Best Saxophone Solo In Rock?

I love the influence of jazz and classic R&B in rock, so I thought I'd pick some of the better known (to me, anyway) sax solos in rock, and poll you all. Please specify "Other" if you vote that way, and I can beat myself up for forgetting. :-)

Chris De Burgh called "Don't Look Back".

"...New York's alright if you like "art" and "jazz"..."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Good times!

and still going strong!

I was just going to post when I noticed your post...Bobby Keyes sax solos on Nilsson's Son of Schmillson LP are some of the HOTTEST rock sax solos...Take 54 and You're Breaking My Heart are Two..Of course David Sanborn's solo on Carly Simon's You Belong to Me is intense too but I don't know if we are calling that rock! :shrug:

Call rock whatever you want to call rock, or pop... I really don't want anyone to feel confined. :-)

Floyd is a good choice, too.

Can you think of memorable Clarence Clemons solos? Live, maybe...

:wow: :thumbsup:

How can you even say "saxophone" without mentioning Tower of Power? The greatest soul band in the history of the world has two tenor saxes and a baritone sax.

Now, then, the best saxophone solo in the entire effing history of Planet Earth is on "Live and in Living Color" from about 25 years ago in a song called "Knock Yourself Out." The soloist is the great Lenny Pickett, who is now the musical director of Saturday Night Live. He can breathe while he plays, and there are parts there that you will not believe are one person playing.

Listen to this track for approximately 24 minutes of divine madness, driven by the greatest drummer of all time, David Garibaldi, and with the amazing playing of Chester Thompson on organ (now with Santana). There is no finer music in the world.

I have spoken!

TOP had the tightest horn section EVER, especially live. Saw many of their shows in the 70s. Lenny's circular breathing ability was an inspiration (no pun intended) to many a band nerd.

(Note: EW&F's horn section was a close second)



:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks so much for that album cover. I've been relistening to that album the last couple of weeks when I exercise. That sign actually hung over the approach to the Bay Bridge for a while. I've been reliving Squib Cakes. Wow, what a sound.

wryter,

"Knock Yourself Out" originally showed up on the LP "East Bay Grease" from 1970. That one's a classic - "Sparkling In The Sand", "Back On The Streets Again" and a whole bunch more. If you've not heard it, plunk down the CD money - oh, and play it rather loud.

I have all their albums. I even have a home copy and an office copy of Soul Vaccination Live. I see them at least twice a year. A whole bunch of us go to Reno for a reunion and booster shot of our soul vaccinations. We'll probably be doing on this November when they play John Ascuaga's Nugget.

slick, slick, slick... :)

Bump City! :D

But there are only so many spaces. :-)

Pink Floyd - Us and them

only because I just heard it at lunch today. I don't have a good memory for sax solos.

David Sanborn (?) not a doubt in my mind.

And so was I, which is why I picked "other."

Sanborn played the sax lead.
Sorry, I should have mentioned Lou Reed.

Sanborn's solo complete's Lou's great song.

Thanks, now I see what you meant and thanks for knowing what I meant.

We're both right, :hi:

isn't that D.S. tootin' on Bowie's 'Young Americans'?

Ya gotta love ska. "Night Boat to Cairo" rocks, but it has more instruments.

but not "East St. Louis Tooldle-Oo". Would have to be the Wayne Shorter material on Aja. I would vote for Deacon Blues, but Aja should be considered, too.

And, as much as it's adolescent and self-indulgent, "The Year of the Cat" has some really nice saxophone instrumentals.

Though I wrestled with considering "Aja".

Heart of rock in roll by Huey Lewis / Rockin midnight by the Honeydrippers

OK, maybe not a "solo"...but it's one of the few times a sax really works in a rock 'n' roll song.

And I love that guitar snarl that goes with it. Pure '70's!

I heard a traditional arrangement once on the radio. It was way cool. I cannot recall the composer.

Ellington and Bubber Miley. The early Ellington orchestra recorded several versions. The "growling" muted trumpet was played by the great Bubber Miley.

Just suggestin'......

Also "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" and "Badlands".

Isn't there a good solo in Backstreets too?

Have to give another vote to Jungle Land and Badlands which might be favorite song ever.

:evilfrown:

I'd second "Baker St.," but with all the admiration in the world for Gerry I can't really call this rock. Can we change the poll question to pop/rock?

Gerald Albright on Forget Me Nots by Patrice Rushen

Sonny Rollins on I'm just waiting on a friend by The Rolling Stones

As soon as I read the word Saxophone, that song pops in my head. The solo was performed by Junior Walker. I don't know anything about him (or the sax for that matter), I love that solo.

Jay


-Edited For Content-

This is the finest I have heard.

in rock.

His solo in Urgent was Awesome as was the solo in Shotgun.

great song

Clarence rocks! That has got to be the coolest sax solo on vinyl - and I am not even a big Boss fan.

:smoke:

...Jeebus, how did I forget "Born To Run"? *slaps forehead*

I have seen Alto Reed (stage name for Tommy Cartmell) live - twice, with the Silver Bullet Band, and Clarence on a solo tour when he was cut loose from Bruce.

Clemons's style is too flashy for me - I prefer Reed by far. Check his work on the 'Live Bullet' album. He smokes.

You aren't supposed to say his real name! Christ, even his MOM doesn't get to say his real name in public!

Man, is Alto ever gonna be pissed. Shit, he'll get Monica after you and she'll stomp a mudhole in yer' ass and walk it dry! :D

Since Seger calls him by that on 'Live Bullet', but that was recorded in 1975, lol. :-)

also his work on "Brown Sugar"

Dave Sanborn also plays a great solo on "Sweet Thing/The Candidate" on Bowie's "David Live"

Drive in Saturday

Second place: X-Ray Specs, "oh Bondage Up Yours"

Um, I guess 'Us and Them' of the choices listed.

add the new entry at the bottom. My "Other" vote now has gone to "Turn the Page". Not that that's a bad thing or a bad solo, but it ain't what I voted for.

That's a strange thing to occur. Could it be a bug?

Consider the opinions offered in the thread more valuable, and the poll grossly unscientific. :-)

By Sam the Sham (aka Domingo Samudio) & the Pharoahs.

Maybe I'm just in a trashy mood right now.

Check out a little band by the name of Morphine.
Their album "Yes" is absolutely terrific.

"Buena," and "Sheila" have some of my faves from them.

Honorable mention: Los Lobos - "Set Me Free Rosalie"

I love that gritty sax! "I Know You" is another good one.

Who played the solo on CCR's "Long As I Can See The Light"? Was it King Curtis? Does anyone know?

a man of many talents

rips right through me.

Can't believe it's not on your list.

I think the Sax players in the GMB rocked...I'm thinking "In the Mood", here.

:-)

on "Eyes of the World" from Grateful Dead album Live Without A Net (1990)

great tune...

In the decade that preceded the British Invasion, the tenor sax was rock 'n' roll's primary musical instrument! For some awesome saxohpone work, check out Red Prysock, Joe Houston, Sam "The Man" Taylor, and King Curtis' studio work with the Coasters, just for a start.

the man himself - King Curtis!

Classic Lieber/Stoller stuff amongst tons of other recordings, and definitely distinctive.

I usually hate saxophones, but this solo is haunting.

Alto Reed's playing is subtle and soulful. He can play coda-like variations in tempo and and volume. Clarence Clemons, whom I have heard live, blasts away with enthusiasm which works for some songs but not all.

Jr. Walker is an old Motown guy from the '60s. He fronted a band called "Jr. Walker and the Allstars." Their greatest hits included "Shotgun" and "What Does It Take" with Jr. on both vocals and sax. He has the goods and his tunes get 96, cause you can really dance to them.

I also saw Tower of Power a few years ago, but I have not been very familiar with their work. They were truly amazing. As an old band nerd, I am amazed that one of the saxophonists can blow through the mouth and breath in at the nose at the same time! I simply must try it with my wimpy flute.

Kudos also to David Sanborn and EWF.

Have some coffee. :donut: :hi:

I've been lurking for a few months. DU is a real tonic for those of us living in conservative parts of the nation. It's easy to think that one is the only progressive left!

"The Gunner's Dream" and "Two Suns In the Sunset" from that fantastic album that far too many people forget: The Final Cut.
Also "Starless: by King Crimson is an incredible song, with a great sax solo.
To be honest, I hate saxophones. They just sound harsh and... terrible. They work well enough in these situations though.

Pink Floyd was just full of good healthy sax. Glad to hear a mention of the last "real" Floyd album.

It also features some kick-ass keyboards...

By Black Sabbath... an instrumental on the "Never Say Die" cd. Stradles the line between hideous and gorgeous like a tight-rope artist.

John Helliwell's solo on "Logical Song" stands out as one of the best use of the sax--as far as helping to define the mood of the tune, and is probably the most easily identified sax solos in the last few decades of pop music. It is probably the only sax solo with which your average listener can whistle or hum along


I'm surprised no one has mentioned Supertramp at all :eyes:

I always learn something new, and I am reminded of some stone cold classics.

Shotgun by Jr. Walker? Low Spark of Highhealed Boys by Traffic?

.

Supertramp!

But I feel all right
Feel all right
I feel all right
Feel all right...

That song Dweller in the Threshold or something like that has a great sax solo.

INXS... it was brief, but when they did it in concert and then blacked out right before the solo, and then a single Spotlight on the Sax player standing on top of the huge stack of speakers! I still get chills!

The solo on Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat". It's superb. It burns from note one but stays within the mood of the song.
The Professor