“Maggot Brain” is #60 on Rolling Stone’s List of 100 Greatest Guitar Songs. Ironically, shortly after the recording of “Maggot Brain” wrapped, band members Tawl Ross, Billy Nelson, Tiki Fulwood, and even lead guitarist Eddie Hazel all left the band.

Recorded during late 1970 at Universal Studios in Detroit, the original recording of the song was actually over ten minutes long. . The track has a slow build-up but reaches its climax during guitarist Eddie Hazel’s emotionally nostalgic solo. The band is fronted by George Clinton, who innovated punk with a blend of various genres. “Maggot Brain” is the funk-psychedelic rock band (aptly named) Funkadelic’s instrumental track from their third studio album of the same name. This psychedelic rock, funk, R&B, soul and doo-wop fusion instrumental song is an experience of its own. The track established truly unique blend of Latin American / Blues / Rock style of Santana and was selected preservation in the National Recording Registry due to its “cultural, historic, or artistic significance.

Originally, the song (which translates to “Samba For You” in English) was a combination of two separate unfinished pieces, with the first part starting slow and emotional, escalating to a faster tempo into the second part. This classic slow-burning piece has latin percussion combined with consistent jazz-rock style. That successful mix of musical influences was highlighted on the instrumental track “Samba Pa Ti” where Carlos Santana displayed his undeniable style of bluesy latin guitar playing. On their sophomore album Abraxas, other elements such as salsa and blues were added into that fusion, making it another success, with the album making it to the top of the U.S. Santana gained massive critical and commercial success with creating a fusion of rock, jazz, and Latin sounds on their debut album. Instrumental work of classic rock bands is a rare gem in a treasure cove of great songs. These compositions evoke emotion as much as songs with words do, speaking their messages through the dynamics of sound and the creation of themes and musical imagery. These musical elements, when put together, create some of the most beautiful tracks that sing beyond words. Instrumental songs also pave way for individual members of the band to share in the spotlight and display their own musical talents.

Melodies sung by the guitar, the keys, and the bass, even the percussion, highlight a band’s musicianship. Not many people give as much focus and praise to classic rock instrumentals as they do lyrical songs, but not many know that some of the most invaluable music are in the form of instrumentals and it is high time these songs receive recognition. Classic rock songs most often showcase some of the greatest lyrics in music history with a variety of iconic vocals bringing those words to life.

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