The Bus

Let's make something very clear: I have nothing against the saxophone. I love listening to "A Love Supreme" or Cure for Pain (one of my favorite albums).

But... I think for the most part, the saxophone does more harm than good. For every "Born to Run" or "Walk on the Wild Side" there's something like "Urgent" (yes, I said it) or any number of Mom Rock–radio ballads.

At least, these songs are so irritating that they overpower the goodness the sax can bring to a song.

Discuss.

The Bus

And the one song that's Public Enemy #1 of all sax songs I can't even think of now, although the stupid sax solo is in my head.

Yes, it's a "Mom Rock" song from the 80s.

RagingBull80

It depends on the band and the musician playing the instrument. Roxy Music and Andy MacKay made it work very well in the rock world. It also works in a different way in experimental/avant-guarde stuff like in the music of Faust.

stvn1974

I like it in Pink Floyd's songs.

Apple Gooncha

I would say more good. I can take the bad with the good, because I spend a lot more time listening to music I like (with or without sax ) than music I don't like.

UAIOE

I think it depends on the artist and the amount of sax used.

But I am 100% against the use of "air saxophone" in any music video. I've had to deduct Duran Duran some points for its use in the "Rio" video.

rw2516

Don't care for sax in the "harder" rock songs. Would prefer lead guitar instead. Brown Sugar is better live when the sax part is replaced by guitar. Another misuse of sax/horns is Aerosmith's "Same Old Song and Dance".

TGM

Baker Street would be shit without it.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lSIw09oqsYo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Trout

I think the 80's was the pinnacle for the Sax in music (along with the guitar keyboard).

orangecrush

If we just toss out all the forms of ska that fall under the umbrella, of rock, then the answer is no. If we are only taking about music played on a beach to a group of vampires, then the answer is hell no.

wishbone

Sans saxophone would be illogical for Supertramp's The Logical Song.

Supermallet

I usually like saxophone, but again it does depend on the song. If it's a "mom-rock" song as you put it, the saxophone probably doesn't make it considerably worse, because it's already going to suck.

And as an argument in favor of the sax, I'll just leave this here:

Norm de Plume

So many great songs would suffer from the loss of their sax elements.

Rival11

Floyd pulled it off well on Money

Norm de Plume

Here's one of many that would be much the poorer for the elision of the sax:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hl6EOp7wHxI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Supermallet

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GaoLU6zKaws" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Rival11

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LpuwcINDHnQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Moopher

So much more harm than good.

The Bus

This video has redeemed that song for every awful time I've heard it.

hbilly

"But when I want sax, I call Candy, Candy, Candy, Candy"

Sax in rock is fine by me.

asianxcore

I enjoy them in this band:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Iqn2QMD3ZSE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Drexl

I believe you're thinking of "Careless Whisper" by Wham!.

rw2516

Soul Love. I can dig it.

Dark Side of The Moon benefits greatly from the sax.

Andalusia

Let's not forget the excellent use of the sax in The Stooges "Fun House" album.

Ky-Fi

More good. Conclusive evidence:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/N-uyWAe0NhQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>