These enduring melodies broke through cultural and language barriers
Often credited solely to George Michael, who'd soon embark on a solo career, 'Carless Whisper' appeared on the 1984 Wham! album, 'Make it Big.' The prominent saxophone riff, played by Steve Gregory, is one of the most recognized in recent popular music history.
Another hit single known for its dynamic saxophone riff is Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street,' taken from the 1978 album 'City to City.' Raphael Ravenscroft is the man responsible for laying it down.
Sade's cool, suave, and seductive delivery on 'Smooth Operator' is heightened by Stuart Matthewman's sax solo. He did the same for 'Your Love is King.' Both tracks were taken from Sade's 1984 album, 'Diamond Life.'
Ronnie Ross, the man responsible for the haunting sax solo on Lou Reed's classic 'Walk on the Wild Side,' taught David Bowie to play saxophone. Fittingly, Bowie co-produced this track, recorded in 1972 and regarded as Reed's signature song.
James Brown recorded his version of Jimmy Forrest's 'Night Train' back in 1961. His backing band, The Famous Flames, included virtuoso saxophonist J.C. Davis.
Pink Floyd's dreamy seven-minute-plus 'Us and Them' is a song from their legendary 1973 album 'Dark Side of the Moon.' The man providing the entrancing sax solo is Richard Parry, who also played on 'Money' and 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond.'
A huge hit for Hall & Oates in 1981, 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)' features a cracking sax solo midway through the song, care of Charles DeChant.
Clarence Clemons played saxophone for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band for nearly 40 years. His work on 1975's 'Born to Run' helped sear this cherished anthem into the American psyche.
Released in 2011, 'Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)' was written by Perry after a wild night out partying and streaking. Adding to the feelgood vibe is a wonderfully upbeat solo by iconic saxophonist Kenny G.
'Food for Thought,' the 1980 debut single by British reggae band UB40, features band member Brian Travers on a rasping, echoing saxophone.
Ian Dury's seminal 1978 composition remains his band's most successful single. The track is noted for Davey Payne's astonishing twin saxophone solo halfway through the song.
Sources: (Rolling Stone) (NPR) (Spin)
A soft, sighing saxophone illuminates this love song by multi-instrumentalist Taylor Swift, taken from her 10th studio album 'Midnights' (2022). Evan Smith is the saxophonist providing the tranquil soundscape.
In a tribute to the instrument, Kate Bush recorded 'The Saxophone Song' for her 1978 album, 'The Kick Inside.' According to the English songstress, the saxophone sound is "very exciting—rich and mellow. It sounds like a female." What you actually hear is the work of Alan Skidmore.
'True' was British new wave band Spandau Ballet's first US success, reaching the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. Band member Steve Norman's memorable sax solo lends the song its soulful signature sound.
Taken from 1974's 'Walls and Bridges,' 'Whatever Gets You thru the Night' was John Lennon's only solo no. 1 single in the United States during his lifetime. Ron Aprea's alto saxophone keeps everybody awake.
Australian group Men at Work employed the services of band member Greg Ham to provide 1981's 'Who Can It Be Now?' with its blowsy saxophone hook.
Written in 1972 as a tribute to Humphrey Bogart ("2HB" = "To Humphrey Bogart"), Roxy Music's dedication to "Bogie" features a sax solo by Andy MacKay based on the melody of 'As Time Goes By,' a song featured prominently in the 1942 movie 'Casablanca.'
Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen recorded 'Run Away with Me' for her 2015 album, 'Emotion.' The introductory sax riff by Wojtek Goral later became a favorite internet meme.
Saxophonist Clarence Clemmons took time out from his E Street duties to guest on Lady Gaga's 'The Edge of Glory,' a song from her 2011 album 'Born This Way.' Clemmons appeared with Lady Gaga in a video for the track just days before he suffered a massive stroke that was eventually to take his life.
Saxophonist Terrance Martin helped transform Kendrick Lamar's 'Alright' into an anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. The song is taken from the American rapper's third studio album, 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (2015).
Taken from 1976's 'Songs in the Key of Life,' 'Sir Duke' features a pair of saxophonists—Hank Redd and Trevor Lawrence—who between them deliver some of the most celebrated sax lines in popular music. The song is in fact a tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974.
Written and recorded by Lowell Fulson in 1954, 'Reconsider Baby' was given a makeover by Elvis Presley in 1960, ably assisted by saxophonist Boots Randolph. He would go on to play on many other Presley numbers.
Whitney Houston's new arrangement of 'I Will Always Love You'—a song written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton—featured in the 1992 movie, 'The Bodyguard.' It's uplifted considerably by Kirk Whalum's tender-noted sax solo.
Richie Cannata is in charge of the saxophone among other woodwind instruments on Billy Joel's epic 1977 composition 'Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.'
The album 'Moondance,' released in 1970, incorporated soul, jazz, pop, and Irish folk sounds into Van Morrison's compositions. The eponymous second track on side 1 employs saxophonist Jack Schroer's talents to their creative and subtle best.
The tenor saxophone solo on the 1968 Beatles' single 'Lady Madonna' was played by British jazz musician and club owner Ronnie Scott. Harry Klein backed him up on baritone saxophone.
Frequent music collaborator Bobby Keys was drafted in by The Rolling Stones to play on the band's 1980 album, 'Emotional Rescue.' His work is especially creative on the eponymous third track on side 2.
ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden with 'Waterloo.' Throughout the track Ulf Andersson's saxophone is prominent. It also steals the show on 1975's 'I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do.'
David Bowie was a multi-instrumentalist, and often played the saxophone during live performances. However, for 'Modern Love,' released as the opening track on his 1983 album 'Let's Dance,' he employed the services of saxophonist Steve Elson, among other horned maestros.
The saxophone has provided popular music with some of its most memorable riffs and solos. The instrument's appeal lies in its extraordinary versatility, employed either center stage or on the wings to produce driving hooks or subtle fillers. Indeed, we hear a saxophone played across a wide range of music genres, its unmistakable sound lending atmosphere to some of the most celebrated compositions ever recorded. But what are music's "saxiest" moments?
Tune up, click through, and take note of these sensational saxophone solos.
Music's sensational sax solos
Songs that rock the saxophone
MUSIC Saxophone
The saxophone has provided popular music with some of its most memorable riffs and solos. The instrument's appeal lies in its extraordinary versatility, employed either center stage or on the wings to produce driving hooks or subtle fillers. Indeed, we hear a saxophone played across a wide range of music genres, its unmistakable sound lending atmosphere to some of the most celebrated compositions ever recorded. But what are music's "saxiest" moments?
Tune up, click through, and take note of these sensational saxophone solos.