What rock song do you think had the best use of an instrument atypical of rock music?

Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet

Instrument: Dobro

 

Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer

Whatever the instrument(s) used. There're several stories about

 

Another track with recorders: Your Move by Yes

 

The staircase in the hallway, on "Have I the Right?"
(STOMP, STOMP, STOMP)

 

Is there another pop song besides I Know There’s an Answer that has a ripping bass harmonica solo? Ironically, I don’t know the answer…

 

Electric Sitar-Philby by Rory Gallagher.

 

Papa Hobo is an answer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA8nfFze7Bs
But is not a rock song. Nor is The Boxer

 

What is that French Horn player doing there? Go sit back down in your orchestra chair!

 

The bouzouki in "Fat Man".

 

Jeez..compare that image to the cover of Beatles For Sale

 

is this a ROCK song?

 

Although not a rock band, Jamiroquai had a didgeridoo player who was part of the band for the first six years of its existence.

The didgeridoo is an Australian wind instrument developed by the Aboriginal people. It produces a continuous drone through the use of circular breathing.
Starts at about 1:00 in the video.

 

David Bowie's "Space Oddity" featured a child's toy known as a Stylophone. It is a miniature synth that is played with a stylus.

Bowie wrote Space Oddity on the Stylophone. It is first heard at 0:35:


In 2021, the Bowie family gave its blessing to a limited edition stylophone:
https://www.amazon.com/Bowie-Stylophone-Limited-Edition-Synthesizer/dp/B09BJZQGN8

Video of the Bowie Stylophone:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7AciDoQtgM

 

AC/DC - It's A Long Way to the Top was the first that came to mind.

 

thomas dolby dissidents
typewriter

 

The Guiro, an instrument that looks like an oversized squash, in a percussion instrument that is common in latin american music. But, it has also played a prominent role is some of the greatest rock songs of our era. I don't need to post any videos because everyone knows those songs and can remember the guiro.

"Gimme Shelter" Rolling Stones
"Do it Again" Steely Dan
"The Man Who Sold the World" David Bowie
"Electrolite" REM

 

Brian had already used it on 'I Just Wasn't Made For These Times'.... and then later on 'Wild Honey', so not atypical for him. Perhaps the bass harmonica on Pet Sounds would be a good example. Oh, someone just said that.

Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man doesn't use a hurdy-gurdy...

Though the Beatles used a celeste on Sgt Pepper and John played the clavioline on Baby You're a Rich Man.
Marxophone on the Beach Boys' When Girls Get Together (1970).


Robyn Hitchcock's Airscape uses a glass harmonica - not the wine glasses, the real instrument.

 

Quite a lot on Richard Thompson and other English folk-rock albums of the 70s. Unfortunately, played by Philip Pickett.

 

True. But ya gotta show the official video, filmed in my hometown of Melbourne.

 

And, according to the sleevenotes for "Beatles For Sale," on Words of Love Ringo played a packing case (and it does sound like it ...)

 

I would've done it, but I couldn't find a version of the video that wasn't blurry. Thankfully, you found one that's nice and clear!

 

Marimba on Love My Way: Psychedelic Furs

 

Theramin In Good Vibrations?

 

That’s glass armonica, invented by Benj. Franklin
Benjamin Franklin's Glass Armonica

 

A metronome?

Bowie's "Velvet Goldmine".

Also Skinny Puppy - "Chainsaw".