Great list!! I've always loved "Oscillate Wildly," a lovely and cinematic song by The Smiths. Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Creatures did some gorgeous instrumentals too!
Thank you! I listened to "Oscillate Wildly" right before I filmed the video. I was debating that versus the Gary Numan selection. "OW" will most definitely make an appearance if there's a part 2 to this video. Thanks for watching!
Great list! A few of them I know well and some I absolutely need to check out and will. On a personal note, one of if not my favorite instrumentals is New Order’s “Elegia” (the long nearly 20 min version especially ). Listened to it on so many road trips in the nigh and will again. It always takes me from the road into space. Beautiful song. While maybe not post punk per se, I kind of put that time of New Order into the “descendants of” category. Also, I much enjoyed you and your buddy’s Cocteau Twins ranking a few months ago! One of my cherished favorite bands! All the best to you sir!
Thanks Steve! Great call on "Elegia." Another one that was on my master list (and perhaps will make an appearance if I make a part 2) is "Incubation" by Joy Division. Glad you enjoyed the Cocteaus video! We'll be filming a new ranking in the next couple of weeks.
There was a period in my life when Simple Minds were my most favorite band in the world. I collected everything I could find and most of those import 12” singles had such beautiful instrumental versions.
Hi Arthur, I have some of the 12" singles as well. Those earlier records are so captivating and pretty experimental - Empires & Dance, Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call are total gems. Some day I'll tackle their catalog for a ranking video. Thanks for watching!
Hi Bret, first of all love the album cover display behind you.. four brilliant albums! Great topic. I did this on my alt80s radio show a few years ago and included pretty much all of your suggestions. Can I add these... Monochrome Set - Great Barrier Riff, China Crisis - Jean Walks In Fresh Fields, Chameleons - Silence, Sea and Sky, Bill Nelson - Portrait of Jan With Flowers, Stranglers - Waltzinblack (just to name a few). For fear of being a pedant can I say that songs usually have lyrics :). Thanks for the post, enjoyable as usual.
Thank you! I was going to feature "Silence, Sea and Sky" in this list, but decided to keep the song lengths to a minimum of 3 minutes, but had to have the accompanying album hanging out there in the background. Indeed, a great instrumental - always makes me think of the Twin Peaks Theme. You're totally right on about the song definition, re: voice / lyrics. I feel like those parameters are starting to evolve and get used interchangeably, especially in this day where instrumental music in a rock band setting occurs more frequently, ie. post rock bands. Referring to their compositions as songs feels right maybe. Interesting. Thanks for watching, Brett!
Hey Bret great choices, Theme for great cities should go down as the best instrumental of all time in this category. I remember doing a similar playlist once, it comes to mind This Mortal Coil - Last Ray, The Smiths-Oscillate Wildly, New Order - Elegia, Duran Duran- Tiger Tiger, among others...Thanks for your always interesting videos. Cheers Joe
Hey Joe! I had a couple of those on my 'master list.' Pondering a part 2 of this topic and you may see them mentioned. :) But yeah, totally agree on "Theme for Great Cities" - as mentioned, it inspired this whole video. Thanks for sharing your picks!
Great list and great video as always!! Instrumental tracks are the best, they add a sense of mystery that fits goth-ish bands particularly well. Perssonally I would add 'Rococo' the the Cocteaus, and two gems from Cranes' catalogue, 'Everything For' from Future Songs and 'One from the Slum', the opening track on Self-Non-Self. For some reason I've alwways connected this track with DCD's Fatal Impact (I wish they'd recorded an entire album with that particular sound), don't know why but I feel like they belong in the same universe.
Great call on the two Cranes tracks. Pulling those right now for a spin. Hoping that Future Songs gets a reissue next! "Rococo" most certainly will make an appearance in a part 2 of this video. It was in my Top 15 just before whittling it down. Thanks for watching!
Wonderful to hear Deconstruction mentioned. It’s a travesty that it hasn’t been issued on vinyl! My suggestion for you is this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rwucpUcgCI4.htmlsi=-gVBy5dt_sx7oCKA by Course of Empire. Their first album is a masterpiece. If you haven’t heard the whole album, I can’t recommend it enough. Another album in dire need of a vinyl issue. Quickly, the first thing I thought of when I saw your video name was “Warszawa” by Bowie, but I guess it’s not technically an instrumental. Love your channel!
Hi John, there were so many Bowie ones that I was contemplating, but decided to save him for a part 2 video. Always happy to hear someone familiar with the Deconstruction album! Vinyl / deluxe CD with extra tracks / outtakes would be incredible. Thanks for watching!
@@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog Sweet, part 2! Yes, I was (am) a huge Jane’s fan and I was on top of everything they were doing post the terribly upsetting breakup.
Great list, Bret, and I actually own half of them. Now I have to get the rest. 😊 You always cost me money. Lol. I have been on a huge Gary Numan kick lately. I am thinking of going to see him in Chicago in March.
@BretHelmsLifeOnThisPlanetBlog Yes that is the tour. I have thought about going to Atlanta instead because then there is a VIP because he is on his own.
Hey Bret - This is a truly awesome video. I once made a playlist of instrumental tracks and I included the Simple Minds, Love and Rockets, and Durutti Column tracks 🙂
Thanks Brian! Those are amazing songs that rarely get the attention they deserve - the Simple Minds track is especially. If you're not familiar with "Happy Hunting Ground" from The Church, give that one a spin! :)
Great list! Learned about a couple of new ones to check out. Here’s some other ones that come to mind: -Evergreen Dazed by Felt -Rococo by Cocteau Twins -Oscillate Wildly by The Smiths -Elegia by New Order
Thanks Samy! I had a couple of those you mentioned on my 'master list.' I'm considering a part 2 for this video, so you may see those mentioned. :) Thanks for watching!
I filled a new gold dream about 5 years ago seeing SM live from about 3 feet from Jim Kerr. It was an incredible experience. And they played this song to. Absolutely awesome 😎
Wow! That must've been incredible. I saw some footage on YT last year of them playing outside in an amphitheater... I think it was in Italy. So good! Very cool that you caught a pick!
Nice collection of records there, was a really long time when Simple Minds got some air, I guess it's time to give it a spin. Nice to see some Love & Rockets, great album and lastly what nice Numan album!
Thank you! Happy to help inspire a Simple Minds spin. :) I got to meet Mr. Numan several years ago and he kindly signed that copy of The Pleasure Principle that I've had since being a teenager.
