Rankings are based on the popularity of each song during the period of 1950 through 1969.The best rock instrumentals manage to be powerful and moving, without using any lyrics whatsoever. An audience that's applauding, singing along or yelling during a live recording does not count as part of the artist's performance, thus any such recording is included. While songs without vocals typically comprise this list, some exceptions fall into place: a few words repeated during a song are acceptable, such as 'Tequila,' ' Wipe Out' or ' Topsy II.' A short phrase, such as 'Just a little bit of soul now' from Ray Charles' 'One Mint Julep,' does not disqualify a song.

Forty Miles of Bad Road - Duane Eddy - 1959.

Only You - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles - 1959.

(Theme from) The Apartment - Ferrante and Teicher - 1960.The Happy Whistler - Don Robertson - 1956.Soft Summer Breeze - Eddie Heywood - 1956.The High and the Mighty - Les Baxter - 1954.Moritat (A Theme from the Three Penny Opera) - The.Song for a Summer Night - Mitch Miller - 1956.(Terry's Theme from) Limelight - Frank Chacksfield - 1953.Let There Be Drums - Sandy Nelson - 1961.Taste of Honey - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - 1965.Maria Elena - Los Indios Tabajaras - 1963.The High and the Mighty - Victor Young - 1954.The Lonely Bull - The Tijuana Brass featuring Herb.Tea for Two Cha Cha - The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.Meet Mister Callaghan - Les Paul - 1952.Yellow Bird - Arthur Lyman Group - 1961.Petite Fleur - Chris Barber's Jazz Band - 1959.Guitar Boogie Shuffle - The Virtues - 1959.

The 'In' Crowd - The Ramsey Lewis Trio - 1965.Red River Rock - Johnny and the Hurricanes - 1959.No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) - The.Because They're Young - Duane Eddy - 1960.Soulful Strut - Young-Holt Unlimited - 1969.Moonglow and Theme from Picnic - George Cates - 1956.Washington Square - The Village Stompers - 1963.The Horse - Cliff Nobles and Company - 1968.Sail Along Silvery Moon - Billy Vaughn - 1958.Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela - 1968.The 3rd Man Theme - Guy Lombardo - 1950.The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Hugo Montenegro - 1968.(Love Theme from) Romeo and Juliet - Henry.The Happy Organ - Dave 'Baby' Cortez - 1959.Wonderland by Night - Bert Kaempfert - 1961.Canadian Sunset - Hugo Winterhalter with Eddie.Honky Tonk (Part 2) - Bill Doggett - 1956.Moonglow and Theme from 'Picnic' - Morris Stoloff - 1956.The Poor People of Paris - Les Baxter - 1956.(Theme from) A Summer Place - Percy Faith - 1960.Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado - 1955.'The Third Man' Theme - Anton Karas - 1950.

100 greatest rock instrumentals