The Best of 70’s Instrumental Music

Discover the best of 70’s instrumental music. From rock to jazz, these are the greatest hits of the decade.

Introduction

The 1970s was a decade of great change and turmoil, both politically and socially. It was also a decade that saw the birth of some of the most iconic and influential music ever made. From the rise of disco to the birth of hip hop, the 70s was a decade that truly changed the landscape of popular music.

And while there were plenty of great vocalists and bands making music in the 70s, it was also a decade that saw the rise of instrumental music. From jazz to funk to classical, instrumental music was truly thriving in the 1970s.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best instrumental music that came out of the 1970s. So whether you’re a fan of Miles Davis or Jean-Michel Jarre, there’s sure to be something here for you.

The Best of 70’s Instrumental Music

The best of 70’s instrumental music was a decade of exploration and innovation. Artists pushed the boundaries of what was possible with their music, creating new sounds and styles that would influence generations to come. From the birth of disco to the rise of punk rock, the 70’s was a decade of musical experimentation. And while not every experiment was successful, the best of 70’s instrumental music is still some of the most influential and enduring music ever made.

The Electric Piano

The vibrant sound of the electric piano became an integral part of 1970s music, appearing on some of the decade’s biggest hits. The electric piano was invented in the late 1920s, but it wasn’t until Stevie Wonder started using one on his early-’60s hits like “Uptight” that the instrument gained widespread popularity. Wonder’s use of the electric piano helped define the sound of Motown Records in the 1960s, and by the end of the decade, other artists were using it to create new sounds in soul, gospel, pop, and rock.

The Fender Rhodes electric piano was one of the most popular models in the 1970s; its bright tone can be heard on classic tracks like Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets,” Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon,” and Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are.” Other popular electric pianos include the Wurlitzer 200A (used by David Bowie on “Speed of Life” and John Lennon on “Imagine”), the Yamaha CP-70 (featured on Paul McCartney & Wings’ “Band on the Run”), and the Hohner Pianet (heard on David Bowie’s “Heroes” and Talking Heads’ “‘Psycho Killer”).

The Fender Rhodes

The Fender Rhodes is an electric piano manufactured by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The instrument was commonly used in jazz, rock, and pop music of the 1970s. It has been used by such artists as Chick Corea, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, and Elton John.

The Mellotron

The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England, in 1963. It evolved from an experimental instrument developed in the late 1940s by French composer and overnight radio sensation Pierre Henry.

Like many Voltage Controlled Instruments (VCI) of the day, the Mellotron was designed to reproduce recorded sounds stored on magnetic tape. The earliest tapes were recorded at 7-1/2 ips (inches per second), which limited their playback time to around eight seconds. The Mellotron could accommodate 36 different sounds on each of its two playback heads, giving the player access to a total of 72 unique sounds.

Mellotrons were widely used during the 1960s and 1970s by such bands as The Moody Blues, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd. The Mellotron fell out of favor in the early 1980s with the advent of digital sampling keyboards; however, it has experienced something of a resurgence in recent years with renewed interest from vintage keyboard collectors and artists looking for unique sounds not found on modern instruments.

The Moog Synthesizer

The Moog Synthesizer was one of the first electronic musical instruments, and was invented by Robert Moog in the 1960s. It consists of a keyboard, a series of patch cables, and a box that produces sounds. The Moog is capable of producing a wide range of sounds, from traditional instrument emulation to abstract noise and everything in between. The Moog has been used by some of the most influential musicians of all time, including the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, ELP, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd, Yes, the Doors, Kraftwerk, and many more.

Conclusion

The 1970s was an incredible decade for music, with so many different genres and sub-genres emerging. It was also a time when the use of instruments in music reached new heights, with artists experimenting with sounds and textures to create unique sonic landscapes.

Instrumental music became increasingly popular during the 1970s, with many artists released groundbreaking and influential albums. From jazz-fusion to progressive rock, there was something for everyone. Below are just a few of the best instrumental albums released during this decade.

-‘A Love Supreme’ by John Coltrane (1965)
-‘Bitches Brew’ by Miles Davis (1970)
-‘In a Silent Way’ by Miles Davis (1969)
-‘Electric Ladyland’ by Jimi Hendrix (1968)
-‘Kind of Blue’ by Miles Davis (1959)
-‘The Rothko Chapel’ by Terry Riley (1971)
-‘G/F/W/R’ by Steve Reich (1974)