Mount Rushmore - instrumental pop songs

[QuikSand]

What faces get carved on the mountain?

[QuikSand]

I feel like we may have done this before... didn't go digging to verify. Regardless, here are my quick four.

[QuikSand]

inspired by Breeze's fun one-hit-wonders thread...

[Izulde]

Are we going purely instrumental, or limited vocals?

And how are we defining pop?

[QuikSand]

Some time ago, among the first few of these, we had massive skirmishes about every conceivable nuance in the definitions. It all but sucked the life out of the otherwise enjoyable little game.

So, I'll leave it to you. If a voice dropping in "Tequila" disqualifies the song in your view, go ahead and remove it from consideration. If something isn't poppy enough to be pop in your view, drop it.

I'll just stick with:

Mount Rushmore - instrumental pop songs

What faces get carved on the mountain?

Offer your foursome.

[albionmoonlight]

Indeed, Ilzude, I'll be the radical to show you what is possible:

Feels so Good-Chuck Mangione

Forever In Love--Kenny G

Tequila--The Champs

Baker Street--Gerry Rafferty (yeah, ok, this actually has lyrics, but I bet you if you asked the average man on the street, he'd be surprised to learn it.)

[Kodos]

Axel F!

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Axel F!

you're doing it wrong

submit your foursome, then you get to talk

[QuikSand]

...is "Forever In Love" even the top single by Kenny G? (I wouldn't have said so, but I'm far from an expert)

[thesloppy]

The Tornados - Telstar



Hot Butter - Popcorn



Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Zorba the Greek



Vince Guaraldi - Linus & Lucy

[CU Tiger]

ABB - Jessica
LZ - Black Mountainside
Hendrix - Wind Cries Mary


Now Im going to cheat.


Bill Monroe - Orange Blossom Special
Its a cheat because it is not and decidedly never was pop. But it is my top 4 dammit.

[cuervo72]

Damn, I want to participate in the convo but I don't know if I can nail down my four. But agree with Quik that Green Onions has to be there (even if I might actually prefer Hip Hug Her). And I *think* Take Five has to as well...even if they're not really pop (and if you get too far into jazz...)

I like Young Holt. But if we're going in a soul direction, I might be inclined to go with The Meters (Cissy Strut), or MSFB (Sound of Philadelphia) instead.

My PERSONAL list might include Funky Fanfare. I think too obscure for Mt. Rushmore.

Peter Gunn in some form is on my list. If it has to be POP...the Art of Noise version? Not the best one IMO. Also not sure the ELP version is the best. Ok, let's go with the movie version (though Poison Ivy's kicks ass, and hey there, vintage Rose McGowan).

Ok. Let's go:

Green Onions (BT&tMGs)
Take Five (Brubeck)
Peter Gunn (Mancini, take your pick of version)

and

Rockit (Herbie Hancock)

Shit...I haven't even considered The Streetbeater.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Axel F!

This was the very first thing that came to mind for me, probably triggered by the word "pop" in the thread title.

[JonInMiddleGA]

In no particular order

Hawaii Five-O - The Ventures
Dueling Banjos - Weissberg & Mandell
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage

Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti & his orchestra was considered pretty seriously but I felt like it had too many lyrics to really qualify.

[Warhammer]

Green Onions - Booker T & the MGs
Misirlou - Dick Dale & the Del Tones
Lucy & Linus - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Walk Don't Run - The Ventures

[stevew]

Is yodeling lyrics. Is Hocus Pocus by Focus an instrumental? Maybe not pop though.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

In no particular order

Hawaii Five-O - The Ventures
Dueling Banjos - Weissberg & Mandell
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage

Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti & his orchestra was considered pretty seriously but I felt like it had too many lyrics to really qualify.

superb

[cuervo72]

Ahhhhh - I even listened to S.W.A.T. earlier but passed on mentioning them (as well as Edgar Winter, and also Average White Band).

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

Hendrix - Wind Cries Mary

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

In no particular order

Hawaii Five-O - The Ventures
Dueling Banjos - Weissberg & Mandell
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage

Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti & his orchestra was considered pretty seriously but I felt like it had too many lyrics to really qualify.

this will someday go on my Mt Rushmore of good JiMGA posts. Just need to come up with 3 more.

[Draft Dodger]

my Mt Rushmore of instrumental songs that haven't been mentioned in this thread yet

The Surfaris - Wipe Out
SRV - Riviera Paradise
Dokken - Mr Scary
Satriani - Always with Me, Always with You

honorable mention:
Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover
ZZ Top - Asleep in the Desert
VH - Eruption
SRV - Scuttle Buttin'

[Vince, Pt. II]

I am really enjoying both JiMGA and Warhammer's lists. I would probably list:

The Surfaris - Wipeout
Dick Dale - Misirlou
Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions
Vince Guaraldi - Linus & Lucy

[cartman]

Going with the pop theme, in no particular order:

Music Box Dancer - Frank Mills
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey) - Deodato
Walk, Don't Run - The Ventures
Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by cartman

Going with the pop theme, in no particular order:

Music Box Dancer - Frank Mills
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001 A Space Odyssey) - Deodato
Walk, Don't Run - The Ventures
Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

I would not have guessed that Also Sprach Zarathustra reached #2 while The Chase only got to #33 (I guess it beat The Entertainer [#3] as well).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

this will someday go on my Mt Rushmore of good JiMGA posts. Just need to come up with 3 more.

k, I can tip my hat on that one

[Carman Bulldog]

Lots of good choices so far but I’ll add four that I’m surprised haven’t been mentioned (perhaps because I’ve broadened the definition of pop too far in some instances)...

Rush - YYZ
Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk (from La Bamba)
Allan Parsons Project - Sirius
Hans Zimmer - You’re So Cool (from True Romance)

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

I am really enjoying both JiMGA and Warhammer's lists. I would probably list:

The Surfaris - Wipeout
Dick Dale - Misirlou
Booker T & The MGs - Green Onions
Vince Guaraldi - Linus & Lucy

I almost went with Wipeout as well. I opted to go for no lyrics what so ever.

[SirFozzie]

Dick Dale- Wipeout

Eric Prydz - Pjanoo - YouTube Eric Prydz Pjanoo


Eric Prydz - Pjanoo - YouTube Bond Explosive

Robert Miles - Children (Official Video) - YouTube Robert Miles Children

(I'm more of a dance fan then pop_

[Breeze]

Little Martha - Allman Brothers
Midsummer's Dream - Triumph
YYZ - Rush
The Rockford Files Theme (the extended version with the Guitar parts) - Mike Post and Pete Carpenter

[Butter]

I'll throw in a 4, maybe not THE 4, but 4 of my absolute favorites:

Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela (previously covered in one hit wonder thread)
The Horse - Cliff Nobles & Co.
Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny
Close (to the Edit) - Art of Noise (yeah, this has a couple of lyrics, but pretty sparse)

Also surprised not mentioned yet:

Classical Gas - Mason Wiliams

[Lathum]

Anything by piano guys. These are my 2 favorites

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Warhammer

I almost went with Wipeout as well. I opted to go for no lyrics what so ever.

Walk Don't Run is an excellent alternate.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Butter

Also surprised not mentioned yet:

Classical Gas - Mason Wiliams

Good call, love this tune.

[Maple Leafs]

This thread is making me realize that I have a weirdly long list of song I think are instrumental that actually have a ton of lyrics in them.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Breeze

The Rockford Files Theme (the extended version with the Guitar parts) - Mike Post and Pete Carpenter

I used to watch just the beginning of Rockford Files as a kid just to hear the theme song.

[thesloppy]

My personal list of absolutely UNpopular instrumentals:

Melvins - Hung Bunny


Earth - Like Gold and Faceted


Van Halen - Sunday Afternoon In The Park


Thunder and Roses - King of the Black Sunrise

[Butter]

I think this one has to be on there, as mentioned earlier:

Walk Don't Run - The Ventures

I am ok with Mangione being on there. Brubeck is not a pop song.

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by Breeze

Little Martha - Allman Brothers
Midsummer's Dream - Triumph
YYZ - Rush
The Rockford Files Theme (the extended version with the Guitar parts) - Mike Post and Pete Carpenter

I'm going to change one of mine...I'll drop the Rockford Files - I forgot about this song...


Due South Theme - Jay Semko

[Abe Sargent]

Some of the biggest hits out there aren't in this list and that surprises me. I'll try to come up with the rest of my list later.

[revrew]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

My personal list of absolutely UNpopular instrumentals:

Funny. That seems to describe this whole thread. Can you make a "Mount Rushmore" if you're memorializing something no one's ever heard of? (OK, yes, you can, but you gotta admit, there's a certain irony to it.)

So far, I'm familiar at least with Hawaii Five-Oh and Axel F and Wipeout and ... music that's probably awesome, but the titles and even most of the bands, I'm just scratching my head, thinking ... who?

[Abe Sargent]

Here's my list, led by the two that I think are obvious and missing:


Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk Parts 1 & 2, 1956 - This is cited as one of the most influential R&B and blues-rock style songs in the 50s. It heads up to #2 on Billboard and #1 on the R&B chart.





Perez Prado - Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - 1955 - I am shocked by the lack of Prado on any of these lists. Many of his songs (Patricia, Mambo #5) are epic classics of the genre. He was the leader of the 50s era Latin Resurgence as his mambo orchestra was very, very well received on the charts. This is his biggest hit, and it's one of the biggest not just of its decade, but all time, as it hit #1 and held it for an incredible TEN WEEKS. Why it's not on any of your lists (or even a mention of it, or another Prado song) is weird.




In fact, many of his songs will hit #1 too. Patricia in 1958. In fact, if you wanted to argue Patricia rather than CP and ABW, then sure.

The Ventures, Walk Don't Run, 1960. #2



The Champs, Tequila, 1968 - First instrumental rock song to hit #1.



Some of your songs aren't that big of a hit. Rockit? Didn't even hit the top 70. Shoot, I'd choose Cantaloupe Island over that by Hancock all day long as his best, most Hancock sound. Axel F? At least it was #3.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Dick Dale- Wipeout

Eric Prydz - Pjanoo - YouTube Eric Prydz Pjanoo


Eric Prydz - Pjanoo - YouTube Bond Explosive

Robert Miles - Children (Official Video) - YouTube Robert Miles Children

(I'm more of a dance fan then pop_

I adore Children and Miles generally.

However, I'd do Clubbed to Death by Dougan if we're heading down the dance bandwagon. Or 2 Unlimited's Get Ready which opened up the door. I thought about Enigma's first single, which was very, very different and influential, but too much Gregorian Chant removes the "instrumental" aspect.

[ColtCrazy]

80% of the music I listen to is instrumental. Really enjoy lots of kinds, so it's hard to narrow it down to "instrumental pop" but for me:

Classical Gas
Hawaii 5-O
Tijuana Taxi
Telstar

[Toddzilla]

[Toddzilla]

Skip to 2:13 if you don't believe me

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

Why it's not on any of your lists (or even a mention of it, or another Prado song) is weird.

I have a hunch about that: because his hits may have all predated the introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 (which is a pretty common starting point for lists)

Wiki notes that he had the final #1 in the pre-Hot 100 era
In 1958 one of Perez's own compositions, "Patricia", became the last record to ascend to No. 1 on the Jockeys and Top 100 charts, both of which gave way the following week to the then newly introduced Billboard Hot 100 chart.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Abe Sargent

I'd choose Cantaloupe Island over that by Hancock all day long as his best, most Hancock sound. Axel F? At least it was #3.

Well, I considered Watermelon Man at least. But not Herbie's version.

It's tough to gauge pop instrumentals -- they were really more popular decades ago, and I feel like a number of the best ones aren't generally known. Maybe Rockit isn't worthy of top four, but I wonder how many people our general age would recognize that but not Cantaloupe Island (outside of Flip Fantasia, anyway).

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I have a hunch about that: because his hits may have all predated the introduction of the Billboard Hot 100 (which is a pretty common starting point for lists)

Wiki notes that he had the final #1 in the pre-Hot 100 era
In 1958 one of Perez's own compositions, "Patricia", became the last record to ascend to No. 1 on the Jockeys and Top 100 charts, both of which gave way the following week to the then newly introduced Billboard Hot 100 chart.

I don't want to take away from the guy's work because he was earlier than payola scandal, you know?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Maybe Rockit isn't worthy of top four, but I wonder how many people our general age would recognize that but not Cantaloupe Island (outside of Flip Fantasia, anyway).

I'd wager virtually all of them. I've never even heard of Cantaloupe Island.
It peaked at #121 in 1963.

Rockit, on the other hand, only peaked at #71 on the hot 100 but was #1 Dance and #6 R&B, was top 10 in at least a half dozen western nations and was the only single he ever released to go Gold. Further, the album that included it (Futureshock) was one of only two mainstream Platinum albums in Hancock's career. It moved units well beyond what any other release in his catalog ever managed.

edit to add: Oh, and there's also the 5 MTV Awards + heavy rotation Rockit earned.

[Bobble]

The only songs I can think of that haven't been mentioned (and I'm not even sure they belong on Mt. Rushmore) are:

Darude - Sandstorm

Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer