elsongs Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Conga. Miami Sound Machine, 1985. I believe the piano player at the time was Roger Fisher. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyS Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Miami Sound Machine ,,, the piano solo on Conga,,, fantastic,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mills Dude Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Billy Joel's piano solo in 'Don't Ask Me Why' is pretty classic. Reached 19 on Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Adult Contemporary. Quote Mills Dude -- Lefty Hack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBarker Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Bernie Worrell in the Live version of "Burning Down the House"! Hell yeah! Quote Puck Funk! Equipment: Laptop running lots of nerdy software, some keyboards, noise makersâ¦yada yada yadaâ¦maybe a cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Love the 'shredding' in the piano solo in this one [video:youtube] Quote The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamanczarek Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Piano solo in Van Morrison's "Moondance" by business tycoon Jef Labes. https://www.irocku.com/store/piano-lessons-with-jef-labes/ Moog solo and best Marimba solo in a pop song on "Moonlight Feels Right" by Starbuck. Synth solo with Piano accompaniment on "Breaking Us in Two" by Joe Jackson. Hammond solo on Ambrosia's " You're the Only Woman". Synth solo on "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" by the Four Seasons. Quote C3/122, M102A, Vox V301H, Farfisa Compact, Gibson G101, GEM P, RMI 300A, Piano Bass, Pianet , Prophet 5 rev. 2, Pro-One, Matrix 12, OB8, Korg MS20, Jupiter 6, Juno 60, PX-5S, Nord Stage 3 Compact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sosho Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 The piano solo on " Ruby Baby " ( Donald Fagen ,The Nightfly ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnderGroundGr Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Synth solo from Toto's Rossana! Rock song, but a POPular one! Quote Kurzweil K2661 + full options,iMac 27",Mac book white,Apogee Element 24 + Duet,Genelec 8030A,Strymon Lex + Flint,Hohner Pianet T,Radial Key-Largo,Kawai K5000W,Moog Minitaur,Yamaha Reface YC + CP, iPad 9th Gen, Arturia Beatstep + V Collection 9 https://antonisadelfidis.bandcamp.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogika Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Been listening to some old Sting recently, first 4 solo albums. Of course you have Kenny Kirkland killing it all over the first one. Ten Summoner's Tales - '93 has amazing work by David Sancious with a truly wonderful Hammond solo on track 7, St. Augustine in Hell, in 7/8 time. That song isn't necessarily pop, but I'd certainly classify the album as. In general, great keyboard all over Sting's catalog, including the Police. Oh yes! Kenny Kirkland's AMAZING solo on "When the World is Running Down (You Make the Best of What's Still Around)" off the "Bring on the Night" live album kills me, every time. Quote "The Angels of Libra are in the European vanguard of the [retro soul] movement" (Bill Buckley, Soul and Jazz and Funk) The Drawbars | off jazz organ trio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piano39 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I hate to be a buzzkill, but here's the problem....I think that most of the solos that have been cited in this thread are over 30 years old. How come new pop songs don't have any good instrumental solos? Not only keyboard solos, but guitar and sax solos have disappeared as well. (Although I am not lamenting the disappearance of guitar solos on pop). I used to be a voracious reader of Keyboard magazine. I recall when they cited "That's All" by Genesis and "Don't Want to Fall in Love" by Jane Child as being notable for HAVING solos (organ and synth respectively). Just looked 'em up--Jane Child's song is the newer one, from 1990. Don't get me wrong, I agree with most of the selections on this thread as being great. I also would nominate "Don't Want to Fall in Love" for this thread. However, I am dismayed that the pop music has abandoned lead solos. Quote Yamaha Motif XF6, Yamaha AN200, Logic Pro X, Arturia Microbrute, Behringer Model D, Yamaha UX-3 Acoustic Piano, assorted homemade synth modules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moj Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Basia - New Day For You Norah Jones - Don't Know Why Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing (Jools Holland solo) Marc Anthony - You Sang To Me (Accordion solo) Anita Baker - Giving You The Best That I Got (piano by Sir Gant, he is/was a KC member) The Band - All La Glory (my favorite Garth Hudson solo) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoproducer Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Been listening to some old Sting recently, first 4 solo albums. Of course you have Kenny Kirkland killing it all over the first one. Ten Summoner's Tales - '93 has amazing work by David Sancious with a truly wonderful Hammond solo on track 7, St. Augustine in Hell, in 7/8 time. That song isn't necessarily pop, but I'd certainly classify the album as. In general, great keyboard all over Sting's catalog, including the Police. Oh yes! Kenny Kirkland's AMAZING solo on "When the World is Running Down (You Make the Best of What's Still Around)" off the "Bring on the Night" live album kills me, every time. THIS! Saw Sting & The Dream of the Blue Turtles band live, sitting in the front row with a Photographer friend of mine, mesmerised by Kenny's skill & seemingly limitless inventiveness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoproducer Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 I hate to be a buzzkill, but here's the problem....I think that most of the solos that have been cited in this thread are over 30 years old. How come new pop songs don't have any good instrumental solos? Not only keyboard solos, but guitar and sax solos have disappeared as well. (Although I am not lamenting the disappearance of guitar solos on pop). I used to be a voracious reader of Keyboard magazine. I recall when they cited "That's All" by Genesis and "Don't Want to Fall in Love" by Jane Child as being notable for HAVING solos (organ and synth respectively). Just looked 'em up--Jane Child's song is the newer one, from 1990. Don't get me wrong, I agree with most of the selections on this thread as being great. I also would nominate "Don't Want to Fall in Love" for this thread. However, I am dismayed that the pop music has abandoned lead solos. All is not lost! Check out the piano work on the song 'Dear Life' from Beck's album 'Colours' (released early last year I think). VERY tasty piano playing: Someone's been listening to The Beatles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You might think this is a cheesy tune but I like the tone of this Hammond. This guy is a decent player: [video:youtube] Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Always liked the one on the Cars' Bye Bye Love...maybe not technically difficult but just gets the blood going and fits perfectly. Maybe not "pop" but Head East's Never Been any reason has some nice stuff. A more recent "solo" (of sorts) I heard in Walk The Moon's Shut Up and Dance...again, not a hard one but hearing a keyboard solo on pop made in the last 10 years was a bit of a shock. Yeah, not a lot of solos of any kind in pop over the last 30 years. Then again I don't listen to pop that much so I'd be out of touch. There's a couple nice solos on Daft Punk's Random Access Memories, though not on the singles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenWaB3 Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Got to give it to Sly and his iconic organ stabs in Dance to the Music, 7 seconds of pure joy There was discussion some years ago that these solos were actually played by Billy Preston. I don't know if that ever was definitively resolved or not. The passing chords on the Wurlitzer from Family Affair also sound particularly Billy-esqe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dongna Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 One of my all-time favorite keyboard solos is Craig Doerge in Jackson Browne's Load Out / Stay. The guy has a way of making keyboard sound like singing with his bending and phrasing. Here's a live version that shows the playing. First solo starts around 4:10, and another around 7:00. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LennyTunes Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 So I just worked up Rhythm of the Night (DeBarge, written by Diane Warren). Got called for one of the corporate bands I play in. Never learned it back in the day until now. I dig the synth "flute" solo, so I learned the thing verbatim. Was it Jeff Lorber on the recording? Lorber was all over many pop hits of the late eighty's. Loved his clav breakdown in Pebble's Mercedes. Quote Lenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polychrest Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Three ancient pop/rock performances that first embedded the keyboard solo idiomthe very possibility of such a thingin my adolescent wannabe brain: Del Shannons Runaway (Max Crook); The Animals House of the Rising Sun (Alan Price), The Rascals Good Lovin (Felix Cavaliere). Short, tight, lyrical, essential to the song....and not impossibly difficult to learn and cover. Quote “True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.” ― Kurt Vonnegut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricBarker Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You might think this is a cheesy tune but I like the tone of this Hammond. This guy is a decent player: That is a nice solo. Especially love the line around 4:33. I'll take a tuneful solo over a shredder any day. It's a cheesy tune, but it works and is a solid hit. I also miss full story-themed music videos. As silly as it is, I couldn't help but smile at the intro. Quote Puck Funk! Equipment: Laptop running lots of nerdy software, some keyboards, noise makersâ¦yada yada yadaâ¦maybe a cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 One of my all-time favorite keyboard solos is Craig Doerge in Jackson Browne's Load Out / Stay. I like to play this solo when I'm messing around on my Voyager. Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillearning Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 As long as were going back... Hush - Deep Purple Roundabout - Yes Feelin Alright - Cockers version (just like the bar room vibe) Quote I would like to apologize to anyone I have not yet offended. Please be patient and I will get to you shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You might think this is a cheesy tune but I like the tone of this Hammond. This guy is a decent player: That is a nice solo. Especially love the line around 4:33. I'll take a tuneful solo over a shredder any day. It's a cheesy tune, but it works and is a solid hit. I also miss full story-themed music videos. As silly as it is, I couldn't help but smile at the intro. There is a little organ in "Do you believe in love " also. I hope Huey has his hearing problem solved because he would like to tour last I heard. Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr88s Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Dennis DeYoung deserves a nod for sonically interesting and technically blazingly fast work on songs like "Come Sail Away" and "Fooling Yourself". Quote Nord Stage 2 Compact, Yamaha MODX8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You might think this is a cheesy tune but I like the tone of this Hammond. This guy is a decent player: That is a nice solo. Especially love the line around 4:33. I'll take a tuneful solo over a shredder any day. It's a cheesy tune, but it works and is a solid hit. I also miss full story-themed music videos. As silly as it is, I couldn't help but smile at the intro. There is a little organ in "Do you believe in love " also. I hope Huey has his hearing problem solved because he would like to tour last I heard. Huey Lewis & The News was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. TOP Horns, exciting, well-crafted and tightly arranged tunes played by real players. Keyboards were exactly what they should have been. I really, really liked that band. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Clark Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 It's short and sweet, but I always enjoyed the synth solo on Head Over Heels. [video:youtube] Quote Soul, R&B, Pop from Los Angeles http://philipclark.com Cannonball Gerald Albright Signature Alto, Yamaha YC73, Fender Rhodes, Roland Juno-106, Yamaha MX61, Roland VR-09, MicroKorg XL, Maschine Mikro, Yamaha Reface CP, Roland MKS-50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Steve Winwood- "While You See a Chance" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 You might think this is a cheesy tune but I like the tone of this Hammond. This guy is a decent player: That is a nice solo. Especially love the line around 4:33. I'll take a tuneful solo over a shredder any day. It's a cheesy tune, but it works and is a solid hit. I also miss full story-themed music videos. As silly as it is, I couldn't help but smile at the intro. There is a little organ in "Do you believe in love " also. I hope Huey has his hearing problem solved because he would like to tour last I heard. Huey Lewis & The News was one of the best live shows I've ever seen. TOP Horns, exciting, well-crafted and tightly arranged tunes played by real players. Keyboards were exactly what they should have been. I really, really liked that band. Wasn't that like in 2001? I think they have a horn section now made up of other guys? Quote "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Music Bird Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Some pop keyboard solos This has a few Minimoog solos Also note the Yamaha organ (same model Steve Winwood used in John Martyns album he was on) Organ solo https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GpvMeefaR0M Organ solo again at 1:03. Its a YC-45D if you remember that model. The solo in Whats Love Got To Do With It is a sound I still use I also like the solo in IGY by Donald Fagen as well as Daft Punk - Da Funk Daft Punk - Around The World Hetty Koes Endang - Demi Cinta Nih Ye (DX7 but still a solid tone) Sting - An Englishman in New York (newer live versions) (definitely has a synth or keys solo in it in the live newer versions where his keyboardist plays the sax part) This one cover of a TOP song I did had a synth brass solo in it. Im not joking, Ive done covers of TOP and Muscle Shoals songs with synth horns. Quote Yamaha MX49, Casio SK1/WK-7600, Korg Minilogue, Alesis SR-16, Casio CT-X3000, FL Studio, many VSTs, percussion, woodwinds, strings, and sound effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiefDanG Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 When I was a young lad, "She's Not There" made me give up drum lessons and start hitting the piano. "Light My Fire" was also an inspiration. Being from northern NJ, the (Young) Rascals were bigger than the Beatles to me. Anything Felix did, I tried to copy. Including pointing up in air while holding down some high notes on my Farfisa/Leslie rig. After high school I got my first B3 and was into rock/fm radio rather than pop/am radio. Deep Purple, Nice (just trying to understand Keith), Argent..... Quote Professional musician = great source of poverty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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