Hit Parade: "Insert Lyrics Here Edition Part 1"

Podcast: Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Host: Chris Molanphy (Slate Podcasts)

Date: September 16, 2023

Episode Overview

In this episode, Chris Molanphy explores the rise and fall of instrumental hits in pop music. He examines their unique chart history, how they thrived in various eras, and the impact of musicians like Kenny G. Molanphy unpacks why instrumentals once dominated both radio and pop culture—tracing their journey from easy listening and orchestras, through surf rock, disco, and into contemporary moods—while asking if the streaming age might spearhead a new renaissance for lyric-free hits.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance of Instrumental Hits from the Charts

• In the mid-1980s, instrumentals like "Axl F" (Harold Faltermeyer) and Jan Hammer's "Miami Vice Theme" dominated the charts.
• "Miami Vice Theme" in 1985 was the last purely instrumental Billboard Hot 100 #1 to date.
  • Quote:

    "We would never see so many vocal free singles place so highly on the charts again. To this day, 'Miami Vice Theme' remains the last purely instrumental chart topper in Hot 100 history." (03:30)

2. Instrumentals: From Mementos to Mood Music

• Instrumentals in later decades became rare, often relegated to dance/club or mood genres.
• The rise of legendary DJs in the 21st century may signal a comeback.
• Functional Audio: Instrumentals now serve as mood enhancers, generating billions of streams even if they no longer chart.
  • Quote:

    "A recent Billboard report estimates the so called functional audio market ...as generating around 120 billion streams annually." (10:38)

3. Defining an Instrumental Hit

• Instrumentals are typically charted as songs without significant vocals—occasional chants (like “Tequila”) or refrains (“Hey”) may be included.
• Even limited vocalizations (e.g., chants, moans) usually don't disqualify a song, but true refrains or verses do.
  • Quote:

    "Honestly, this is not an exact science. There is an element of 'I know it when I hear it' that is fairly subjective." (15:40)

4. Roots in the 1950s: The Birth of Instrumental Songs on the Charts

• Early pop charts in the “rock era” still featured many orchestral or piano-based instrumentals, e.g.,
  • Roger Williams's "Autumn Leaves" (1955, #1)
  • Perez Prado's "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" (1955, #1)
• Instrumentals were initially a respite from rock 'n' roll, catering to older pop sensibilities while still appealing to younger listeners.

5. Instrumentals and Rock: The Twang Revolution

• Bill Doggett’s “Honky Tonk” (1956) and Bill Justis’s “Raunchy” (1957) helped bring “twangy” guitar instrumentals into pop.
• Story: George Harrison auditioned for the Beatles by playing “Raunchy.”
  • Memorable quote:

    "Apparently 'Raunchy' was a rite of passage for young rock fans... a teenage George Harrison auditioned for a young John Lennon and Paul McCartney by playing his rendition of 'Raunchy.'" (25:30)

6. Surf, Sleep, and Side Dishes: The Eclectic ‘50s and ‘60s

• Instrumental hits spanned genres:
  • "Tequila" (The Champs, 1958, #1)
  • "Sleep Walk" (Santo and Johnny, 1959, #1)
  • "Theme from 'A Summer Place'" (Percy Faith, 1960, #1 for nine weeks!)

7. Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass: The Lifestyle Instrumental

• Herb Alpert’s "The Lonely Bull" (1962) spurred a run of five #1 albums.
• The exotic-but-not-authentic sound was key to American listeners.
• Iconic album: Whipped Cream & Other Delights sold over 6 million copies thanks to “bachelor-friendly” marketing.
  • Quote:

    "When a 60s dude bought a Herb Alpert LP ...he was buying a piece of bachelor-friendly software for his hi-fi hardware. In other words, he was buying a lifestyle." (40:20)

8. The Instrumental Heyday of the Late ‘60s & ‘70s

• Chart-dominant instrumentals:
  • Paul Mauriat’s “Love is Blue” (1968, #1 for five weeks)
  • Mason Williams’s “Classical Gas” (1968, #2)
  • Hugh Masekela's “Grazing in the Grass” (1968, #1)
• Crossovers: Vocal groups sometimes added lyrics to hit instrumentals, as with Friends of Distinction's cover of “Grazing in the Grass.”

9. Movie and TV Instrumentals

• Hollywood themes drove hits:
  • “Theme from ‘Romeo and Juliet’” (Henry Mancini)
  • “Hawaii Five-O” (The Ventures)
  • “Dueling Banjos” from Deliverance (#2, 1973)

10. Innovation and Instrumentals in the 1970s

• Disco and dance fueled instrumental popularity:
  • Barry White's "Love's Theme" (1974, #1)
  • MFSB's “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” (1974, #1)
  • Van McCoy’s "The Hustle" (1975, #1)
  • Meco's disco "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" (1977, #1)
• Other innovation: Moog synth demos (“Popcorn”), prog/funk (“Also Sprach Zarathustra” by Deodato), and jazz fusion (Spyro Gyra’s "Morning Dance").

11. The Rise of Smooth Jazz and the Kenny G Phenomenon

• By the '80s, instrumentals transitioned into smooth jazz, culminating with Kenny G's success.
• Teaser: The episode closes by previewing Kenny G’s 1987 hit “Songbird,” which reached #4 and his platinum breakout.
  • Quote:

    “But how did the man born Kenneth Gorlick defy the odds for instrumentalists in the 80s, the 90s, and the 21st century? And does his success explain anything about the trajectory for the wordless hit across chart history?” (07:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the move from pop to functional music:

  “Instrumental music in the streaming age [is often] functional music for mood enhancement.” (11:30)

• On the broad range of instrumental genres:

  “The thing about instrumentals is they adhered to no one genre. They could be as sultry as 'Wonderland by Night,' as silly as 'The Stripper,' or on the 1962 number three hit 'Green Onions' by ...Booker T. and the MGs, strutty.” (48:10)

• On the lasting cultural impact of instrumental hooks:

  “Good luck getting that horn riff out of your head. It’s been sampled literally dozens of times across hip hop and pop.” (52:44, on Young-Holt Unlimited’s ‘Soulful Strut’)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00-01:30 — Intro and episode setup (skip)
• 03:00 — The 1985 end of the instrumental chart era
• 07:40 — The cultural role of instrumentals today; functional audio
• 10:38 — Billboard's functional audio market statistics
• 15:15 — "What counts as an instrumental?"—Defining terms
• 25:30 — Guitar heroes and the "Raunchy" Beatles audition anecdote
• 40:20 — Herb Alpert's "lifestyle" instrumentals
• 48:10 — The diversity of '60s instrumental hits
• 52:44 — Instrumental riffs in pop’s collective memory

Conclusion & What’s Next

The episode sets up a deep dive into instrumentals’ pivotal moment in the pop landscape. It traces how instrumentals, far from being mere curiosities, shaped multiple generations of music, before nearly vanishing from the charts. The next installment will explore the smooth jazz era, Kenny G's improbable reign, and what it all means for the future of the wordless hit.

“We will attempt to answer all these questions, no matter how mellow you're feeling. So put your feet up and pour yourself a beverage... and we will set a mood, drop a groove and provide a soundtrack that's better than your dentist's office. Stick around.” (09:45)