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Instrumental Rock

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Instrumentals

Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes instrumental performance and features very little or no singing. Examples of instrumental music in rock can be found in practically every subgenre of the style.

Instrumental rock was most popular from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, with artists such as Bill Doggett Combo, The Shadows, and The Ventures. Surf music had many instrumental songs. Many instrumental hits had roots from the R&B genre.

Progressive rock and art rock performers of the late 1960s and early 1970s did many virtuosic instrumental performances. During the 1980s and 1990s, the instrumental rock genre was dominated by guitar soloists, The 2000s saw the rise of instrumental music by bands that have been labeled post-rock.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel[]

While Peel loudly proclaimed his admiration for the unique vocal stylings and wordplay of artists such as Captain Beefheart and Mark E Smith of the Fall,[1] the DJ also maintained a deep affection for the pre-Beatles instrumental rock popular in his youth, as well as other styles of word-free music.

Duane_Eddy_Peter_Gunn

Duane Eddy Peter Gunn

Pickin'_the_Blues

Pickin' the Blues

- Grinderswitch

Pink_Floyd_-_Interstellar_Overdrive_HQ

Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive HQ

Riders_In_The_Sky_-_Dan_Bau_Vietnam.wmv

Riders In The Sky - Dan Bau Vietnam.wmv

As late as 1981, his All Time Top Ten list for Smash Hits magazine was headed by long-time fave 'Peter Gunn’ (1959) by guitarist Duane Eddy, above even ‘Teenage Kicks’ by the Undertones, with 'Honky Tonk' (1956) by Bill Doggett at #10.[2]

Playlists from his UK and overseas shows, Peelenium choices and other favourites lists reveal the strong call of early rock guitarists also including Link Wray and surf hero Dick Dale, along with bands such as former Cliff Richard backing group the Shadows. Instrumental rock continued to be championed on his show into the prog era, including the works of Mike Oldfield and elements of krautrock; and beyond into the new millennium, by post-rock bands such as Mogwai, surf revivalists Man Or Astro-Man? and others.

The instrumental recording most closely associated with JP's programmes is probably 'Pickin' The Blues' by Grinderswitch, used as signature tune at the start of the John Peel Show from its launch in 1975 until the early 1990s and for his BBC World Service shows until the end. Other vocal-free sigs included the Top Gear theme written by producer Bernie Andrews and performed most notably by The Nice, "Dragster' by Johnny Fortune (for Peel's BFBS programmes), 'Interstellar Overdrive' by Pink Floyd (for his Radio Luxembourg shows)[3] and 'Let's Go Tripping' by surf guitar king Dick Dale (for Home Truths).[1]

In turbulent times, The Nice's controversial 1968 rendition of Leonard Bernstein's 'America' (from 'West Side Story') delivered a clear message without words and was publicly defended by Peel, who described it as "the first political instrumental in some years".[2]

Across the decades, artists from non-English-speaking countries often focused on instrumental tracks, perhaps prompted by linguistic challenges. As a keen fan of unusual cover versions, the DJ was delighted to play radically repurposed versions of classics such 'Ghost Riders In The Sky', a John Peel's Record Box choice for the Ramrods, by unlikely artists including world music interpreters Đàn Bầu Việtnam.

Away from the world of rock, dub reggae and electronic music came mainly with no singing, as did large parts of less-played genres such as jazz. In folk and blues, Peel favourite John Fahey was described as "the Kenny Dalglish of the guitar,” without the need for vocals on his records.

Peelenium[]

(Rock instrumentals chosen by Peel for the Peelenium to celebrate 100 years of music, in order of featured year. Please add more information if known.)

Bill_Doggett_-_Honky_Tonk_(Part_1_&_2)

Bill Doggett - Honky Tonk (Part 1 & 2)

Peel's 77 All Time Favourite Records List[]

(Taken from 15 Jan 1972 article for Disc & Music Echo that actually featured only 44 singles, with the rest supposedly to follow at a later date.)

Festive Fifty Entries[]

Jessica

Jessica

- Allman Brothers

PIGBAG_-_Papa's_got_a_brand_new_pigbag

PIGBAG - Papa's got a brand new pigbag

Ratts_of_the_Capital

Ratts of the Capital

- Mogwai

Johnny_Fortune_-_Dragster-2

Johnny Fortune - Dragster-2

(Rock instrumentals that entered annual Festive Fifty charts, by year featured. Excludes instrumentals that use a talk box or sampled vocals.)

John Peel’s Record Box[]

(Rock instrumentals found in John Peel's Record Box of most treasured singles, in alphabetical order by artist. Excludes jazz, world music, reggae and electronic music releases.)

  • Arthur K Adams: Wildwood Flower / It's A Wild, Wild, Wild, Wild Wildwood Flower (Jetstar) 1966
  • Jerry Byrd: Memories Of Maria / Invitation (Monument) 1961
  • Firemen: Old Smokie / Louie's Theme (Le Cam) 1964
  • Johnny Fortune Dragster / Soul Surfer (Sonet) 1964.
  • Ramrods: Zig Zag / Riders In The Sky (London American) 1960
  • Travis Wammack: Fire Fly / Scratchy (ARA) 1964

Compilations[]

(Known Peel radio plays of various artist (v/a) compilations featuring instrumental rock music.)

Rnr3
Guitarorists2
Teeenbeat 5
Lostlegs

(LP - Rock 'n Roll Instrumental Vol.1) Guitar

(LP - The Best In Buried Sounds: Instrumental Madness!) Ostrich

(LP - The History Of Surf Music Volume One: Original Instrumental Hits 1961-1963) Rhino

Dick_Dale_-_Misirlou_(Jools_Holland)-0

Dick Dale - Misirlou (Jools Holland)-0

Fishbait

Fishbait

- Warren Lucky

(LP - Thunderbolt! Honkin' R&B Sax Instrumentals 1952-1956) Krazy Kat

(LP - 20 Great Guitar Instrumentals) Cascade

Rockin_shades_-lynch_mob.wmv

Rockin shades -lynch mob.wmv

(LP - Sue Instrumentals 1959-1967: The Beat Is On) Stateside

(LP - New Wave Surf Party!) Ostrich

Movement_Of_Truth

Movement Of Truth

- Surf Teens

(LP - Diggin' Out) Mr. Manicotti

(LP - Strummin' Mental! Volume Five!) Link

(LP - Strummin' Mental Vol. 1) Link

THE_BOUNTY_HUNTERS_Echo_Express_(1961)

THE BOUNTY HUNTERS Echo Express (1961)

(LP - Strummin' Mental! Volume 2) Link

(LP - Strummin' Mental! Volume 3) Link

(LP - Strummin' Mental! Volume 4) Link

The_Tempests_-_Lemon_Lime

The Tempests - Lemon Lime

(2xLP - Guitarrorists) Glitterhouse / No. 6 Records

(LP - The Surf Creature) Romulan

The_Biscaynes_-_Church_Key_(Reprise)_1963

The Biscaynes - Church Key (Reprise) 1963

(CD - Strummin' Mental! Part One (Raw, Rare And Rockin' Instrumentals 1958-1965) Crypt

(CD - Strummin Mental! Part Two (Raw, Crude, Instrumental R&R 1957-65)) Crypt

(CD - Teen Beat: 30 Great Rockin' Instrumentals) Ace

1958_René_Hall_-_Twitchy

1958 René Hall - Twitchy

(CD - Teen Beat Vol. 2) Ace

(CD – Teen Beat Vol 3) Ace

(CD - Toes On The Nose (32 Surf Age Instrumentals)) Ace

(CD - Teen Beat Volume 4) Ace

Tuff

Tuff

- Ace Cannon

(CD - Honky Tonk! The King & Federal R&B Instrumentals) Ace

Earl_Bostic_-_Flamingo

Earl Bostic - Flamingo

(CD - Teen Beat Volume 5) Ace

(CD - Great R&B Instrumentals) Ace

Hard_Grind

Hard Grind

- Wild Jimmy Spruill

(CD - Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar Vol. I - Big Noise from Waimea!) Sundazed Music

(CD - Lost Legends Of Surf Guitar Vol. II - Point Panic!) Sundazed Music

See Also[]

1957_HITS_ARCHIVE-_Raunchy_-_Bill_Justis_(a_-2_record)

1957 HITS ARCHIVE- Raunchy - Bill Justis (a -2 record)

Booker_T._&_The_MG's_-_Green_Onions_(Official_Audio)-2

Booker T. & The MG's - Green Onions (Official Audio)-2

References[]

  1. ↑ See Peeling Back The Years 1 (Transcript) and Peeling Back The Years 3 (Transcript) for discussion of his preference for singers with "extreme voices". As well as Beefheart and Smith, these included Lonnie Donegan, Gene Vincent, Marc Bolan and Feargal Sharkey.
  2. ↑
    Public_Image_Ltd.-_Socialist

    Public Image Ltd.- Socialist

    In Peeling Back The Years 3 (Transcript), Peel says that in contrast to his preference for extreme voices, the kind of guitar playing he likes best, like that of Duane Eddy, is " actually very simple and obvious [... by] people who had a strong identity [...] whose work can be easily recognized."
  3. ↑ Also used for his BFBS shows (1972-1979), succeeded by Public Image Limited's 'Socialist' (1980-1984).
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