Forgotten saxaphone shlock jazz hit from the disco era

July 19, 2007 7:50 AM

Earworm: Please identify the song title and artist responsible for a soaring, saxophone driven instrumental hit popular on FM radio sometime in the 1978-1981 time frame. My best guess is this hit rode on the coattails of "Feels So Good". Unlike that happy hit, the song I am seeking had a more dramatic, soaring crescendo, ideal for sailing boats or, well, sailing boats.
posted by tomharpel to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

Could you be meaning "Going Home" by Mark Knopler - used as the theme music for the movie "Local Hero". It was also used for some sailing connected TV at the time as well if I remember rightly (sax starts about 2/3 into youtube clip as linked).
posted by rongorongo at 8:02 AM on July 19, 2007

Best answer: Not an instrumental, but the first thing that comes to mind is "Baker Street" (1978) by Gerry Rafferty. Clip available on amazon page here.
posted by googly at 8:07 AM on July 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Also: youtube of whole track.
posted by googly at 8:09 AM on July 19, 2007

Are you positive it was an instrumental?

I immediately thought of The One You Love, but that has lyrics.
posted by iconomy at 8:14 AM on July 19, 2007

Any chance it was a tv theme instead of a single?
posted by pieoverdone at 8:51 AM on July 19, 2007

Response by poster: "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty. That's it, and it's not an instrumental at all. Thanks for solving a riddle that has plagued me on and off for a couple of years.
posted by tomharpel at 9:16 AM on July 19, 2007

This question has been asked twice before. Not saying that you should definitely would have been able to find past instances via the search, maybe just wondering if you did search at all. Sorry if that sounds pissy and passive agressive, it's not meant to be, I'm genuinely curious.

Also, I think Matt should consider adding a "If you're what that song with the soaring sax part is, it's Baker Street" note to the AskMe posting page.
posted by saladin at 9:37 AM on July 19, 2007

Could be Give It All You Got, also Mangione. Or maybe "Rise" (Alpert), but that's a trumpet. Or "Morning Dance".

On preview: aargh! We need a line on the question posting page: "Is your question about a song prominently featuring the saxophone? Then it's probably 'Baker Street'. "
posted by teleskiving at 9:38 AM on July 19, 2007

Bollocks!
posted by teleskiving at 9:39 AM on July 19, 2007

We really ought to add this question to the FAQ.
posted by frecklefaerie at 11:13 AM on July 19, 2007 [1 favorite]

Huh. I've heard that song a billion times, too and never knew what it was. I like the vocal a lot, but find the sax extremely irritating. Ruins the song for me.
posted by ctmf at 12:32 PM on July 19, 2007

Response by poster: If this makes the FAQ or posting page, then my work here is done. That guitar solo at the end, it rages.
posted by tomharpel at 10:43 PM on July 19, 2007