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'Squeeze Box' - The Who -

The story goes that one day Pete Townshend popped into a music shop and purchased an accordion. The instrument inspired him to write 'Squeeze Box,' which is a slang term for accordions. The song was an unexpected hit, after being singled out from the band's 1975 album 'The Who by Numbers.'

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'Piano Man' - Billy Joel -

Billy Joel's first major hit and his signature song, 'Piano Man' allows an accordion to draw out the end of each verse as Joel sings about his real-life experience as a lounge musician in early 1970's Los Angeles. The track was included on Joel's 1973 album of the same name.

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'Constant Craving' - k.d. lang -

Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang employs a subtle accordion sound at the beginning of this song, taken from her second album 'Ingénue,' released in 1992.

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'Objection (Tango)' - Shakira -

Colombian singer-songwriter Shakira often pays tribute to her South American musical roots by employing traditional instrumentation in her songs. 'Objection (Tango)' from 2002 is no exception, with the bandoneon, a type of concertina, being put to creative use.

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'Kiss Me' - Sixpence None the Richer -

Released in 1998, 'Kiss Me' pays tribute to the 1962 French romantic drama film 'Jules et Jim,' with the requisite accordion meandering in and out of the melody.

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'I Have a Dream' - ABBA -

In December 1979, Swedish supergroup ABBA released 'I Have a Dream,' a ballad that featured a choir and, during the band's live rendition of the track, an accordion. It was a major hit over the Christmas week in many countries.

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'The Boy in the Bubble' - Paul Simon -

'The Boy in the Bubble' appears on Paul Simon's seminal 1986 album 'Graceland.' The song was cowritten by Simon and Forere Motloheloa, an accordionist from Lesotho. The instrument features prominently throughout the track.

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'Road to Nowhere' - Talking Heads -

'Road to Nowhere' is the final track from the 1985 Talking Heads' album 'Little Creatures.' Session musician Jimmy Macdonell plays accordion throughout the song, which is noted for the accompanying MTV-nominated video. 

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'Wooden Heart' - Elvis Presley -

There's a scene in the 1960 movie 'G.I. Blues' where Elvis Presley's character sings 'Wooden Heart' to a wooden puppet. The number is based on a German folk song and an accordion is played throughout. The song was a big hit for Presley, fresh out of the army and recording again.

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'Back Street Girl' - The Rolling Stones -

Back in 1967 during the psychedelic "summer of love," the Rolling Stones surprised everybody with this soft and gentle ballad written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Jagger later remarked that he liked the "French café" quality of the track, which features an accordion played by session musician Nick de Caro.

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'God Only Knows' - The Beach Boys -

Brian Wilson was as accomplished as Lennon and McCartney for employing weird and wonderful musical instruments in his compositions. 'God Only Knows' from the Beach Boys' acclaimed 1966 album 'Pet Sounds' features an accordion as well as flute, clarinet, French horn, harpsicord, and even sleigh bells.

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'What It Takes' - Aerosmith -

Aerosmith's rendition of their power ballad 'What It Takes,' sung live at the Paradiso Club in Holland in 1997 for a television show, features an accordion overdub that lends the track an appealing romantic quality lacking in the recorded version.

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'4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)' - Bruce Springsteen -

Taken from the 1973 album 'The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle' and released only in Germany as a single, this early effort with its accordion refrain remains one of Springsteen's most popular ballads.

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'Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)' - Arcade Fire -

Canadian rock outfit Arcade Fire include an accordion in much of their output, with the band's co-vocalist Regine Chassagne truly accomplished on the instrument. 'Neighborhood #2 (Laïka)' is typical of their sound and was the second single from the band's 2004 debut album 'Funeral.'

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'Beyond Here Lies Nothin'' - Bob Dylan -

Bob Dylan's 'Beyond Here Lies Nothin' sounds straight out of a 1950's Chicago blues club, the edgy guitars tempered somewhat by a mellow background accordion. It's the opening track on his 2009 studio album 'Together Through Life.'

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'You Are The Everything' - R.E.M. -

Released in 1998, 'You Are Everything' was performed by R.E.M. live on several occasions, with Mike Mills taking the accordion honors.

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'Bugs' - Pearl Jam -

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder can be heard playing accordion on 'Bugs,' which appears on the band's 1994 album 'Vitalogy.'

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'As Long as I Got You' - Lily Allen -

Taken from her 2014 album 'Sheezus,' English singer Lily Allen's 'As Long as I Got You' draws on zydeco and country influences, with the requisite accordion lending it a tangible Cajun flavor.

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'Gotta Get Up' - Harry Nilsson -

'Gotta Get Up' opens Harry Nilsson's 1971 album 'Nilsson Schmilsson.' The song's music hall quality is enhanced by a swirling accordion that he brings in halfway through the track.

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'Molly Town' - Joss Stone -

Joss Stone manages to work in an accordion over a catchy reggae beat to lend 'Molly Town' an intriguing Irish-Caribbean quality that's instantly appealing. The song appears on her 2015 album 'Water for Your Soul.'

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'Omaha' - Counting Crows -

Formed in 1991, Counting Crows regularly employ the services of an accordion in their music, notably on 'Omaha,' taken from their 1993 debut album 'August and Everything After.' Charlie Gillingham is the band's keys wizard.

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'Paper in Fire' - John Mellencamp -

John Mellencamp's jaunty 'Paper in Fire,' released as the first single from his 1987 album 'The Lonesome Jubilee,' incorporates nifty accordion, banjo, and tambourine accompaniment.

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'Innocent When You Dream' - Tom Waites -

Taken from the singer-songwriter's 1987 album 'Franks Wild Years,' 'Innocent When You Dream' features Tom Waites on what he calls "pump organ," his name for an accordion. The album cover pictures Waites playing the instrument. Interestingly, Waites has in the past been quoted as saying, "A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't."

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'Peek-a-Boo' - Siouxsie and the Banshees -

Described in Sounds magazine as "playful and mysterious," 'Peek-a-Boo' was certainly a departure for English post-punk rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The experimental sound includes an accordion played over multilayered and occasionally reversed instrumentation.

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'A Pair of Brown Eyes' - The Pogues -

The accordion features widely through The Pogues' musical repertoire, which is no surprise really considering they are one of Ireland's preeminent bands. 'A Pair of Brown Eyes' was composed in 1985 by front man Shane MacGowan and is delivered in a traditional Irish folk style.

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'When I Paint My Masterpiece' - The Band -

'When I Paint My Masterpiece' was written by Bob Dylan and performed by The Band, one of the most influential music ensembles of the 1970s. The group's Garth Hudson plays accordion on the track, which appears on the 1971 album 'Cahoots.'

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'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?' - Peter Sarstedt -

English singer-songwriter Peter Sarstedt, who was born in India, had a massive UK hit in 1969 with 'Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?' which features a brief French-style accordion at the start and the end.

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'Come with Me Now' - Kongos -

South African-American band Kongos earned commercial success in 2012 with 'Come with Me Now,' described by Billboard as an "accordion-tinged" rock song.

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'Taking It Home' - Buckwheat Zydeco -

Stanley Dural Jr., better known as Buckwheat Zydeco, was an influential American accordionist and zydeco musician. One of the few zydeco artists to achieve mainstream success, Buckwheat Zydeco released numerous albums throughout his career, including 1990's 'Taking It Home.' Eric Clapton was a guest musician.

Sources: (uDiscoverMusic) (Time Is On Our Side) (Goodreads) (Pitchfork) (Songfacts) (Billboard)

See also: Songs that rock the harmonica

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