Violins in rock/pop songs

[Marcio**]

I really like violins, or family, in rock/pop songs, it's good and not so much usual. I have some examples:

1)"A Day In The Life" by The Beatles, 1967.
2)"The Ballad Of Danny Bayley (1909-34)" by Sir Elton John, 1973.
3)"Guinevere" by Rick Wakeman, 1975.


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[zeca azevedo]

Oi Márcio,

A DAY IN THE LIFE by THE BEATLES is a pop masterpiece. Probably the best string arrangement in a pop/rock context.

Here's some of my favorite songs with violins in POP/ROCK:

- HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY, by VAN MORRISON
- SIGNAL TO NOISE, by PETER GABRIEL
- ELEANOR RIGBY, by THE BEATLES
- SHE'S LEAVING HOME, by THE BEATLES
- SHE'S A RAINBOW, by THE ROLLING STONES
- GOD ONLY KNOWS, by THE BEACH BOYS
- STAND BY ME, by BEN E. KING
- RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH, by IKE & TINA TURNER (produced by PHIL SPECTOR)
- LEVON, by ELTON JOHN
- SPACE ODDITY, by DAVID BOWIE
- LIFE ON MARS, by DAVID BOWIE
- STREET HASSLE, by LOU REED
- I WISH IT WOULD RAIN, by THE TEMPTATIONS
- I WISH I NEVER SAW THE SUNSHINE, by THE RONETTES

There's more, of course, but I have to go back to work now :lol:

zeca azevedo, I got the world on a string

[Bernie]

What about Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) tracks like "Turned To Stone?" I'm assuming they used real strings right?

[Leanmean]

"White Bird" by It's A Beautiful Day (incredible! the guy was a virtuoso) What was his name... David, something...

Check out cuts by Hot Tuna when Papa John Creech was in the group.

Same for Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

Uh, Long John Baldry too?

And then there's hot fiddle (and washboard) in Black Oak Arkansas's stuff.

[paul]

Originally Posted by Leanmean

"White Bird" by It's A Beautiful Day (incredible! the guy was a virtuoso) What was his name... David, something...

Check out cuts by Hot Tuna when Papa John Creech was in the group.

Same for Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

Uh, Long John Baldry too?

And then there's hot fiddle (and washboard) in Black Oak Arkansas's stuff.

You're right about "White Bird" being a beautiful song Lean. It is a nice duet and I heard the female vocalist interviewed several months ago. I just can't remember the names of the artist :-?

[Outsider]

Don't forget the Wings song "Silly Love Songs". :evil:

[SandraDee]

I always like the strings on ABC's 'Lexicon of Love' LP.

[Cybermoukette]

I love the violins that are played in most songs of Electric Light Orchestra. I've never heard a band play so many strings. I simply love it !


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !!

[Joshua B]

My favorite is "Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke.

[Nano]

From recent years, I must say Richard Ashcroft really knows how to put violins in a rock/pop song (that or he knows who's really a great arranger ). The Verve's "Urban hymns" is full of great arrangements that include classical chord instruments. Ditto for Richard's first solo record, "Alone with everybody" (2000). I didn't hear his second album, but I'm sure is awesome.
Songs like "Bittersweet symphony" of course, but also "Sonnet", "A song for the lovers", "On a beach", "You on my mind in my sleep", etc.

Now for a BAD violin, just hear Bob Dylan's mid 70's period. There was a young violin player I read Bob met playing on the street and hired on the spot for his Rolling Thunder Revue. Well, if the guy was an amateur, it shows! :evil: That motherfucker practically ruined the sound on whole albums like "Hard rain" and "Desire". Luckily, he wasn't there yet when Saint Bob recorded "Blood on the tracks"... phew! :-?

[efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by zeca azevedo

Oi Márcio,

A DAY IN THE LIFE by THE BEATLES is a pop masterpiece. Probably the best string arrangement in a pop/rock context.

Very well put zeca, that is my favorite beatles song of all time.
Here's a few of my favorites

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
speaks for itself actually...

Carpenters - Superstar
Electric Light Orchestra - Can't Get It Out Of My Head