Top 10 1980s Pop/Rock Sax Solos

[MuSiCfReAk1179]

Michael Antunes<3

[thewelford]

Yuk !?  ish das un da fine ?

[oralboytoy]

The first two were riffs, not solos

[Arthmael]

The song "Midnight City" by M83 made me search for this. It reminded me how much I used to LOVE hearing a sax solo in the good ol' 80s. I'm sad it doesn't show up in songs these days.

There is Sax in a bunch of Corey Hart songs too, from the 80s/90s of course :)

[agustinviollaz]

Amazing job, (both parts), but I think you missed some of Roberto Pettinato's work...

[jmgrocker10]

clarence clemons solo in jungleland is the all-time best

[RamiroEspin0]

No one knew how to sex the sax better than Andy Hamilton did it in "Rio" *-* Just love it~ <3

[Tawnyvootboots]

WHERE IS BAKER STREET

[OfficialMindiAbair]

love it, thanks for posting!

[dangoist]

@OfficialMindiAbair Thanks, you are an awesome saxophonist!

[OfficialMindiAbair]

@dangoist thanks for that!

[dangoist]

@OfficialMindiAbair You're welcome!

[damislav]

duran duran Rio yeaaa

[SunfireofCentury]

Thanks, thanks and thanks again!

All the works of Michael "Tunes" Antunes and Clarence Clemons (R.I.P. Big Man) deserve all my respects. I'd like to play like all of these in your clips. Keep good work!

[AssaneRue]

i love this vid every time i watch it, thanks man.

[dangoist]

@AssaneRue thank u

[MiguelTron666]

...copyrights...

Urgent is the best!

the best version in my opinion , live in deer creek (1993)

[AntiMatterXD]

@MiguelTron666 agreed urgent by foreigner is WAY better then any of these... i am a sax player too, only alto, i have been playin for about years

[sindreS92]

I want a new drug - Huey Lewis and the news, it's awesome:P

[denzelsnipes69]

I'm glad the Rolling Stones chose to use a real saxophonist like Sonny Rollins.

[velvetknight780]

Oh and Phil Woods...Billy Joel..You know what I mean...good vid though keep up the good work.

[velvetknight780]

Rio! I forgot about that one...lol. Don't forget about Dave Koz...with Richard Marx.

[mabbeman]

lou reed waök on the woldside?

[Gatlun]

Keith Richards looks like he LIKES squatting on things...LMAO!!!

[nickrulez809765]

No Carless whisper?

[dangoist]

@nickrulez809765 it's on my other video

[warhawk9566]

there's this song with a sax solo in it family guy makes fun of it with a "Phone sax" bit but i cant remember the name of it.

[jocimardeDEUS]

eu nasci tarde demais gostaria de curtido esses shows

[927Studios]

JUNGLELAND

[greenwta]

@927Studios I agree, but that was 1975

[GetBlownOver]

best Charles Dechant

[rusty2871]

Nothing beats some sax on the beach!!

[menteur4444]

1:28 the best!! LOL\

[lafachampion]

LOved your collection :)

[kakoula10]

charles deschant is a very good saxplayer

and Clarence Clemmons is very good too *o*

[davismabanza]

HARDEN MY HEART IS THE BESt...man the sound sounds so beatiful

[thakard]

Like the list but was wondering why Don Myrick didn't make the cut? Especially with his sound in "The West Side" off of the Phil Collins, "Hello, I must be going!" album.

[xMASSxDx187x]

MAN !!!!!! THE SAX IS THE BEST!1!

[cstarr3]

I personally really enjoy "Lily Was Here." But, hey, you can't please everyone.

[B1SCOOP]

In my opinion moment when pop stars discovered saxophone was worst thing in history of music.

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? THIS MUSIC IS FULL OF CHEESE.

[socialsaxcom]

SocialSax is a new saxophone community. Feel free to join and meet other saxophonists from all around the world! Free backing tracks and music sheets, like dave koz, kenny g. Upload videos and music to your profile! Show others!

[MysticDMBherb]

Can you do one for 2000's?

[dangoist]

@MysticDMBherb I'd like to. Any suggestions?

[85Hernan9]

@dangoist michael monroe from hanoi rock...the song is in my darkest moment

[85Hernan9]

@85Hernan9 also keep our fire burning from hanoi rocks... but this one it's from 80's

[DillonStewart12]

@dangoist dmb, o.a.r.

[manlyman434]

@dangoist the seatbelts - tank



[LnchIexplit]

why wasnt i born in the 80 :(

[redfoxbennaton]

@LnchIexplit because you would have never experianced it fully.

[chris85mdp]

no pusiste careless wisper

[horrorshow5659]

s a decent list, but you are missing work by Rafael Ravenscroft, one of the best sax players of all time. his work can be heard on the final cut album by Floyd,2 suns in the sunset and the gunners dream. also on pictures at 11 album by Robert plant in the song pledge pin. i know baker st was in 78' but it should get honorable mention??? you gotta have some "Raf"on your list or its still incomlete imo. that being said you did say recognizable sax solos, which some of these may not be to most.

[dangoist]

@horrorshow5659 It's on my top of the 70s vid.

[azsxw2]

1:32 cause ya know if I was stuck on a deserted island with a Raft the 1 thing i would want to do is play my sax... Really I would...

[MysticDMBherb]

I miss going to Shoprite and hearing Pop/Rock sax solos

[seth3556r]

Forgot: Careless Whispers, George Michael; Smooth Operator, Sade; Forget Me Nots, Patricia Rushen

[seth3556r]

Rio FTW

[thomasbryn1]

Wasn't WILL YOU by HAZEL O Connor in the 80s ......that deserves a mention surely

[doggman76614]

This by far one of the best videos on Youtube!

[ewffanforever72]

I'm glad in your description you recognize that "Urgent" belongs on here, no question haha.

[6400az]

The Quaterflash solo is fake. I don't know if she can play or not but here, she's not .

As a sax player I know it takes effort to clamp down on that mouth piece and hit the high notes. Plainly obvious at 0:30.

[dangoist]

@6400az I know, How about the Duran Duran guys fake-playing on Rio?

[6400az]

@dangoist

Yea, that one is pretty awefull too. At around 1:51 . The guy on the right, all sorts of notes are heard yet you don't see his fingers moving on he keys.

[tlingnat]

@6400az agreed... there's no way she's playing.

[porge97]

@6400az anyone could workout that because she looks like she is sucking a cock

[6400az]

@porge97

Even then , it would look fake...

[anakina1]

@6400az She definitely can play, but her best solo is from find another fool. Check out the live version. Some of these are not deserving to be on here, but is to each is own.

[6400az]

@anakina1

So then she can, in fact play. Alright , I'll take your word for it, but if she's a sax player, she should have known this performance would not fool too many.

[6400az]

@anakina1

Saw the live video............... She's not playing. Not saying she can't, but she's just not in the videos. Everyone plays different, but when playing the sax ,at the very least one should look like the guy at 2:46. For Cindy Ross ( or anyone) to hit those high notes, the huffing and puffing and the facial contraction would be clearly visible.

[saxking1508]

@6400az well technically you shouldnt have to clamp your mouth down to play high notes...just saying

[saxking1508]

@6400az and yes she is playing its not fake if you were good you would know....

[6400az]

@saxking1508

Why waste time on attempting to insult, if you where as good as a your screen name suggest you would'nt be calling yourself that in the first place.

My personal ability is irrelevant,.... and she's STILL no playing here!

To hit high notes. One HAS to , in the very least, show SOME facial strain..@ 2:50 !!

[saxking1508]

@6400and and you would know how good i am? what because one video that is over a year old?

[6400az]

@saxking1508

Don't really know what you mean here. If you think your good then that's all the should matter. I'll just stand by what I said before.... In THIS video she's not playing , and I think it should be obvious to anyone who's ever blown into a sax.

[samueljforan]

@6400az She could actually play that, just faking it in that video...lol, yes, hitting the High E Flat, does take some bite on the alto!

[6400az]

@samueljforan

Ok, take your word for it. The thing is, in this video her faking so obvious.It's almost as if she's never blown into a sax before. If she's , in fact a sax player, you'd think she'd try and make it more realistic.

The very hi D...E and F on the neck hooks, there has to be facial strain there............even if your Gato Barbieri;.

[SaxopwnJazzCombo]

@6400az not always true. Depends on the player and the setup. I can make my tenor and alto reach ranges way higher than that with little effort. Just depends.

[6400az]

@SaxopwnJazzCombo

I would say mostly true . There may be some ( Gato Barbieri) whose expression remains about the same for low and high notes. But that's the exception not the rule. It does depend on the mouthpiece , reed number and individual, but certainly it would require more effort than this lady is displaying here.

[SaxopwnJazzCombo]

@6400az not completely arguing though, her posture is terrible and no way would she get a sound like that. It is obvious that shes not playing

[seavoyagerful]

@6400az anyway, is an awesome solo sex!!! d='1

[howdoimakethis08]

Foreigners Junior Walker was the best on 'Urgent'.

[FreeCandy]

where are freeway of love - aretha franklin ???

[sschafi1]

I like how all of the sax artists for like the first 3/4 of the vid are just blowing and have no finesse to their playing. Then comes Sanborn with subtlety, dynamics, and great tone =]

[rmitchell58]

RIO!

[towerful1]

Cool.

[hpkk123]

RIP Big Man

[SaXDuDe17]

Rollins and Sanborn are boss.

[synadude]

Where's Huey Lewis and the News?

[fcabo]

Where's the solo of Waiting in a sunny day? ITS BIG MAN! IT HAS TO BE ON THIS LIST!



[wprager]

Foreigner 4 came out in '81 so "Urgent" definitely belongs in this list.

[dangoist]

@wprager See note in description.

[gyloir]

some good ones but missing Careless Whisper, Baker street, and Who can it be now.

[dangoist]

@gyloir Careless whisper's on my other 80s vid, Baker Street was 70s, who can it be now...maybe i'll put it on the next one.

[gyloir]

@dangoist My bad, thought baker street was early 80's and didn't see your other video for Careless whsiper.

[dangoist]

@gyloir No problem and thanks for the Men at Work suggestion.

[bb62g]

@gyloir your right.

[adysaxman77]

There was a nice sax solo at the end of 'Dance Hall Days' by Wang Chung I recall, as well as an awesome sax solo at the end of Go West's 'Eye to Eye'.  Yeah RIP Clarence Clemons, I saw him play with Bruce Springsteen at Roundhay Park in Leeds, 7th July 1985, and again as a solo artist in Amsterdam in 1992 if I can recollect? I was pretty blasted at the time!

[dangoist]

@adysaxman77 I have the Dance Hall Days solo on my other sax 80s video...it's one of my favorite outros.

[ORIONVIDEOCOM]

RIP Clarence!

[angelbabeof69]

R.I.P

Clarence Clemons

1942 - 2011

[drsax2]

These bring back some great memories!

[convictTKM]

No Tim Capello I Still Believe?

[MrLeagueOJustice]

BAKER STREET!

[EdgarRue]

whoever made this video has great taste in music.

[dangoist]

@EdgarRue Thank you.

[fourblues]

結構パワーでなんぼの世界ですねｗ

[gtargonsky]

If you could put Urgent on there it has to be #1

[WazastanStudioz]

WTF Sax Guy, even if he didn't do the sax thing until like 1009 he deserves a place in this top ten list :)

[mrhitmanisback]

sonny rollins just sublime genius sax man

[kkariman]

trapped !!

[soullover123456]

If I wasn't a percussionist in the band, I'd be a sax player. I absolutely love the saxophone.

[tenchufreak]

I can top that lol

[larrlbesnon]

where is the solo from fear's "new york's all right if you like saxophones"

[ub2bu2b]

After nearly 5 minutes there's no 'Careless Whisper' or 'Your Latest Trick,' two of the most infamous sax solos of the 80's.

[dangoist]

@ub2bu2b They're both on one of my other vids.

[ub2bu2b]

@dangoist Ok sweet. My bad. Cheers!

[rickchess]

@ub2bu2b you right he miss the best two I was waiting to hear latest trick but never happens

[dangoist]

@rickchess its on my other 80s sax vid!!!!!!!!

[dangoist]

@ub2bu2b One my other 80s sax vid.

[11pistolpete11]

what about the sax solo in "crazy for him" by Angela Bofill

[algerhistogram]

I like how Sonny Rollins makes up about 12 cool riffs within about 45 seconds

[NAPEERS]

 saxophonic!

[lovesxephil]

where the fuck is careless whisper??????!!!!

[snypa345]

where the fuck is the sax part from 'careless whisper?'

[sirgerry]

This are great, but I have to recommend the solo in Two young lovers by Dire Straits, Alchemy live. Peace

[bridog6996]

After watching this, I'm reminded that it's impossible for a sax player to look cool in a rock video. Can't be done. That's why Sonny Rollins knew enough to stay as far away from that Stones video as possible.

[emmetione]

And, where Spandau Ballet are?

[RyGuy900]

It seems 1982 was a good year because JG Quintel was born then

[yoyoyoy500]

would any1 like the sax 2 make a come back in rock?

[StevenCharlesJazz]

You can't leave out Michael Brecker's funkiest of solos on Cameo's Candy!

[antonyalien3]

super good video. great intro

[mandyjmoore]

If you close your eyes so you don't have to watch Mick Jagger dancing like a chicken in those ridiculous tight white pants, the subtlety of Sunny Rollins is a beautiful contrast to the brassy honking of the other guys. Clarence Clemons manages to avoid the brassy sound as well. Hmmm... maybe it's a black thing... though Sanborn gets an honorable mention.

[dangoist]

@mandyjmoore I never saw Sonny Rollins in any of the Stones videos from Tattoo You. Always wondered why he wasn't in them.

[juniorbrooks1a]

I played Alto Sax in School for 8years.when I grduated high school I sold my horn..I relly regret doing that..young and stupid

[01101111omg]

WHERE IS SAX GUY?????

[XxSiickEmOMiinDxX]

OMGGGGGGGG!!!!!!! acabo de tener un orgasmo! :'(

[littlepewpew001]

my all time favorite sax solo is from the band Foreigner from the song Urgent.

[nebogina]

I'm only 19, didn't even get to live in this era :( but damn I wish they played more music like this on the radio these days.

[dakotah185282]

saxaphone? more like sexaphone! fuck its so hot haha

[brdonaldson]

wxrt.radio.com/2010/12/29/lins­-bin-bagpipes-2/

[brdonaldson]

I really enjoyed these...Where's the bagpipe list?

[dangoist]

@brdonaldson That's a great idea. AC/DC's "It's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock n' roll)" has to be on there.

[dave1670]

@dangoist wheres baker street

[AJMonza]

4:35 hahah "DANGOVISION"

[handheldhale]

e street band!

[kiubonorte1]

xvr el video.

[williamoxton]

All these are very good but where"s the sax from "Will you" Hazel O'Connor?????

[robharding1957]

@williamoxton absolutely ,will you is brilliant,,beats all the stuff mentioned here..and dont forget geno, by dexys,

[patapirate]

i know this is about the sax, and love the sax driven rock of the 80's, but the bassline in Rio (01:25) is orgasmic

[TheStreakedWall]

I would be ashamed to be the Stones in "Waiting on a friend"...the damned fingersnaps are louder than the guitars. LOL

Another hot 80's sax moment for me is Styx's "She Cares" and "Lonely People" as well as "One Year Of Love" by Queen.

[TheStreakedWall]

okay, it was in the 1970's but Richie Cannata's solos in Billy Joel's "Scenes from an italian restaurant" are some of the best I've heard. Also, Phil Woods in Steely Dan's "Dr. Wu." is pretty sweet too, also from the 70's.

From the 80's, it would be Spandau Ballet's "True" and "Heading for the light" by the Travellin' Willburys.

[ThirdRail7]

Both of your lists are great, but I think you should replace "Maneater" with "I Can't Go For That." That was the hallmark Hall and Oates sax solo!

[dangoist]

@ThirdRail7 Good call, I forgot about that one.

[Daft7Punk]

Solo for Harden my Heart has to be my fav. soooooo gooood

[Volkan89s]

favolosi mitici..... e sopratutto immortali!!!

[JAZZMAN891]

dang that girl can play a saxophone! NICE

[ratbone39]

i lol'd at the panther

[Noobanator428]

where's urgent by foreigner.......

Greatest sax solo of all time

[snewton1200]

@Noobanator428 absolutely agree!!!

[snewton1200]

@Noobanator428 I completely agree - urgent is the most incredible rock sax solo I have ever heard

[JoeyBagODonuts612]

@Noobanator428 Check the description. Damn copyrights. Absolutely agree though.

[fjarming]

what about "china in you hand" with t ´pau !!

[kenersej]

Where's "Lily was here"? 

[zaelional]

I wouldnt agree with some of these...But at least you didnt include Ham's solo from "Who can it be now?"

[TheMusicPinkLover91]

you haven't heard state of independence by vangelis? that saxophone solo is sooo cool xD

[thedirector32]

Really awsome hey anyone has sheet of music download for

careless whisper or baker street pls

alto sax

[DrynSarcastic360]

i wish they would be still doing this...