K-Chuck Radio: What’s that instrument??

The normal set-up for a rock band goes something like this.  Lead vocalist, lead guitarist, bass, keyboards, drums.

Now just imagine if someone added a few extra instruments to the mix.  Something that normally isn’t part of a rock and roll song… but somehow that song still becomes a hit, and that distinctive instrument becomes part of the song’s identity.

What’s the best way to describe this effect?

This might work…

More Cowbell – Saturday Night Live from Dee Three on Vimeo.

But that’s a comedy sketch. Let’s see some examples of non-traditional musical instruments as part of rock and roll songs. Including…

AC/DC
It’s a Long Way To The Top

Apparently AC/DC frontman Bon Scott was in a bagpipe band at one time… and thus we have bagpipes in a classic AC/DC song.

SLADE
Run Runaway

Another example of bagpipes in a rock song, this was a comeback hit of sorts for Slade, and was their first Top 40 hit in the United States.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA
Roll Over Beethoven

I’ve always appreciated ELO, and when you can mix a string quartet into an old Chuck Berry song… not complaining here…

STARBUCK
Moonlight Feels Right

At about the 1:50 mark of this video, you get probably the first, last and only Top 10 song to ever feature a marimba solo. You heard me. That’s a marimba in this song. Or maybe it’s a xylophone. Anybody wanna school me on the difference between the two?

GOANNA
Solid Rock

That buzzing noise at the beginning of this international track? It’s an Australian instrument called a digiridu. Arguably, it’s one of the oldest woodwind instruments ever built. And it’s the hook for this 80’s hit song.

LEROY ANDERSON
The Typewriter

This early 1950’s song was created by the author of “Sleigh Ride” and “The Syncopated Clock,” and features a typewriter as the percussion instrument. Wow. I do have some issues with the version as performed by Martin Breinschmid, with the Strauß Festival Orchestra Vienna. Dude, all you’re typing is fjfjfjfjfjfjfj on the keys. Would it kill you to mix in a spacebar?

And if you think that a 1953 song with a typewriter is odd… just know that…

TOM TOM CLUB
Wordy Rappinghood

This song starts out with what sounds like either a typewriter or a teletype machine. Odd… but funky…

It’s definitely some additional treats to the traditional rock song… but then again, popular music has really never been “traditional.” Right?