First of all, I think that you should know that I've been planning this blog post for some time now. In fact, the sales receipt from Fiesta Gifts at Albuquerque International Airport indicates that I was struck with the idea on 5/15/2009 some time after 1:59:23 PM Mountain Time (most likely 10,000 feet or higher in the air). We are now less than a week away from Thanksgiving. Just what the hell took so long? I'm not sure exactly.
Often when I'm traveling for work, I think about how it might be a good idea to do something productive while sitting on airplanes rather than just ingesting refreshing Ginger Ale and subsequently thinking about how bad I have to pee. And then it occurred to me: I love the song "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl.
As everyone knows, the allure of "Waiting for a Star to Fall" is indeed the brilliant saxophone solo (and the most well-timed key change in the history of music). In wishing that I had that song on my iPod to satisfy my sudden craving, I began to think about other songs that were carried to the top of the billboards and our hearts by smooth, honking, and sometimes seemingly directionless sax solos. Though it may be hard to believe now, there was a time when crazed female fans in the audience beared their breasts to hard-working, soloing saxophonists instead of lead guitarists.
Yeah, I know.
And so, I handed the flight attendent my empty Ginger Ale can, accompanying plastic cup, and unused napkin (what are those for, anyway?) to set to important work. I fished out the aforementioned Fiesta Gifts receipt for $31.92 worth of 'MAGNET TINY TILE 1X1', turned it over, and began to record every song I could think of where a sax player rightfully - and as it turns out, temporarily - claimed his (and her?) place at the front of the rock n' roll stage. I need to take a moment to thank my friends and family for their unwavering support and contributions to this project. Thanks, you guys.
If you're looking for some good sax, look no further! Ladies and gentleman, allow me to present the most unlikely but soon-to-be most played mix on your iPod (in no particular order except #1, which belongs at #1):
The 10 Greatest American Sax Solos:
- "Waiting for a Star to Fall" - Boy Meets Girl
- "Born to Run" - Bruce Springsteen
- "Careless Whisper" - George Michael
- "Takin' it to the Streets" - Doobie Brothers
- "Maneater" - Daryl Hall and John Oates
- "Never Tear Us Apart" - INXS
- "The Logical Song" - Supertramp
- "Tonight's the Night" - Rod Stewart
- "A Love Bizarre" - Sheila E., featuring Prince
- ... almost every Billy Joel song ever made in the 1980's, including but not limited to "Just the Way You Are" and "It's Still Rock n' Roll to Me"
Honorable Mentions for Heavy Use of Sax but Lacking Clearly-Defined Solos ...
"Young Americans" - David Bowie
"Mirror in the Bathroom" - The English Beat
"I Still Believe" - Tim Cappello (from one of the weirdest scenes in any movie but it just so happens it is in one of my favorite movies of all time The Lost Boys)
End blog post.
