The Best British Music Instrumentals

Looking for the best British music instrumentals? Look no further than our top picks. From classic rock to modern pop, we’ve got you covered.

The Beatles – “A Day in the Life”

“A Day in the Life” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles that was released as the final track of their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was primarily written by John Lennon with input from Paul McCartney. It is widely regarded as one of the finest and most important works in popular music history.

The Kinks – “Waterloo Sunset”

The Kinks – “Waterloo Sunset”
This is one of the most beautiful and evocative pieces of music ever written, and it comes from one of the most unlikely sources – The Kinks. The band were always more about three-chord rockers than delicate ballads, but this 1967 track is a perfect example of what they were capable of when they put their minds to it. It’s a simple song, but it has an immense emotional punch, and it’s impossible to hear it without being transported to a summer evening in London.

Pink Floyd – “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”

“Shine On You Crazy Diamond” is a nine-part Pink Floyd composition written by Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Rick Wright. It appeared on the band’s 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The track is a tribute to former Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett, who left the band in 1968 due to mental and physical health problems.

The song was ranked number 314 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.[1] In 2004, it was voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by readers of Guitar World magazine.[2] In 2011, Rolling Stone placed it at number 9 in their list of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time”.[3]

The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter”

The Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” is a great choice for British music lovers who appreciate classic rock. This song features some of the best guitar work by Keith Richards and Mick Taylor, and the saxophone solo by Bobby Keys is simply unforgettable. If you’re looking for a song that epitomizes the energy and power of the Rolling Stones, then this is it.

Led Zeppelin – “Kashmir”

This song has been used in tons of movies and Television shows, including Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”, “Heat”, “Bridge of Spies”, and “One Tree Hill”. It was also used in a 2016 campaign ad for Hillary Clinton.

David Bowie – “Heroes”

“Heroes” is a song by English musician David Bowie, released in 1977. It was co-written with Brian Eno and recorded at Hansa Studio by the Wall, in West Berlin.

The track was not initially a commercial success when it was released, but has since gone on to become one of Bowie’s most celebrated tracks, and is regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written.

The song tells the story of two lovers, one from East and one from West Berlin, who are prevented from meeting by the Berlin Wall. Bowie has said that the song is about “the fact that whatever you do in your life is ones day going to be your legacy”.

The original version of “Heroes” was not a hit in either the UK or the US when it was first released, but the song has since gone on to become one of Bowie’s most celebrated tracks. It was re-released in 1979 as part of a promotional campaign for Bowie’s album “Lodger”, and reached number 24 in the UK charts.

In 1999, NME named “Heroes” as the greatest British single of all time, and in 2001 it was voted as the best song of all time by readers of Q magazine. In 2002, Pitchfork Media ranked it at number 46 on their list of the greatest songs of all time.

The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”

The opening organ chords of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” are some of the most instantly recognizable in all of rock history, and the rest of the song doesn’t disappoint. The 1971 single was written by Pete Townshend as a response to the political climate of the time, and it remains one of The Who’s signature tunes.

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Everyone knows the words to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but did you know that the band Queen actually wrote an instrumental version of the song? That’s right, in addition to being one of the greatest songs ever written, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is also one of the best British music instrumentals.

Composed by Freddie Mercury, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a complex and multi-layered song that has been baffling and thrilling listeners for decades. The instrumental version of the song is just as powerful and moving as the original, with all of the same dynamics and emotions. If you’ve never heard it before, you’re in for a treat.

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
The Beatles – “Yesterday”
David Bowie – “Space Oddity”
Elton John – “Bennie and the Jets”
Pink Floyd – “Money”
The Rolling Stones – “Paint it Black”

The Beach Boys – “God Only Knows”

The Beach Boys’ 1966 classic “God Only Knows” is one of the most beautiful and influential songs in pop music history. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, the track is a seemingly simple love song that takes on a much deeper meaning when you consider its spiritual undertones. The Beach Boys recorded “God Only Knows” with an orchestra, which added to the song’s already ethereal atmosphere. The track was included on the band’s landmark album Pet Sounds, which is widely considered one of the greatest albums of all time.

Oasis – “Wonderwall”

In 1995, Oasis released their second album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? The lead single from the album was “Wonderwall”, which became one of the band’s most successful songs. The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and has since been certified quadruple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry. “Wonderwall” is often cited as one of the best British songs of all time.