Top 10 Saxophone Solos in Pop and Rock

just the sax man just the sax welcome to

just the sax man just the sax welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be

watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 saxophone solos in pop and rock

while the saxophone is most commonly

while the saxophone is most commonly used in classical and jazz music many

used in classical and jazz music many

used in classical and jazz music many pop and rock musicians have adapted the

pop and rock musicians have adapted the

pop and rock musicians have adapted the instrument into their sound for this

instrument into their sound for this

instrument into their sound for this list we’re looking at saxophone solos as

list we’re looking at saxophone solos as

list we’re looking at saxophone solos as well as the riffs that have become

well as the riffs that have become

well as the riffs that have become iconic in the pop and rock genres so sit

iconic in the pop and rock genres so sit

iconic in the pop and rock genres so sit back and enjoy the soothing sound of

back and enjoy the soothing sound of

back and enjoy the soothing sound of this classic woodwind instrument

it may be hard to imagine now but the

it may be hard to imagine now but the late 80s valid we all know and love was

late 80s valid we all know and love was

late 80s valid we all know and love was originally written as a Fats Domino

originally written as a Fats Domino

originally written as a Fats Domino influenced blue song

revamped and sweetened with a haunting

revamped and sweetened with a haunting sax solo from the band’s Kirk Pengilly

sax solo from the band’s Kirk Pengilly

sax solo from the band’s Kirk Pengilly the song became a top-ten hit in many

the song became a top-ten hit in many

the song became a top-ten hit in many countries and hit number seven on the

countries and hit number seven on the

countries and hit number seven on the Billboard Hot 100

the dramatic pause just before the sax

the dramatic pause just before the sax kicks in prepares us for an emotional

kicks in prepares us for an emotional

kicks in prepares us for an emotional musical journey through the use of our

musical journey through the use of our

musical journey through the use of our favorite woodwind instrument

number nine the edge of glory Lady gaga

number nine the edge of glory Lady gaga there in reason you will me should be

there in reason you will me should be

there in reason you will me should be alone tonight

released on Gaga’s Born This Way album

released on Gaga’s Born This Way album the 2011 hit inadvertently became a

the 2011 hit inadvertently became a

the 2011 hit inadvertently became a tribute to guest saxophonist and E

tribute to guest saxophonist and E

tribute to guest saxophonist and E Street Band member Clarence Clemons when

Street Band member Clarence Clemons when

Street Band member Clarence Clemons when the big man passed on later that year

Clemens was contacted on a Friday

Clemens was contacted on a Friday afternoon to record and by 3:00 a.m. the

afternoon to record and by 3:00 a.m. the

afternoon to record and by 3:00 a.m. the following morning had completed his part

following morning had completed his part

following morning had completed his part which is even more remarkable as he flew

which is even more remarkable as he flew

which is even more remarkable as he flew from Florida to New York just for the

from Florida to New York just for the

from Florida to New York just for the session

with few sacks bass tunes on the charts

with few sacks bass tunes on the charts having Clements appear on the track was

having Clements appear on the track was

having Clements appear on the track was seen as a bold move on Gaga’s part and

seen as a bold move on Gaga’s part and

seen as a bold move on Gaga’s part and actually helped the pop tune stand out

number eight money Pink Floyd notable

number eight money Pink Floyd notable for Roger Waters distinct bassline David

for Roger Waters distinct bassline David

for Roger Waters distinct bassline David Gilmour’s bluesy guitar solos and the

Gilmour’s bluesy guitar solos and the

Gilmour’s bluesy guitar solos and the tracks odd time signature money is also

tracks odd time signature money is also

tracks odd time signature money is also home to one of the most famous and

home to one of the most famous and

home to one of the most famous and recognizable sax solos

played by dick Perry who also Sachs’s it

played by dick Perry who also Sachs’s it up on us and them

the solo is played on a tenor saxophone

the solo is played on a tenor saxophone and is backed by the groovy bassline

and is backed by the groovy bassline

and is backed by the groovy bassline chaotic drums and vintage keyboard

due to his ability to really really play

due to his ability to really really play parried toured with the band from 1973

parried toured with the band from 1973

parried toured with the band from 1973 to 1977 and appeared on two additional

to 1977 and appeared on two additional

to 1977 and appeared on two additional Pink Floyd albums

number seven who can it be now

number seven who can it be now men at work written by singer Colin Hay

men at work written by singer Colin Hay

men at work written by singer Colin Hay and propelled by Greg hams intoxicating

and propelled by Greg hams intoxicating

and propelled by Greg hams intoxicating sax hook this classic pop track put the

sax hook this classic pop track put the

sax hook this classic pop track put the sax in the forefront of 80s pop

the band’s first single the track hit

the band’s first single the track hit number two when their native Australia

number two when their native Australia

number two when their native Australia but fared slightly better in America

but fared slightly better in America

but fared slightly better in America where it hit number one kicking off the

where it hit number one kicking off the

where it hit number one kicking off the decades bizarre but endearing obsession

decades bizarre but endearing obsession

decades bizarre but endearing obsession with the land down under hooky and

with the land down under hooky and

with the land down under hooky and confident it can be noted that the final

confident it can be noted that the final

confident it can be noted that the final version of hams snappy sax group that

version of hams snappy sax group that

version of hams snappy sax group that was used was recorded during the band’s

was used was recorded during the band’s

was used was recorded during the band’s rehearsal

a number for Hot 100 single off their

a number for Hot 100 single off their landmark album for this track features

landmark album for this track features

landmark album for this track features hot soulful sax from Motown legend

hot soulful sax from Motown legend

hot soulful sax from Motown legend junior Walker

while working on the song the band

while working on the song the band decided they needed a walker style

decided they needed a walker style

decided they needed a walker style saxophone line and were able to get the

saxophone line and were able to get the

saxophone line and were able to get the real deal when they learned to us

real deal when they learned to us

real deal when they learned to us playing a show blocks away from the

playing a show blocks away from the

playing a show blocks away from the studio

then in a mellow disco mood Walker came

then in a mellow disco mood Walker came into the studio and laid down a classic

into the studio and laid down a classic

into the studio and laid down a classic sounding sax solo that’s as iconic as

sounding sax solo that’s as iconic as

sounding sax solo that’s as iconic as any of juniors past work

magical as one of the band’s biggest

magical as one of the band’s biggest songs on both sides of the Atlantic

songs on both sides of the Atlantic

songs on both sides of the Atlantic listeners by the millions may have been

listeners by the millions may have been

listeners by the millions may have been sucked in by the opening electro piano

sucked in by the opening electro piano

sucked in by the opening electro piano but they stay for that saxophone

recorded by the band’s John hello well

recorded by the band’s John hello well this solo was recorded in bathroom as a

this solo was recorded in bathroom as a

this solo was recorded in bathroom as a band was into experimenting with

band was into experimenting with

band was into experimenting with different acoustics

the track also features the sounds of

the track also features the sounds of some popular toys of the time such as an

some popular toys of the time such as an

some popular toys of the time such as an electric football game and the popping

electric football game and the popping

electric football game and the popping of the board game trouble

of the board game trouble

of the board game trouble a playful tactic for a playful tune

number four old time rock and roll Bob

number four old time rock and roll Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet bang just

Seger and the Silver Bullet bang just

Seger and the Silver Bullet bang just take those are

forever linked to a pantsless Tom Cruise

forever linked to a pantsless Tom Cruise this down-home rocker has been a radio

this down-home rocker has been a radio

this down-home rocker has been a radio staple since first released in 1978

while Seger gave the song an uncredited

while Seger gave the song an uncredited co-write and most definitely sang it the

co-write and most definitely sang it the

co-write and most definitely sang it the sax was most likely played by the Silver

sax was most likely played by the Silver

sax was most likely played by the Silver Bullet bands Alto Reed

the saxona was bluesy soulful and

the saxona was bluesy soulful and complements the singers gruff vocals

complements the singers gruff vocals

complements the singers gruff vocals with a vintage style that is nostalgic

with a vintage style that is nostalgic

with a vintage style that is nostalgic yet fresh the perfect tune for rocking

yet fresh the perfect tune for rocking

yet fresh the perfect tune for rocking out while no one is watching

number three Born to Run Bruce

number three Born to Run Bruce Springsteen

give it up for the boss no now is the

give it up for the boss no now is the song that finally thrusts the boss into

song that finally thrusts the boss into

song that finally thrusts the boss into the limelight this sax assistant track

the limelight this sax assistant track

the limelight this sax assistant track established the Springsteen sound but

established the Springsteen sound but

established the Springsteen sound but also took six months to record

this Heartland rock anthem’ features a

this Heartland rock anthem’ features a sack solo performed by the legend

sack solo performed by the legend

sack solo performed by the legend Clarence Clemons himself a friend and

Clarence Clemons himself a friend and

Clarence Clemons himself a friend and bandmate to Springsteen

the duo created classic after classic of

the duo created classic after classic of great saxophone heavy tracks including

great saxophone heavy tracks including

great saxophone heavy tracks including the nearly 10-minute jungle and

however it is born to run that Clemens

however it is born to run that Clemens is known for as it captivates listeners

is known for as it captivates listeners

is known for as it captivates listeners and fans alike from the first note

number two Careless Whisper

number two Careless Whisper george-michael

george-michael

george-michael Wham

released is both a wham and George

released is both a wham and George Michael single this 80s hit had a slow

Michael single this 80s hit had a slow

Michael single this 80s hit had a slow birth before it matched the sound

birth before it matched the sound

birth before it matched the sound Michael heard in his head

first recorded at the famed Muscle

first recorded at the famed Muscle Shoals studio it was soon rerecorded in

Shoals studio it was soon rerecorded in

Shoals studio it was soon rerecorded in London England the singer and his

London England the singer and his

London England the singer and his producer then tried ten different sax

producer then tried ten different sax

producer then tried ten different sax players before settling on the right

players before settling on the right

players before settling on the right sound and finally ended up choosing

sound and finally ended up choosing

sound and finally ended up choosing session player Steve Gregory

but even then it wasn’t an easy ride the

but even then it wasn’t an easy ride the breathing patterns were nearly

breathing patterns were nearly

breathing patterns were nearly impossible for Gregory resulting in the

impossible for Gregory resulting in the

impossible for Gregory resulting in the track being slowed down while he

track being slowed down while he

track being slowed down while he recorded

before we unveil our top pick here are a

before we unveil our top pick here are a few honorable mentions

Baker Street is undoubtedly the song

Baker Street is undoubtedly the song Gerry Rafferty will be remembered for

Gerry Rafferty will be remembered for

Gerry Rafferty will be remembered for thanks to Raphael Ravenscroft wailing

thanks to Raphael Ravenscroft wailing

thanks to Raphael Ravenscroft wailing sax line

originally intended to be sung and later

originally intended to be sung and later demoed on electric guitar Ravenscroft

demoed on electric guitar Ravenscroft

demoed on electric guitar Ravenscroft suggested he play the line on an alto

suggested he play the line on an alto

suggested he play the line on an alto saxophone when a guitarist failed to

saxophone when a guitarist failed to

saxophone when a guitarist failed to arrive in the studio

this iconic sax track single-handedly

this iconic sax track single-handedly caused increases in saxophone sales as

caused increases in saxophone sales as

caused increases in saxophone sales as well as the instrument becoming more

well as the instrument becoming more

well as the instrument becoming more frequent and pop and Rocky’s

do you agree with our list what’s your

do you agree with our list what’s your favorite saxophone riff or solo

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