The ranking of the best rock songs with a horn section

In rock, horn instruments don't necessarily play a starring role, but when they do step into the spotlight, they can radically transform the character of a song, adding energy, color and an irresistible rhythmic drive. Celebrating their contribution is Ultimate Classic Rock, which has compiled a ranking of the 35 best rock songs enriched by horn sections, titled "The Top 35 Horn Rock Songs".

According to the American magazine, the winning formula starts with just a few essential ingredients: a solid rock'n'roll structure built around guitars, bass and drums, the occasional contribution of keyboards and other instruments, and, of course, a horn section capable of giving the track an extra edge. The result should be irresistible music, driven by a propulsive rhythm and arrangements in which trumpets, trombones and saxophones aren't mere embellishments but play a decisive role in shaping the identity of the composition.

The selection inevitably makes room for genre specialists such as the Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Van Morrison, alongside artists less immediately associated with this particular sound. The editorial staff applied precise criteria: only artists belonging to the rock universe, thus excluding material that falls squarely within R&B, and songs featuring at least two horn instruments. No lone saxophone solos or sporadic trumpet flourishes, then: to make the list, the horns had to function as a genuine instrumental section, woven into the arrangement and becoming an integral part of the song's expressive power.

So here's the ranking of the 35 best horn rock songs, according to Ultimate Classic Rock (full feature here).

35. The Replacements – Can’t Hardly Wait
34. Wings – Silly Love Songs
33. Blood, Sweat & Tears – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy
32. The Rolling Stones – Rocks Off
31. Genesis – No Reply at All
30. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes – I Don’t Want to Go Home
29. R.E.M. – Can’t Get There From Here
28. The Beatles – Got to Get You Into My Life
27. Lynyrd Skynyrd – What’s Your Name
26. Spiral Starecase – More Today Than Yesterday
25. Spirit – Mr. Skin
24. U2 – Angel of Harlem
23. Fleetwood Mac – Tusk
22. Golden Earring – Radar Love
21. Average White Band – Pick Up the Pieces
20. Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
19. Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
18. The Who – 5:15
17. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
16. Huey Lewis and the News – The Power of Love
15. Blood, Sweat & Tears – Spinning Wheel
14. Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
13. Chicago – Saturday in the Park
12. Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle
11. Steely Dan – My Old School
10. Van Morrison – Caravan
9. The Doors – Touch Me
8. Van Morrison – Wild Night
7. Van Morrison – Domino
6. Paul Simon – You Can Call Me Al
5. Bruce Springsteen – Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
4. George Harrison – What Is Life
3. The Ides of March – Vehicle
2. The Rolling Stones – Bitch
1. Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4

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