Johann Strauss, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Croce, it’s not often you hear those three names mentioned in the same sentence, 
in fact it may be the first time in recorded history, but all three were champions of that Renaissance Dance Craze, that was right there with the Frug and the Twist, the Waltz. And while Johann may be the guy who gets all the notoriety for his swinging dance music, Lennon and Croce, along with a herd of other modern day Rockers have done their share.
This strange revelation came to me years ago during my days in a Hedgehog Bar Band. We decided to play the Beatles Norwegian Wood, God knows why, it wasn’t exactly a barroom dance standard, but in the process found that our drummer could lay down a snazzy Jazz back beat to it in order to mask its “uncool” waltz origins. Witness Buddy Rich in this slightly over the top rendition.
The Beatles were so cool that they simply left the drums off their original recording of Norwegian Wood. They don’t try to hide its time signature, but simply overpower the form with their superior musicianship. Listen to this early take.
Think this is the only one. How about Jimi Hendrix’ Manic Depression.
Jim Croce’s Time In A Bottle
Or Jim Croce’s Time In A Bottle done with a real Vienna Waltz team.
But of course no self respecting Rock and Roller was willing to actually play a waltz without attempting to hide it in a Jazz, Acoustic or Heavy Metal arrangement. Ready to beg for mercy yet? You’re not getting off that easy. How about these:
Seal – Kiss from a Rose (symphonic arrangement hides the waltz to an extent)
The Rascals – How Can I Be Sure (Jazz arrangement)
Kate Bush – Army Dreamers (at least Kate doesn’t try to hide the fact that this is a waltz, no Jazz arrangement for her)
Paul McCartney – Mull of Kintyre (another unabashed flat out, if such a term can be applied, waltz)
Of course we could list Robbie Robertson and the Band’s The Last Waltz, but that would be too easy.
Then there’s the Byrds Tribal Gathering from Notorious Byrd Brothers. This is one of the better Waltz-Jazz arranged Rock songs.
Now this is a really cool video – The Clash Rebel Waltz matched to a Classical Chinese Ballet.
And then of course there’s the always hip Lawrence Welk and the Rock and Roll Waltz which sounds suspiciously like the Tennessee Waltz.
To the untrained ear, Dave Brubeck’s Take Five, written by Paul Desmond sounds a lot like a Jazz Waltz. It isn’t actually, it’s in Quintuple 5/8 time. But it’s still one of the coolest songs ever written or performed and a great way to end a meandering, Hedgehogian blog.
