By Mitch Rice
Saxophone songs can be beautifully expressive, and they can also be incredibly fun to play. They are an important part of any musician’s repertoire. They can be used to practice, learn new techniques, and even have fun.
If you’re looking for some great saxophone solos in pop, ballad, rock, etc., to learn in the coming year, here are ten of somebody’s best saxophone songs. So, whether you’re just starting to play, these tunes will challenge you and make you happy. So put on your best saxophone face and get ready to rock out!
1) Careless Whisper By George Michael
The saxophone melody in George Michael’s Wham! the song “Careless Whisper” was the hardest part to record. Michael had a clear idea of what he wanted, and he tried about ten people who played sax solos before finding Steve Gregory.
Steve Gregory worked with Michael for hours until he was able to record what Michael wanted. People often think that the story in the song is based on real events, even though he wrote it on a bus ride.
2) Baker Street By Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty couldn’t put out any new music for years after he left the band Stealers Wheel because he was in legal trouble with the group. When he finally released “Baker Street,” the song was a happy sign of a new start and a sign of hope.
Baker Street is a street in London that he used to go to a lot when he was young. Raphael Ravenscroft plays a few pieces on a baritone sax before suggesting it play on his spare tenor sax in his car, and the rest is history.
The song was played over and over on the radio, which led to what has been called the “Baker Street phenomenon”: sax solos were a must in all ’80s pop music.
3) Born to Run By Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen’s “Hail Mary” was among the most popular rock and roll songs. Before he put out Born to Run, neither of his first two albums did well. The song was his last chance to make it in rock and roll and take his music on the road outside New Jersey.
Even though it came out long ago, the state tried making Springsteen’s classic their official state song.
4) Just the Way You Are By Billy Joel
“Don’t change to make me happy. You never let me down before.” Billy Joel wrote this wonderful song for the birthday of his ex-wife Elizabeth. He wanted the romantic lyrics to show her that he loved her no matter what.
After that, many well-known artists, such as Barry White and Frank Sinatra, made their song versions.
5) One Step Beyond By Madness
When Madness heard the song, which was originally a Jamaican ska song by Prince Buster, they knew they had to cover it. When they recorded “One Step Beyond” in 1979, music videos were just getting popular on MTV.
The music channel, however, had trouble getting enough videos to fill its time slots. The strange video for Madness’s single “One Step Beyond” was shown on MTV, and Americans went crazy for it.
6) Young Americans By David Bowie
David Sanborn plays a lead sax solo in this Bowie song from his album Young Americans. In just a few minutes, the song’s title tells the story of Bowie’s time in America.
Bowie recorded the album in Philadelphia at Sigmund Sound Studios, an unofficial centre for African-American musicians in the 1970s. This is why the album has a soul feel to it.
7) Last Friday Night By Katy Perry
Katy Perry got the idea for “Last Friday Night (TGIF),” which is on her critically acclaimed album Teenage Dream, after a night of hard partying in Santa Barbara.
Even though she changed some things in the song, a lot is true. Several famous people, like Debbie Harry, Hanson, and Kenny G, made cameos in the video for the song.
8) Deacon Blues By Steely Dan
In “Deacon Blues,” Steely Dan tells the story of an “expanding man” who grew up in the suburbs but wanted to leave to see the rest of the world. The attractive title is a bit of a random tribute to NFL football player Deacon Jones, who came up with the term “quarterback sack.”
The band called Pete Christlieb, who played the saxophone on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, played the saxophone part in the song.
9) Sir Duke By Stevie Wonder
This Stevie Wonder hit reached number one in the US and two in Europe. It is a beautiful tribute to Duke Ellington, who greatly influenced the artist. Ellington was known as a legend in the jazz world.
He was a well-known leader of an orchestra band, wrote the music, and played the piano well.
10) Midnight City By M83
Anthony Gonzalez, who goes by the stage name M83, chose it to honour the Messier 83 spiral galaxy. He wrote “Midnight City” after living in Los Angeles for a while and seeing how busy the city was at night.
In interviews, Gonzalez said that this song was the one he wrote the fastest. He said he finished it in less than three hours.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to improve your sax-playing skills, be sure to check out Sax School Online.
Their online learning platform offers beginner through advanced courses that will help you become a better sax player in no time! Thanks for reading, and happy practising!
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment, medical or other purposes.
