Best Rock and Pop Songs with a Harpsichord
Although the harpsichord was developed during the Renaissance and became best known as the keyboard of choice for the Baroque era, some rock and pop artists in the mid 1960s used the harpsichord to gain a suitably baroque-type feel or for the sake of experimenting with different instruments. Feel free to add more examples; they don't have to be Sixties songs, but I can't think of anything from beyond the Sixties off the top of my head.The Top Ten Best Rock and Pop Songs with a Harpsichord
The distinctive intro is played on a harpsichord by, I believe, George Martin.They also used a harpsichord on Piggies and an electric harpsichord on Because. - Gg2000
The keyboardist who recorded the session was an organ player who came in and realized that there was no organ or piano in the studio. There was, however, a harpsichord, and he used it, thinking "There's no way a song with a harpsichord on it will become a hit". And sure enough, it actually did become a hit; it was their first number one on the British charts. - Gg2000
Just a great song - AliciaMae
Love this song and love how well the harpsicord goes in and I think you should do more things like this because it has really helped to understand how many of these songs have older instruments like the harpsichord. Thank you.
Jack Nitzsche, who frequently played keyboards on Stones sessions from 1964-1966, played the harpsichord on this one. The Stones also used harpsichord on Dandelion, Sittin' on a Fence, Yesterday's Papers, and Lady Jane. - Gg2000
Ray Manzarek played a harpsichord solo on the song; he said he did it on purpose to confound the listener's expectations. - Gg2000
I bought it when it was first released. One of my favorite bands
One of the most unique singles ever made. One of the first ear worms.
This is probably the first proper baroque pop song, so to give it the right flavor, they used a harpsichord. The end result is fantastic. - Gg2000
The harpsichord is essential to driving the rhythm and setting the mood of the song. - Gg2000
I'm not talking about the intro; that is a series of plucked piano strings. I'm talking about the keys during the song itself; that's a harpsichord. - Gg2000
The only one I know lol - ilovesugarray
Best in my opinion
Ray Davies plays the harpsichord here. They also used a harpsichord on the song "Village Green". - Gg2000
Jimi himself played the harpsichord, despite the fact that he himself said he couldn't play keyboards. - Gg2000
The Contenders
You can hear it come in somewhere in the middle of the song. It's not front and center in the mix, but it's still there. - Gg2000
Graham Nash plays the harpsichord. It's a nice complement to the song's piano part, which he also played. - Gg2000
also this - ilovesugarray
After remixing the list for Parklife, I realized that this is a good candidate for the list. - Gg2000
This song has an eerie beginning with a chill harpsichord mixed with the beat.
The harpsichord was played by session musician Don Randi, a member of The Wrecking Crew. He played all the keyboard parts on Forever Changes. - Gg2000
This song was recorded while she was a member of the folk-rock trio The Stone Poneys. Don Randi, the same session musician who played on The Red Telephone by Love, also plays the harpsichord on this song. - Gg2000
The harpsichord was played by keyboardist Tom Constanden, their most professionally trained and avant-garde oriented keyboardist. - Gg2000
I believe the harpsichord was played by Ben Sidran
In the two verses after the first chorus there’s a harpsichord in the background.
The harpsichord comes in at the 7:27 mark of Part 2. - Gg2000
The harpsichord was added by Attractions keyboardist Steve Nieve. - Gg2000
I have never been a big fan of The Partridge Family, but this song contains a brilliant harpsichord solo in the middle of the song courtesy of either Mike Melvoin or Larry Knechtel (it's unclear who exactly played the harpsichord on this particular song). - Gg2000
The keyboardist on the song is unknown, but for what I've led to be true, the harpsichord was played by John Entwistle. - Gg2000
Played by John Cale of The Velvet Underground, who also added a viola part to this song. - Gg2000