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Your PJ Community Top Ten Greatest/Favorite Songs With SAXOPHONE 🎷

g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
edited August 2023 in Other Music
So a couple weeks ago my friend Micheal Franti & SPEARHEAD played several shows here in Florida.  My friends and I brought for them food, West Indian is what they like no wine. Anyway their bass player Carl Young who can play bass on keyboards, bass and I totally forgot he plays sax as well. He has shown his skills on the sax and it reminded of all those great songs out there that has the saxophone as a primary instrument or a simple addition to some wonderful songs. 

So list your favorites and if you wish why. This turned out to be more difficult than i thought going in....

1. Pick Up The Pieces....Average White Band
First heard this as a youngster in the 70's and I just love instrumentals. 
https://youtu.be/FnH_zwVmiuE

2. Doing It To Death....Fred Wesley & The JB's 
When James Brown says blow your horns, you blow and Fred W. could do just that.
https://youtu.be/RZJbQOMvKkw

3. MOONDANCE....Van Morrison 
Such a classic tune to chill to on a cool night.
https://youtu.be/V3ZY7HfCPxI

4. Careless Whisper.... George Michael
https://youtu.be/izGwDsrQ1eQ

5. Born To Run.... Bruce Springsteen 
Clarence helped to make this song play so well live, the two times I've seen the band.
https://youtu.be/IxuThNgl3YA

6. Tequila......The Champs
Another instrumental where there was no need for words the sax did it all.
https://youtu.be/U_JFLb1IItM

7. Waiting On A Friend......The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar is great as well but I've always loved this song. I first saw the Stones back in 81' the very last two dates of the Start Me Up World Tour both in my top ten of concerts I've seen. School and exams were over at Hampton Institute and they played this song I went nuts because it's one of my favorite Stone songs. Loved the video on MTV, which had just started up. Such a cool and simple video off Mick singing Waiting on a friend.
https://youtu.be/mAtoXmH5dVw
How cool is this I've never seen this video and to know I was there at the Hampton  Coliseum.  So awesome. 

8. Young Americans.....David Bowie
I chose this one over Modern Love as the saxophone which was David Bowie's first instrument he played, which plays a larger role on this song
https://youtu.be/ydLcs4VrjZQ

9. One Step Beyond.....MADNESS
Another MTV hit with some old school Ska with sax as the lead instrumental. 
https://youtu.be/SOJSM46nWwo

10. US And Them.....Pink Floyd
I chose this over Money for the bluesy effect of the sax
https://youtu.be/LezoMi3yftM

Oh honorable mentions.....

Never Tear Us Apart...INXS
Sir Duke....Stevie Wonder
Rio.....Duran Duran
Who Can It Be Now....Mem At Work
Smooth Operator....SADE

Seems like most of my choices come from the 80's the decade of MTV. I'll add some videos later.

✌️🎷

*We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

*MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
.....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

*The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


Post edited by g under p on
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Comments

  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance Posts: 23,288
    Few Stones songs come to mind
    www.cluthelee.com
  • cutzcutz Posts: 11,829
    2-feign-reluctance said:
    Few Stones songs come to mind
    Yeah, this one popped in my head right away

    https://youtu.be/cpwsTyD6XQg?t=228
  • GB281198GB281198 Posts: 461
    edited August 2023
    https://youtu.be/KzrtlXuiV3Y
    https://youtu.be/-JQTUgLh6mc
    https://youtu.be/hRP1dF7Qlac
    https://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA
    https://youtu.be/evnZfSEtr5k

    Five that come to my mind. 
    1: Bruce and the Big Man not much better than that.
    2: One of my favorite Thin Lizzy songs from a very underrated band.
    3: Billy Joel Scenes from an Italian restaurant
    4: Paul Simon's Graceland is one of my favorite albums of all time and this song always puts me in a good mood
    5: I've had the privilege of seeing Bob Seger live twice with Alto Reed 
    Post edited by GB281198 on
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    There are direct YouTube videos of this but the one embedded in this Rolling Stone article is better quality. Well worth checking out.  It's an amazing performance of Leonard Cohen and Sonny Rollins doing "Who By Fire".

    Another favorite with sax (subtle here, but the song is greatly enhance with horn accompanyment), The Dream Syndicate, "Hard to Say Goodbye"

    Good thread, by the way. 



    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    How could I forget one of my all time favorite songs. Thanks Spotify and my funk 🎵 songs.....hard to believe this song is 50 years old....
    WAR.....City Country City

    https://youtu.be/DZmeFGmiQDI

    A little bit more from Fred Wesley &The Jb's....Watermelon Man
    https://youtu.be/6PGcN-J-tB4

    ✌️🎷
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    g under p said:
    How could I forget one of my all time favorite songs. Thanks Spotify and my funk 🎵 songs.....hard to believe this song is 50 years old....
    WAR.....City Country City

    https://youtu.be/DZmeFGmiQDI

    A little bit more from Fred Wesley &The Jb's....Watermelon Man
    https://youtu.be/6PGcN-J-tB4

    ✌️🎷

    Good picks there!

    I SO wish I could find a more clear video of this, but this is good enough for now:  Paul Westerberg on SNL doing "Can't Hardly Wait back by the SNL band horn section.  Righteous! 

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    this is it:
    BAKER STREET- Gerry Rafferty
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo6aKnRnBxM&ab_channel=GerryRafferty

  • mookieblalockmookieblalock Posts: 3,271
    edited August 2023
    https://youtu.be/Wk0Kckv-tqQ

    Eddie and the Cruisers - On the Dark side
    Post edited by mookieblalock on
  • Croos1226Croos1226 Posts: 338
    https://youtu.be/eroNADQ_mL8

    Tears for Fears - The Working Hour
  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    brianlux said:
    g under p said:
    How could I forget one of my all time favorite songs. Thanks Spotify and my funk 🎵 songs.....hard to believe this song is 50 years old....
    WAR.....City Country City

    https://youtu.be/DZmeFGmiQDI

    A little bit more from Fred Wesley &The Jb's....Watermelon Man
    https://youtu.be/6PGcN-J-tB4

    ✌️🎷

    Good picks there!

    I SO wish I could find a more clear video of this, but this is good enough for now:  Paul Westerberg on SNL doing "Can't Hardly Wait back by the SNL band horn section.  Righteous! 

    That's why sometimes I start threads like this to hear and see songs I've never heard b4. I like their energy in the song seems like they were having fun  especially the drummer. Very nice.

    ✌️
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    mookieblalock said:
    https://youtu.be/Wk0Kckv-tqQ

    Eddie and the Cruisers - On the Dark side
    I'm starting to slowly see how much of an influence the musical instrument that is a saxophone can have on a song. I remember the movie.👍

    ✌️
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    Croos1226 said:
    https://youtu.be/eroNADQ_mL8

    Tears for Fears - The Working Hour
    Man, I have this album either on vynil or CD but I don't recall this song. Great choice, the sax plays its role very well.

    ✌️
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 11,444
    edited August 2023
    IDK if this is my #1, but it's up there. 

    https://youtu.be/2ewvn6YBz6E 
  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,196
    Back in school we would mix this song in with whatever was hot 79'-81' ish. This song had a classic dance beat timing that was easily mixed. BC was a horn led soul band with a very good guitar player I have forgotten his name though.

    MOVIN'.....Brass Construction 

    https://youtu.be/UzsUd37xPXo

    ✌️
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    g under p said:
    brianlux said:
    g under p said:
    How could I forget one of my all time favorite songs. Thanks Spotify and my funk 🎵 songs.....hard to believe this song is 50 years old....
    WAR.....City Country City

    https://youtu.be/DZmeFGmiQDI

    A little bit more from Fred Wesley &The Jb's....Watermelon Man
    https://youtu.be/6PGcN-J-tB4

    ✌️🎷

    Good picks there!

    I SO wish I could find a more clear video of this, but this is good enough for now:  Paul Westerberg on SNL doing "Can't Hardly Wait back by the SNL band horn section.  Righteous! 

    That's why sometimes I start threads like this to hear and see songs I've never heard b4. I like their energy in the song seems like they were having fun  especially the drummer. Very nice.

    ✌️

    Yeah, well said.  That drummer is Josh Freese who is now the Foo Fighters full-time drummer.  One fine drummer!  At that little pause in the song where someone yells "Burt Reynolds!", that was Freese calling that out and making Westerberg laugh.  I never got the joke, but I love how that came off, and no one missed a beat!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Posts: 11,597
    Anything by John Coltrane, of course.

    Let's go with:
    • Acknowledgement
    • Blue in Green (Miles Davis with John Coltrane)
    • Chasin' the Trane
    • Crescent
    • Moment's Notice
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,350
    The best hook used in a song ever.

    https://youtu.be/1WIsnC-h1d0
  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,350
    My favorite Ska sax solo.  Sublimes Date rape at 310.

    https://youtu.be/CeMeDihwyrg
  • JeBurkhardtJeBurkhardt Posts: 4,852
    Madness One Step Beyond for the win.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    edited August 2023
    Johnny Abruzzo said:
    Anything by John Coltrane, of course.

    Let's go with:
    • Acknowledgement
    • Blue in Green (Miles Davis with John Coltrane)
    • Chasin' the Trane
    • Crescent
    • Moment's Notice

    I think we were all assuming this was for rock and pop songs with horns but how can you go wrong with mention of the great John Coltrane!  Well done, Johnny!

    If you're a Trane fan and have not seen it, you will love this documentary, "Chasing Trane":
    Amazoncom Chasing Trane The John Coltrane Documentary John Coltrane John Scheinfeld Movies TV

    I would say this is the best music documentary I've ever seen and it really give Coltrane his well deserved due.  I just watched this on DVD again last night for the 4th or 5th time.  And the choice and diversity of commentators is so excellent- Cornel West, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Heath, Bill Clinton, Benny Golson, Carlos Santana, John Densmore, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Antonia Andrew... fantastic!

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Posts: 11,597
    Yeah I have Chasing Trane on bluray. I scrolled back up to the thread title and it said nothing about rock genre, so there we go! Even better, 'Trane is a Philly musician.

    Also don't miss A Love Supreme Live in Seattle - a very extended live performance of the legendary album!
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    Johnny Abruzzo said:
    Yeah I have Chasing Trane on bluray. I scrolled back up to the thread title and it said nothing about rock genre, so there we go! Even better, 'Trane is a Philly musician.

    Also don't miss A Love Supreme Live in Seattle - a very extended live performance of the legendary album!

    Very cool- it's such a great film!

    I keep waffling on the Love Supreme in Seattle.  I'm really pitch sensitive and am told that performance has an irritating bell sound that goes on for a while.

    And speaking of Seattle, there is also the Live in Seattle album from 1971 (shown below- you may know this one as well).  I had that album many years ago but it and I got separated some time ago.  And then earlier this year I came across a decent original '71 copy on eBay that I bid on and won, a VG+ in VG cover.  The cover is a bit rough but the double LP sounds fine.  My earlier original was almost exactly in the same shape, cover and vinyl both.  It felt like having an old friend come back into my life after so many year! 

    Primary

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Johnny AbruzzoJohnny Abruzzo Posts: 11,597
    brianlux said:

    I keep waffling on the Love Supreme in Seattle.  I'm really pitch sensitive and am told that performance has an irritating bell sound that goes on for a while.


    Yeah I know that part. It's fine - maybe a minute I guess. Something you can skip past if it bothers you. I wouldn't let that dissuade you from checking out the album.

    Pink Floyd Echoes has something similar, that guitar seagull sound, which seems to bother me less as I get older. My hearing must be changing.
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13;
    WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
    Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24

    Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    Johnny Abruzzo said:
    brianlux said:

    I keep waffling on the Love Supreme in Seattle.  I'm really pitch sensitive and am told that performance has an irritating bell sound that goes on for a while.


    Yeah I know that part. It's fine - maybe a minute I guess. Something you can skip past if it bothers you. I wouldn't let that dissuade you from checking out the album.

    Pink Floyd Echoes has something similar, that guitar seagull sound, which seems to bother me less as I get older. My hearing must be changing.

    Only a minute or so?  Wellllllll... that gets me thinking again!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • GB281198GB281198 Posts: 461
    If don't have to stick to rock......
    https://youtu.be/HuJ9rNSImQA
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    GB281198 said:
    If don't have to stick to rock......
    https://youtu.be/HuJ9rNSImQA

    As far as I'm concerned, you can play some Merle here any time! 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • GB281198GB281198 Posts: 461
    brianlux said:
    GB281198 said:
    If don't have to stick to rock......
    https://youtu.be/HuJ9rNSImQA

    As far as I'm concerned, you can play some Merle here any time! 
    The best country artist of all time IMO. So glad I got to see him live before he passed.
  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,908

    This weekend we rock Portland
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    GB281198 said:
    brianlux said:
    GB281198 said:
    If don't have to stick to rock......
    https://youtu.be/HuJ9rNSImQA

    As far as I'm concerned, you can play some Merle here any time! 
    The best country artist of all time IMO. So glad I got to see him live before he passed.
    So cool that you got to see Hag!
    I'm really bummed that I didn't get to see Merle play.  
    I got into country (classic, not the new modern stuff that Tom Petty called "Rock music with a fiddle", lol).  I saw Willie Nelson in May of 2005 and that show is on my list of all-time top favorite shows.  I also saw Johnny Cash and Family in April of '91, which was so great despite the fact that he seemed really tired.  He still gave it his all.
    Sadly, I missed seeing Waylon Jennings, and Ernest Tubb- some other favorites.  I should try to catch Emmylou Harris while I still can.

    But yeah, Merle was so great!  I really enjoyed reading both his memoirs as well, especially the first one, Sing Me Back Home.  What a life!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,012
    Poncier said:


    Whoa trippy.  Like, scary trippy.  :lol:
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













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