When The Sax Solo Stopped Everything In Rock

MSN ^ | July 12, 2026 | Marcos Perrone

[Kenny Bania]

The list for those that don't want to click through:

1. Jungleland - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
3. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
4. Young Americans - David Bowie
5. Money - Pink Floyd
6. Urgent - Foreigner
7. The Heart of Rock and Roll - Huey Lewis and the News
8. Turn The Page - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
9. Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
10. The Logical Song - Supertramp
11. Yakety Yak - The Coasters
12. Can't You Hear Me Knocking - The Rolling Stones
13. Waiting On A Friend - The Rolling Stones
14. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
15. True - Spandau Ballet
16. Rio - Duran Duran
17. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel
18. Whatever Gets You Through The Night - John Lennon
19. Us And Them - Pink Floyd
20. Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
21. One Step Beyond - Madness

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TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: music

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Ian McDonald on King Crimson’s 21st Century Schizoid Man.

[mythenjoseph]

My older brother is a sax player for 50 years plus now. He has made a living off of it and now does both sound and perform sporadically for functions in the New Orleans area...his Jazz improvisations are excellent. he can play anything pretty much....

[Joe 6-pack]

I’d throw in David Foster’s Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire. Perhaps it’s technically not a rock song, but it got a lot of airplay on contemporary rock stations when the movie came out. The sax is limited but comes in just at the right time and then closes the song out with a somber poignancy that only a well played sax could.

[crusty old prospector]

Yuk yuk.

[crusty old prospector]

What about the dude in the mink coat? Hey buddy, that’s his own real hair.

[DarthFuzball]

Candy Dulfer

Saxuality and Lily Was Here

[crusty old prospector]

Oops, I always thought it was mink coat. Interweb lyrics says makeup.

[virgil]

Average White Band - Pick up the Pieces not on the list.

[CtBigPat]

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 1975 Hot Patootie

[Wuli]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=092VyThpHUM

[Steely Tom]

Thanks for that.

Amazing how simple the band is. Drums, bass, guitar, sax. Dennis Yost on vocals. Such a catchy, sexy, fun groove. So clever.

[alternatives?]

You can’t beat the llamas chase to the tune of Yakety Yak.

[FamiliarFace]

That was the song we danced our first dance to at our wedding. It will always be special.

[Steve_Seattle1]

“Tall Cool One” - The Wailers (1959)

This actually had two sax solos. The saxophone was an integral part of Northwest rock in the late-50s to mid-60s. Internationally, the Dave Clark 5 probably had the closest sound to the Northwest rock of that era.

[af_vet_1981]

It is just me but I am not a fan of the saxophone.

Not just you; I only like a couple of songs on the posted list, in spite of the saxophone. I don't think it works well in what we call Rock and Roll.

[Albion Wilde]

bump

[farm_kid]

These links might only be plain text. Next time I'll have to research on how to do it correctly.

Van Morrison - The Philosopher's Stone @ 2:10

https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=T7YL5n_GA_c&list=RDT7YL5n_GA_c&start_radio=1

Van Morrison - Tupelo Honey - Pee Wee Ellis @ 2:36

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hco9bCh7Nes&list=RDhco9bCh7Nes&start_radio=1

Kenny Loggins - Please Celebrate Me Home solo by Marc Russo @ 3:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbcro30GBtU

[skr]

I’m not a fan of the saxophone either, although it has its place and can be very effective for some music.

[KStorm]

Apparently Junior Walker’s “Shotgun” doesn’t rank.

[Orosius]

Anything by Junior Walker, but especially ‘WHAT DOES IT TAKE (TO WIN YOUR LOVE FOR ME)?”