Probably without ever even realizing, there are more than a few truly great R&R bands that never had any brass or woodwind players as members, but some of their greatest songs featured saxes, trumpets and trombones.
Kinda like how Free Bird actually has violins… seriously.
I’m not talking about a barely recognizable brass arrangement buried deep in the background… these are great Rock songs that wouldn’t be the same without up-front brass and woodwinds throwing some serious body blows.
Sorry, no Chicago (early, when they were actually good); no Blood, Sweat and Tears; no Madness, no Tower of Power; no Ides of March.
Speaking of Chicago, one of the songs listed below was the catalyst for the same. It was in 1966 when a young Walt Parazaider (sax, clarinet and flute) first heard this song, then decided he could start his own Rock & Roll band with a horn section. Parazaider retired in 2021 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
But back to the topic at hand; as a kid who was raised with my parents always having Big Band Jazz on the radio, I’m sure many of you also fall into this category.
Hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do.
Bonus track: Free Bird, complete with violins (at the 3:43 mark);