List of rock instrumentals
Appearance
The following is a list of rock instrumentals. Only instrumentals that are notable are included.
Instrumentals which have charted
[edit]Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes musical instruments and features very little or no singing. An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics, or singing, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting.[1][2][3]
1950s and 1960s chartings
[edit]Artist | Song title | Date | Highest position on US charts |
Highest position on UK charts |
Highest position on R&B charts |
Miscellaneous |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bill Justis | "Raunchy" | 1957 | #3[4] | #24[5] | #1[6] | |
Ernie Freeman | "Raunchy" | 1957 | #4[7] | #1 [8] | ||
The Champs | "Tequila" | 1958 | #1[9] | #5[10] | #1 [11] | |
Duane Eddy | "Moovin' N' Groovin'" | 1958 | #72 | |||
The Champs | "El Rancho Rock" | 1958 | #30 | |||
Link Wray & His Ray Men | "Rumble" | 1958 | #16[12] | #11[13] | ||
Duane Eddy | "Rebel Rouser" | 1958 | #6[14] | #8[15] | #19 [16] | |
Duane Eddy | "Ramrod" | 1958 | #28 | |||
The Champs | "Chariot Rock" | 1958 | #59 | |||
Duane Eddy | "Cannonball" | 1958 | #15 | #2 | #22 | |
Link Wray & His Ray Men | "Raw-Hide" | 1959 | #23 | |||
The Rockin' R's | "The Beat" | 1959 | #57 | |||
Duane Eddy | "Yep!" | 1959 | #30 | #17 | ||
The Virtues | "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" | 1959 | #5[17] | #27[18] | ||
Dave "Baby" Cortez | "The Happy Organ" | 1959 | #1[19] | #5[20] | ||
Johnny and the Hurricanes | "Crossfire" | 1959 | #23 | |||
The Wailers | "Tall Cool One" | 1959 | #36[21] | #24[22] | ||
Preston Epps | "Bongo Rock" | 1959 | #14[23] | |||
Duane Eddy | "Forty Miles of Bad Road" | 1959 | #9 | #17 | ||
Johnny and the Hurricanes | "Red River Rock" | 1959 | #5[24] | #3[25] | #5[26] | |
The Wailers | "Mau-Mau" | 1959 | #68 | |||
Sandy Nelson | "Teen Beat" | 1959 | #4[27] | #9[28] | #17[29] | The piano on the recording is by Bruce Johnston.[28] |
Santo & Johnny | "Sleep Walk" | 1959 | #1[30] | #22[31] | #4[32] | |
Santo & Johnny | "Tear Drop" | 1959 | #23[30] | #50[31] | #17[32] | |
Duane Eddy | "Some Kind-A Earthquake" | 1959 | #37 | #12 | ||
Johnny And The Hurricanes | "Reveille Rock" | 1959 | #25 | #17 | ||
The Fireballs | "Bulldog" | 1960 | #24 | |||
The Champs | "Too Much Tequila" | 1960 | #30 | |||
Johnny and the Hurricanes | "Beatnik Fly" | 1960 | #15 | #8 | ||
Bill Black's Combo | "White Silver Sands" | 1960 | #9[33] | #33[34] | #1[35] | |
Bill Black's Combo | "Don't Be Cruel" | 1960 | #11[33] | #32[34] | #1[35] | |
Duane Eddy | "Shazam" | 1960 | #45 | #4 | ||
Duane Eddy | "Because They're Young" | 1960 | #4 | #2 | #17 | |
Johnny and the Hurricanes | "Rocking Goose" | 1960 | #60 | #3 | ||
Duane Eddy | "Peter Gunn" | 1960 | #8[36] | #6[15] | This was the second charting of the song in 1959. | |
Floyd Cramer | "Last Date" | 1960 | #2[37] | #32[34] | ||
The Shadows | "Apache" | 1960 | #1[38] | |||
The Shadows | "Man of Mystery" | 1960 | #5[38] | |||
The Ventures | "Walk, Don't Run" | 1960 | #1[39] | #8[40] | #13[41] | |
Duane Eddy | "Pepe" | 1961 | #18 | #2 | ||
B. Bumble and the Stingers | "Bumble Boogie" | 1961 | #21[42] | |||
The Fireballs | "Quite a Party" | 1961 | #27[43] | #29[44] | ||
Kokomo | "Asia Minor" | 1961 | #8[45] | #35[40] | Adopted from the Edvard Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor[45] and subsequently banned by the BBC.[46] | |
The Mar-Keys | "Last Night" | 1961 | #3[47] | #2[48] | ||
Sandy Nelson | "Let There Be Drums" | 1961 | #7[27] | #3[28] | ||
The Shadows | "F.B.I." | 1961 | #6[5] | |||
The Shadows | "The Frightened City" | 1961 | #3[38] | |||
The Shadows | "Kon-Tiki" | 1961 | #1[38] | |||
The Shadows | "The Savage" | 1961 | #10[38] | |||
The String-A-Longs | "Wheels" | 1961 | #3[49] | #8[31] | #19[50] | |
Billy Joe and the Checkmates | "Percolator (Twist)" | 1962 | #10[51] | |||
The Champs | "Limbo Rock" | 1962 | #40[9] | |||
Jet Harris | "Besame Mucho" | 1962 | #22[52] | |||
King Curtis | "Soul Twist" | 1962 | #17[53] | #1[54] | ||
Sandy Nelson | "Drums Are My Beat" | 1962 | #29[27] | #30[28] | ||
The Shadows | "Wonderful Land" | 1962 | #1[38] | |||
The Shadows | "Guitar Tango" | 1962 | #4[38] | |||
The Shadows | "Dance On!" | 1962 | #1[38] | |||
The Tornados | "Telstar" | 1962 | #1[55] | #1[56] | #5[57] | |
Booker T. & the M.G.'s | "Green Onions" | 1962 | #3 | #1 | ||
The Busters | "Bust Out" | 1963 | #25[58] | |||
The Dakotas | "The Cruel Sea" | 1963 | #18[59] | |||
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan | "Scarlett O'Hara" | 1963 | #2[52] | |||
Lonnie Mack | "Memphis" | 1963 | #5[60] | #4[61] | ||
Lonnie Mack | Wham! | 1963 | #24[60] | From the album The Wham of that Memphis Man | ||
The Marketts | "Out of Limits" | 1963 | #3[47] | |||
Link Wray & His Ray Men | "Jack The Ripper" | 1963 | #64 | Released in 1961, but didn't chart until 1963. | ||
Jack Nitzsche | "The Lonely Surfer" | 1963 | #39[62] | |||
The Rockin’ Rebels aka The Rebels |
"Wild Weekend" | 1963 | #8[63] | #3[25] | #28[64] | |
The Shadows | "Foot Tapper" | 1963 | #1[38] | |||
The Surfaris | "Wipe Out" | 1963 | #2[65] | #5[66] | #10[67] | |
The Pyramids | "Penetration" | 1964 | #18[68] | Adapted from Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor.[45] | ||
The T-Bones | "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" | 1965 | #3[69] | |||
The Viscounts | "Harlem Nocturne" | 1966 | #39 | #17 | Originally released in 1960, peaking at #52 on Billboard and #28 on CashBox. A 1965 re-release resulted in the record topping its previous peak, reaching #39. | |
The Bar-Kays | "Soul Finger" | 1967 | #17[70] | #33[71] | #3[72] | |
Cliff Nobles & Co. | "The Horse" | 1968 | #2[73] | #2[74] | ||
Fleetwood Mac | "Albatross" | 1968 | #1[75] | Charted again (#2) in Britain in 1972. | ||
Hugh Masekela | "Grazing in the Grass" | 1968 | #1[76] | #1[77] | ||
Mason Williams | "Classical Gas" | 1968 | #2[78] | #9[79] | "orchestrated rock and roll" backed by the Wrecking Crew[80] | |
Booker T. & the M.G.'s | "Time Is Tight" | 1969 | #6[45] | #7[81] | from the film Uptight[45] | |
The Ventures | "Hawaii Five-O" | 1969 | #4[82] |
1970s and 1980s chartings
[edit]
0-9
[edit]10cc
[edit]- "How Dare You" (How Dare You! (album), 1976)
A
[edit]- "Intermezzo No. 1" (ABBA, 1975)
- "Arrival" (Arrival, 1976)
- "Fling Thing" (B-side of "Jailbreak", 1976)
- "D.T." ("From album: Who Made Who", 1985)
- "Chase the Ace" ("From album: Who Made Who", 1985)
- "The Movie" ("From album: Permanent Vacation", 1987)
- "Krawhitham" (Pandora's Box, 1991)
- "Circle Jerk" (Pandora's Box, 1991)
- "Boogie Man" ("From album: Get A Grip", 1993)
- "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Idlewild South, 1970)
- "Hot 'Lanta" (At Fillmore East, 1971)
- "Mountain Jam" (Eat a Peach, 1972)
- "Little Martha" (Eat a Peach, 1972)
- "Jessica" (Brothers and Sisters, 1973)
- "Pegasus" (Enlightened Rogues, 1979)
- And So I Watch You from Afar (2009)
- "Animals as Leaders" (2009)
- "Wave of Babies" (Single) (2010)
- "Weightless" (2011)
- "The Joy of Motion" (2014)
- "The Madness of Many" (2016)
- Peter Gunn (1959), No. 8 US,[123] No. 22 UK,[124] No. 4 R&B[125] song's composer Henry Mancini wrote that it, "actually derives more from rock and roll than from jazz."[126]
- "Pipeline" (Attack of the Killer B's, 1991)
- Plays Metallica by Four Cellos (1996)
- Inquisition Symphony (1998)
- Cult (2000) The Standard Version it's all instrumental and the Special Edition Disk 2 include: "Path Vol. 2" feat. Sandra Nasić and "Hope Vol. 2" feat. Matthias Sayer on vocals.
- Reflections (2003) On The Revised, Russian Edition & 2005 US Reissue it's include: "Seemann (Rammstein Cover)" feat. Nina Hagen on vocals.
- Apocalyptica (2005) Vocals: "Life Burns!" & "Bittersweet" feat. Lauri Ylönen; "En Vie" feat. Manu; On Special Edition Bonus Tracks: "How Far" & "Wie Weit" Marta Jandová.
- Amplified // A Decade of Reinventing the Cello It consists the band's most notable covers and original songs on 2 CDs, one for the instrumentals tunes and the other for the tunes with vocals.
- Worlds Collide (2003) Vocals: "I Don't Care" Adam Gontier of Three Days Grace; "I'm Not Jesus" Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Stone Sour; "S.O.S (Anything but Love)" Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil, additionals backing vocals: Mats Levén of Therion, Krux; "Helden" Till Lindemann of Rammstein.
- 7th Symphony (2003) Vocals: "End of Me" Gavin Rossdale of Bush; "Not Strong Enough (Album Version)" Brent Smith of Shinedown; "Not Strong Enough (US Single Version)" Doug Robb of Hoobastank; "Broken Pieces" Lacey Mosley of Flyleaf; "Bring Them to Light" Joe Duplantier of Gojira.
- Wagner Reloaded-Live in Leipzig (2013)
Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and various artists
[edit]- "A Song for Chi" (2009)
- Rare (2000)
August Burns Red
[edit]- "Carol of the Bells" (online single, 2007)
- "O Come O Come, Emmanuel" (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 7", 2009)
- "The Little Drummer Boy" (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 7", 2011)
- "Jade Helm" (Black Reign EP, 2018)
Average White Band
[edit]- "Pick Up the Pieces", (1974), No. 1 US,[98] No. 6 UK[99]
B
[edit]The Bar-Kays
[edit]- "Soul Finger", (1967), No. 17 US,[70] No. 33 UK,[71] No. 3 R&B[72]
Michael Angelo Batio
[edit]- No Boundaries (1995)
- Planet Gemini (1997)
- Tradition (1999)
- Lucid Intervals and Moments of Clarity (2000)
- "Misirlou" (Surfin' U.S.A., 1963)
- "Let's Go Trippin'" (Surfin' U.S.A.)
- "Summer Means New Love" (Summer Days, 1965)
- "Let's Go Away for Awhile" (Pet Sounds, 1966)
- "Pet Sounds" (Pet Sounds)
- "Look" (recorded at sessions for Smile, later released with vocals)
- "I Wanna Be Around" / "Workshop" (The Smile Sessions, 2011)
- "The Elements: Fire" (The Smile Sessions)
Beastie Boys
[edit]- Sabrosa (1994)
- The in Sound from Way Out! (1996)
- The Mix-Up (2007)
- Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament (2011)
- "Cry for a Shadow" (1964)
- "Flying" (Magical Mystery Tour, 1967)
- "Cayenne" (Anthology 1, 1995)
- "12-Bar Original" (Anthology 2, 1996)
- Most of Beck's recordings following the dissolution of The Jeff Beck Group are instrumentals.
- "Beck's Bolero" (B-side of "Hi Ho Silver Lining", 1967), featuring Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Nicky Hopkins
- Blow by Blow (1975)
- Wired (1976)
- There & Back (1980)
- Escape Flash, (1985)
- Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop (1989)
- Frankie's House (1992)
- Who Else! (1999)
- You Had It Coming (2001)
- Jeff (2003)
- Emotion & Commotion (2010)
- Loud Hailer (2016)
- Perpetual Burn (1988)
- Perspective (1995)
- The Raspberry Jams (1999)
- The Blackberry Jams (2003)
Bee Gees
[edit]- "Seven Seas Symphony" (Odessa, 1969)
Bill Black's Combo
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the Bill Black Combo's recordings are instrumentals.
- "White Silver Sands", (1960), No. 9 US,[33] No. 33 UK,[34] No. 1 R&B[35]
- "Don't Be Cruel", (1960), No. 11 US,[33] No. 32 UK,[34] No. 1 R&B[35]
Black Flag
[edit]- The Process of Weeding Out EP (1985)
- "Rat Salad" (Paranoid, 1971)
- "Embryo" (Master of Reality, 1971)
- "Orchid" (Master of Reality, 1971)
- "FX" (Vol. 4, 1972)
- "Laguna Sunrise" (Vol. 4, 1972)
- "Fluff" (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973)
- "Don't Start (Too Late)" (Sabotage, 1975)
- "Supertzar" (Sabotage, 1975)
- "Breakout" (Never Say Die!, 1978)
- "E5150" (Mob Rules, 1981)
- "Stonehenge" (Born Again, 1983)
- "The Dark" (Born Again, 1983)
- "Sphinx (The Guardian)" (Seventh Star, 1986)
- "Scarlet Pimpernel" (The Eternal Idol, 1987)
- "The Gates Of Hell" (Headless Cross, 1989)
- "The Battle Of Tyr" (Tyr, 1990)
Blaqk Audio
[edit]- "Stiff Kittens" (CexCells, 2007)
Booker T. and the M.G.'s
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Foreplay" (Boston, 1976)
- "A New World" (Third Stage, 1986)
- "Walkin' at Night" (Walk On, 1994)
- "Get Organ-ized"/"Get Reorgan-ized" (Walk On, 1994)
- "The Star-Spangled Banner/4th of July Reprise" (Greatest Hits", 1997)
- "Last Day of School" (Life, Love & Hope, 2013)
- "Speed of Life" (Low, 1977)
- "A New Career in a New Town" (Low)
- "Warszawa" (Low)
- "Art Decade" (Low)
- "Weeping Wall" (Low)
- "V-2 Schneider" ("Heroes", 1977)
- "Sense of Doubt" ("Heroes")
- "Moss Garden" ("Heroes")
- "Neuköln" ("Heroes")
- "Crystal Japan" (Japanese single, 1980)
- "The Wedding" (Black Tie White Noise, 1993
- "Slow Dance" (Count Your Blessings, 2006)
- "Fifteen Fathoms, Counting" (Count Your Blessings)
- "Moon Over the Castle" (Find Your Line: Official Music from GRAN TURISMO 7, 2022)
B. T. Express
[edit]Roy Buchanan
[edit]- "Sweet Dreams" (Roy Buchanan, 1972)
Buckethead
[edit]- Most, if not all, of Buckethead's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Sketches of Spain (For Miles)" (Electric Tears, 2002)
- "Spokes for the Wheel of Torment" (The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell, 2004)
- "Jordan" (Guitar Hero II, 2006)
B. Bumble and the Stingers
[edit]Most, if not all, of B. Bumble and the Stingers' recordings are instrumentals.
- "Bumble Boogie", (1961), No. 21 US, based on Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumble Bee"[42]
- "Nut Rocker" (1962), The recording is a version of the march from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.[129]
- "John Riley" & "Captain Soul", (Fifth Dimension,[130] 1966)
C
[edit]- "Perfidia" (Avalancha de Éxitos, 1996)
- Revés (1999)
Cake
[edit]- "Arco Arena" (Comfort Eagle, 2001)
- Tool Box (2007)
Camel
[edit]- Supertwister (Mirage, 1974)
- Earthrise (Mirage)
- The Snow Goose (1975)
- Aristillus (Moonmadness, 1976)
- Chord Change (Moonmadness)
- Lunar Sea (Moonmadness)
- First Light (Rain Dances, 1977)
- One of These Days I'll Get an Early Night (Rain Dances)
- Elke (Rain Dances)
- Skylines (Rain Dances)
- Rain Dances (Rain Dances)
- The Sleeper (Breathless, 1978)
- Eye of the Storm (I Can See Your House from Here, 1979)
- Survival (I Can See Your House from Here)
- Ice (I Can See Your House from Here)
- Pressure Points (Stationary Traveller, 1984)
- Missing(Stationary Traveller)
- After Words(Stationary Traveller)
- Dust Bowl (Dust and Dreams, 1991)
- Dusted Out (Dust and Dreams)
- Needles (Dust and Dreams)
- Milk and Honey (Dust and Dreams)
- Storm Clouds (Dust and Dreams)
- Cotton Camp (Dust and Dreams)
- Broken Banks (Dust and Dreams)
- Sheet Rain (Dust and Dreams)
- Whispers (Dust and Dreams)
- Little Rivers and Little Rose (Dust and Dreams)
- Hopeless Anger (Dust and Dreams)
- Whispers in the Rain (Dust and Dreams)
- Irish Air (Instrumental Reprise) (Harbour of Tears, 1996)
- Cóbh (Harbour of Tears)
- Under the Moon (Harbour of Tears)
- Generations (Harbour of Tears)
- Running from Paradise (Harbour of Tears)
- Coming of Age (Harbour of Tears)
- The Hour Candle (A Song for my Father) (Harbour of Tears)
- Three Wishes (Rajaz, 1999)
- Sahara (Rajaz)
Camper Van Beethoven
[edit]- "Interstellar Overdrive" (Camper Van Beethoven, 1986)
Gustavo Cerati
[edit]- +Bien (2001)
The Champs
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the Champs recordings are instrumentals.
- "Tequila" (1959), No. 1 US,[9] No. 5 UK,[10] No. 1 R&B[11]
- "Limbo Rock" (1962), No. 40 US[9] featured Earl Palmer on drums, Tommy Tedesco on guitar, and Plas Johnson on sax[131]
- "Pipeline" (Pipeline, 1963)
The Chemical Brothers
[edit]- "Song to the Siren" (Exit Planet Dust, 1992)
Chicago
[edit]- "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: Anxiety's Moment" (Chicago, 1970)
- "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: West Virginia Fantasies" (Chicago)
- "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: To Be Free" (Chicago)
Eric Clapton
[edit]- "Edge of Darkness" (24 Nights, 1991)
Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse
[edit]- Steppin' Out, ("What's Shakin'", 1966), Eric Clapton guitar, Paul Jones harmonica, Jack Bruce bass, Steve Winwood vocals and Pete York drums.
The Dave Clark Five
[edit]- Instrumental Album (1966)
Bruce Cockburn
[edit]- "Nude Descending a Staircase" (Life Short Call Now)
Dennis Coffey
[edit]The Commodores
[edit]- "Machine Gun", (1974), No. 22 US,[104] No. 20 UK,[105] No. 7 R&B[106]
Dave "Baby" Cortez
[edit]- "The Happy Organ" (1959), No. 1 US,[19] No. 5 R&B[20]
Floyd Cramer
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the Floyd Cramer's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Toad" (Fresh Cream, 1966)
- "Steppin' Out" (Live Cream Volume II, 1972)
- "Susie Q. (Part 2)" (B-side of single, 1968, excerpted from longer album track which contained vocals)
- Poorboy Shuffle" (Willie and the Poor Boys 1969)
- Side o' the Road" (Willie and the Poor Boys, 1969)
King Curtis
[edit]- "Soul Twist", (1962), No. 17 US,[53] No. 1 R&B[54]
D
[edit]The Dakotas
[edit]- "The Cruel Sea", (1963), No. 18 UK[59]
Dick Dale
[edit]- Most of Dale's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Let's Go Trippin'" (1961)
- "Misirlou" (1962)
- "And The Address" (Shades Of Deep Purple, 1968)
- "Wring That Neck" (Book Of Taliesyn, 1968)
- "Fault Line" (Deep Purple, 1969)
- "'A' 200" (Burn, 1974)
- "Coronarias Redig" ("Might Just Take Your Life" single B-side, 1974)
- "Owed To 'G'" (Come Taste The Band, 1975)
- "Son Of Alerik" ("Perfect Strangers" single B-side, 1985)
Deodato
[edit]- "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)", (1973), No. 2 US,[91] No. 7 UK,[84] based on Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra
Derek and the Dominos
[edit]- "Tell the Truth (Jam No. 1)" (The Layla Sessions)
Destroyalldreamers
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Dixie Dregs
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Bill Doggett
[edit]- "Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2)" (1956) No. 2 US[132] No. 1 R&B[133]
- "Slow Walk" (1956) No. 26 US[132] No. 4 R&B[133]
- "Soft" (1957) No. 35 US[132]
- "Pray for the Locust" (NOLA, 1995)
- "Doobinterlude" (Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow, 2002)
- "Flambeaux's Jamming with St. Aug" (Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow, 2002)
- "Another Hand" (Live at the Marquee, 1993)
- "Bombay Vindaloo" (Live at the Marquee, 1993)
- "A Mind Beside Itself I: Erotomania" (Awake, 1994)
- "Eve" (The Silent Man single, 1994)
- "A Change of Seasons I: The Crimson Sunrise" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "A Change of Seasons IV: The Darkest of Winters" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "A Change of Seasons VI: The Inevitable Summer" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "Cruise Control" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "Funeral For a Friend" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "The Rover" (A Change of Seasons, 1995)
- "Hell's Kitchen" (Falling Into Infinity, 1997)
- "Trial of Tears II: Deep In Heaven" (Falling Into Infinity, 1997)
- "Puppies on Acid" (Once in a LIVEtime, 1998)
- "Scene Two: Overture 1928" (Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, 1999)
- "Scene Seven: The Dance Of Eternity" (Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, 1999)
- "Acid Rain" (Live Scenes From New York, 2001)
- "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence: I. Overture" (Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, 2002)
- "Stream of Consciousness" (Train of Thought, 2003)
- "Instrumedley" (Live at Budokan, 2004)
- "In the Presence of Enemies I: Prelude" (Systematic Chaos, 2007)
- "In the Presence of Enemies V: The Reckoning" (Systematic Chaos, 2007)
- "Larks' Tongues in Aspic - Part II" (Special Edition of Black Clouds & Silver Linings, 2009)
- "Odyssey" (Special Edition of Black Clouds & Silver Linings, 2009)
- "Raw Dog" (God of War III Soundtrack, 2010)
- "False Awakening Suite" (Dream Theater, 2013)
- "Enigma Machine" (Dream Theater, 2013)
- "Illumination Theory I: Paradoxe de la Lumière Noire" (Dream Theater, 2013)
- "Illumination Theory III: The Embracing Circle" (Dream Theater, 2013)
- "Dystopian Overture" (The Astonishing, 2016)
- "2285 Entr'acte" (The Astonishing, 2016)
- "Distance over Time Instrumental Mixes" (2019)
- "A View from the Top of the World Instrumental Mixes" (2021)
The Durutti Column
[edit]- Most of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Bob Dylan
[edit]- “Woogie Boogie", (Self Portrait, 1970)
- “Wigwam”, (Self Portrait, 1970)
E
[edit]Earthless
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Duane Eddy
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the Duane Eddy's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Rebel Rouser" (1958), No. 6 US,[14] No. 8 UK,[15] No. 19 R&B,[16] saxophone by session musician Gil Bernal, yells and handclaps by doo-wop group the Rivingtons.[134][135]
- "Peter Gunn" (1959), No. 8 US, [36] No. 6 UK, [15] this was the second charting of the song in 1959
Electric Light Orchestra
[edit]- "Daybreaker" (On the Third Day, 1973)
- "In the Hall of the Mountain King" (On the Third Day)
- "Fire on High" (Face the Music, 1975)
- "The Whale" (Out of the Blue, 1977)
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
[edit]- "The Barbarian" (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, 1970)
- "Tank" (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
- "Nut Rocker" (Pictures at an Exhibition)
- "Hoedown" (Trilogy, 1972)
- "Karn Evil 9: Second Impression" (Brain Salad Surgery, 1973)
- "Fanfare for the Common Man" (Works Volume 1, 1977)
- "Canario" (Love Beach, 1978)
An Endless Sporadic
[edit]- "Ameliorate" (EP, 2008)
- "An Endless Sporadic" (Album, 2009)
- "Spaceship Factory" (Single, 2014)
- "Derpulous" (Single, 2014)
- "The Adventures of Jabubu II" (Single, 2015)
- "Magic Machine" (Album, 2016)
Preston Epps
[edit]- "Bongo Rock" (1959), No. 14 US[23]
Explosions in the Sky
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
F
[edit]The Fabulous Thunderbirds
[edit]- "Variation on a Theme of 'Hey Mr. Policeman'" (Music in a Doll's House, 1968)
- "Variation on a Theme of 'The Breeze'" (Music in a Doll's House, 1968)
- "Variation on a Theme of 'Me My Friend'" (Music in a Doll's House, 1968)
- "Summer '67" (Family Entertainment, 1969)
- "93's OK J" (A Song for Me, 1970)
- "Normans" (Anyway,1970)
- "Crinkly Grin" (Fearless, 1971)
- "Banger" (It's Only a Movie, 1973)
(Note: Bandstand, from 1972, is the only Family album that does not feature an instrumental track.)
Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens
[edit]- "Top Gun Anthem" (soundtrack to Top Gun, 1986)
- "Albatross"/"Jigsaw Puzzle Blues" (1969, included on UK release The Pious Bird of Good Omen/US release English Rose)
- "Oh Well Part 2" (B-side of single, 1969, included on US reissue of Then Play On)
- "Sunny Side of Heaven" (Bare Trees, 1972)
A Flock of Seagulls
[edit]- "DNA" (A Flock of Seagulls, 1982)
Focus
[edit]- Most, if not all, of Focus' recordings are instrumentals.
- "Hocus Pocus" (Focus II, 1971)
Marty Friedman
[edit]- Dragon's Kiss (1988)
- Scenes (1992)
- Introduction (1994)
- True Obsessions (1996)
- Music For Speeding (2002)
- Loudspeaker (2006)
The Bobby Fuller Four
[edit]Peter Frampton
[edit]- Fingerprints (2006)
- Frampton Forgets the Words (2021)
FromUz
[edit]- "13th August" (Overlook, 2008)
Funkadelic
[edit]- "Maggot Brain" (Maggot Brain, 1971)
G
[edit]Peter Gabriel
[edit]- Birdy (1985) (portions of the album are instrumental reworkings of previously recorded vocal tracks)
- Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ (1989)
- Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) (also contains elements from previously recorded vocal tracks)
- The first twelve tracks on Disc 2 of the deluxe edition of New Blood (2011) are instrumental versions of the first twelve tracks on the main album
- "Gilberto Concerto" (Flying Dog, 1998)
- "Whole Lotta Sonata" (Alligator Farm)
- "G.V.R.O." (Burning Organ, 2002)
- Get Out of My Yard (2006)
- Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar (2008)
- Fuzz Universe (2010)
- "Mihails" (David Gilmour, 1978)
- "Raise My Rent" (David Gilmour, 1978)
- "Let's Get Metaphysical" (About Face, 1984)
- "Castellorizon" (On an Island, 2006)
- "Red Sky at Night" (On an Island, 2006)
- "Then I Close My Eyes" (On an Island, 2006)
- "5 A.M." (Rattle That Lock, 2015)
- "Beauty" (Rattle That Lock, 2015)
- "And Then..." (Rattle That Lock, 2015)
Gary Glitter
[edit]- "Rock and Roll Part 2" (Glitter, 1972)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
God Is an Astronaut
[edit]- The End of the Beginning (2002)
- All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005)
- Far from Refuge (2007)
- God Is an Astronaut (2008)
- Age of the Fifth Sun (2010)
Godsmack
[edit]- "Vampires" (Awake, 2000)
- "The Oracle" (The Oracle, 2010)
Gorillaz
[edit]- "Lake Zurich" ("From album: The Now Now", 2018)
Gov't Mule
[edit]- Sco-Mule (2015)
Grails
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
H
[edit]- "Miami Vice Theme" (soundtrack to Miami Vice, 1985)
- "Crockett's Theme" (Miami Vice: The Complete Collection, 2002)
Hammock
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Besame Mucho", (1962), No. 22 UK[52]
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan
[edit]- "Diamonds" (1963)
- "Scarlett O'Hara" (1963)
George Harrison
[edit]- Wonderwall Music (1968)
- Electronic Sound (1969)
- "Thanks for the Pepperoni" (All Things Must Pass, 1970)
- "I Remember Jeep" (All Things Must Pass, 1970)
- "Out of the Blue" (All Things Must Pass, 1970)
- "Plug Me In" (All Things Must Pass, 1970)
- "Hari's on Tour (Express)" (Dark Horse, 1974)
- "A Bit More of You" (Extra Texture, 1975)
- "Hide Away" (See the Light, 1988)
- "Shapes of Things" (Cover to Cover, 1995)
Hellecasters
[edit]- "Sweet Dreams" (The Return of the Hellecasters, 1993)
- "Third Stone from the Sun" (Are You Experienced, 1967)
- "Star Spangled Banner" (Woodstock: Music from the Original Soundtrack and More, 1970)
- "Pali Gap" (Rainbow Bridge, 1971)
- "Born Under a Bad Sign" (Blues, 1994)
- "Sunshine of Your Love" (Valleys of Neptune)
Gary Hoey
[edit]- Most of Hoey's recordings are instrumentals.
Hot Butter
[edit]I
[edit]If These Trees Could Talk
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Transylvania"
- "The Ides of March"
- "Genghis Khan"
- "Losfer Words"
J
[edit]- Floating World (1974) (except "Monkey Chant", track 8)
- Waves (1975)
- Kites (1976)
- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Embryonic Journey" (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
- "Dharma for One" (This Was, 1968)
- "Bouree" (Stand Up, 1969)
- "Warm Sporran" (Stormwatch, 1979)
- "Elegy" (Stormwatch)
- "The Pine Marten's Jig" (A, 1980)
- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Red River Rock" (1959), No. 5 US,[24] No. 3 UK, [25] No. 5 R&B[26]
Elton John
[edit]- "Tones" (1986)
- "Ah Via Musicom" (1990)
- "Venus Isle" (1996)
- "Seven Worlds" (1998)
- "Souvenir" (2002)
- "Bloom" (2005)
- "Up Close" (2010)
- "Mrs. Robinson" (EJ, 2016)
- "Once Upon A Time In Texas" (EJ, 2016)
- "Serinidad" (EJ, 2016)
- "Fatherly Downs" (EJ, 2016)
- "The World is Waiting For The Sunrise" (EJ, 2016)
- "Song For Irene" (EJ, 2016)
- "Collage", 2017)
- "Charldron's Boat" (EJ Vol II, 2020)
- "Lake Travis" (EJ Vol II, 2020)
- "Black Waterside" (EJ Vol II, 2020)
- "For The Stars" (EJ Vol II, 2020)
Billy Joel
[edit]- "Nocturne" (Cold Spring Harbor, 1971)
- "Root Beer Rag" (Streetlife Serenade, 1974)
- "The Mexican Connection" (Streetlife Serenade, 1974)
- "Prelude" (Turnstiles, 1976)
Bradley Joseph
[edit]- Hear the Masses (1994)
- Kohoutek (Journey, 1975)
- Topaz (Journey, 1975)
- Nickel and Dime (Next, 1977)
- Majestic (Evolution, 1979)
- The Journey (Revelation) (Revelation, 2008)
- Venus (Eclipse, 2011)
Bill Justis
[edit]K
[edit]Kinks
[edit]- "Revenge", from the (Kinks album, 1964)
King Crimson
[edit]- "Larks' Tongues in Aspic":
- Part I (Larks' Tongues in Aspic, 1973)
- Part II (Larks' Tongues in Aspic)
- Part III (Three of a Perfect Pair, 1984)
- Part IV (the construKction of light, 2000)
- "Providence" (Red)
- "Asbury Park" (USA, 1975)
- "The Sheltering Sky" (Discipline, 1981)
- "Discipline" (Discipline)
- "Love Theme from Kiss" (Kiss, 1974)
- "Acrobat" (The Box Set, 2001)
- Local Hero (1983) except "The Way It Always Starts"
- Cal (1984)
- Comfort and Joy (1984)
- The Princess Bride (1987) except "Storybook Love"
- Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989) except "Tralala"
- Wag the Dog (1998) except "Wag the Dog"
- Altamira (2016)
Kokomo
[edit]- "Asia Minor", (1961), No. 8 US,[45] No. 35 UK[40]Adopted from the Edvard Grieg, Piano Concerto in A minor[45]and sub sequentially banned by the BBC.[137]
L
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Black Mountain Side" (Led Zeppelin, 1969)
- "Moby Dick" (Led Zeppelin II, 1969)
- "Bron-Yr-Aur" (Physical Graffiti, 1975)
- "Bonzo's Montreux" (Coda, 1982)
- "White Summer" (Led Zeppelin Boxed Set, 1990)
- "LA Drone" (How the West Was Won, 2003)
- "La La" (Deluxe Edition reissue of Led Zeppelin II, 2014)
- "10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod" (Deluxe Edition reissue of Presence, 2015)
- "St. Tristan's Sword" (Deluxe Edition reissue of Coda, 2015)
Tony Levin
[edit]- Most of Levin's solo recordings are instrumentals. Notable exceptions are "L'Abito della Sposa" from Double Espresso (2002), most of Resonator (2006) and some of its follow-up, Stick Man (2007).
- "Session" (Meteora, 2003)
- "Wake" (Minutes to Midnight, 2007)
- "Tinfoil" (Living Things, 2010)
- "Drawbar" (The Hunting Party, 2014)
- Liquid Tension Experiment (1998)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (1999)
- Liquid Tension Experiment 3 (2021)
Liquid Trio Experiment
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals in the surf music genre.
- "No Gravity" (2005)
- "Universo Inverso" (2006)
- "Fullblast" (2009)
- "Sounds of Innocence" (2012)
- "Open Source" (2020)
- "Love's Theme", (1973), No. 1 US,[94] No. 10 UK,[95] No. 10 R&B[96] orchestra formed and song written by Barry White
M
[edit]Madness
[edit]- "The Return of the Los Palmas 7" (Absolutely, 1980)
- "Ain't Gwine to Whistle Dixie (Any Mo’)", (The Real Thing, 1971)
Tak Matsumoto
[edit]- "Little Wing" (live-only)
Yngwie Malmsteen
[edit]- Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra in E-flat minor, Op. 1 (1998)
- Angels of Love (2009)
- Spellbound (2012) except for "Repent", "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie", "Poisoned Minds"
Manfred Mann
[edit]- "Sack O' Woe" and "Mr. Anello" (‘’The Five Faces of Manfred Mann’’ 1964)
- Instrumental Asylum, EP, (1966)
- Instrumental Assassination, EP, (1966)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
[edit]- "Pluto, the Dog" (Solar Fire, 1973)
- "Countdown" (Nightingales and Bombers, 1975)
- "Crossfade" (Nightingales and Bombers)
- "As Above, So Below" (Nightingales and Bombers)
- "Waiter, There's a Yawn in My Ear" (The Roaring Silence, 1976)
- "Platform End" (Angel Station, 1979)
- "Fritz the Blank" (Chance, 1980)
The Mar-Keys
[edit]- "Last Night", (1961), No. 3 US,[47] No. 2 R&B[48]
The Marketts
[edit]- "Out of Limits", (1963), No. 3 US[47]
Hank Marvin
[edit]- Guitar Man (2007)
Hugh Masekela
[edit]- "Grazing in the Grass", (1968), No. 1 US,[76] No. 1 R&B[77]
Dave Matthews Band
[edit]- "#34" (Under the Table and Dreaming, 1994)
- "Anyone Seen the Bridge?" (live-only)
Mastodon
[edit]- "Elephant Man" (Remission, 2002)
- "Joseph Merrick" (Leviathan, 2004)
- "Bladecatcher" (Blood Mountain, 2006)
- Jonah Hex: Revenge Gets Ugly EP, 2010
Brian May
[edit]- Furia (2000) except "Dream of Thee"
- "Hideaway" (Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, 1966)
- "Steppin' Out" (Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton)
- “The Stumble”, (A Hard Road, 1967)
- ”The Supernatural”, (A Hard Road)
Paul McCartney (and Wings)
[edit]- The Family Way (1967)
- "Singalong Junk" (McCartney, 1970)
- "Valentine Day" (McCartney, 1970)
- "Hot As Sun / Glasses" (McCartney, 1970)
- "Momma Miss America" (McCartney, 1970)
- "Kreen-Akrore" (McCartney, 1970)
- "Bip Bop Link" (Wild Life, 1971)
- "Mumbo Link" (Wild Life, 1971)
- "Sunshine Sometime" (Bonus track on "Ram", 1971)
- "Great Cock and Seagull Race" (Bonus track on "Ram", 1971)
- "Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)" (Red Rose Speedway, 1973)
- "Jazz Street" (Bonus track on Red Rose Speedway, 1973)
- "Night Out" (Bonus track on Red Rose Speedway, 1973)
- "Zoo Gang" (UK B-side of "Band on the Run", 1974)
- "Lunch Box / Odd Sox" (Bonus track on Venus And Mars, 1975)
- Thrillington (1977)
- "Cuff Link" (London Town, 1978)
- "Rockestra Theme" (Back to the Egg, 1979)
- "Front Parlour" (McCartney II, 1980)
- "Frozen Jap" (McCartney II, 1980)
- "Bogey Wobble" (Bonus track on McCartney II, 1980)
- "Hey Hey" (Pipes of Peace, 1983)
- "Robbie's Bit (Thanks Chet)" (Paul Is Live, 1993)
- Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest (As "The Fireman", 1993)
- Standing Stone (1997)
- Rushes (As [The Fireman (band)|The Fireman], 1998)
- Working Classical (1999)
- Ecce Cor Meum (2006)
- Ocean's Kingdom (2011)
Van McCoy
[edit]- "The Hustle", (1975), No. 1 US,[98] No. 3 UK,[114] No. 1 R&B[72]
Meshuggah
[edit]- "Acrid Placidity" (Destroy Erase Improve, 1995)
Metallica
[edit]- "(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth" (Kill 'Em All, 1983)
- "The Call of Ktulu" (Ride the Lightning, 1984)
- "Orion" (Master of Puppets, 1986)
- "To Live Is to Die" (...And Justice for All, 1988)
- "The Ecstasy of Gold" (S&M, 1999); (We All Love Ennio Morricone, 2007)
- "Suicide & Redemption" (Death Magnetic, 2008)
The Meters
[edit]- Most of the material released under their name is instrumental.
- The Meters (1969)
- Look-Ka Py Py (1969)
- Struttin' (1970)
- Cabbage Alley (1972)
- Rejuvenation (1974)
- Fire on the Bayou (1975)
- Trick Bag (1976)
- New Directions (1977)
MFSB
[edit]- "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", (1974), No. 1 US,[108] No. 22 UK,[109] No. 1 R&B[110]
Midnight Oil
[edit]- "Wedding Cake Island" (Bird Noises, 1980)
- "Bakerman" (Red Sails in the Sunset, 1984)
Moby Grape
[edit]- The "Grape Jam" album of the Wow/Grape Jam two-album set is largely instrumental, featuring guest artists Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper
Mogwai
[edit]- Most, if not all, of Mogwai's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Summer"/"Ithica 27 ϕ 9" (1996)
- "New Paths to Helicon, Parts 1 and 2" (1997)
- "Superheroes of BMX" (4 Satin EP, 1997)
- "Like Herod" (Mogwai Young Team, 1997)
- "Mogwai Fear Satan" (Mogwai Young Team)
- "Christmas Steps" (Come on Die Young)
Mono
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Vinnie Moore
[edit]- Most, if not all, of Moore's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Scandinavia" (Beautiful Vision, 1982)
- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Walter Murphy
[edit]- "A Fifth of Beethoven", (1976), No. 1 US,[115] No. 28 UK,[116] No. 10 R&B,[117] based on the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
Muse
[edit]- "Popcorn" (B-side to "Resistance", 2009)
N
[edit]- Most, if not all, of Sandy Nelson's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Teen Beat" (1959), No. 4 US,[27] No. 9 UK, [28] No. 17 R&B, [29] The piano on the recording is by Bruce Johnston.[28]
- "Drums Are My Beat" (1962), No. 29 US,[27] No. 30 UK[28]
New Order
[edit]Jack Nietzsche
[edit]- "The Lonely Surfer", (1963), No. 39 US[62]
Nine Inch Nails
[edit]- "Just Like You Imagined" (The Fragile)
- Ghosts I–IV (2008)
Cliff Nobles and Co.
[edit]Ted Nugent
[edit]- "Home Bound" (Cat Scratch Fever, 1977)
O
[edit]The Offspring
[edit]Ozzy Osbourne
[edit]- "Dee" (Blizzard of Ozz, 1980)
Ozric Tentacles
[edit]Most of if not all of their albums consist of instrumentals.
P
[edit]- "Outrider" (1988)
- "Dream Within a Dream" (Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1976)
- "The Fall of the Usher House" (Tales of Mystery and Imagination, 1976)
- "I Robot" (I Robot, 1977)
- "Nucleus" (I Robot, 1977)
- "Total Eclipse" (I Robot, 1977)
- "Genesis Ch.1 V32" (I Robot, 1977)
- "Voyager" (Pyramid, 1978)
- "In the Lap of the Gods" (Pyramid, 1978)
- "Hyper Gamma Spaces" (Pyramid, 1978)
- "Lucifer" (Eve, 1979)
- "Secret Garden" (Eve, 1979)
- "The Gold Bug" (The Turn of a Friendly Card, 1980)
- "The Ace of Swords" (The Turn of a Friendly Card, 1980)
- "Sirius" (Eye in the Sky, 1982)
- "Mammagamma" (Eye in the Sky, 1982)
- "Pipeline" (Ammonia Avenue, 1984)
- "Hawkeye" (Vulture Culture, 1985)
- "Beaujolais" (Stereotomy, 1986)
- "Where's the Walrus?" (Stereotomy, 1986)
- "Chinese Whispers" (Stereotomy, 1986)
- "Paseo De Gracia" (Gaudi, 1987)
Particle
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Pell Mell
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Mercy" (Joe Perry, 2005)
- "Twilight" (Joe Perry, 2005)
- "Wooden Ships" (Have Guitar, Will Travel, 2009)
- "Rumble in the Jungle" (Sweetzerland Manifesto, 2018)
- "Spanish Sushi" (Sweetzerland Manifesto, 2018)
- "Break Song" (Let the Music Do the Talking, 1980)
- An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess (2004)
- Suspended Animation (2005)
- Terminal Velocity (2020)
- "The Divided Sky" (Junta, 1989)
- "The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony" (Lawn Boy, 1990)
- "Eliza" (A Picture of Nectar, 1992)
- "Magilla" (A Picture of Nectar)
- "The Landlady" (A Picture of Nectar)
- "Faht" (A Picture of Nectar)
- "All Things Reconsidered" (Rift, 1993)
- "Cars Trucks Buses" (Billy Breathes, 1996)
- "Bliss" (Billy Breathes)
- The Siket Disc (1999)
- "The Inlaw Josie Wales" (Farmhouse, 2000)
- "Maggie's Revenge" (Undermind, 2004)
- Headphones Jam (2007)
- "Pow R. Toc H." (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, 1967)
- "Interstellar Overdrive" (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn)
- "A Saucerful of Secrets" (A Saucerful of Secrets, 1968)
- "Up the Khyber" (Soundtrack from the Film More, 1969)
- "Party Sequence" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "Main Theme" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "More Blues" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "Quicksilver" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "A Spanish Piece" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "Dramatic Theme" (Soundtrack from the Film More)
- "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" (Ummagumma)
- "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party (Parts I-III)" (Ummagumma)
- "Heart Beat, Pig Meat" (Zabriskie Point, 1970)
- "Come in Number 51, Your Time Is Up" (Zabriskie Point)
- "Atom Heart Mother" (Atom Heart Mother, 1970)
- "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" (Atom Heart Mother)
- "One of These Days" (Meddle, 1971)
- "Obscured by Clouds" (Obscured by Clouds, 1972)
- "When You're In" (Obscured by Clouds)
- "Mudmen" (Obscured by Clouds)
- "Absolutely Curtains" (Obscured by Clouds)
- "Speak to Me" (The Dark Side of the Moon, 1973)
- "On the Run" (The Dark Side of the Moon)
- "Any Colour You Like" (The Dark Side of the Moon)
- "Shine on You Crazy Diamond pts. I, II, III, V, VI, VIII, IX" (Wish You Were Here, 1975)
- "Signs of Life" (A Momentary Lapse of Reason, 1987)
- "Round and Around" (A Momentary Lapse of Reason)
- "Terminal Frost" (A Momentary Lapse of Reason)
- "Cluster One" (The Division Bell, 1994)
- "Marooned" (The Division Bell)
- "Unknown Song" (bonus track on Zabriskie Point reissue, 1997)
- "The Last Few Bricks" (Is There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81, 2000)
- The Endless River (2014) except "Louder than Words"
- The Endless River (2014) (bonus tracks on Deluxe edition DVD/Blu-ray)
Pivot
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Chris Poland
[edit]- Return to Metalopolis (1990)
The Police
[edit]- "Reggatta de Blanc" (Reggatta de Blanc, 1979)
- "Behind My Camel" (Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
- "The Other Way of Stopping" (Zenyatta Mondatta, 1980)
- "Chambelle" (B-side, 1981)
Porcupine Tree
[edit]- "Wedding Nails" (In Absentia, 2002)
Billy Preston
[edit]- "Outa-Space", (1971), No. 2 US,[88] No. 1 UK,[139] No. 44 R&B[140]
- "Space Race", (1973), No. 4 US,[88] No. 1 R&B[97]
The Pyramids
[edit]- "Penetration", (1964), No. 18 US,[68] adopted from Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor[45]
Q
[edit]Queen
[edit]- "Seven Seas of Rhye" (Queen, 1973)
- "Procession" (Queen II, 1974)
- "God Save The Queen" (A Night At The Opera, 1975)
- A Dozen Red Roses For My Darling ("A Kind Of Magic" single B-side, 1986)
- "Forever" (A Kind Of Magic, 1986)
- "Chinese Torture" (The Miracle, 1989)
- "Track 13" (Made In Heaven, 1995)
Quiet Sun
[edit]- Mainstream, (1975)
R
[edit]- "Still I'm Sad" (Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, 1975)
- "Weiss Heim" ("All Night Long" single B-side, 1980)
- "Vielleicht Das Nächste Mal" (Difficult to Cure, 1981)
- "Difficult to Cure" (Difficult to Cure, 1981)
- "Anybody There" (Bent Out of Shape, 1983)
- "Snowman" (Bent Out of Shape, 1983)
Ramones
[edit]- "Durango 95" (Too Tough to Die, 1984)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
[edit]- "Behind the Sun (Instrumental Demo)" (bonus track on The Uplift Mofo Party Plan reissue, 2003)
- "Me & My Friends (Instrumental Demo)" (bonus track on The Uplift Mofo Party Plan reissue)
Red Sparowes
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Rhythm Heritage
[edit]- "Theme from S.W.A.T.", (1976), No. 1 US,[118] No. 11 R&B[119]
Rockin' Rebels, aka The Rebels
[edit]Rodrigo y Gabriela
[edit]- Re-Foc (2002)
- Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
- 11:11 (2009)
- Area 52 (2012)
- 9 Dead Alive (2014)
The Rolling Stones
[edit]- “Now I’ve Got a Witness” (The Rolling Stones (album), 1964)
- "2120 South Michigan Avenue" (UK release Five by Five EP/US release 12 X 5, 1964)
- "Potted Shrimp" (studio outtake recorded in 1970)
- Arrival (1988)
- Listen (1993)
- Secrets of the Muse (1997)
- Resonance (1999)
- An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess (2004)
- Feeding the Wheel (2001)
- 4NYC (2002)
- Christmas Sky (2002)
- Rhythm of Time (2004)
- The Road Home (2007)
- Notes on a Dream (2009)
- All That Is Now (2013)
- Explorations (2014)
- The Unforgotten Path (2015)
- Wired for Madness (2019)
- Heartfelt (2019)
- A Chapter In Time (2021)
- Rockestra (2021)
Rush
[edit]- "2112 - I: Overture" (2112, 1976)
- "Cygnus X-1, Book I: Prologue" (A Farewell To Kings, 1977)
- "La Villa Strangiato" (Hemispheres, 1978)
- "YYZ" (Moving Pictures, 1981)
- "Broon's Bane" (Exit...Stage Left, 1981)
- "Leave That Thing Alone" (Counterparts, 1993)
- "Limbo" (Test for Echo, 1996)
- "Cygnus X-1" (Rush in Rio, 2003)
- "The Main Monkey Business" (Snakes & Arrows, 2007)
- "Hope" (Snakes & Arrows)
- "Malignant Narcissism" (Snakes & Arrows)
S
[edit]- "Soul Sacrifice" (Santana)
- "Samba Pa Ti" (Santana)
- "Incident at Neshabur" (Abraxas)
- "In a Silent Way" (Fillmore: The Last Days, 1972)
- "Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)" (Amigos, 1976)
- "Jugando" (Festival, 1977)
- "Verão Vermelho" (Festival)
- "Revelations" (Festival)
Carlos Santana
[edit]- Blues for Salvador (1987)
- Most, if not all, of Santo & Johnny's recordings are instrumentals.
- "Sleep Walk" (Santo & Johnny, 1959), No. 1 US, [30] No. 22 UK,[31] No. 4 R&B[32]
- "Tear Drop", (1959), No. 23 US,[30] No. 50 UK,[31] No. 17 R&B[32]
Albums:
- Not of This Earth (1986)
- Surfing with the Alien (1987)
- Dreaming No. 11 (1988)
- Flying in a Blue Dream (1989)
- The Extremist (1992)
- Time Machine (1993)
- Joe Satriani (1995)
- Crystal Planet (1998)
- Engines of Creation (2000)
- Strange Beautiful Music (2002)
- Is There Love in Space? (2004)
- Super Colossal (2006)
- Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock (2008)
- Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards (2010)
- Unstoppable Momentum (2013)
- Shockwave Supernova (2015)
- What Happens Next (2018)
- Shapeshifting (2020)
- When Trees Walked The Earth (Song) (2020)
- The Elephants of Mars (2022)
- "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" (Dead Winter Dead)
- "Inquisition Symphony" (Schizophrenia, 1987)
- "The Abyss" (Schizophrenia, 1987)
- "Kaiowas" (Chaos A.D., 1993)
- "Jasco" (Roots, 1996)
- "Itsári" (Roots, 1996)
- "Canyon Jam" (Roots, 1996)
- "Tribus" (Against, 1998)
- "F.O.E." (Against, 1998)
- "T3rcermillenium" (Against, 1998)
- "Valtio" (Nation, 2001)
- "Enter Sandman/Fight Fire with Fire Medley" (Revolusongs, 2002)
- "Lost" (Dante XXI, 2006)
- "Limbo" (Dante XXI, 2006)
- "Eunoé" (Dante XXI, 2006)
- "Primium Mobile" (Dante XXI, 2006)
- "A-Lex I" (A-Lex, 2009)
- "A-Lex II" (A-Lex, 2009)
- "A-Lex III" (A-Lex, (2009)
- "Ludwig Van" (A-Lex, 2009)
- "A-Lex IV" (A-Lex, 2009)
- "Iceberg Dances" (Machine Messiah, 2017)
- "The Pentagram" (Quadra, 2020)
- "Quadra" (Quadra, 2020)
- A significant number of the band's recordings are instrumentals. See The Shadows discography for more details.
- "Apache" (1960)
- The Shadows EP (1961)
- "FBI"/"Midnight" (1961)
- "The Frightened City" (1961)
- "Kon-Tiki" (1961)
- "Wonderful Land" (1962)
- The Boys EP (1962)
- "Dance On!" (1962)
- "Foot Tapper" (1963)
- "Atlantis" (1963)
- "The Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt" (1964)
- "The Warlord" (1965)
- "Maroc 7" (1967)
- Planet X (1999)
- Inertia (2001)
- Black Utopia (2003)
- Mythology (2004)
- Blood of the Snake (2006)
- Molecular Heinosity (2009)
- The Phoenix (2020)
- "Fly, Robin, Fly", (1975), No. 1 US,[111] No. 28 UK,[112] No. 1 R&B[113]
- "M'Hat M'Coat" (Till Deaf Do Us Part, 1981)
- "Delusions of Savior" (Repentless, 2015)
- Their untitled 1994 EP is composed entirely of instrumentals.
- SYR1: Anagrama EP (1997)
- SYR2: Slaapkamers Met Slagroom EP (1997)
- "Four Sticks" (bonus track on deluxe edition of Omen)
- "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo", (Pretzel Logic, 1974), written by Duke Ellington[141]
- Atomic Playboys (1989)
- Flamenco a Go-Go (2000)
- Memory Crash (2008)
- "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" (Smiler, 1974)
- "Little Fugue in G" (Styx II, 1973)
- "Wipe Out" b/w Surfer Joe No. 2 US
- "The Odyssey: Odysseus' Theme/Overture" (The Odyssey, 2002)
T
[edit]Tangerine Dream
[edit]- Only three albums in this band's extensive discography contain any vocal tracks: Cyclone (1978), Tyger (1987) and Inferno (2002). Also, while the band's music does contain rock elements, it is often categorized within new-age, electronic and other genres instead.
Tarentel
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
The T-Bones
[edit]- "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)", (1965), No. 3 US[69]
Therapy?
[edit]- "Sky High McKay(e)" (Teethgrinder single, 1992)
- "Big Cave In" (Suicide Pact - You First, 1999)
- "Magic Mountain" (Crooked Timber, 2009)
- "Marlow" (A Brief Crack of Light, 2012)
Timo Tolkki
[edit]The Tornados
[edit]- Most of the band's recordings are instrumentals.
Tortoise
[edit]- Most, if not all, Tortoise recordings are instrumentals.
- Tortoise (1994)
- Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996)
- TNT (1998)
- Standards (2001)
- It's All Around You (2004)
- Beacons of Ancestorship (2009)
Traffic
[edit]- "Glad" (John Barleycorn Must Die, 1970)
Trans Am
[edit]- Trans Am, 1996
- Surrender to the Night, 1997
- Futureworld, 1999
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
[edit]- "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" (Christmas Eve and Other Stories)
- "Wizards in Winter" (The Lost Christmas Eve)
The Derek Trucks Band
[edit]- Most of the band's early recordings, prior to their introduction of vocalist Mike Mattison, are instrumentals. Many of these recordings also veer strongly towards jazz fusion with rock elements.
U
[edit]- "4th Of July" (The Unforgettable Fire, 1984)
- "Boomerang 1" (The Unforgettable Fire, 1984)
V
[edit]- "The Attitude Song" (Flex-Able)
- Passion and Warfare (1990)
- "Sofa" (Zappa's Universe, 1993)
- Alien Love Secrets EP (1995)
- "Fire Garden" (1996)
- The Ultra Zone (1999)
- Alive In An Ultra World (2001)
- Real Illusions: Reflections (2005)
- The Story of Light (2012)
- Modern Primitive (2016)
- "Eruption" (Van Halen, 1978)
- "Spanish Fly" (Van Halen II, 1979)
- "Sunday Afternoon in the Park" (Fair Warning, 1981)
- "Cathedral" (Diver Down, 1982)
- "Little Guitars" (Diver Down, 1982)
- "1984" (1984, 1984)
- "316" (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, 1991)
- "Strung Out" (Balance, 1995)
- "Doin' Time" (Balance, 1995)
- "Baluchitherium" (Balance, 1995)
- "New World" (Van Halen III, 1998)
- "Primary" (Fair Warning, 1998)
Eddie and Alex Van Halen
[edit]- "Respect the Wind" (soundtrack to Twister, 1996)
- "Rude Mood" (Texas Flood, 1983)
- "Testify" (Texas Flood)
- "Scuttle Buttin'" (Texas Flood)
- "Lenny" (Texas Flood)
- "Hide Away" (Couldn't Stand the Weather, 1984)
- "Say What!" (Soul to Soul, 1985)
- "Riviera Paradise (In Step, 1989)
- "Little Wing" (The Sky Is Crying, 1991)
- "Chitlins con Carne" (The Sky Is Crying)
The Ventures
[edit]- Most, if not all, of the band's recordings are instrumentals. See The Ventures discography for more details.
The Virtues
[edit]- "Guitar Boogie Shuffle", (1963), No. 5 US,[17] No. 27 R&B[18]
W
[edit]The Wailers aka The Fabulous Wailers
[edit]Rick Wakeman
[edit]- The Red Planet (2020)
- The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973)
Mike Watt
[edit]- "Maggot Brain" (Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, 1995)
The Who
[edit]- "The Ox" (My Generation, 1965)
- "Cobwebs and Strange" (A Quick One, 1966)
- "Overture" (Tommy, 1969)
- "Sparks" (Tommy, 1969)
- "Underture" (Tommy, 1969)
- "Quadrophenia" (Quadrophenia, 1973)
- "The Rock" (Quadrophenia, 1973)
- "Hall of the Mountain King" (bonus track on The Who Sell Out reissue, 1995)
- "My Generation (Instrumental)" (bonus track on deluxe edition reissue of My Generation, 2002)
Mason Williams
[edit]- "Classical Gas" (The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, 1968), No. 2 US,[78] No. 9 UK[79] "orchestrated rock and roll" backed by the Wrecking Crew[80]
- "The Elements: Fire" (SMiLE, 2004)
The Edgar Winter Group
[edit]- "Frankenstein" (They Only Come Out at Night, 1972)
Y
[edit]The Yardbirds
[edit]- "Steeled Blues", (B-side of Heart Full of Soul, 1965)
- "Jeff's Boogie" (B-side of "Over Under Sideways Down" 1966)
- "White Summer" (Little Games, 1967)
Yes
[edit]- "The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)" (Fragile)
- "Five Per Cent For Nothing" (Fragile)
- "Cinema" (90125, 1983)
- "Amazing Grace" (9012Live: The Solos)
Neil Young
[edit]- Soundtrack to Dead Man, 1996)
Yowie
[edit]- Cryptooology (2004)
Z
[edit]Frank Zappa
[edit]- A significant portion of Zappa's discography consists of instrumental works, but many of these could be classified as modern classical or avant-garde music rather than rock.
- "Peaches en Regalia" (Hot Rats, 1969)
- "Eat That Question" (The Grand Wazoo)
- Sleep Dirt (1979 - reissues of this album featured overdubbed vocals on several tracks)
- "Rat Tomago" (Sheik Yerbouti, 1979)
- Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar/Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More/Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (1981)
- Jazz from Hell (1986)
- The Guitar World According to Frank Zappa (1987)
- Guitar (1988)
- Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute (1996)
- Trance-Fusion (2006)
See also
[edit]- Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance
- Heavy metal music
- Instrumental rock
- List of instrumental bands
- Rock and roll
- Surf music
References
[edit]- ^ Whitburn, Joel, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Books, New York, 1992
- ^ Whitburn, Joel, The Billboard Book of TOP 40 R&B and Hip Hop Hits, Billboard Books, New York 2006
- ^ Brown, Tony; Jon Kutner; Neil Warwick (2002). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums. London: Omnibus Press.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 254.
- ^ a b c Brown 2002, p. 538.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 306.
- ^ Joel Whitburns Top Pop 1955 - 1982
- ^ R&B charts Joel Whitburn Top R&B Singles 1942-1999
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 88.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 201.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 94.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 502.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 639.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 156.
- ^ a b c d Brown 2002, p. 335.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 169.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 480.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 602.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 115.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 123.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 482.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 603.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 161.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 249.
- ^ a b c d Brown 2002, p. 524.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 294.
- ^ a b c d e Whitburn 1992, p. 329.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brown 2002, p. 712.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 420.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 405.
- ^ a b c d e f Brown 2002, p. 977.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 2006, p. 508.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 53.
- ^ a b c d e f Brown 2002, p. 128.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 2006, p. 43.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 30.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Brown 2002, p. 894.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 478.
- ^ a b c Brown 2002, p. 560.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 599.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 41.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 171.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 375.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Whitburn 1992, p. 264.
- ^ "Records Banned By The BBC - 45cat". www.45cat.com.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 295.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 371.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 444.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 548.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 52.
- ^ a b c Brown 2002, p. 451.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 260.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 321.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 464.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 1023.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 581.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 74.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 266.
- ^ a b c Whitburn 1992, p. 288.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 364.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 336.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 378.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 481.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 448.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 987.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 554.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 373.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 454.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 39.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 96.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 2006, p. 29.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 326.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 426.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 380.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 300.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 375.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 495.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 1099.
- ^ a b Hartman, Kent, The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret, Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press, New York, 2012 p.191-195
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 55.
- ^ "Hawaii Five-O Chart History". Billboard magazine.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 105.
- ^ a b c d Brown 2002, p. 291.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 112.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 226.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 477.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 369.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 794.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 464.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 135.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 499.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 1103.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 285.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 605.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 357.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 465.
- ^ a b c d Whitburn 1992, p. 34.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 80.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 21.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 72.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 85.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 75.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 109.
- ^ a b c Brown 2002, p. 235.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 117.
- ^ Whitburn 1992, p. 117.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 311.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 664.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 392.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 416.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 908.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 522.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 617.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 325.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 701.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 413.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 383.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 487.
- ^ a b Whitburn 1992, p. 25.
- ^ a b Brown 2002, p. 56.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 13.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1992). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. New York: Billboard Books. p. 156.
- ^ Brown, Tony; Kutner, Jon; Warwick, Neil (2002). The Complete Book of the British Charts: Singles and Albums. London: Omnibus Press. p. 201.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of TOP 40 R&B and Hip Hop Hits. New York: Billboard Books. p. 508.
- ^ Henry Mancini with Gene Lees (1989). Did They Mention the Music?. Contemporary Books. p. 87.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 85.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 75.
- ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-85112-250-2.
- ^ The Byrds, The Byrds: Fifth Dimension, Columbia/Legacy CK 64847, © 1996
- ^ Hartman, Kent, The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret, Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press, New York, 2012 p. 30
- ^ a b c Whitburn 1992, p. 144.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2006, p. 152.
- ^ Hoffman, Tony (26 April 1938). "Duane Eddy: The Undisputed King of Twang at Instrumental Review". Instrumentalreview.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ "Review of Califia: The Songs of Lee Hazlewood at". Soundblab.com. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ Pulp Surfin': From the Vaults of Del-Fi Records, Del-Fi Records Inc., 1995. Notes
- ^ "Records Banned by the BBC - 45cat". www.45cat.com.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 426.
- ^ Brown 2002, p. 794.
- ^ Whitburn 2006, p. 464.
- ^ Steely Dan, A Decade of Steely Dan, MCA 11553 1985
External links
[edit]- Every instrumental top 20 hit song from 1960 to the present from Tunecaster.com with a sample of each