The first instrumental rock and roll song I ever remember hearing was by The Edgar Winter Group. Prior to this, the only instrumental music I had really heard was either jazz or some form of orchestral music like classical or pieces from a movie score. For whatever reason, based on the song that I had heard, I assumed that The Edgar Winter Group was a purely instrumental group. For quite a few years after, I thought I had never heard another song by them, despite hearing the first of today’s songs many times on the radio. I just never happened to catch it with an announcement of the group until much later.
Song: “Free Ride”
Artist: The Edgar Winter Group
Songwriter(s): Dan Hartman
Album(s): They Only Come Out At Night
Release Year(s): 1972
Song: “Red Rubber Ball”
Artist: The Cyrkle
Songwriter(s): Paul Simon, Bruce Woodley
Album(s): Red Rubber Ball (Single) / Red Rubber Ball (Full-length)
Release Year(s): 1966
I Wish You Would Hear Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jFrq03xPtVVOexYHZF1OW?si=bc9df95d2d854d