Instrumentals!

[Zzzptm]

 

Total shredder there, Charger! 

My next selection I want to be #2 on my list, so close to the top spot you'll know it's a tough, tough choice.

Funkadelic - "Maggot Brain"

The studio recording used on the album had very low sound quality, but captured a monumental Eddie Hazel composition. He played the first half as though his mother had just died and the second half as though she came back to life, fully restored and joyful. When Michael Hampton stepped in to handle lead guitar duties, he took on the legacy of Maggot Brain and honored it beautifully. Played live is where I feel it shines the best, as the rest of the band is able to join in and the instrumental vibe connects with the audience and beyond.

This version, from Houston 1978, is one of the best in my opinion.

[Vyn]

From Rick Wakeman's first solo outing, "The Six Wives of Henry VIII," we have the musical interpretation of what Rick felt Anne's character was. The suitably titled, "Anne of Cleves" at number five:

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I still need to catch up on your picks... AAAAGGHH!!


Pick Number 6

Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Karn Evil 9: 2nd Impression

A really varied piece by the trio, starting jazzy/Latino, going slow and moody and then picking up the tempo again. Actually this was a tough choice as there's another fantastic instrumental on Brain Salad Surgery called Toccata (but not the same as the Sky tune I pusted earlier). If I get stuck for a 10th pick I might chuck it in.

[Vyn]

I enjoy a lot of what ELP put down. Emerson's playing is so freakishly distinctive I swear I could hear him clink two bottles together and be able to identify him as the clinker.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
Emerson was indeed unique, Palmer was pretty rare as well!

I'll let others catch up before posting my next pick.

[Charger]

Oh darn I thought we were all on #6 but you started the other way damnit!


Okay okay....

So my list #5 is a live only track from DEEP PURPLE

The Well Dressed Guitar started making appearances on the Orchestra tour back in 2001. It was honed and perfected later on and stayed in the setlist all the way up to 2016.

Brilliant piece of music, ofcourse mainly driven by Steve Morse's fabulous guitar playing but the whole band gets to jam the heck out of themselves on this one!

[Vyn]

That's an excellent piece of work!

[Zzzptm]

Oooh yes, most tasty Purple indeed!

Fitting that we're doing instrumentals today, as my voice is out, likely due to allergy changes with the change in seasons. I'll make a few honorable mentions and then get to my next top ten nomination!

HM #1: The Pink Panther Theme by Henry Mancini

One of the coolest of the cool 60's cool themes. Appeals to all ages and has a timeless playfulness in both the main theme and the rich sax solo. The orchestration is mellow, perfect for running a heist.

Speaking of heists, HM #2 would be The James Bond Theme by Monty Norman

Tell me you weren't somewhat pleased that I mentioned and linked the theme for Mr. Bond. Who's the next James Bond? When I play this song, it's *ME*, dammit! 

Speaking of spies and danger and stuff like that... HM #3 is Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones

Oh behaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave!

Speaking of outrageous and irreverent comedy, there's this piece that featured in an episode of Father Ted: "Man Friday" by Syd Dale, done for the BBC music library and very effectively loaned out to Irish telly for the series:

"I was just asking Mrs. Doyle if I could put my massive tool in her box."

Then that tune reminded me of another HM fave of mine, this would be #5, Chris Joss' "The Man with a Suitcase"

but I would not have known that one without having heard Chris Joss' "Tune Down" in Better Call Saul:

In and out without any noise, trouble, dust, or fingerprints. The perfect second-story job.

They're not rock and roll, but they're some great instrumentals. Enjoy!

[Zzzptm]

This one is my 7th top ten selection, it's a great track I discovered some years ago while looking for early rock and roll around the world. For some reason, the Japanese *really* got into surf guitar music. And so, I give you "Black Sand Beach" by Yuzo Kayama. It's a true guitar hero track, I love it and it never gets old:

Here's the original:

It's got a nice heaviness to it for 1965 and that's one clean, clean guitar line he's playing.

[Vyn]

The post-WWII music scene in Japan up through at least the early 1990s (where my knowledge cuts off, and there's not much of that to begin with!) is chock-full of great stuff.

Number four is Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" - I first heard it on the radio and then managed to get it on English Rose. For a long time I thought English Rose was a regular studio album, not a compilation. Oh, the day before the WWW!

Featuring Peter Green on guitar:

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Sorry Charger, as I'm not really doing it in any order I'm going 1-10 rather than counting down!


Pick Number 7

Foetus - Diabolus In Musica

With an Indie / Industrial sound this tune relies heavily on percussion and strings. Frome a B sides, radio sessions and rarities album called Sink. I do like a bit JG Thirlwell's work!

[Charger]

Getting to the top of the crop now!

At #4 we have a track by RAINBOW

Yeah yeah...this isn't really a Rainbow song but they made it theirs plus it defeats the original with a K.O. in the first round. Suberb stuff here. Ofcourse the live versions with vocals rain supreme BUT this instrumental version is totally killer as well. I had this as my phone's ring tone for a loooooong time.

[Zzzptm]

^ Strong agree on Blackmore's takeover of the Yardbirds tune. When I heard the original I was floored at how much better Blackmore had done with the tune. Complete transformation.

[Zzzptm]

I've loved this song for only a few years, but it'll stay on my playlists for years to come.

David Gilmour - "Mihalis"

I've sung praises for Mr. Gilmour's first solo album previously, so all that still applies.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Still I'm Sad was on my radar but didn't quite make my 10.

Pick Number 8

Iced Earth - Ghost Dance (Awaken the Ancestors)

Off the album 'Incorruptible', this homage to Native Americans is just perfect.