4 1960s and ‘70s Pop Songs That Prove the Flute Can Actually Rip

When we think of powerful pop and rock ‘n’ roll, we typically imagine an instrument that can make a lot of noise: guitars, bass, drums, even a growling saxophone if you’re in the right mood (or decade). But not every instrument that elevated rock and pop of the 1960s and ‘70s was a raucous noisemaker. On the contrary, these two decades highlighted just how versatile some softer instruments could be in decidedly not soft musical arrangements.

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That includes the flute, an instrument we usually associate with gentle, meditative music or regimented musical settings like symphony orchestras or marching bands. But as these 1960s and ‘70s songs prove, this soft-spoken instrument can earn its keep in a rock or pop band, too.

“Hocus Pocus” by Focus

Easily one of the weirdest songs on our list of tracks proving the flute can be a rock instrument is “Hocus Pocus” by Dutch rock band Focus. The prog rock classic features frontman Thijs van Leer singing, yodeling, and playing a mean flute. Its chaotic blend of rock and funk made it an instant classic in the psychedelic-loving year of 1971, garnering the Netherlands band a No. 9 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (interestingly, this is also the chart position they got on the Dutch Singles Chart).

“Locomotive Breath” by Jethro Tull

If anyone ever needed definitive evidence that the flute played a pivotal role in 1960s and ‘70s rock, they need look no further than Jethro Tull’s iconic 1971 track, “Locomotive Breath.” The band’s career-defining track includes a massive flute feature by Ian Anderson, which quickly became one of the song’s most distinct parts. Indeed, watching Anderson wave his flute around like a rock ‘n’ roll baton before ripping through a solo proves that any instrument can rock ‘n’ roll in the right hands.

“California Dreamin’” by Mamas and the Papas

Few songs capture the wistful attitude about the West Coast that permeated the 1960s quite like the Mamas and the Papas’ 1965 track, “California Dreamin.’” The song was a major hit, peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. And while the group’s vocal harmonies certainly carry the song, Bud Shank’s alto flute solo in the middle of the track is an incredible instrumental feature, made even more impressive by the fact that Shank largely improvised the whole thing. If you were wondering why this particular 1960s flute sounded different from others, it’s because Shank was playing an alto flute.

“Moondance” by Van Morrison

Even outside the realm of 1960s and ‘70s pop and rock, jazz flautists have been pushing the boundaries of this airy woodwind for decades. Van Morrison helped bring this jazz flute into the mainstream with his 1970 hit, “Moondance.” The flute, played by Collin Tilton, has plenty of time to shine on this classic track, from fading trills to matching Morrison’s melody in the bridge as he sings, You know the night’s magic seems to whisper and hush. You know the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush.

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