"Music Box Dancer" here. Tying for second place....for sentimental reasons I might add, are "The Hustle", "Rock and Roll Part 2" and "Loves Theme"  :)

Some corkers there, manda, and no mistake...

Any of 'em could've taken it, but I've gone for...

Other: The obscenely funky 'Machine Gun' - Commodores (1974)

And, as a very guilty pleasure, 'Mouldy Old Dough' - Lieutenant Pigeon...!!

Some corkers there, manda, and no mistake...

Any of 'em could've taken it, but I've gone for...

Other: The obscenely funky 'Machine Gun' - Commodores (1974)

And, as a very guilty pleasure, 'Mouldy Old Dough' - Lieutenant Pigeon...!!


I remember 'Mouldy Old Dough', can't quite remember what year it was though. Good choice Paul ! :) 

I've not heard of the Commodores one...

Some corkers there, manda, and no mistake...

And, as a very guilty pleasure, 'Mouldy Old Dough' - Lieutenant Pigeon...!!


Yeh me too.  We even learnt a jazz ballet routine to the tune - I'd say it was around 1972. :o

My choice, however, was Pick Up The Pieces.  I do love the Hustle too.

I remember 'Mouldy Old Dough', can't quite remember what year it was though. Good choice Paul ! :) 

Well, we had that in late-1972...very bizarre thing, by a very bizarre-looking group (included a drummer with less hair than me, and some old dear bashing the hell out of a piano, if memory serves...!)

I've not heard of the Commodores one...

Understandable...I think that song only had success here due to blanket play in the discotheques, it never even raised much interest in their homeland...but it's very enjoyable - makes a change from the ballads...

Well, we had that in late-1972...very bizarre thing, by a very bizarre-looking group (included a drummer with less hair than me, and some old dear bashing the hell out of a piano, if memory serves...!)



Mrs Mills I believe who was relatively 'famous' as a younger woman playing the piano on the wireless.  Hence (assuming everyone plays this drinking game in the same way) the Mrs Mills command in Commander Pimley

I chose "Pick Up The Pieces" (AWB)...an all-time favorite of mine!  8)

I also like "The Hustle" a lot, as well as "Music Box Dancer".  BTW, Manda, I believe that one was done by Frank Mills (from 1979)...at least here in the U.S.  :)

Oh, you could only pick one.  I went with Van McCoy, "The Hustle," very camp, and I like the melody.  I would have gone with Weissberg and Mandel, "Dueling Banjos."  I just saw "Deliverance" on TV the other night.  They did quite a bit of editing to the "Squeal like a pig" scene.  According to IMBD, Ned Beatty still won't talk about it!
Anyway, Weissberg & Mandel ripped off the tune "Dueling Banjos" from a '50s tune called "Feudin' Banjos" by Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith.  When the film came out, Smith sued and won royalties.
Billy Redden, who played Lonny, was a genuine local.  Director John Boorman picked him 'cuz he had the right look.  However, Redden isn't retarded and he can't play the banjo either.  Tim Burton tracked him down for the film "Big Fish."  He works in a cafe called "The Cookie Jar."  Redden is not only a short order cook and dishwasher, he's alos co-owner of the place.  People STILL know him as the Banjo Kid.  With the release of Burton's film, his celebrity gained a big upsurge and now people flock to the "Cookie Jar" just to see him.  Great for business.  Sometimes traffic backs up on that county road.
Redden says he has good memories of Voight, Beatty, and Cox, but that Reynolds was a condescending pr*ck.

Satin Soul Love Unlimited Orchestra


Howard

For the ones you listed to vote on I think the best are
1.The Hustle - Van McCoy
2.Hocus Pocus - Focus


But you also missed some "other" good ones...

Breezin' - George Benson
Nadia`s Theme (The Young And The Restless) - DeVorzon & Botkin (There ya go, RnR  ;) ) 
Cafe Reggio's - Isaac Hayes (Shaft movie)
Angela - Bob James (theme from "Taxi" television show)
Autobahn - Kraftwerk (I guess this one can be considered an instrumental?)
My Name is Nobody - Ennio Morricone (My Name is Nobody movie)
Cavatina - Stanley Myers (The Deer Hunter movie)
Voyager - The Alan Parsons Project
Breathless - Todd Rundgren
Snowflakes Are Dancing - Tomita

(I love a good instrumental song)
:)

Theme From Rocky-(Gonna Fly Now)


Howard

"Technically" a few were NOT instrumentals....The Hustle "Do The Hustle"....Pick Up The Pieces.."Pick Up The Pieces" and Rocky "Gonna Fly Now, Flying High Now"....so I went with Love Unlimited Orchestra :)

Theme From Rocky-(Gonna Fly Now)

Howard


Good one, Howard! I forgot all about that one.  ;)

I'm not sure if it's considered a 100% instrumental but then what determines whether a song is an instrumental or not? No vocals at all?

Some corkers there, manda, and no mistake...

Any of 'em could've taken it, but I've gone for...

Other: The obscenely funky 'Machine Gun' - Commodores (1974)

And, as a very guilty pleasure, 'Mouldy Old Dough' - Lieutenant Pigeon...!!


'Mouldy Old Dough' is one of my favourite instrumentals as well, Paul. The marching beat combined with what sounded like a Honky Tonk Piano was quite mind-blowing when I first heard it on my Dad's vinyl (I was about 6 or 7 years old). To cap it all off, the lead singer growls the title - I have no idea what the song was all about though.

'Mouldy Old Dough' is one of my favourite instrumentals as well, Paul. The marching beat combined with what sounded like a Honky Tonk Piano was quite mind-blowing when I first heard it on my Dad's vinyl (I was about 6 or 7 years old). To cap it all off, the lead singer growls the title - I have no idea what the song was all about though.


According to the wonderfully-named Staveley Makepiece (the aforementioned balding drummer), the title was a mick-take of 'Vo-de-oh-doh', a phrase which singers would use at the dawn of the last century (via a megaphone - there were no microphones back then...), which can also be heard to some effect on 'Winchester Cathedral'...

As I've said, a bizarre thing which just caught Joe Public's imagination at the time...

Good one, Howard! I forgot all about that one.  ;)

I'm not sure if it's considered a 100% instrumental but then what determines whether a song is an instrumental or not? No vocals at all?





Well,you have that chorus singing "Gonna Fly Now" so I myself don't think it's instrumental. :)



Howard

KC And The Sunshine Band's:

"Shotgun Shuffle"
"Rock Your Baby"
"Black Water Gold"


Howard

"Technically" a few were NOT instrumentals....The Hustle "Do The Hustle"....Pick Up The Pieces.."Pick Up The Pieces" and Rocky "Gonna Fly Now, Flying High Now"....so I went with Love Unlimited Orchestra :)

I have the same gripe about "instrumentals."  Like when you'd buy a remix single, and a track would be titled "Instrumental Mix," but all it meant was the main vocal track was cut out and the chorus was left in!
::)

I have the same gripe about "instrumentals."  Like when you'd buy a remix single, and a track would be titled "Instrumental Mix," but all it meant was the main vocal track was cut out and the chorus was left in!
::)
Yeah, that definately sucks ::) :P

Music Box Dancer is a beautiful instrumental.  Wasn't this a Frank Mills song?

  There's also a guitar/piano medley that takes up the last third-or-so of Clapton's Layla (performed by Derek And The Dominoes) that might qualify for an instrumantal of the 70's.

'Other' and my pick is Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band

Music Box Dancer is a beautiful instrumental.  Wasn't this a Frank Mills song?

  There's also a guitar/piano medley that takes up the last third-or-so of Clapton's Layla (performed by Derek And The Dominoes) that might qualify for an instrumantal of the 70's.
It was indeed Frank Mills..and as for the Derek & The Domino's song....the instumental part was done the drummer named Jim Gordon..who showed up on his mothers door-step in 1983, with a sledge-hammer in tow, and killed her...he's now in prison and Clapton has expressed anger over the sentence because he says that Gordon was on drugs when he di the crime.......

"The Hustle"  :)

follwed by :

"Rise"-Herb Alpert
"Feels So Good"-Chuck Mangione
"Tequila"
"Theme From S.W.A.T."

...with an honourable mention for "Popcorn" by Hot Butter(we used to shake a parachute with balls on it while listening to this in gym class when I was little)

BTW, Manda, I believe that one was done by Frank Mills (from 1979)...at least here in the U.S.  :)


:-[ :-[ :-[

It was Frank Mills here too Karen.  I need a holiday I think. Thanks for that, I have rectified. ;) :) .

Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandel

Though, Music Box Dancer was pretty close  :)

'Other' and my pick is Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band


OOh good call Koop.  I like that one.

Pick up the Pieces and in honor of my Philadelphia roots - TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)

Tanya

Herb Alpert-Rise
Rock Your Baby
Popcorn-Hot Butter



Howard

...with an honourable mention for "Popcorn" by Hot Butter(we used to shake a parachute with balls on it while listening to this in gym class when I was little)


heh heh.  I can still remember doing some weird dance thing to this in 'Music and Movement' class.  And Graham Bates doing some Northern Soul dance moves his elder brother had taught him..

Looks like we missed a good one. I heard it on the radio last night buuuuuttt...

I don't remember the name of it. It's by Electric Light Orchestra and it's the one played on the classic rock stations all the time - acoustic guitar and some choral singing.

Anyone know the name of it?? ???


*** update for 8/15/04: I found it >> "Fire on High" (1975).


=======================================
Wow! The ads at the top of this Web page are unreal. Someone mentioned the song "Popcorn" by Hotbutter in one of the replies and now there's an ad for popcorn machines and supplies from concessionstands.com at the top of this Web page. Just a coincidence?  :o
======================================== 

'Other' and my pick is Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band
GREAT song :)

Shotgun Shuffle
Black Water Gold
Rock Your Baby

All By KC And The Sunshine Band. :)


Howard

"Rise" - Herb Alpert but I also like "Feels So Good"- Chuck Mangione.

Bazuka-Dynomite.




Howard

According to the wonderfully-named Staveley Makepiece (the aforementioned balding drummer), the title was a mick-take of 'Vo-de-oh-doh', a phrase which singers would use at the dawn of the last century (via a megaphone - there were no microphones back then...), which can also be heard to some effect on 'Winchester Cathedral'...

As I've said, a bizarre thing which just caught Joe Public's imagination at the time...


I am impressed. Another lovely piece of info, Paul.  :)

I don't know whether it has been mentioned already but I also love 'Eye Level' by Simon Park Orchestra - otherwise known as the theme for Van Der Valk.

I don't know whether it has been mentioned already but I also love 'Eye Level' by Simon Park Orchestra - otherwise known as the theme for Van Der Valk.


Rats ! How did I miss that one ?  Good one Bobby :D

I chose "other"
How about "Feels so Good" by Chuck Mangione

I thought of 3 more from the '70s...

Spyro Gyra's

Shaker Song & Morning Dance

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=5r0Wkty9nZ&ean=51617550129

Ramsey Lewis' Sun Goddess

http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?userid=Ch2ub1z954&ean=74643319423

Do they sound familiar?
:)

Other:

Actually all the instrumental pieces by David Bowie done in the Berlin Trilogy.

I've just heard 'Music Box Dancer' by Frank Mills for the first time. It's recently been on an advert in Britain but I've forgotten which one. I knew I recognised it.

what about popcorn by hot butter thats my fav instrumental of all time

The Salsoul Music Orchestra
Feels So Good-Chuck Mangione
Breezin-George Benson


Howard

Other:

Actually all the instrumental pieces by David Bowie done in the Berlin Trilogy.


Now that really ticks me off. When DB was coming out with some really interesting stuff in the late '70s, I was only listening to his "old" stuff. I missed out and I think I really would have liked it. Stupid radio stations.


Anyway....
another '70s instrumental that I just thought of: War's "City, Country, City".  :)

Brothers Johnson-Tokyo
Brothers Johnson-"Q"


Howard

Along with Hocus Pocus and Joy, I also like Popcorn, Theme from Rocky and the Overture from Tommy.  Just found a 45rpm with Popcorn on it.  YES!!!!

I went with Rock and Roll part 2

The only instrumentals I ever bought on 45s were Quentin's Theme, Jessica (Allman Bros) and Also Sprach Zarathustra.

I chose The Hustle...Followed closely by Duelling Banjos




AN

And yet, some of the best from the era are not even there.

What about "Theme From The Young And The Restless"?  Often called "Nadia's Theme", because it was what Nadia Comaneci was doing her floor exercise to when she got the first "perfect score" in Olympic Women's Gymnastics.

Then there were 2 by Meco.  He did "disco" versions of both "Close Encounters Of The Third Kind", and "Star Wars".  Both were very popular at the time.

Then there is also "Popcorn", by a group called "Hot Butter".

And there were a lot by a Japanese artist called Tomita.

The Allman Brothers had a huge hit with "Jessica".  And Eric Johnson had a huge hit with "Cliffs Of Dover".

"Entertainer" - Marvin Hamlisch.

There are some instrumentals I know when I hear them, but can't place the title or artist of them. They may be on this list or not; I'm not sure. :-\\

Another one I was listening to today is 'Eve Of The War' from Jeff Waynes War Of The Worlds album. 


Im not sure if it technically counts as an instrumental because, as a single, it was cut to include the lyrics "The chances of anything coming from Mars Are a Million to one he said, Yes the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one...But still they come!!!" Yet, the album version has no vocals until after the first few peices of dialogue, after which the Eve Of The War takes up again with the lyrics Ive already recited.






AN

From the given list, Duelling Banjos.

hocus pocus kicks. and it dares to be goofy as hell, too. i appreciate that.

a lot of these songs i don't know by name, though.

what about that disco version of thus spake zarathustra?

what about that disco version of thus spake zarathustra?
Do you mean the version by Philharmonia Orchestra with the conductor Lorin Maazel?

Do you mean the version by Philharmonia Orchestra with the conductor Lorin Maazel?


Or maybe Deodato's version from all the way back in 1972? Apart from the Strauss original, Deodato's take on "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is arguably the most famous one. It was a top 10 hit and  earned him a grammy too!

Machine Gun by The Commodores
That song rocked :)

From the list, I like 'Dymonite' by Tony Camillos Bazuka and 'Music Box Dancer' by Frank Mills

As for others, I very much enjoy ...

The Homecoming - Hagood Hardy
Bongo Rock - Incredible Bongo Band

I like Love's theme and Frankenstein

I chose Love's Theme.  I also like Theme From S.W.A.T. by Rhythm Heritage.  Both songs make use of the wacka-chaka sound that is very 70s.

I chose Love's Theme.   I also like Theme From S.W.A.T. by Rhythm Heritage.  Both songs make use of the wacka-chaka sound that is very 70s.


I loved both of those!  8)

I like The Hustle.

Another very good one is Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, also known as the theme from The Exorcist.

Another very good one is Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, also known as the theme from The Exorcist.
Only the beginning of the album was used for The Exorcist. I used to do my homework to Tubular Bells before the scariness of the music was realised of the release of the film.

Music box dancer is awesome :)

Lots of love for Love's Theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra

this "rare" instrumental song goes for 10 minutes & 47 seconds, which really isn't that long for this band. their live version of (I Know) I'm Losing You is over 14 min long and the live version of Get Ready is over 23 minutes.  the band is Rare Earth, the song is *Thoughts* and it's great. it's on the album Rare Earth In Concert, one of my fav albums of all time. only 8 songs, and every one of them a great rock song.  when i get home, I'll try to find a video of Thoughts

From the list, I like 'Dymonite' by Tony Camillos Bazuka and 'Music Box Dancer' by Frank Mills

As for others, I very much enjoy ...

The Homecoming - Hagood Hardy
Bongo Rock - Incredible Bongo Band




To update this, I also like 'Mouldy Old Dough' by Lieutenant Pigeon and 'Theme From S.W.A.T.' by THP Orchestra

There were all the TV themes-SWAT,Rockford Files,Sanford & Son
Frankenstein-Edger Winter Group
Funeral For a Friend-Elton John
TSOP- MFSB
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
Also Sprach Zarathustra

I don't know if they have been mentioned but two of my fav's were

Groovy grubworm by Harlow Wilcox
Bongo Rock by the Incredible Bongo band....however all of the mentioned ones are great.

Bongo Rock by the Incredible Bongo band....however all of the mentioned ones are great.


I mentioned that one.  I'm surprised someone else knows of it :o

I also want to let you know that Paul McCartney made a few Instrumentals in the 70's.

I also want to let you know that Paul McCartney made a few Instrumentals in the 70's.
What were the titles?

What were the titles?


"Singalong Junk"
"Valentines Day"
"Hot as Sun/Glasses"
"Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)"

"Singalong Junk"
"Valentines Day"
"Hot as Sun/Glasses"
"Loup (1st Indian on the Moon)"
Thanks.

I mentioned that one.  I'm surprised someone else knows of it :o


That's because we are both Canadian!  We are always a little different in our music tastes.  How else do you explain Max Webster and Zon!

Emerson, Lake And Palmer ?

this "rare" instrumental song goes for 10 minutes & 47 seconds, which really isn't that long for this band. their live version of (I Know) I'm Losing You is over 14 min long and the live version of Get Ready is over 23 minutes.  the band is Rare Earth, the song is *Thoughts* and it's great. it's on the album Rare Earth In Concert, one of my fav albums of all time. only 8 songs, and every one of them a great rock song.  when i get home, I'll try to find a video of Thoughts


Good choice, an excellent song and you are right about Rare Earth. Sadly ignored by the so called "Classic Rock" stations today. I still listen to Get ready and Iron Butterflys long version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.  God i need a life!!! ;D ;D ;D

Emerson, Lake And Palmer ?


"Fanfare for the Common Man" - great tune!

Mike Oldfield ?

Good choice, an excellent song and you are right about Rare Earth. Sadly ignored by the so called "Classic Rock" stations today. I still listen to Get ready and Iron Butterflys long version of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.  God i need a life!!! ;D ;D ;D
thanks, it's nice to see someone familair with that record. I played that CD on the way home form San Jose last night. my only copy of  In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is on cassette, and that cassette is in my car right now.  and there's nothing wrong with listening to these old gold classics. they're great.  this is your life and honestly, listening to good music is a good life.  :)

My 70's instrumental favorites:

Pickin' Up The Pieces - Average White Band
A Fifth Of Beethoven - Walter Murphy
The Hustle - Van McCoy
Loves Theme -  Love Unlimited Orchestra

For starters I would pick "Dueling Banjos"...

When I was a kid, though years after its 1977 release, I loved Chuck Mangione's "Feels So Good." 

Mike Oldfield ?


In Dulce Jubilo, one of my all-time favourite Christmas songs 8)

For starters I would pick "Dueling Banjos"...


  We re-quire ya gitcha %&*$@??!!&* ass up in them woods...

Too many good ones!  Perhaps my top 10 (though there could be others):

> Machine Gun - Commodores
> Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band
> Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
> Scorpio - Dennis Coffey
> Joy - Apollo 100
> Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandel
> Hocus Pocus - Focus
> TSOP - MFSB
> Outta Space - Billy Preston

and the cheesy but fun

> Popcorn - Hot Butter    :D

Too many good ones!  Perhaps my top 10 (though there could be others):

> Machine Gun - Commodores
> Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band
> Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
> Scorpio - Dennis Coffey
> Joy - Apollo 100
> Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandel
> Hocus Pocus - Focus
> TSOP - MFSB
> Outta Space - Billy Preston

and the cheesy but fun

> Popcorn - Hot Butter    :D





Half of these I dont know.  Will check them out.  The Sound of Philadelphia is good.  Wink Wink.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6J3MmTlBs

Shotgun Shuffle-KC & The Sunshine Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUglr62TJG4

Midnight Groove-Love Unlimited Orchestra

Emerson, Lake & Palmer ~ Fanfare for the Common Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyJBNZ4i4Yc

Pink Floyd ~ the great gig in the sky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeWavBBeVmE

Alot of great 70s instrumentals were found in the Adult Contemporary charts ...

Hagood Hardy - Maybe Tomorrow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8KzpmFDPFc

Jean Claude Borelly - Dolannes Melodie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qR3jHJws3s

Hagood Hardy - Jennifer's Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89KY-8Y6vK0