Instrumentals that were hit singles

M Of The O-See posts #11 & #24

 

I think "Should have been" hits should qualify as long as it was a single or a regular staple of radio. Maybe we need another thread for non hits like ELO's "Fire on High" that are too good to pass up.

Lots of great Youtube links. If you make a Youtube playlist based on suggestions in this thread, please share.

 

Linus and Lucy Theme
Girl from Ipanema

 

"Girl From Ipanema" definitely was a vocal.....

 

I do believe that there was also an instrumental hit version of it as well. But by who escapes me at the moment.

 

A Flock of Seagulls - "DNA"

 

Like I'm going to read the whole thing.

 

A big hit in Europe at the time. Get your kazoos out !
Sir Henry and his Butlers - "Camp"

 

That was a great song. In 1976, I knew ELO's hits pretty well, but I didn't know their albums well. I started hearing an incredibly-catchy instrumental on the CBS Sports Spectacular shows during that year. By late summer, I went on some CBS remotes as a camera operator and graphic artist. I asked one of the AD's during a rehearsal, "hey! What's that great song you guys play going to bumper?" And he laughed and said, "wow, if I only had a dollar for everybody who asks me that. That's a piece from this ELO song." I was just floored by that. The following week, I ran out and got all their albums, and I've honestly been a huge fan ever since.

Rick Derringer's "Joy Ride" would be an example of a non-charting rock instrumental that I think is very good:



The only problem I have with it is that it should've been three times longer! Very ELO-ish, actually.

 

One of my favorites is this one that hit #28 on the Billboard Top 40 in 1970.

El Chicano - Viva Tirado

 

Apache - The Shadows

F.B.I - The Shadows

Kon Tiki - The Shadows

etc.........

 

Didn't see this one out there, it was a #3 on the pop charts in 1974.

The Entertainer (Theme from The Sting) an adaptation by Marvin Hamlisch of the old Scott Joplin tune written in 1902.

It also won an Oscar for Best Original Song Score and Adaptation.

 

Don't give a damn if they were hits or not, Slipknot and Meddle rock the Casbah...g'night/katie

 

Rinky Dink-Dave Cortez
On The Rebound-Floyd Cramer
Hoots Mon-Lord Rockinghams 11 (yeh I know, a few Scottish words)
Bumble Boogie-B Bumble and the Stingers
Mandrake-Mandrake

 

I still call them The Tornados and they are my alltime favorite instrumental band and Telstar is one of Joe Meek's absolute masterpieces...


- Eroc

 

Many favorites have already been mentioned. I’ll add a few more in the R&B vein:

One Mint Julep – Ray Charles
Watermelon Man – Mongo Santamaria
K-Jee – The Nite-Liters (original and highest charting version of the song from 1971; some prefer the MFSB cover version later released as a single in 1978 after its inclusion on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack)
Theme From The Men – Isaac Hayes

 

A Swingin' Safari - Bert Kaempfert



Harry

 

I LOVE this song. One of my favorites from the 60's. Ron

PS Maryanne was a better dancer than Ginger!!!

 

Night Of The Vampire - Moontrekkeres
Pacific 202 - 808 State
Grooving With Mr Bloe - Mr Bloe
Pepper Box - The Peppers
Egyptian Reggae - Modern Lovers
Close To The Edit - Art Of Noise

 

Buckaroo-Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

I believe it was #1 on the country charts

 

Not sure if Lily Was Here was mentioned already:

 

Speaking of Bert, this one sounds spectacular:

​

 

I love this track, it was used in a Benson & Hedges cigarette commercial and also made the top 40 in 1967:

The Brass Ring -The Disadvantages of You

 

Hawaii 5.0 - The Ventures

 

Recent Collector's Choice catalogs have had an ongoing series of all the instrumental hits of the 1960s compiled. Here's a cite that lists them from 1955-1979. http://www.forgottenhits.com/top_50_instrumental_hits_1955_-_1979