The saxophone is the secret ingredient to making a great song unforgettable. It screams, it swoons, it seduces. From late-night slow jams to full-blown rock anthems, the sax has made its mark all over the music map. If you hear it at the right time, it can feel like someone just handed your soul a martini. Here are 20 of the greatest sax solos in modern music—songs that prove once and for all that nothing hits quite like the wail of a horn.
“Baker Street” – Gerry Rafferty
The sax solo that launched a thousand air-sax performances. Raphael Ravenscroft’s smoky, mournful melody is basically the sound of late-’70s melancholy turned into wind and brass. It’s a hook so good, people sometimes forget the rest of the song even exists.
“Careless Whisper” – George Michael
The opening sax line is instant heartbreak. Sexy and sad, sultry and smooth, Steve Gregory’s solo takes you to a candlelit dance floor you never actually danced on but always dreamed of. The sax practically deserves co-writing credit.
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
Clarence Clemons didn’t just play a sax solo—he was the sax solo. His moment in “Born to Run” isn’t just iconic, it’s the emotional engine that takes Bruce’s highway dreams into the sky. Rock music has never felt so cinematic.
“Moondance” – Van Morrison
Jack Schroer’s silky solo dances in and out of Van’s jazzy masterpiece like moonlight through the trees. It’s restrained, elegant, and deeply romantic. You can practically smell the autumn leaves when it kicks in.
“Who Can It Be Now?” – Men at Work
Greg Ham’s sax doesn’t wait—it kicks the door open and asks all the questions before Colin Hay does. This solo is paranoid, punchy, and totally perfect for a song about emotional shutdown. It’s a horn with an attitude.
“Money” – Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd didn’t need to put a sax in their time-signature-bending, bass-driven anthem. But when Dick Parry comes in, it makes a song already about excess feel even more decadent. Like soloing through smoke in a velvet suit.
“Urgent” – Foreigner
Junior Walker’s unhinged, ferocious solo is the sound of a saxophone lighting itself on fire and running down the street. He didn’t just show up for the solo—he owned it. It’s a rock song, but that sax is 100% Motown attitude.
“Just the Way You Are” – Billy Joel
Phil Woods glides in like a velvet curtain. Romantic and smooth without being cheesy, the sax solo here is a warm hug at the heart of a wedding dance. This is what timeless love sounds like on a woodwind.
“Midnight City” – M83
The synths are towering, the drums are huge—and then comes the sax, blasting through the digital fog like neon headlights. It’s unexpected, glorious, and gives the song its emotional payoff. An ‘80s throwback done right in the 2010s.
“Walk on the Wild Side” – Lou Reed
Ronnie Ross’ baritone sax outro doesn’t shout for attention—it saunters in with sunglasses and a cigarette. It’s cool, it’s confident, and it brings the song to a close with a knowing wink. The city at midnight, in one horn.
“Freedom! ’90” – George Michael
Another George Michael classic, another unforgettable sax moment. The solo in “Freedom! ’90” bursts through the song like a call to liberation. Stylish, joyful, and strutting like it’s wearing designer jeans.
“Only the Lonely” – The Motels
Marty Jourard’s sax solo is understated, aching, and drenched in California noir. It doesn’t try to steal the show—it just slides right into the shadows of heartbreak. This is new wave with a jazz soul.
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
Yes, we’re putting it here again, because Clarence Clemons deserves twice. When he steps into this track, it’s not just a solo—it’s the sound of a best friend taking the wheel when the night’s about to go off the rails.
“Modern Love” – David Bowie
You’re dancing, the groove is tight, the drums are sprinting—and then, BOOM, here comes the sax solo, all color and motion. It’s not just a solo—it’s a party crasher with impeccable style. Bowie knew sax = extra emotion.
“Touch Me” – The Doors
The song might start with strings, but it’s the sax solo that takes it to another planet. Curtis Amy delivers a jazzy flourish that feels both spontaneous and cinematic. It’s the sound of a rock band coloring outside the lines.
“Original Sin” – INXS
Kirk Pengilly’s sax cuts through Nile Rodgers’ production like a sliver of heat in a cold synth storm. It’s equal parts funk, swagger, and political edge, amplifying the song’s message with a sound that feels both urgent and slick. The sax doesn’t just decorate the track—it gives it a pulse.
“The Working Hour” – Tears for Fears
Mel Collins opens this one like he’s painting the sky at dusk—moody, cinematic, and soaring. The saxophone here and and Will Gregory’s solo aren’t a break; it’s a statement, setting the emotional tone for a song about burnout, ambition, and the fragility underneath. It’s art-rock turned soul jazz in one long breath.
“Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” – Billy Joel
This song has everything, including one of the most spirited sax breaks of the ‘70s. Richie Cannata’s solo is a whirlwind, bridging piano ballad and streetwise rock with pure Broadway flair. It’s like watching a musical unfold in four minutes.
“Smooth Operator” – Sade
This isn’t a solo—it’s a spell. Stuart Matthewman’s sax is liquid gold, pouring over the track with elegance and mystery. It’s the sound of candlelight, silk sheets, and secrets whispered at 2 a.m.
“Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
Gaga brought Clarence Clemons back for one final curtain call—and he delivered. His solo on “Edge of Glory” is triumphant, wistful, and emotionally raw. A perfect farewell from the Big Man to the dancefloor.
The saxophone never really left—it’s just waiting for the right moment to make everything better. Whether it’s jazz, rock, pop, funk, or electro, the sax finds its way into our favorite songs like an old friend dropping by with stories and wine. These solos? They’re not just notes. They’re feelings.
