The most sensual music?

[Sappholovers]

In "High Fidelity," the characters debate what is the sexiest pop song ever, and #1 is Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." I'm curious about what music Literotica readers and writers might choose to have playing in the background for foreplay and lovemaking.

For my ear, the saxophone, the guitar and the cello are the most sensual instruments, so I love jazz music featuring the saxophone and classical music featuring the guitar (e.g., Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez) and the cello.

For more bawdy, fun eroticism, I like some of the songs by the great blues singers such as Bessie Smith's "Kitchen Man" and "I'm Wild About that Thing" and songs by Dinah Washington. When I was younger, in college, I preferred the stuff that was more raucous: Jimi Hendrix's "Fire," Clapton's "Layla," the Jefferson Airplane's "Find Somebody to Love," some Linda Ronstadt, Heart's "Magic Man," and, more quietly, Bob Dylan's "Lay, Lady, Lay." I am also a sucker for some of the pop stuff by Donna Summer ("Hot Stuff" and "Love to Love Ya, Baby") and The Pointer Sisters ("Slow Hands"). Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" must also be in this list somewhere, and I love Roberta Flack's song, "Killing Me Softly," including the hip-hop version of it done by Lauryn Hill with The Fugees. And then there's Bob Marley's songs from Exodus, including "Turn Your Lights Down Low" and "One Heart, One Love."

 

[dr_mabeuse]

That's a tough one, and I don't know that many people would agree with my own choices. I think we can rule out polka music and anything that has yodelling in it though. I guess I'd have to put in a vote for Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire". I'm not much of a Boss fan, but that song is just so damned hot and sweaty. You can almost smell the gasoline.

In my day, Jim Morrison lowered a lot of zippers too.

---dr.M.

 

[Boxlicker101]

To name some more: Conway Twitty's recording of "Never Been this Far Before" (I am not sure of the name but it is close to that) Or "Help Me Make It Through the Night", There are a few songs from the fifties such as "Make Yourself Comfortable" or "Teach Me Tonight", which scandalized people then, and would be very sexy even now if sung properly (or, improperly, depending on your viewpoint).

 

[Sappholovers]

Excellent suggestions. I'm originally from NJ so I should have included something by Springsteen, and I now live in LA, so even more reason to include something by The Doors, especially "Light My Fire."

 

[Sappholovers]

Dinah Washington has a wonderful version of "Teach Me Tonight." Seems quite tame today, so it's fun to know that it was once more scandalous.

Another addition to the list from classic rock: Bad Company's "Ready for Love."

 

[Boxlicker101]

Dinah Washington has a wonderful version of "Teach Me Tonight." Seems quite tame today, so it's fun to know that it was once more scandalous.

Another addition to the list from classic rock: Bad Company's "Ready for Love."

I don't know what version I am thinking of from the fifties; it might have been Dinah Washington. It is rather tame compared to some current songs but I especially remember the line toward the end, "Graduation's almost here, my love", and, having a dirty mind even back then, That was almost enough to wank about.

 

[minsue]

In my day, Jim Morrison lowered a lot of zippers too.

---dr.M.

Not just your day, Doc. I can hear Jim in the background of a lot of my sweeter memories.

Off the top of my head, the only other that comes to mind, is Lords of Acid Lust. Not great music, mind you. I see no point in listening to that CD if you're not fucking to it.

Any other songs that are sexy to me are because of the people that they remind me of.

- Mindy

Oh, except for Macy Gray. Mmm, something about that voice.

 

[KenJames]

Excellent suggestions. I'm originally from NJ so I should have included something by Springsteen, and I now live in LA, so even more reason to include something by The Doors, especially "Light My Fire."

"Light My Fire" (actually written by Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, rather than Jim Morrison) definitely wins the "Instrumental Orgasm" category.

On the softer jazzy side, there's also Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."

From Rod Stewart, "Tonight's the Night" with the spoken French makes it, although "Do You Think I'm Sexy" doesn't.

"Angel" by Jimi Hendrix.

Blues pioneer Willie Dixon's entire "I Am the Blues" CD, which includes "Back Door Man" (covered by The Doors), "Spoonful" (Cream), "You Shook Me" (Led Zeppelin), "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Steppenwolf), "Little Red Rooster" (Rolling Stones) and "The Same Thing" (George Thorogood) – favorite line: "Must be the same thing, make a preacher throw his Bible down."

Almost anything by Sade.

 

[gauchecritic]

The sexiest song ever, because of her throaty, sexy voice: Love and Affection by Joan Armatrading.

Gauche

 

[shereads]

In my day, Jim Morrison lowered a lot of zippers too.

---dr.M.

Morrison. No contest. It helps that he died young and handsome, before he had the chance to record anything particularly awful or to participate in a failed Reunion Tour. Those are killers; seen the Moody Blues lately?

Knights in White Satin was a beautiful song until the Moody Blues wore their silver bellbottoms during a late 1990's reunion on PBS.

James Brown is sexy, in an entirely different way than Morrison. Morrison seduces; James Brown skips directly to the orgasm.



And when everyone had finished laughing about Barry White's baritone oh-babies, a lot of girls of the 70s and 80s found out that their zippers had been unzipped and they hadn't even noticed. Nothing like a good laugh and a hit off the ol' plastic bong, to distract a girl from zipper protection. (It has to be a Barry White laugh, though, and not a Muskrat Love laugh.)

Rest in peace, Barry White...oh, baby.

 

[Sappholovers]

Janis Joplin is another writer who begins at the climax....in songs such as "Piece of My Heart"

 

[shereads]

"Light My Fire" (actually written by Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger, rather than Jim Morrison) definitely wins the "Instrumental Orgasm" category.

On the softer jazzy side, there's also Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face."

From Rod Stewart, "Tonight's the Night" with the spoken French makes it, although "Do You Think I'm Sexy" doesn't.

Yeesh! I was with you right up until Stewart. Every time I heard that song, I imagined this creepy lech drugging some girl's drink so he could deflower her. And that was before roofies were invented! Sorry, KenJames. I like your other choices, though.

For consideration:

Anything by Bill Withers.

Marvin Gaye, yes.

Otis Redding's "Dock of the Bay."



Almost everything by Steely Dan, esp. "Aja," "Babylon Sisters," "Gaucho," and of course, the mournful "Hey Nineteen" ~ That last song is the honest version of Stewart's young-girl seduction, but with Cuervo Gold, "fine Columbian" and a dose of reality, instead of roofies.

("We can't dance together, we can't talk at all...")



Anything by Aretha Franklin (although the young date in Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen" would not be impressed, since "she don't remember the queen of soul.")



The only really sexy song of 70's disco: Thelma Houston's blues-y version of "Don't Leave Me This Way."

The Isley Brothers' "Who's That Lady."
(There were two released versions of this song, as there were with Houston's. I have no idea why there would be two versions released. Typically, one version was forgettable disco dreck, but the other was sly and slow and impossible to hear without wanting to, um, date the Isley Brothers.)



Sensual, trance-like, and contains the guitar riff voted as the single best ever recorded, according to Billboard magazine: Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb."

The triumphant climax of Brahm's 3rd symphony.

And speaking of triumphant climaxes...

Here's the sexiest cut of any album, ever, in history, bar none, never to be bettered, because it would be impossible like breaking the 3-minute mile. Remarkably, I don't recall the singer getting a credit in the album notes:

"Great Gig In The Sky" on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. It's a wordless, haunting, melodic female scream that sounds like a seven-minute orgasm; death-by-sexual-climax. It's exhausting to hear. Until it's over, and you just have to hear it again.

 

[shereads]

Saddest sexy song, and first country-ish song that I ever really listened to:

Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me."



Here in the dark
in these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
but you won't

You can grieve in advance for relationships you haven't even started yet, by listening to this a time or two. In fact, it should cure us of entering relationships - but it's too romantic, so it doesn't work.

 

[KenJames]

Yeesh! I was with you right up until Stewart. Every time I heard that song, I imagined this creepy lech drugging some girl's drink so he could deflower her. And that was before roofies were invented! Sorry, KenJames. I like your other choices, though.

For consideration:

Anything by Bill Withers.

Almost everything by Steely Dan, esp. "Aja," "Babylon Sisters," "Gaucho," and of course, the mournful "Hey Nineteen" ~ the honest version of Stewart's young-girl seduction, but with Cuervo Gold and "fine Columbian" instead of roofies.

("We can't dance together, we can't talk at all...")



Anything by Aretha Franklin (although the young date in Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen" would not be impressed, since "she don't remember the queen of soul.")



The only really sexy song of 70's disco: Thelma Houston's blues-y version of "Don't Leave Me This Way."

The Isley Brothers' "Who's That Lady."
(There were two versions, one forgettable and one that was sly and sexy and impossible to hear without wanting to, um, date the Isley Brothers.)



Sexy to hear, although it's not about sex; contains the guitar riff voted as the single best ever recorded (by readers of Rolling Stone): Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb."

The triumphant climax of Brahm's 3rd symphony.

And speaking of triumphant climaxes...

Here's the sexiest cut of any album, ever, in history, bar none, never to be bettered, because it would be impossible like breaking the 3-minute mile. Remarkably, I don't recall the singer getting a credit in the album notes:

"Great Gig In The Sky" on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. It's a wordless, haunting, melodic female scream that sounds like a seven-minute orgasm. It's exhausting to hear. Until it's over, and you just have to hear it again.

I like your choices, too.

I see your point about Rod, but the erotic spoken French (by Rod's wife – wish I could remember her name) really made the song about totally consensual passion for me.

Most Ohio Players songs for sheer nastiness.

Early Donna Summer was really sexy for me, with a warm emotional vocal offsetting pounding synthesizer tracks.

The "Great Gig In The Sky" singer is credited on the album – Clare Torry.

 

[shereads]

Early Donna Summer was really sexy for me, with a warm emotional vocal offsetting pounding synthesizer tracks.

"Heaven Knows." She had (has?) an incredible voice.

The "Great Gig In The Sky" singer is credited on the album – Clare Torry.

Thank you, KenJames.

Almost forgot:

Beatles' "Norwegian Wood."

I once had a girl
Or should I say
She once had me...

 

[Liar]

Huh.
It's good to see that I'm different now and then.

Doors is great for a mosh pit, James Brown for a party. But intimate moments? Naah. And I fail to see how wnything abot the Beatles can be considered sexy. Bloody brilliant pop music, yes. But sexy? Don't get me wring, it is all great music, but most of it you actually have to concentrate on to appriciate. I'd be to busy having sex.

Best mood music for sex (and remember, there are very different kinds of moods, and sex): Rachmaninov, selected Beethoven, Aphex Twin's ambients, Blige, Badu, Sade and other contemporary soul music, Hooverphonic, Archive and other alternative downtempo electopop acts. Sets a good athmosphere, and is not in the way.

#L

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Best mood music for sex (and remember, there are very different kinds of moods, and sex): Rachmaninov, selected Beethoven, Aphex Twin's ambients, Blige, Badu, Sade and other contemporary soul music, Hooverphonic, Archive and other alternative downtempo electopop acts. Sets a good athmosphere, and is not in the way.

#L

I don't know, Liar. I just can't see people getting aroused at the thought of somone slipping a Hooverphonic disc into the CD, but then I've never even heard them.

If you're going to cross the line into classical--and I suggest we don't go there--then I just have to mention that the undisputed King is Ravel's Bolero , so overtly sexual and orgasmic that it's almost laughable. But we're not going to go there, right?

I have to agree about Rod Stewart's inherent unsexiness. He still has all the charm of a soccer hooligan, even after his album of torch songs. (You go out with Rod, you know you're coming back with your dress ripped and with barf on it.)

Roberta Flack never did a thing for me. Her songs are alway a tempo, and while she has a pretty voice, she doesn't have any of the heat of most female vocalists. She's a chick singer.

The hottest pre-Beatles male vocalist has to be Johnny Mathis. My sister and her friends used to have all his alburms, and he used to make me feel funny even when I was pre-pube.

No, the Beatles' music isn't sexy. It's everything else, but it's just not sexy. Too much sheer joy to be sexy. Sexy music has to hurt. Early Stones were sexy.

Bill Withers yes. Also Al Green. Marvin Gaye definitely.

What you really want is something that's rhythmic but not overwhelming. A kind of sexual Muzak. Unfortunately, disco was pretty much perfect. A strong beat and not enouigh melody to distract you or make you want to listen. Plus the songs were long enough that they didn't break the mood. I think that must have been the first music that was specifically designed for sex.

Sexiest musician--post Beatles--had to be Jimi Hendrix. Not only is he lushly sensual and screamingly orgasmic, but you could always hear his big fingers on the guitar strings, hear the strings against the frets of his guitar, which was devastatingly intimate. A few hits off the hash pipe and you could feel his fingers on you too. Also, no other musician had that sense of sexual menace.

On the other hand, who could concentrate on making love when he starts slamming you over the head as in Purple Haze.

When the clothes were off and things were getting serious, I'd switch to Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker or the Modern Jazz Quartet, or fish out the Debussy. (Oops. We're supposed to confine ourselves to pop.)

---dr.M.

 

[herecomestherain]

This topic is one near to my heart having just purchased a gorgeous new sound system for our bedroom. Our current favourites include a great Tamala Motown mix that has greats like;
Marvin Gaye-How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You
Supremes-Come See About Me
Temptations-My Girl

The Best of KC and the Sunshine Band;
That's The Way I Like It
Get Down Tonight
Shake Yor Booty
Keep It Coming Love

Rod Stewart It Had To Be You the Great American Songbook;
You Go To My Head
The Way You Look Tonight
The Nearness Of You

A jazz compilation with ;

Count Basie- Oh Lady Be Good
Dave Bruebeck- I Get A Kick Out Of You/Take Five
Billie Holiday singing "why not take all of me..." why not indeed!

ELVIS 30 Number Ones (I do believe Elvis was the sexiest man to have ever lived...is it infidelity to have him singing in the bedroom?)

Burning Love
All Shook Up
It's Now or Never
A Little Less Conversation ( a little more action)

Raul Malo and the Mavericks singing "Here Comes The Rain" for obvious reasons, form The Best of Album

And a very sexy Latin compilation with artsists like Tito Puente, Ricardo Ray...heats up a bedroom in no time...

And if I want transporting to gay Paris to play the coquette,the divine Miss Josephine Baker..you can just about hear the rustle of silk undergarments...

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Smokey Robinson's "Ooh Baby Baby" - I'm ready to go.

Perdita

 

[cookiejar]

Boz Scaggs ... "We're All Alone"

Nat King Cole ... "Unforgettable"

 

[Sappholovers]

Loreena McKennit's "Marco Polo" in her "Book of Secrets" CD has such an alluring rhythm and beat to it, and I love the moment when the music stops for a beat or two...like a couple nearing the verge, and then stopping, and then starting again, a rhythm of arousal and delay that mimics so beautifully one way of making love to intensify the pleasure. The "Book of Secrets" CD also has a beautiful song,"Highwayman," on it--which stirs up thoughts of being taken and ravished.


Janis Joplin opens up "Piece of My Heart" orgasmic wailing--starting off where others finish, and then taking it higher, over the edge. "Light My Fire" by "The Doors" has the long interlude that is beautiful for slowing down lovemaking--before heating it up again at the end. "Bad Company" offers one of the best songs ever for stripping--"Cant Get Enough [of your love]"--and a classic for foreplay: "Ready for Love."

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Boz Scaggs ... "We're All Alone"

Nat King Cole ... "Unforgettable"

What ever happened to Boz Scaggs? He did Silk Degrees and was on top of the world and then he disappeared. I heard heroin had something to do with it.

Okay. I'm feeling a bit nasty. Get out the chains and put on Midnight Rambler by the Stones. The concert version, where Mick whips the stage with his belt. (Is there anything cooler than Keith "Too High to Die" Richard having a total blood transfusion to get the junk out of his system?) Or "Stray Cat Blues". Or early Stones: Play With Fire

Or for some musical amyl nitrite, the immortal Jackie Wilson. Possibly the best R&B song ever: Higher and Higher. Talk about transcendent! The song's too good to waste on sex.

And who mentioned Steely Dan? Deacon Blues?:
"I crawl like a viper/through these suburban streets,
Make love to these women/languid and bittersweet..."

"I'll learn to work the saxophone"! That's just brilliant! I love it!

---dr.M.

 

[KenJames]

Here are a couple of my memorable experiences with music and sex, one good, the other not so good.

Stoned sex with gamelan music playing: he said it was royal wedding music from Bali, not for the ceremony, but played outside the bedchamber on the wedding night. The music had so many interlocking rhythms at different tempos that everything we did was in time with the music. And the sound was so unbelievably sensual. He had the album on tape and didn't remember the title. I've been looking for that record, or something like it, ever since.

In college, I brought a girl home, poured some wine, turned down the lights, lit a joint and put on "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield, which I loved as an abstract instrumental work. "The Exorcist" had just been released. I hadn't seen it and didn't know "Tubular Bells" had been used in the soundtrack. She thought I was really creepy to be playing that music for the occasion. We didn't have sex.

 

[lady*laura]

How about Rod Stewart - Great American Song Book cd's....very sexy music.

This isn't pop music but alot of the music from Phantom of the Opera is very very sensual....make love to Music of the Night and let it surround you....mmmmm.....