Article: The Best Saxophone Solos in Pop History (When Saxophone Solos Mattered)*

Yeah verily, before lead guitar almost monopolized things, the sax was the star instrument in R&B/Rock & Roll. Red Prysock, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Louis Jordan, King Curtis, Joey D'ambrosia...

Lots of great players mentioned here!

Does anyone know much about the sax riff in Buddy Holly's Modern Don Juan? I Googled the name Dutch McMillin but never come across the name before.

 

Let's Get the Show on the Road - Michael Stanley from the album Friends And Legends.

I believe that David Sanborn played sax.

 

The 80's were the golden years of the sax solo. And this has gotta be the best of the bunch:

 

Andy Mackay's solo at the end of "All the way from Memphis" by Mott the Hoople.

 

Pete Christlieb on Steely Dan's "FM (No Static At All)"

 

I'd go with "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," but anything by Bobby Keys is tough and gritty, unlike the clean, safe "sitcom theme" sax solos of the eighties.

 

Less so for technical prowess, but for taking an already vibey song onto another plane.

 

Phil Kenzie again. Starts at 3.55. Kicks ass.

 

I didn't see Curtis Amy's sax solo during the instrumental ending of "Touch Me" by the Doors mentioned yet. Definitely stronger than dirt!

 

Anything that the late great Bobby Keys played with the Stones sounds great to these old ears.

 

The soprano sax solo in Talk Talk's "I Don't Believe In You"! It's one note for half a second, played by David Roach.

I love the lines Michael Brecker plays on Dire Strait's "Your Latest Trick".

 

Us and Them - Pink Floyd

 

Roxy Music. Lots of them!

 

Dick Parry's solo on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

 

Yakkity-Yak - The Coasters solo by King Curtis

 

I understand where you're coming from, and agree....
It sounds like you're taking umbrage at the blogger's claim that the "sax solos that mattered" are mainly on 80's and 90's songs.
If so, I agree with you.

I think there are great sax solos, riffs, lines, etc from every decade...

 

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. To read that blog, you'd think that sax solos were relegated mostly to 80's era MOR dross.

 

Tom Scott.

 

Especially 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking' by the Stones

 

Phil Woods on Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu"

 

Rio - Duran Duran

 

Getting deja vu ... again

 

Honorable mention

 

Three pages in and no mention of Ronnie Scott's sax solo in "Lady Madonna"?

 

Heck, when you get down to it, the saxophone was almost as important in rock and roll back in the fifties as the electric guitar!
Just listen to most classic songs by The Coasters and Bill Haley & the Comets, pretty much all of them contain the saxophone.
Some of my favorite old-school saxophone players, the late Rudy Pompili and King Curtis.