Put a Pin on the Map View my Forum Guestmap
Free Guestmaps by Bravenet.com

The Old Acclaimed Music Forum

Go to the NEW FORUM

Music, music, music...
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Usually makes me cringe.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

This Onion A.V. Club "Inventory" article seems apropos here (even though I strongly disagree on "The National Anthem" and even "Jungleland"):

http://www.avclub.com/articles/dont-blow-it-10-great-songs-nearly-ruined-by-saxop,2032/

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Born to Run has a sax solo, as does Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel, and those two are fine. Although the forum will probably disagree, I think foriegner's Urgent is great.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Clarence Clemons can do it. Everyone else needs to stop.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

What about Steve Mackay's solos on "Funhouse"(THE STOOGES) and Rudi Thompson's ones on "Germ Free Adolescents"(X-RAY SPEX)...Neat...

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

I've always liked Steve Berlin's (of Los Lobos) sprawling solos on "Fireplace," from R.E.M.'s DOCUMENT. It's totally different from his more traditional Lobos sax work, and it's completely unexpected on an R.E.M. track as well.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

The sax on Funhouse is some of the wildest music I've ever heard. Ditto with pretty much any song by The Sonics. I think the Sax is a great asset in garage rock, as well as in live improvisational bands. I'm certainly never upset to see one when I go to shows.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

As I'm reading this, I'm listening to early live Pere Ubu with Allen Ravenstine rockin' the sax. No complaints here.

Oh- and essential for Half Japanese! masterful playing, that is.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

The Sax is great. As long as they explore the sonic elements it has to offer then it wont sound dull at all. The trick is knowing what works and what doesn't. A recent Deerhunter track has some amazing work on it, check that out.

The E Street Band gets away with it because its so ingrained into their catalog now. Some of their records have it sound very out of place. Thats the E-Street spirit though.

Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens, Primal Scream and others are fine examples of this tool at good use.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

No one's mentioned another Mackay - Andy Mackay of Roxy Music. Roxy wouldn't be Roxy without him, and he also makes a brilliant cameo appearance on Mott the Hoople's "All the Way from Memphis."

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

David Bowie plays sax on a lot of great songs of his. I approve.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Billy Hicks killed on the saxophone.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

wow. that's a deal-breaker.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Alex D
Clarence Clemons can do it. Everyone else needs to stop.


"You're a Friend of Mine" - one of my favs growing up! Perfect 80s cheese...

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Oh, and "Baker Street" is great!

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

To me, it heavily depends on the tone of the saxophone and whether it actually adds anything. In a lot of mainstream songs that use the sax, it is absolutely awful.

I second the Stooges' Fun House; that is probably the best example of the sax adding emotion to an album as it joins the insanity of the last three songs.

A lot of King Crimson songs, especially my favorite "Starless," have good use of the sax. Also I have to mention a song I've been rocking out to all day, Faust's "It's a Rainy Day, Sunshine Girl," which adds a perfect sax riff in its final minute.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

Harold Wexler
No one's mentioned another Mackay - Andy Mackay of Roxy Music. Roxy wouldn't be Roxy without him, and he also makes a brilliant cameo appearance on Mott the Hoople's "All the Way from Memphis."


I was going to say the same thing. Oboe or sax, Mackay adds a ton to Roxy Music- I couldn't imagine them without him.

Re: How do you feel about the use of saxophone in rock songs?

I think the results are not consistent. In many pop songs the sax sounds as if it's just a distraction. I enjoy the sax in many Springsteen songs and songs by the English Beat and side 4 of Todd Rundgren's Something/Anything and in many Steely Dan songs.

Do You Mean In...

rock and pop songs? I think it's fine- it added a level of "class" to the proceedings, if done correctly. As long as it's not Kenny G., of course.

Re: Do You Mean In...

Sax can be great in rock songs if the songs are built for them. But in some cases, it just seems tacked on.