Tuba in popular music

[Hank74]

As I was driving today, I heard a tuba in the song "The Lion's Den Tonight" from the 60s. This also reminded me of a famous tuba part in "What the World Needs Now."

These songs asks the question as to whether there are any tuba parts in any other popular music songs from the last 40 to 50 years.

I'm talking about songs that aren't marches or polkas where the tuba is prominent.

[SRanney]

These songs asks the question as to whether there are any tuba parts in any other popular music songs from the last 40 to 50 years.

Do the songs ask the question or are you?

To answer your question, though, take a listen to Drums and Tuba and also consider the song "Go Down Gambling" by Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

SR

[Hank74]

Well that euphonium sounds like a tuba when I hear it. Great job though.

[Hank74]

I'd love to see that video of Donny playing the Eb sousa for "Lion Sleeps Tonight." I couldn't find anything on YouTube.

[Lew]

One that comes to mind for me is Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, especially "Zig Zaggity Woop Woop" from the CD "Save My Soul."

[tubafatness]

You can't forget Leon Redbone. He uses a tuba quite frequently on his albums.

[circusboy]

This Elvis Costello album has some great tuba playing on it--sousaphone, I think.

[tubatooter1940]

I had a bass guitar player tell me tubas were not up to playing rock or pop music. That hurt my feelings. Every note I play on tuba does not have to start decaying immediately. How does a guitar play a cresendo without plucking the note while simultaeneosly reaching for the volume knob with one pinkie and hoping the pinkie gets it right.
Tuba players should worry less about sounding like a string bass and spend the time finding what the tuba sounds best playing within the arrangement. Long tones are ginger peachy when they sound best. We are horn men (and women) - let's play some horn.
Ben, as usual is spot on. I finally got to see the euphonium song video by the Floozies. We are so lucky to be entrusted to compose our own tuba lines to the music and be able to select out lines that tuba sounds best playing.
I recently heard bloke play some tasty jazz lines that I suspect he came up with out of his own head.
Doc, of this forum, is a master improvisor and can project humor from his tuba.
Any of you guys want to play pop, rock or whatever, get out there and show people how good you can make them sound doing what you do.
A tuba is a novelty hook that audiences love. I've seen families settle in for an entire evening so little "Lucy" can hear the funny tuba play rock bass lines and solos.
tubatooter1940
http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnrenohfc

[eupher61]

As I was driving today, I heard a tuba in the song "The Lion's Den Tonight" from the 60s. This also reminded me of a famous tuba part in "What the World Needs Now."

As mentioned, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was from the 60s, but that version, by The Tokens, used a soprano sax in that lick being thought of.

Robert John re-covered it in 1970 or 71, using trombones on that same lick. no tubas that I've ever heard or seen on those two.

I haven't heard any other versions of it, which are surprisingly many. The Weavers did it, I think, and the fore-mentioned Donny Osmond TV show version.

"What The World Needs Now" is sure a mystery, and sure a euphonium.

[David Richoux]

Anybody remember a song called "Whipped Cream" - not the Herb Alpert song - that has a tuba solo feature?

Someone on a Facebook tuba group is asking for any info. He says he heard often in on US radio in the early 1970s, not sure if it was a Pop station or a Light Classical station with the slogan "Classy 100."

I find nothing in my collection of tuba records or The Internet.

[tubeast]

If European charts count...

"Lemon Tree" by German band "Fool´s Garden" (it hit No.1 in several European nations in 1995).
I have no idea if that one appeared in the US at all.
I´m not too sure that was a real tuba, it may have been a convincing artificial one.

[gregsundt]

To answer your question, though, take a listen to Drums and Tuba and also consider the song "Go Down Gambling" by Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

SR

Dave Bargeron, wasn't it?

[circusboy]

Most of the songs by The Roots feature tuba (sousaphone) on them.

And don't forget the highly popular Banda music from Mexico. Tubas everywhere!

[tubacody]

The Band - rag momma rag, John Simon
Ophelia - live - Howard Johnson usually?
... Various other songs live not with Tuba on the album


The Who - I can't remember the name... Mr Self played?

[David Richoux]

As mentioned, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was from the 60s, but that version, by The Tokens, used a soprano sax in that lick being thought of.

Robert John re-covered it in 1970 or 71, using trombones on that same lick. no tubas that I've ever heard or seen on those two.

I haven't heard any other versions of it, which are surprisingly many. The Weavers did it, I think, and the fore-mentioned Donny Osmond TV show version.

The California Repercussions Sousaphone section does a pretty good arrangement of "Lion Sleeps Tonight." We have performed it in several music festivals in California. Sorry, no video

[bass0]

'Silver Lining'

[Steve Marcus]

Check out Jonathan Dorn's Facebook page. He posts examples of the studio work that he's done on tuba over the years, particularly on pop/rock/soul tracks, including some of the titles mentioned in this thread. He also appeared on SNL and other stages with Leon Redbone.

Jonathan also posts other non-classical recordings that include Don Butterfield, Red Barber, Harvey Philips, and several other great tuba players.

[iiipopes]

The Beatles song off the White Album, "Martha My Dear," has a brass band in the bridge of the song, where Paul sings the lyrics, "Hold your head up, you silly girl, see what you've done," etc.

[pjv]

Tuba in popular music. I assume you are speaking of western popular music. Jazz used to be popular music. Now it isn't, (sorry).

That being said many brass bands in the NOLA tradition have and still are leaving their mark. Howard Johnson can be heard on The Band: Rock of Ages, The Last Waltz and High on the Hog, all from The Band as well as on John Lennon's Walls & Bridges and Double Fantasy, to name a few.

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band recorded a CD with Elvis Costello as well as Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes, The Neville Brothers and have shared stages with Los Lobos and The Grateful Dead.
Their are probably many more names to be dropped, but you can also check the smaller circuits. Boom Pam from Isreal has been around sinds 2003, using a tuba for all the bass work. They do a balkan, surf rock metal mix. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QpbqT2nuXc" target="_blank" target="_blank

In the Netherlands you have De Kift which has been around sinds 1988 playing a kind of punk, pop, brass band music as accompaniment for text derived from world literature. Here the tuba is not always used, but when it is then it's often part of the brass section, but sometimes as a 2nd bass line or just doubling the bass for texture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwItzXGkawI" target="_blank" target="_blank and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdJJvxJSWf4" target="_blank" target="_blank

Also in the Netherlands and quite popular is The Kyteman Orchestra (if I may say so myself, since I play with them, haha). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2AkEDNRUho" target="_blank" target="_blank or if you can't wait until there's action try 5'30" for tempo and sousaphone at 8'30"

Anyway, it's all out there if you look for it,
or better yet, go out and do it yourself!

[PaulTkachenko]

This went to number one in the UK charts a few years ago:

https://youtu.be/xqBBJJNs8-8