Buckwheat Zydeco “Zydeco Boogaloo” (1984)
This site is called So Much Great Music because that’s really how I feel; there’s just too much great stuff out there, both past and present, to be pigeon-holed into only one or two music genres, or to just a few artists within a given genre. Now, I’m not saying I like everything: regular readers...... Read More
Link Wray “Rumble” (1958) [performed 1974]
Lots of great guitarists have lots of different influences, but they all love Link Wray. I can’t prove it as a scientific fact, but just believe me on this. I first heard Wray’s trailblazing sound tearing up the two albums on which he partnered with Rockabilly legend Robert Gordon for his first two releases, Robert...... Read More
Los Straitjackets “Fury” (1995); “Here Comes Santa Claus” (2002)
It’s hard not to love surf rock instrumentals, harder still when the band playing them exclusively performs wearing Lucha Libre Mexican pro-wrestler masks. It’s an outstanding gimmick, especially for a bunch of guys originating out of Nashville. But Los Straitjackets are a great band first, a great gimmick second.... Read More
Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom “Chicken Fried Snake” (1987)
It’s instrumental time again. Here’s a blues shuffle by an all-star grouping headed by one-time Albert King and B.B. King band member Ron Levy on organ, and including four members of Roomful Of Blues plus three-fourths of The Fabulous Thunderbirds. And most importantly, I don’t think you can go any lower than the guitar note at...... Read More
David Bowie “Stay” (1976); Apollo 100 “Joy” (1972)
I started going to NY Rangers games at The Garden with my dad when I was about 7 or 8 years old, and it was love at first, ah, skate. Hockey immediately became, and will unquestionably always be, my favorite sport. The moment when the players first take the ice just prior to the game...... Read More
The Hellecasters “Mad Cows At Ease” (1997)
Time for another instrumental. The Hellecasters are a trio of fine Fender Telecaster pickers. If you ever thought about playing the guitar this will either convince you to immediately get started, or more likely not to bother.... Read More
Cliff Nobles & Co. “The Horse” (1968)
Time for another instrumental. A number of years back my friend Messiah threw himself an epic birthday party and hired an even more epic band to play it. I’ve never seen more musicians on one stage in my life – the horn section alone must’ve been a dozen guys – and a spectacular, extended version...... Read More
Booker T. & the M.G.’s “Green Onions” (1962)
Three minutes of simple perfection. Is Green Onions by Booker T. and the MG's simply the greatest rock instrumental ever?... Read More
Texas Gentlemen “Habbie Doobie”
The Texas Gentlemen with an irresistibly catchy song and a video that features an armadillo race started by a one-legged girl. Yup, you read that right.... Read More