instrumentals that cracked the Billboard top 20

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Scott S., Dec 31, 2010.

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  1. Scott S.

    Scott S. lead singer for the best indie band on earth Thread Starter

    Location:
    Walmartville PA
    Has anyone made a definitive list of those ? Especially interested in 1956 thru the present.
     
  2. I_Zimbra

    I_Zimbra New Member

    Location:
    UK
  3. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    OK, here's all 222 Top 20 instrumental hits from 1955 to the present, in chronological order:

    11/27/1954 | #2 (1 wk.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "Melody of Love"
    12/25/1954 | #8 (1 wk.) - David Carroll & His Orchestra: "Melody of Love"
    1/22/1955 | #2 (7 wks.) - Johnny Maddox & The Rhythmasters: "The Crazy Otto (Medley)"
    1/29/1955 | #19 (1 wk.) - Lenny Dee: "Plantation Boogie"
    2/19/1955 | #19 (1 wk.) - Crazy Otto: "Glad Rag Doll"
    2/19/1955 | #1 (10 wks.) - Perez Prado & His Orchestra: "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White"
    3/26/1955 | #1 (1 wk.) - Les Baxter & His Orchestra: "Medic"
    3/26/1955 | #1 (2 wks.) - Les Baxter & His Orchestra and Chorus: "Unchained Melody"
    6/4/1955 | #14 (1 wk.) - The Ferko String Band: "Alabama Jubilee"
    7/2/1955 | #18 (1 wk.) - Eddie Barclay & His Orchestra: "The Bandit (O'Cangaceiro)"
    8/6/1955 | #1 (4 wks.) - Roger Williams: "Autumn Leaves"
    11/26/1955 | #1 (4 wks.) - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra: "Lisbon Antigua"
    1/7/1956 | #8 (2 wks.) - The Dick Hyman Trio: "Moritat (Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera')"
    1/21/1956 | #11 (2 wks.) - Richard Hayman & Jan August: "Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera' (Moritat)"
    1/21/1956 | #19 (1 wk.) - Mitch Miller & His Orchestra: "Lisbon Antigua (in Old Lisbon)"
    1/28/1956 | #1 (6 wks.) - Les Baxter with His Chorus & Orchestra: "The Poor People of Paris (Jean's Song)"
    2/4/1956 | #17 (1 wk.) - Lawrence Welk & His Sparkling Sextet: "Moritat (Theme from 'The Three Penny Opera')"
    2/18/1956 | #19 (1 wk.) - Russ Morgan & His Orchestra: "The Poor People of Paris"
    3/3/1956 | #16 (1 wk.) - Elmer Bernstein & His Orchestra: "Main Title from 'The Man with the Golden Arm'"
    3/3/1956 | #14 (1 wk.) - Richard Maltby & His Orchestra: "Themes from 'The Man with the Golden Arm'"
    3/3/1956 | #17 (1 wk.) - Lawrence Welk & His Champagne Music: "The Poor People of Paris"
    3/10/1956 | #20 (1 wk.) - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra: "Port Au Prince"
    3/31/1956 | #4 (1 wk.) - George Cates & His Orchestra: "Moonglow and Theme from 'Picnic'"
    3/31/1956 | #1 (3 wks.) - Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra: "Moonglow and Theme from 'Picnic'"
    4/14/1956 | #6 (3 wks.) - Don Robertson: "The Happy Whistler"
    5/5/1956 | #19 (1 wk.) - Joe 'Fingers' Carr: "Portuguese Washerwoman"
    6/9/1956 | #2 (2 wks.) - Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra with Eddie Heywood: "Canadian Sunset"
    6/16/1956 | #11 (1 wk.) - Eddie Heywood: "Soft Summer Breeze"
    7/21/1956 | #8 (2 wks.) - Mitch Miller & His Orchestra: "The Theme from 'Song for a Summer Night' (Parts 1 & 2)"
    8/4/1956 | #2 (3 wks.) - Bill Doggett: "Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2)"
    8/18/1956 | #12 (1 wk.) - Helmut Zacharias & His Magic Violin: "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again"
    8/25/1956 | #18 (1 wk.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again"
    10/27/1956 | #17 (1 wk.) - Sil Austin: "Slow Walk"
    2/16/1957 | #15 (1 wk.) - Roger Williams: "Almost Paradise"
    4/15/1957 | #10 (1 wk.) - Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra: "Shish-Kebab"
    5/6/1957 | #13 (1 wk.) - Victor Young & His Orchestra: "(Main Theme) Around the World"
    5/27/1957 | #12 (1 wk.) - Mantovani & His Orchestra: "Around the World"
    8/12/1957 | #14 - Barney Kessel & His Orchestra: "Honey Rock"
    11/4/1957 | #4 (1 wk.) - Ernie Freeman: "Raunchy"
    11/4/1957 | #2 (1 wk.) - Bill Justis & His Orchestra: "Raunchy"
    11/18/1957 | #10 (1 wk.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "Raunchy"
    12/9/1957 | #5 (3 wks.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "Sail Along Silvery Moon"
    12/30/1957 | #20 (1 wk.) - Mitch Miller & His Orchestra: "March from the River Kwai & Colonel Bogey"
    2/10/1958 | #1 (5 wks.) - The Champs: "Tequila"
    2/17/1958 | #20 (1 wk.) - Eddie Platt & His Orchestra: "Tequila"
    4/14/1958 | #16 (1 wk.) - Link Wray & His Ray Men: "Rumble"
    6/2/1958 | #1 (1 wk.) - Perez Prado & His Orchestra: "Patricia"
    6/16/1958 | #6 (2 wks.) - Duane Eddy: "Rebel-'Rouser"
    7/28/1958 | #20 (2 wks.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "La Paloma"
    8/4/1958 | #10 (3 wks.) - Roger Williams: "Near You"
    8/11/1958 | #3 (3 wks.) - Cozy Cole: "Topsy II"
    8/18/1958 | #7 (2 wks.) - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra: "Tea for Two Cha Cha"
    9/22/1958 | #16 (2 wks.) - The Applejacks: "Mexican Hat Rock"
    10/6/1958 | #17 (1 wk.) - The Royaltones: "Poor Boy"
    10/20/1958 | #15 (1 wk.) - Duane Eddy: "Cannonball"
    11/24/1958 | #10 (2 wks.) - Reg Owen & His Orchestra: "Manhattan Spiritual"
    12/22/1958 | #8 (1 wk.) - Ray Anthony & His Orchestra: "Peter Gunn"
    12/29/1958 | #5 (1 wk.) - Chris Barber's Jazz Band: "Petite Fleur (Little Flower)"
    2/23/1959 | #5 (2 wks.) - The Virtues: "Guitar Boogie Shuffle"
    3/2/1959 | #1 (1 wk.) - Dave 'Baby' Cortez: "The Happy Organ"
    3/23/1959 | #9 (2 wks.) - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles: "Only You (and You Alone) (Loin de Vous)"
    3/30/1959 | #4 (2 wks.) - The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny & His Orchestra: "Quiet Village"
    5/4/1959 | #14 (1 wk.) - Preston Epps: "Bongo Rock"
    6/1/1959 | #9 (1 wk.) - Duane Eddy & The Rebels: "Forty Miles of Bad Road"
    7/13/1959 | #1 (2 wks.) - Santo & Johnny: "Sleep Walk"
    7/20/1959 | #5 (1 wk.) - Johnny & The Hurricanes: "Red River Rock"
    8/24/1959 | #4 (2 wks.) - Sandy Nelson: "Teen Beat"
    9/7/1959 | #4 (1 wk.) - Ernie Fields' Orchestra: "In the Mood"
    9/14/1959 | #15 (1 wk.) - The Islanders: "The Enchanted Sea"
    9/21/1959 | #16 (1 wk.) - Rock-a-Teens: "Woo-Hoo"
    11/16/1959 | #17 (2 wks.) - Bill Black's Combo: "Smokie (Part 2)"
    12/21/1959 | #13 (1 wk.) - Spencer Ross: "Tracy's Theme"
    12/28/1959 | #1 (9 wks.) - Percy Faith & His Orchestra: "The Theme from 'A Summer Place'"
    2/1/1960 | #15 (1 wk.) - Johnny & The Hurricanes: "Beatnik Fly"
    2/22/1960 | #9 (1 wk.) - Bill Black's Combo: "White Silver Sands"
    5/9/1960 | #4 (2 wks.) - Duane Eddy: "Because They're Young"
    6/6/1960 | #19 (1 wk.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "Look for a Star"
    6/13/1960 | #18 (1 wk.) - Bill Black's Combo: "Josephine"
    7/4/1960 | #2 (1 wk.) - The Ventures: "Walk -- Don't Run"
    7/11/1960 | #10 (3 wks.) - Ferrante & Teicher: "The Theme from 'The Apartment' (Jealous Lover)"
    7/25/1960 | #19 (1 wk.) - Don Costa & His Orchestra and Chorus: "Never On Sunday"
    8/29/1960 | #11 (1 wk.) - Bill Black's Combo: "Don't Be Cruel"
    9/26/1960 | #2 (4 wks.) - Floyd Cramer: "Last Date"
    10/17/1960 | #15 (1 wk.) - The Ventures: "Perfidia"
    10/31/1960 | #2 (1 wk.) - Ferrante & Teicher: "Exodus"
    10/31/1960 | #1 (3 wks.) - Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra: "Wonderland by Night"
    10/31/1960 | #15 (2 wks.) - Louis Prima: "Wonderland by Night"
    11/14/1960 | #16 (1 wk.) - Bill Black's Combo: "Blue Tango"
    11/28/1960 | #1 (2 wks.) - Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra: "Calcutta"
    12/5/1960 | #18 (1 wk.) - Duane Eddy: "Pepe"
    12/26/1960 | #3 (2 wks.) - The String-A-Longs: "Wheels"
    1/9/1961 | #2 (2 wks.) - Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar: "Apache"
    2/6/1961 | #20 (1 wk.) - Bill Black's Combo: "Hearts of Stone"
    2/6/1961 | #8 (1 wk.) - Kokomo: "Asia Minor"
    2/20/1961 | #8 (2 wks.) - Ray Charles: "One Mint Julep"
    2/20/1961 | #4 (1 wk.) - Floyd Cramer: "On the Rebound"
    3/20/1961 | #19 (1 wk.) - Al Caiola & His Orchestra: "Bonanza"
    5/15/1961 | #4 (1 wk.) - The Arthur Lyman Group: "Yellow Bird"
    5/22/1961 | #8 (1 wk.) - Floyd Cramer: "San Antonio Rose"
    6/19/1961 | #3 (2 wks.) - The Mar-Keys: "Last Night"
    7/31/1961 | #7 (1 wk.) - Bob Moore & His Orchestra: "Mexico"
    10/2/1961 | #8 (1 wk.) - Ferrante & Teicher: "Tonight"
    10/16/1961 | #7 (1 wk.) - Sandy Nelson: "Let There Be Drums"
    12/11/1961 | #17 (2 wks.) - Ace Cannon: "Tuff"
    12/30/1961 | #10 (1 wk.) - Billy Joe & The Checkmates: "Percolator (Twist)"
    1/20/1962 | #2 (1 wk.) - Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen: "Midnight in Moscow"
    2/3/1962 | #17 (2 wks.) - King Curtis & The Noble Knights: "Soul Twist"
    3/3/1962 | #1 (1 wk.) - Mr. Acker Bilk: "Stranger On the Shore"
    4/28/1962 | #1 (1 wk.) - David Rose & His Orchestra: "The Stripper"
    6/30/1962 | #10 (1 wk.) - Dave 'Baby' Cortez: "Rinky Dink"
    7/7/1962 | #13 (1 wk.) - Billy Vaughn & His Orchestra: "A Swingin' Safari"
    7/14/1962 | #7 (1 wk.) - Bent Fabric & His Piano: "Alley Cat"
    7/28/1962 | #3 (1 wk.) - Booker T. & The MG's: "Green Onions"
    9/15/1962 | #15 (2 wks.) - Stan Getz & Charlie Byrd: "Desafinado"
    9/29/1962 | #20 (1 wk.) - Jimmy McGriff: "I've Got a Woman (Part 1)"
    10/13/1962 | #6 (1 wk.) - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: "The Lonely Bull (El Solo Torro)"
    10/20/1962 | #19 (1 wk.) - The Routers: "Let's Go (Pony)"
    10/20/1962 | #1 (3 wks.) - The Tornadoes: "Telstar"
    12/15/1962 | #14 (1 wk.) - Joe Harnell & His Orchestra: "Fly Me to the Moon -- Bossa Nova"
    12/15/1962 | #8 (1 wk.) - The Rebels: "Wild Weekend"
    1/19/1963 | #9 (1 wk.) - Bill Pursell: "Our Winter Love"
    2/16/1963 | #4 (2 wks.) - The Chantays: "Pipeline"
    3/2/1963 | #10 (2 wks.) - The Mongo Santamaria Band: "Watermelon Man"
    5/25/1963 | #5 (1 wk.) - Lonnie Mack: "Memphis"
    6/8/1963 | #2 (1 wk.) - The Surfaris: "Wipe Out"
    6/22/1963 | #8 (1 wk.) - Kai Winding & His Orchestra: "More"
    9/7/1963 | #6 (1 wk.) - Los Indios Tabajaras: "Maria Elena"
    9/7/1963 | #2 (1 wk.) - The Village Stompers: "Washington Square"
    11/23/1963 | #3 (2 wks.) - The Marketts: "Out of Limits"
    12/21/1963 | #4 (1 wk.) - Al Hirt: "Java"
    1/18/1964 | #18 (1 wk.) - The Pyramids: "Penetration"
    3/7/1964 | #15 (3 wks.) - Robert Maxwell & His Orchestra: "Shangri-La"
    3/28/1964 | #15 (2 wks.) - Al Hirt: "Cotton Candy"
    6/27/1964 | #8 (2 wks.) - The Ventures: "Walk -- Don't Run '64"
    12/19/1964 | #14 (2 wks.) - Alvin Cash & The Crawlers: "Twine Time"
    1/9/1965 | #11 (2 wks.) - Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra: "Red Roses for a Blue Lady"
    3/6/1965 | #10 (1 wk.) - Sounds Orchestral!: "Cast Your Fate to the Wind"
    4/24/1965 | #12 (1 wk.) - Horst Jankowski & His Orchestra: "A Walk in the Black Forest"
    7/17/1965 | #5 (1 wk.) - The Ramsey Lewis Trio: "The 'In' Crowd"
    9/11/1965 | #7 (1 wk.) - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: "A Taste of Honey"
    11/6/1965 | #11 (2 wks.) - The Ramsey Lewis Trio: "Hang On Sloopy"
    11/27/1965 | #3 (1 wk.) - The T-Bones: "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)"
    12/11/1965 | #11 (1 wk.) - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: "Zorba the Greek"
    1/15/1966 | #16 (2 wks.) - Slim Harpo: "Baby, Scratch My Back"
    1/22/1966 | #17 (2 wks.) - The Marketts: "Batman Theme"
    6/18/1966 | #18 (2 wks.) - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: "The Work Song"
    6/25/1966 | #19 (2 wks.) - Ramsey Lewis: "Wade in the Water"
    7/16/1966 | #16 (1 wk.) - The Surfaris: "Wipe Out"
    12/17/1966 | #15 (1 wk.) - The Bob Crewe Generation: "Music to Watch Girls By"
    12/24/1966 | #11 (2 wks.) - Cannonball Adderley: "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"
    4/15/1967 | #20 (1 wk.) - Whistling Jack Smith: "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman"
    5/6/1967 | #17 (1 wk.) - The Bar-Kays: "Soul Finger"
    12/23/1967 | #1 (5 wks.) - Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra: "Love Is Blue (L' Amour Est Bleu)"
    2/3/1968 | #2 (1 wk.) - Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra: "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly"
    5/11/1968 | #2 (3 wks.) - Cliff Nobles & Co.: "The Horse"
    5/25/1968 | #1 (2 wks.) - Hugh Masekela: "Grazing in the Grass"
    6/8/1968 | #2 (2 wks.) - Mason Williams: "Classical Gas"
    6/29/1968 | #17 (1 wk.) - Booker T. & The MG's: "Soul-Limbo"
    10/26/1968 | #9 (2 wks.) - Booker T. & The MG's: "Hang 'Em High"
    11/16/1968 | #3 (1 wk.) - Young-Holt Unlimited: "Soulful Strut"
    2/22/1969 | #4 (1 wk.) - The Ventures: "Hawaii Five-0"
    3/1/1969 | #6 (2 wks.) - Booker T. & The MG's: "Time Is Tight"
    4/26/1969 | #1 (2 wks.) - Henry Mancini & His Orchestra: "Love Theme from 'Romeo & Juliet'"
    5/31/1969 | #13 (2 wks.) - The Charles Randolph Grean Sounde: "Quentin's Theme"
    7/19/1969 | #16 (2 wks.) - The Electric Indian: "Keem-O-Sabe"
    10/18/1969 | #10 (1 wk.) - Ferrante & Teicher: "Midnight Cowboy"
    6/27/1970 | #16 (2 wks.) - The Assembled Multitude: "Overture from Tommy (A Rock Opera)"
    1/2/1971 | #13 (2 wks.) - Henry Mancini & His Orchestra and Chorus: "(Theme from) Love Story"
    10/16/1971 | #6 (3 wks.) - Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band: "Scorpio"
    12/18/1971 | #6 (1 wk.) - Apollo 100: "Joy"
    1/1/1972 | #8 (3 wks.) - The Chakachas: "Jungle Fever"
    2/5/1972 | #18 (2 wks.) - Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band: "Taurus"
    4/8/1972 | #2 (1 wk.) - Billy Preston: "Outa-Space"
    5/6/1972 | #11 (1 wk.) - The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards: "Amazing Grace"
    6/24/1972 | #9 (1 wk.) - Hot Butter: "Popcorn"
    7/8/1972 | #7 (2 wks.) - Gary Glitter: "Rock and Roll (Part 2)"
    12/30/1972 | #2 (4 wks.) - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell: "Dueling Banjos"
    1/20/1973 | #2 (1 wk.) - Deodato: "Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001)"
    2/17/1973 | #9 (2 wks.) - Focus: "Hocus Pocus"
    2/24/1973 | #1 (1 wk.) - The Edgar Winter Group: "Frankenstein"
    9/8/1973 | #4 (2 wks.) - Billy Preston: "Space Race"
    11/17/1973 | #1 (1 wk.) - The Love Unlimited Orchestra: "Love's Theme"
    2/16/1974 | #1 (2 wks.) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees: "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)"
    3/9/1974 | #3 (2 wks.) - Marvin Hamlisch: "The Entertainer"
    9/7/1974 | #1 (B-side) - Bachman-Turner Overdrive: "Free Wheelin'"
    11/23/1974 | #1 (1 wk.) - The Average White Band: "Pick Up the Pieces"
    1/11/1975 | #4 (3 wks.) - B.T. Express: "Express"
    1/25/1975 | #14 (1 wk.) - Herbie Mann: "Hijack"
    3/29/1975 | #10 (1 wk.) - Bazuka featuring Tony Camillo: "Dynomite (Part 1)"
    4/5/1975 | #1 (1 wk.) - Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony: "The Hustle"
    5/3/1975 | #10 (2 wks.) - Mike Post: "The Rockford Files"
    7/19/1975 | #11 (2 wks.) - The Ritchie Family: "Brazil"
    8/9/1975 | #11 (1 wk.) - The People's Choice: "Do It Any Way You Wanna"
    11/1/1975 | #1 (1 wk.) - Rhythm Heritage: "Theme from 'S.W.A.T.'"
    1/10/1976 | #18 (1 wk.) - The Salsoul Orchestra: "Tangerine"
    3/20/1976 | #14 (1 wk.) - Brass Construction: "Movin'"
    3/27/1976 | #20 (2 wks.) - Rhythm Heritage: "Barretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye On the Sparrow)"
    5/15/1976 | #1 (1 wk.) - Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band: "A Fifth of Beethoven"
    8/14/1976 | #8 (2 wks.) - Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr.: "Nadia's Theme (The Young & The Restless)"
    4/9/1977 | #1 (1 wk.) - Bill Conti & His Orchestra: "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')"
    6/25/1977 | #10 (1 wk.) - John Williams & The London Symphony Orchestra: "Star Wars (Main Title)"
    7/23/1977 | #1 (2 wks.) - Meco: "Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band"
    12/10/1977 | #13 (2 wks.) - John Williams & Orchestra: "Theme from 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'"
    1/28/1978 | #4 (1 wk.) - Chuck Mangione: "Feels So Good"
    1/13/1979 | #3 (1 wk.) - Frank Mills: "Music Box Dancer"
    6/28/1979 | #1 (2 wks.) - Herb Alpert: "Rise"
    1/5/1980 | #18 (2 wks.) - Chuck Mangione: "Give It All You Got"
    5/31/1980 | #18 (2 wks.) - Meco: "The Empire Strikes Back (Medley)"
    8/8/1981 | #10 (2 wks.) - Mike Post: "The Theme from 'Hill Street Blues'"
    10/17/1981 | #10 (2 wks.) - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: "Hooked On Classics"
    11/28/1981 | #1 (1 wk.) - Vangelis: "Chariots of Fire (Main Title)"
    3/16/1985 | #3 (3 wks.) - Harold Faltermeyer: "Axel F"
    8/10/1985 | #15 (1 wk.) - David Foster: "Love Theme from 'St. Elmo's Fire'"
    8/24/1985 | #1 (1 wk.) - Jan Hammer: "Miami Vice Theme"
    3/21/1987 | #4 (1 wk.) - Kenny G: "Songbird"
    10/15/1988 | #13 (1 wk.) - Kenny G: "Silhouette"
    10/14/1989 | #11 (1 wk.) - Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers: "Swing the Mood"
    5/4/1991 | #11 (2 wks.) - David A. Stewart & Candy Dulfer: "Lily Was Here"
    12/5/1992 | #18 (2 wks.) - Kenny G: "Forever in Love"
    4/27/1996 | #7 (2 wks.) - Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen: "Theme from Mission: Impossible"
    12/25/1999 | #7 (1 wk.) - Kenny G: "Auld Lang Syne (The Millenium Mix)"
    11/23/2002 | #2 - Kenny G: "Auld Lang Syne (Freedom Mix)"

    Let me know if I missed any!
     
    mwheelerk and John B Good like this.
  4. Scott S.

    Scott S. lead singer for the best indie band on earth Thread Starter

    Location:
    Walmartville PA
    wow, thanks!
     
  5. dale 88

    dale 88 Errand Boy for Rhythm

    Location:
    west of sun valley
    Thanks, neat list! Has anyone ever compiled such a list for the early 50's and/or the 40's?
     
  6. lugnut2099

    lugnut2099 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Missouri
    I doubt you missed it, but I'm pretty stunned that Enigma's "Sadeness, Pt. 1" from 1990 didn't make it into the Top 20. Seemed like it got tons and tons of radio/video play.

    EDIT: Of course, now that I think about it, I guess the monk-chants interspersed in the song may preclude it from actually being a true instrumental.
     
  7. CaptainOzone

    CaptainOzone On Air Cowbell

    Location:
    Beaumont, CA, USA
    1/15/1966 | #16 (2 wks.) - Slim Harpo: “Baby, Scratch My Back”
    Sorry, not an instrumental.
     
  8. winopener

    winopener Forum Resident

    3/20/1976 | #14 (1 wk.) - Brass Construction: "Movin'"
    great track but has vocals.
     
  9. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    Here it is on YouTube:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtvL5_6BFd8

    Joel Whitburn considers it an instrumental since Harpo only narrates every so often, and there aren't lyrics per se. There are some similar songs like "Do the Hustle," where there's some lyrics, but not enough to be considered a vocal. I concede it's a judgement call.

    "Movin'" falls into the same category:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5mo7TCVQJM

    That's considered a foreign-language vocal, not an instrumental, with Gregorian chants, but it did make it to #5.
     
  10. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    Here's what I got for the Top 20 instrumental hits during 1950-1954:

    Leroy Anderson & His 'Pops' Concert Orchestra - "The Syncopated Clock" (3/17/1951)
    Leroy Anderson & His 'Pops' Concert Orchestra - "Blue Tango" (12/15/1951)
    Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - "Dragnet" (8/15/1953)
    Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - "Skokiaan" (9/11/1954)
    Jan August & Jerry Murad's Harmonicats - "Bewitched" (5/6/1950)
    Les Baxter & His Orchestra - "Blue Tango" (3/1/1952)
    Les Baxter & His Orchestra - "April in Portugal" (3/21/1953)
    Les Baxter & His Orchestra - "Ruby" (5/9/1953)
    Jerry Byrd & His Steel Guitar and Jerry Murad's Harmonicats - "Harbor Lights" (9/9/1950)
    Joe 'Fingers' Carr - "Down Yonder" (10/6/1951)
    Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra - "Limelight (Terry's Theme)" (5/16/1953)
    Frank Chacksfield & His Orchestra - "Ebb Tide" (8/15/1953)
    Leo Diamond - "Off Shore" (11/14/1953)
    Percy Faith & His Orchestra - "Delicado" (4/12/1952)
    Percy Faith & His Orchestra - "Return to Paradise (Parts 1 & 2)" (6/6/1953)
    Ralph Flanagan & His Orchestra - "Joshua" (4/15/1950)
    Ralph Flanagan & His Orchestra - "Harbor Lights" (9/23/1950)
    Ralph Flanagan & His Orchestra - "The Blues from 'An American in Paris'" (8/19/1951)
    Ralph Flanagan & His Orchestra - "Hot Toddy" (1/3/1953)
    Ken Griffin at The Organ - "Harbor Lights" (9/16/1950)
    The Harry Grove Trio - "Meet Mr. Callaghan" (8/23/1952)
    Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "Ruby" (3/28/1953)
    Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "April in Portugal" (4/18/1953)
    Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "Terry's Theme from "Limelight"" (6/13/1953)
    Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "Off Shore" (12/19/1953)
    Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "Sadie Thompson's Song (Blue Pacific Blues)" (1/2/1954)
    Leroy Holmes & His Orchestra - "The High and the Mighty" (7/17/1954)
    The Lynn Hope Quintet - "Tenderly" (8/12/1950)
    Pee Wee Hunt & His Orchestra - "Oh!" (6/20/1953)
    Harry James & His Orchestra - "Ruby" (7/4/1953)
    William Kapell - "Rachmaninoff: The 18th Variation (From the Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43)" (10/31/1953)
    Anton Karas - "The Third Man Theme" (2/4/1950)
    Mickey Katz & His Orchestra - "(Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music!" (2/25/1950)
    Monty Kelly & His Orchestra - "Tropicana" (8/1/1953)
    Jackie Lee & His Orchestra - "Isle of Capri" (4/24/1954)
    Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians - "The Third Man Theme" (2/25/1950)
    Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians - "Blue Tango" (2/24/1952)
    Johnny Maddox & The Rhythmasters - "In the Mood" (1/17/1953)
    Johnny Maddox & The Rhythmasters - "Dipsy Doodle" (10/24/1953)
    Mantovani & His Orchestra - "Charmaine" (11/3/1951)
    Mantovani & His Orchestra - "The Moulin Rouge Theme (Where Is Your Heart)" (5/2/1953)
    Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra - "Pretend" (12/27/1952)
    Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra - "Caravan" (3/7/1953)
    Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra - "Skokiaan" (8/14/1954)
    Freddy Martin & His Orchestra - "April in Portugal (The Whisp'ring Serenade)" (5/2/1953)
    Billy May & His Orchestra - "Charmaine" (1/19/1952)
    Jerry Murad with Richard Hayman & His Orchestra - "The Story of Three Loves" (9/12/1953)
    Les Paul - "Nola" (6/10/1950)
    Les Paul - "Little Rock Getaway" (12/2/1950)
    Les Paul - "Josephine" (6/23/1951)
    Les Paul - "Whispering" (8/4/1951)
    Les Paul - "Jingle Bells" (12/1/1951)
    Les Paul - "The Carioca" (5/3/1952)
    Les Paul - "Meet Mister Callaghan" (8/16/1952)
    Les Paul - "Lady of Spain" (10/25/1952)
    Les Paul - "Mandolino" (11/13/1954)
    The Norman Petty Trio - "Mood Indigo" (9/4/1954)
    Henri Rene with Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra - "The Velvet Glove" (9/19/1953)
    The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra - "Doodletown Fifers" (8/8/1952)
    Eddie Smith & The Chief - "Down Yonder" (10/6/1951)
    Tab Smith, His Fabulous Alto & Orchestra - "Because of You" (10/20/1951)
    Bill Snyder & His Orchestra - "Bewitched" (4/8/1950)
    Paul Weston & His Orchestra - "La Vie En Rose" (6/10/1950)
    Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra - "Blue Tango" (2/23/1952)
    Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra - "Vanessa" (5/31/1952)
    Hugo Winterhalter & His Orchestra - "Blue Violins" (10/18/1952)
    Del Wood - "Down Yonder" (8/18/1951)
    Victor Young & His Orchestra - "Ruby" (5/23/1953)
    Victor Young & His Orchestra - "The High and the Mighty" (7/24/1954)
    Florian Zabach - "The Hot Canary" (3/17/1951)
     
    John B Good likes this.
  11. dale 88

    dale 88 Errand Boy for Rhythm

    Location:
    west of sun valley
    Thank you
     
  12. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    I'm still baffled why some reissue label doesn't do a "Top 100 Instrumentals of the 1950s" CD compilation. Heck, all that stuff is now public domain through 1962 in many countries.

    What's curious to me is that just about any listener over 40 has heard 90% of these songs before, but very few people can name the songs or the artist.
     
    John B Good likes this.
  13. torcan

    torcan Forum Resident

    Location:
    Toronto
    I'm kind of baffled as to why instrumentals fell out of favor with the public by the early '80s. I love listening to the old "American Top 40s" from the '70s and some of those instrumentals that were in the countdowns back then are great. Would be nice to hear a few today!
     
  14. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    Collector's Choice did a 2 CD set of 50s instrumentals.
     
  15. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    Yeah, Instrumental Gems of the Fifties, on CCM 080. But only forty songs. There were over 250 Top 40 instrumental hits on Billboard during that decade, and many of them are nearly impossible to find on CD.
     
  16. tommy-thewho

    tommy-thewho Senior Member

    Location:
    detroit, mi
    Surprised Robert Miles Children didn't make it.
     
  17. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    That hit #21 in July of 1996 -- just barely out of what the o.p. asked for.
     
  18. JPagan

    JPagan Generation 13

    Location:
    South Florida
    There are vocals with clearly discernable lyrics all over this. Granted, they're sampled from earlier recordings, but still – why is it considered an instrumental?
     
  19. minne

    minne Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Netherlands
    The British Ace label has a series called Teen Beat. Five volumes with 30 instrumental tracks each from the period 1956 - 1964. Highly recommended.
     
  20. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    You're absolutely right -- that's a mistake on my part.

    Yeah, it came out about 17 years ago. Good series, but because it's British, it omits a lot of major American hits.
     
  21. -Alan

    -Alan Senior Member

    Location:
    Connecticut, USA
    Eric Records has put a number of "Hard to Find" oldies instrumental collections. For the most part, I'm very happy with them. (Click on the photos for descriptions/track listings)

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  22. minne

    minne Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Netherlands
    No, that's not true. They're all American tracks. It includes major American hits (on vol.1 Tequila, The Happy Organ, Wild Weekend, Walk Don't Run, Wheels) but also tracks that didn't make the Top 100.

    The Ace label specializes in American tracks. Also check out the series Golden Age of American Music. For me, it is THE source of great American music I enjoyed in my youth.
     
  23. Anthology123

    Anthology123 Senior Member

    The rule for an instrumental can include vocalizing, or lyrics provided the only thing sung is the title. Examples of this are: Topsy Part 2, by Cozy Cole, Wipe Out by the Surfaris, Let's Go by the Routers, Soul Finger by the Barkays. Tough call on The Hustle, since they sing "do the hustle!"
     
  24. Vidiot

    Vidiot Now in 4K HDR!

    Location:
    Hollywood, USA
    Whitburn calls "The Hustle" an instrumental, and I go with that in this case. Some other marginal cases include "Fly, Robin, Fly," "Gonna Fly Now," "Wipe Out," "Hocus Pocus," and a few others.

    I agree with Alan that the Hard to Find series are great -- but many of them are out of print. There's also a number of 1950s Top 40 instrumentals that are just about impossible to find.
     
  25. supermolland

    supermolland Senior Member

    Location:
    boston
    Not very many over the last 20 years.
     
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