(Credits: Far Out / Album Covers)
Sat 31 January 2026 18:19, UK
Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused was designed to be a romantic take on childhood in the 1970s. According to Linklater, it was an era drenched in classic rock, flared trousers and summer night spliff smoking, where, despite the continued mischief of the protagonists, little to no consequences truly awaited.
While it was history viewed through rose-tinted glasses, there is an accuracy to the latter point, particularly when you look at the music. A quick glance at the film’s soundtrack proved that musicians could get away with damn-near anything in this vibrant new decade. Whether it was an eight-minute rock out to the sound of Ted Nugent’s ‘Strangehold’ or the irreverent playfulness of War’s ‘Low Rider’, the musicians of the haze-filled decade were following little to no rules.
One of the more conventional songs on the soundtrack was The Edgar Winter Group’s ‘Free Ride’. But despite its structural conservatism, it still showcased the sort of freedom and fun that Linklater is trying to portray, and gave viewers a window into the world of a band whose music is solely designed to soundtrack the good times.
‘Free Ride’ was perhaps the most recognisable track from their record They Only Come Out At Night and a fitting soundtrack for Dazed And Confused, but rather oddly it wasn’t the band’s biggest hit. Instead, that was reserved for the closing track ‘Frankenstein’, which became only of the only rock instrumentals of the era to hit the number one spot on the Billboard charts.
So how did The Edgar Winter Group write ‘Frankenstein’?
Well, harnessing the spirit of experimentation, Winter decided to create an instrumental Frankenstein of his own, welding together two instruments to create one.
He explained, “So when synthesisers came out, I happened to be the first guy to have the idea of putting a strap on a keyboard,” Winter said, noting that while his invention was later dubbed the ‘key-tar’, he simply didn’t “didn’t call it anything.”
Before deciding it should be the closer on the record They Only Come Out At Night, ‘Frankenstein’ started out as a B-side for the single ‘Hangin’ Around’ from the album. But according to Winter, radio DJs began to quickly prefer the sound of ‘Frankenstein’ and so started spinning that instead. Soon, the trend amongst these DJs spread like wildfire, and it ended up becoming the band’s biggest hit.
“I was surprised it was successful to begin with,” he told Vintage Rock in 2002. “It wasn’t even intended to be on an album. It was just something I used to do with my brother Johnny,” Winter added. “I really had little interest in becoming famous… When I write my book, it will be my guide to avoid becoming a rock star.”
While the only other notable instrumental inclusions from the decade were ‘A Fifth Of Beethoven’ by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band, and ‘Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band’ by Meco in 1977, Winter’s track seemingly made up the only number from the rock category.
Related Topics
The Far Out Classic Rock Newsletter
All the latest Classic Rock content from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.