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6 More Sweet Saxophone Songs
We garnered such a spirited response to our 2023 piece “Saluting the Rock n’ Roll Sax” that we decided to serve up six more sax-centric gems.
“Just the Way You Are” (1977)
“Just the Way You Are” was the first foray into what would be a host of visits to the US Top 10 singles zone for Billy Joel. Phil Wood weaves sax mastery throughout this timeless classic from Joel’s 1977 breakout LP The Stranger.
“The Piano Man” wrote this touching tribute for his wife and business manager, Elizabeth Weber. Ironically, in 1982, the couple’s nine-year marriage would come to an end.
Sometimes that’s just the way love goes.
“Brick House” (1977)
Lionel Richie is not typically thought of as a saxophone player. However, on The Commodores’ 1977 raunchified rollick “Brick House”, the pop and soul crooner keeps cadence quite competently, thank you.
And that’s a fact.
“Baker Street” (1978)
The saxophone is introduced with commanding majesty in the stirring 1978 Gerry Rafferty reflection on regret and resignation, “Baker Street”. Raphael Ravenscroft provides powerful punctuation, delivering sonic salvos on both alto and soprano sax.
And even though Hugh Burns’ electrifying guitar solo near “Street”’s end is eagerly anticipated by many listeners, it’s Ravenscroft’s soaring sax that will forever define one of rock’s most enduring favorites.
“Who Can It Be Now?” (1982)
The saxophone sucks us in right from the start of Men at Work’s American debut hit “Who Can It Be Now?”. Greg Ham’s breaths are rousing and rambunctious. They burst a bouncy beat behind this peculiar lament of a paranoid guy living forever in fear of being snatched and stolen away by The Man. The staccato solo break is sumptuous.
“Careless Whisper” (1984)
Sensual. Sly. And yes, even a little smarmy.
In 1984, George Michael’s sexy soliloquy whisked Wham’s “Careless Whisper” to the apex of the charts in practically every civilized nation.
But the silky-smooth serenading of sax virtuoso Steve Gregory (scoring the gig as the track’s 9th auditioner) is not to be dismissed. His contribution is key to one of the 80s’ most tantalizing torch songs.
Coincidental side note: The aforementioned Hugh Burns once again lends his electric guitar expertise to this wildly popular production.
“Brass Monkey” (1987)
The Beastie Boys’ “Brass Monkey” features perhaps the most deliriously disjointed delivery of the saxophone ever tossed into modern music.
Though it’s not clear who played the sax on the 1987 Licensed to Ill cut (much of the album was sampled, and there were several unnamed instrumental contributors), the herky-jerky style may cause one to consider the late comedian George Carlin’s observation about practicing the piano. One day, Carlin muses, a guy at last announces to the world, “I am playing.”
Even though we’ve cranked out a couple of columns now on superlative sax songs, there are countless more. What are some of your faves? Let us know!
-John Smistad
Photo: Yan Krukau, Pexels.com
