The Elvis Era was the golden age of the instrumental. Dee jays operating in a top forty format liked them because they could be shortened with a fade out in order to fit in commercials. Some, like "Let's Go" by The Routers were fast moving rock and roll. Others, such as "Sleep Walk" by Santo & Johnny were made for slow dancing. And others, such as Mongo Santamaria's "Watermelon Man" were pure R&B. And, of course, there were the classic orchestral sounds such as Roger Williams' "Autumn Leaves."
The top two instrumentals would most likely fall in the category of orchestral, and it is no coincidence that they are also two of the top three "romance" songs on the Elvis Era list. The Ventures' "Walk, Don't Run" at #3 fits better into the rock and roll genre. "Green Onions" by Booker T. & The M.G.'s is the best example of an R&B instrumental in the top ten.
Floyd Cramer is the only artist to double up in the top twenty with "Last Date" and "On the Rebound."
There are other instrumentals that I would also give an A+ rating, but to continue to split hairs and rank them is too taxing an effort -- therefore they are listed in alphabetical order. |
