for the whole thing.
Another all-time fave, Twangmeister:
I think this qualifies.
Yes, indeed – another vote for this…
Def. I was playing Bundles earlier trying to make my mind up.
These two always remind me of one another while both having the personality of each musician shine through. The sound of smiling guitars.
He just gets it so right, doesn’t he?
Here’s another…
This probably leads to my being put out of this group in disgust. Don’t care, I think it’s lovely.
I do too bogl.
The Damned – Smash It Up (Part 1)
From 0:00 to 2:00
Oh well played. Often overlooked but shouldn’t be.
It’s a song though.
Part 1 is the instrumental, part 2 is the song
(I’m not going to win this one am I?)
Dick Dale – Miserlou
Link Wray – Rumble
You are all mad.
Mark Knopflers Hoing Home theme from Local Hero must surely be included.
Also I know it us overly familiar but Samba Pa Ti by Santana is about as melodic as you can get
Which is why it’s already on the Spotify playlist at number 6. I’d never heard it before. It’s nice.
LH now on list Steve
Santo & Johnny – Sleepwalk
Danny Gatton – Harlem Nocturne
Thinking of a Hendrix example if wanted then I would say Pali Gap off Rainbow Bridge. It’s got a nice psychedelic jazzy feel.
This should have been down there, not here.
The Daddy. Or the Um Heap Big Chief, if you will. Timelessly thrilling.
And already on the list BT …
Here it is. Hendrix – Pali Gap
Going back a bit…to the Nightriders church hall repertoire.
Frank Zappa – Pink Napkins
Possibly cheating, as it’s not a guitar as most of us know it.
Let’s hear from the ladies.
Mary Osborne – I Love Paris + These Foolish Things
Oooh she’s fun. Nice.
I asked RT if he would consider doing another instrumental album, he asked if I’d contribute towards it. Indeed I would.
I also have a long playlist of guitar instrumentals – here’s 12 of ’em which I don’t think have been mentioned above (apologies if I’ve missed them):
1. Amber Rose Guitar Duo – Step Inside Love (under-rated song I think)
2. Arlen Roth – She Said, She Said
3. Steve Hackett with Genesis – Horizons
4. Gordon Giltrap – Summer Holiday
5. Bill Nelson – Pink Buddah Blues (ignore the muttering!)
6. Charlie Byrd Trio – Jive at Five
7. Nguyên Lê – I Feel Good
8. Elmore James – Pickin The Blues (or the Grinderswitch version)
9. Chris Spedding – The Train and The River (a brave attempt at the Jimmy Giuffre / Jim Hall original)
10. John Barry Seven with Vic Flick – Hit & Miss
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan – Lenny
12. Sonny Landreth – Firebird Blues.
Ooh tasty thanks Peanuts!
As this enjoyable thread is still going I’ll add a few more to the playlist, if I may:
1. Amos Garrett – Sleepwalk
2. Djelimady Tounkara – Djely Blues
3. Steve Dawson – Lighthouse Avenue
4. Freddie King – The Stumble
5. Eric Johnson – Song for George
6. Pat Metheny – Ferry cross the Mersey
7. Harry Manx – Blueswalk
8. Danny Gatton – Blues Newburg
9. Jimi Hendrix – Born under a bad sign
10. Oupa Makhubela – Township Dance
11. Les Primitifs Du Futur – Blues, Amour et bottleneck
12. Herb Ellis & Charlie Byrd – Things ain’t what they used to be
Black Napkins at No 7 – well done sir!
From the FZ catalogue I’d probably choose Twenty Small Cigars or this, Toads Of the Short Forest
This is my all time Beck favourite, although I believe Jimmy Page is also on there….
Jimmy Page is on all records made in the 60s, except for the ones by Led Zeppelin, where he was replaced by Chris Spedding
(probably)
Son Of Mr Green Genes – Frank Zappa
Marion produced, co written and played by Johnny Marr
Happy Turtle Song — Hot Tuna
The Lonely Bull — The Dream Syndicate
She Moved Through The Fair — Davy Graham
I Heard It Through The Grapevine — Bill Frisell
Fireworks (Still Life No. 5) — Chris Stamey
Zappa Watermelons in Easter Hay
Santana but Neal Schon is the main player – Song of The wind
Lobby Lloyd. G.O. D. Guitar overdrive
Leo Kottke jesu joy of Man’s Desiring …
Duane Allman Little Martha
Song Of The Wind is by God. Whoever that is. It f*cking ROCKS.
No shredding here…
Great list @Twang and humbled that The Feedback File is in such exalted company. Here’s a few for consideration (I’m sure there is one acclaimed session guy in here that will definitely make your list – if it hasn’t already)
I blame the Feedback File’s not so humble lead guitarist.
I didn’t want to say anything!
Me neither. I’m just the OP! 😉
New Wave instrumental featuring E-bow by some fella who used to be in Thin Lizzy (and an electric viola solo).
Wot, no Phish today?
They seem to get better and better. When they are on song, Trey is remarkable. Love it.
Erm, has anyone mentioned “Kensington Blues” by the late, much-missed Jack Rose yet?
No?
Well I will, then.
Killer track.
On list. Great track.
Just read the instructions – melodic, no shredding. Hazard Profile 1 – mmmmm. I mean it’s fabulous but would suggest kind of stretching the definition a tiny tad
Are you aware that it’s a barely veiled rewrite (by the same composer) of a Nucleus tune?
John Scofield.
Wes Montgomery
.
Kenny Burrell
Some country pickin’ – with pedal steel bonus.
There it is: excellent, tasteful – just superb. God bless Vini Reilly and all who sail with him…
Just this, stupendous. Always something special about the Acousic in combination with drop D / alt tuning.
Hamper for Mr Twang…
I’m ignoring the rule about no mindless shredding and inserting this, which has shredding from four different guitarists. Nevertheless it is very melodic.
JB has a very sad story. Did you see the film about him? Also Guthrie is on it, so you get a pass.
I was hoping someone would notice Guthrie – he’s the only reason I posted it.
No post-rock yet?
I think this might be one of the post-rock strike days…
Great thread with some fine pieces of work.
I would have liked to post some good quality Django Rheinhart video but it’s few and far between. Bireli Lagrene’s Gypsy Project makes a good fist of keeping The Hot Club de Paris sound alive.
Here’s a version of ‘Hungaria’
A few suggestions…
Blue Oyster Cult – Buck’s Boogie. Lively but certainly not shredding
Mogwai – Ceiling Granny. Plenty to choose from but this is my favourite
Gary Moore – The Loner. There are some fairly faint vocals but no-one would deny that it’s an instrumental, shirley? He does widdle a bit but there’s a proper hummable tune in there
The Galster is quite notey but always in the best possible taste. Great choice
Bit o’ the John Martyn…
In tribute to @Blue_Boy – here’s Jan Akkerman’s ‘Blue Boy’…
Late to the party (again) but here’s a couple from me…..
Adrian Legg / Mrs Crowes Blues Waltz (very surprised no Adrian Legg mentioned so far)
Sleep-Eazy’s / Blue Nocturne (a Joe Bonamassa side project).
Went to see Adrian play once. Gig interupted by strange knocking noise. It was the sound of every guitar player in the house’s jaw hitting the floor.
Another guitar lady, Emily Remler.
Always been very fond of Anthony Phillips
( a co-write with Mike Rutherford)
And another co-write here, David Bedford with Mike Oldfield