Top 10 Pop/Rock Sax Solos from the 1970s

[markdemey]

An absolute great sax solo is on "Can't You hear me knocking" from the Stones, again with Bobby Keys. Great guitar work, too.

[roberthennecke]

Baker street is the best though. Jungleland for the maintaining a note for so long is very notable. Pink Floyd for innovativeness.

[spikerdude111]

the instrument of CHRISTMAS!

[pola799]

Thore are the videos that i love to see fantastic!!

[davismabanza]

wow baker street is the best

[Velton500]

Lots of lovely sax sounds and great players.

No disrespect intended to any of them.

But why no Dick Heckstall-Smith?

OK, he was best known for his jazz playing but his work with Coliseum (also sometimes spelled Colosseum) in the early 70s was definitely "Rock" - ground-breaking and masterful.

Also with "Big Chief" although the were mainly a "local" band - and then with Coliseum again after the Reunion.

PS Clarence is my favourite of these guys!

Love and Peace to all!

[roberthennecke]

I didn't realize that that was Mackay on the hoople group, wow i guess I have egg on my face over that one.

Clarence is seriously kicking ass here in this solo. He was definitely one of the greats as well as Pink floyd's sax player. I'm struggling to get these solos under my belt but I have 'for once in your life' down even though it's not a sax song.

[roberthennecke]

I didn't realize that that was Mackay on the hoople group, wow i guess I have egg on my face over that one.

[roberthennecke]

Roxxy music not being on this list is a crime against saxanity, or a crime against me anyways. do a search of the song Tara and be prepared to have your hair blown back, there is a wicked soprano sax solo by mackay and some women doing some serious ass kicking with a violin. A non sax solo but great nevertheless is Chuck Mangione on his fuglehorn playing feels so good. I would have dropped that Mott in the hoopla part big time, total crap.

[roberthennecke]

Roxxy music not being on this list is a crime against saxanity, or a crime against me anyways. do a search of the song Tara and be prepared to have your hair blown back, there is a wicked soprano sax solo by mackay and some women doing some serious ass kicking with a violin. A non sax solo but great nevertheless is Chuck Mangione on his fuglehorn playing feels so good.

[Poseiden98]

BAKER STREET SHOULD BE AT #1

NO EXEPTIONS

[ConservativeEclectic]

So you have the "Deacon Blues" solo but not Wayne Shorter's solo on Aja?

[09kittykatz09]

Definitely Rafael Ravenscroft...Outdistances almost everything else here. Baker Street's a stand-alone example.

Rafferty was a genius.

But Pink Floyd's Parry can't be ignored.

[CSXer]

I was worried you wouldn't include Dick Parry..

And what about Andy Makay from ROXY MUSIC!! VIVA!!!

[squeezeutoo]

Napoleon Murphy Brock

[originalmusicworks]

End strong !  Well done!

[Mazun]

RIP CLARENCE. YOU'RE THE BIG MAN

[GuardianVampireYuuki]

Hey, the Baker street song, can you give me a link to that song ?? like the exact song??? Ta bruzz

[GravitasNotIncluded]

@GuardianVampireYuuki How about you use some common sense and search youtube for "Baker street"

[GuardianVampireYuuki]

@GravitasNotIncluded no need to be rude you ass hole.

[sc6977]

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[daraleekmyballz]

1:30

[Aussie2011forJesus]

I'm learning sax because of Bowie's Young American, have always loved the sax in that song, it's so beautiful!!!

[pandaz2321]

thumbs up if you either love the saxophone or you play it

[MrStickyaudiobuff]

Clarence Clemons solo is just breaking my heart, rest in peace Big Man!

[Tawnyvootboots]

what about the sax solo in carpenters 'A song for you'?

[waltermetal1987]

MONEY!!!!!

[nikimckean1]

thank you so much for compiling this. i have been racking my brain to try to think of the name of the "baker street" song for soooo long :) great collection!!

[hunterv41]

Ronnie Ross & Phil Woods hands down

[SaXDuDe17]

The best solos are from those who are more inclined towards jazz.

[joeyprice]

ummm....Curtis Amy - The Doors "Touch Me"?

[19liz1]

sax is sex for ears!!

[2Libido]

I agreed with Eddie and I play the guitar ,I am thinking about sax!

[samf727]

RIP Clarence Clemens

[saxophile1]

And BTW Baker Street sucks. It would be my own personal Clockwork Orange to be locked in a room and forced to listen to it over and over...

[neilawright]

great choices. i would recommend people check out tower of power's "there's only so much oil in the ground (about 1:25 into it) and john klemmer's "touch".

[2DPolygon]

Totally sampled that sax ! Gotta love the good old Pop/Rock!

[Dealit707]

Are you serious??....No Bobby Keys on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking".

[evanderguitarist]

0:41

Is sooooo nice !

[nicherna]

at 5:02 that is the best jungleland solo by clarence clemons he was really playing his best ever that night! no other solo of his can compare to that one!

[akira568]

i like how most of these arent as hard as they sound

[Longsleeeves]

Really good choices! I was hoping Money would be in here. Pink floyd had a lot of great sax solos. Dogs of War by David Gilmour comes close

[EddieVedder13]

The Alto Saxophone just seems like one of the best soloing instruments out there. Quite possibly the most purely enjoyable but there's a lot more you can do with a guitar cuz of technology.

[SaxopwnJazzCombo]

@EddieVedder13 no way. the sax can do way more than guitar.

[DracoonianDevil]

ONE STEP BEYOND!!!

not included, pity

[MungoCrossley]

i say baker street is the most powerful

[MusicChaserGerri]

Clarence has to be my favorite!!!!!

[LordAdrian]

Bakes street rocks

[MrJawden]

The sax is the sexiest instrument in the world.

[willprich]

Alto Reed?

[dangoist]

@willprich He's on my most recent sax video.

[xJ4ckD4nielsx]

Michael Brecker plays so beautifully.

[killuminati63]

so i guess its 10 - 1 instead of number one first!? lol

[jsax29]

5:03 to 7:35 the best ever..................

[MangaRED]

baker street! omg what a perfect riff!

[chillout344]

These solos are fantastic!! the sax is a very beautiful instrumet,perhaps it is the most beautiful. I recommend you to listen to the beautiful music played by VALERIO MINICILLO that is a good saxophonist that is making to dance the whole world with his music and so much people have bought his beautiful songs on i-Tunes. You can listen to his songs on the Youtube video "THE FIRST VALERIO MINICILLO" and "CHILLOUT VALERIO MINICILLO". To your parties you dance with the Valerio Minicillo Music!

[galletitamortal]

@chillout344 The most beautifull musical instrument of all the ages is the voice. Greetings.

[Sec13S]

@galletitamortal

The Three top instruments are:

1:The human voice

2:Saxophone

3:Clean electric guitar

[mjrix]

I think the list needs to include "Urgent" by Foreigner

[imawolmatrix]

Money Rocks!

[Mr9111950]

the first sax solo to capture me hook line and singer was "long as i can see the light" creedence clearwater revival....i think these all came after.!

[ilovegoodsax]

Al Stewart's "Time Passages"? I can think of at least two dozen other great sax solos. You could definitely do a volume 2 and 3, and still not cover it all. In honor of the great sax solo by Raphael Ravenscroft on "Baker Street," -- RIP Gerry Rafferty.

[PinkMeddle41]

The sax solo from " Two Suns in the Sunset" is brilliant aswell

[gordo39432]

WOW i didn't know phil woods played that solo on "just the way you are"... that's awesome!

[JoeyBagODonuts612]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks the Mott the Hoople sax solo is irritating.

[aaronaaronjarvis]

TENOR FOR LIFE F*** alto

[ThirdRail7]

No list from the 70's is complete unless you include John Halliwell's sax solo from The Logical Song, by Supertramp!

[dangoist]

@ThirdRail7 That's on my new vid.

[32a34a]

@ThirdRail7 I couldn't agree with you more. John rocks that Sax smooth and hard. Just an amazing performance.

[MusicMan5Photos]

Ronnie Ross!

[pacogerterico1]

Clarence clemons is god!!!

i´d like have a sax... =:(

[Usuckitv4]

I'm not saying it's the best sax solo of all time , but the one on baker street is arguably the most famous use of the wondorous instrument ever.

[utahjazz8914]

Dick Parry does a very quick and impressive switch from tenor to baritone sax on his solo for Shine on You Crazy Diamonds. Not saying hes the best talent wise but definitely my favorite.

[nightowldisco]

Clarence is The Man. He could have also made it onto the list with 'Born to Run'. Don't know who plays it, but the solo from Joan Armatrading's ' Love and Affection' is great as well.

[dangoist]

@nightowldisco Born to Run is on my newest video.

[apostatesspeak]

This made my day!

[4youfreehacks]

dam im crying

[stradivarius151]

Was that Chris Botti playing trumpet in the end of Still Crazy after All These Years?

[thedirector32]

Really cool man

can you put a link to download them or somen?

[dangoist]

@thedirector32 Here's a couple of sites I use to download:

videodl.org/

keepvid.com/

[TomoSpringsteen]

JUNGLELANDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[Lapeia]

great sounds, great saxophonist!

[hunnyhillbees]

Great vid - thanks. Just love the sax!!

[DarkeningSkies1]

Huh. I knew Raphael Ravenscroft from the Pink Floyd's "Final Cut" album- had no idea that was him on the Rafferty song.

[tunaonfire23]

Bruce Springsteen - "Sherry darling" from "The River" ;)

[Aqene1000]

This collection made my Day !

[moodygh10]

i think the the 2nd video the the is use in the simpsons ep lisa's sex

[MrFlutes]

Clarence Clemons rules. He's without a doubt the best.

[5127]

I love baker street brillian sax .... You should also put up destination calabria

[5127]

i love baker street genius saxaphone

[jahbarnei17]

as it is called the name of the song

andy mackay touches?

[LGIL98]

can you make one of those selections with piano please?

[dangoist]

@LGIL98 You mean best pop/rock piano solos? Have any suggestions?

[cw3le]

@dangoist How about some of Deep Purple's early work? Something like "Lazy" or "Child in time". That's something, isn't it?

[theSodMonster]

@dangoist JPJ... John paul jones from led zeppelin (rock) as if you didn't know

[dangoist]

@theSodMonster I tried to post some zep but the dreaded copyright filter got me.

[theSodMonster]

@dangoist i got annoyed at that so i just bought all their albums so i didn't have to go on youtubbe

[BenPowling]

Brecker wins hands down.

[mamakin00]

@BenPowling Dick Perry hands down chumps brecker

[evergreach2346]

@mamakin00 Everybody's entitled to their opinion, but Dick Perry isn't better than Michael Brecker and even he would admit it. You might prefer Dick over Michael, but that might be because Michael's a little over your head.

Michael Brecker is easily one of the greatest musicians of all time if not the greatest. He is an absolute genius, no question. Any respectable musician would tell you that.

[DarkeningSkies1]

@evergreach2346 Because this was a "pop/rock" video, I was going to let that go... but as a jazz nut I have to agree. Brecker is astonishing, his own albums and especially his work with Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock and Frank Zappa. He took Coltrane's "sheets of sound" technique and polished it to a switchblade like attack (not that I am calling him an innovator on Coltrane's level), but on any basis he would eat Parry alive. None of these guys could TOUCH M.B. R.I.P.

[WootenMiller]

MIchael Brecker is by far the best sax player

[ngd4096]

I miss Michael Brecker, too. What a loss. He was brilliant on Joni Mitchell's Shadows and Light album as well as his solo jazz albums. But how about Jerry Eubanks of the Marshall Tucker Band on the live version of 24 Hours at a Time? Love that performance! One of my all time sax solo favorites.

[jimmyjazz82391]

The Big Man rules! I'm so glad you put Jungleland on here! That is THE best saxophone solo in rock ever!

[crazymafia117]

best combo of instruments ever.... makes my day hearing it

[TheArcticstroke]

'cause saxophone rocks too !!! xD

[riotofdablood]

1:22 sax on his cheeck

[randyclar747]

There is one missing, that is playing in my head constantly, but I can't find it anywhere. I grew up on it. I wish I knew how to humm the tune out so someone can help me.

[pablosaxo]

I miss Michael Brecker

[nikshitt]

does anyone has the sheetmusic of bakerstreet?

[pwh1992]

@nikshitt i do

got it only a few days ago and haven't played it yet so i don't know if it's good... looks accurate though

[JanneFlinck1981]

does it mater much if i use plastic reed instead of wooden?

and i have notes for baker street and nothing gona change my love for you, if someone wants to trade, i take any song, doesnt mater if its alto tenor or any saxophone, even trumpet notes do : )

[jazzysnaps]

The only top ten on you tube thats spot on i agree with all

[13collin82696]

im a sax player and this is awesome

[tutulick]

I have been wondering about Baker Street. Rafferty sang and Ravenscroft did sax. Done.

[FunnyCorpNN]

Im not a fan of jazz, allthough I play the alto sax. I like clasical more :)

[bla7091]

Baker street is one of the most iconic sax pieces

[saxgirl94]

"Girlfriend" by Michael Jackson.

[rchavezc67]

Without a doubt Clarence Clemmons is my fav

[tyncho69]

@rchavezc67 me to, is amazing. Gran sonido y muy buena ejecucion.

[MrRDSAX]

the sound of the first one is freaking amazing!!

OOOh i love the saxophone!!

[angelbabeof69]

Baker Street is my all time favorite

[saxmanchuck]

How about Carol King's "Jazzman" with Tom Scott?

[HairyLaser]

Without the solo from shine on you crazy diamond by pink Floyd, this list doesn't deserve that much credibility

[MasterOvCreation]

Dire straits- Your latest trick, should be on here. awesome sax

[dangoist]

@MasterOvCreation

I have it on my new vid.

[lauchamb]

@MasterOvCreation 100% agree!!

[ross0207]

@MasterOvCreation

80's track that is, although I agree it is awesome

[Lcaceres74]

micheal brecker was such an AMAZING SAXOPHONIST!

[ilovegoodsax]

Yes!!! Both the sax work in "Baker Street" and "Deacon Blues" are sentimental favorites. As both songs came out during my senior year of high school and are on the list of my all-time favorites. Both are indelibly etched in my brain.

[Thejazzmusicman]

I Personally prefer Micheal Brecker's or David Sanborn's solo the most

[joininglife]

Wayne Shorter "Aja", "Jazzman' Tom Scott, "Only So Much Oil" Lenny Pickett, "Born to Run" Clarence Clemens (classic), "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" Bobby Keys, "Native New Yorker" Brecker (and anything he ever played on) I heard he played the "Pick Up the Pieces" solo but it doesn't sound like him, "Only the Good Die Young" Richie Cannatta, "Urgent" Junior Walker, And let's not forget one of the highest selling pop songs ever, "Mr. Magic" Grover Washington Jr!

[ZupraVisor]

You should add "Cosmik debris" from frank zappa , the sax solo in that song amazing

[mikeofegypt]

Billy Joel hell yea!

[mrkandyman1911]

Micheal "Tunes" Antunes w/ John Cafferty And The Beaver Brown Band - On the dark side & Tender Years

[BornTooRun89]

Best solo by far: The Big Man Clarence Clemmons...solo fits jungleland perfectly...EPIC

[dylanNEEDSCOWBELL]

YO. were is "us and them"!

[RocknRoll707]

YAKETY SAXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX­XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX­XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX­XX

the whole goddamn thing is a solo

[tenorsaxmaster5]

I love basically all of these solos, they are all classics. I don't think Mott's is best of worthy. Definitely need a John Helliwell Supertramp solo. Most of all though...Jungleland is the best solo of the 70's rock sax....so sexy.

[TheTruthfulAsshole]

Baker Street is beyond epic or legendary.

It is untouchable, simply THE BEST!

[InBy9OutBy5]

Yes, Mott the Hoople does suck, including the sax solo. I would love to hear that Lenny Pickett solo you mentioned.

[dubbeld91]

make love to me Pete Christlieb

[MAJORSNODGRASS]

Clarence Clemons is the best so soulful

[r5t6y12]

Wait wait wait.

This may not be POP/ROCK but the Lenny Pickett solo during "Knock Yourself Out" with Tower Of Power on the LIVE album from 1976 is THE GREATEST Tenor Sax solo EVER during the 70's

[dangoist]

I'll check that out, thanks.

[tenorsaxmaster5]

I totally agree...ONE OF THE FUCKIN' BEST SOLOS EVER!

[jittrbug1]

@r5t6y12 DONCHA KNOW IT'S SO! MY ALL TIME FAV COMMERCIAL SAX PLAYER AND THAT"S HIS BEST WORK EVER... I can still see him with that big ole whiteboy "fro" and those feet going like crazy.... yeah man... and he's still doin' it on SNL... Lenny rules..

[alirzb]

@r5t6y12

Greatest tenor solo of all time, no ifs and or buts.

[yaboii9]

@r5t6y12 recognizing TOP...i'm a long way from him, but LP inspired me to play the sax

[hobodudeTM]

Is this great or what?

[AllcastDB]

I agree, shocking no Supertramp

[soccerdank21]

no supertramp?? put it on your next video

[bsharporflat]

I agree with alirzb. Mott The Hoople solo was bite-the-reed crap. I agree with tjamassey- replace it with Phil Kenzie, Year Of The Cat. Dramatic and iconic.

[Gam3rzAzn]

awesome vid man!! you should make an 80's vid on best sax solos.

[Aksentievich]

Ronnie Ross the best

[Jamieable]

wow, david sanborn looks SO YOUNG, like when he's 16

[thewhorocks524]

aerosmith - same old song and dance. why was that not on there?

[dangoist]

That is a good song. I'll have to put it on Part II.

[sk8erchase]

sorry but the best sax solo is by pink floyd.. not in money though

look up the gunners dream

now thats a sax solo

[dustbugger]

WoW! TY for posting.

[lbrx8fan]

Great songs, but which one moved you to tears? Clarence Clemons!!! If not, check your pulse......

[SasukeHeavenCurse354]

CLAAAAAAA-rence

[adambyrne08]

clarence :)

[thepeople1325]

both

[thepeople1325]

Michael Brecker RIP.

[bogdankatoula]

i like so much clarence clemons...his music...that song is so good!!

[Noobanator428]

both

[Noobanator428]

The Saxophone solo in 'Baker Street' was actually supposed to be played by an electric guitar, but the guitarist was late to the recording studio so the saxophonist said he could replicate that sound with his alto sax

[at90percent]

Wow, I just read something that amazed me.

Dick Parry, what a not only extremely talented, but extremely humble guy.

He quit playing sax at one point for a job shoeing horses.

[Noobanator428]

how does quitting sax to shoe horses make you humble

[jerrodstierwalt]

Raphel Ravenscroft is the best no contest....that is a magical solo!

[Desertprairie]

Both...Ronnie Ross is even playing a bari...

[kettuterrieri10]

Eat tex, have sex, play sax