Big orchestral sound in pop, rock etc.

- Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys.

- Randy Newman's debut album is heavily orchestrated, but he is far from a Rock band.

- Phil Spector's 1960's productions feature a large ensemble (often three bassists, two pianists, up to four guitarists, numerous string and brass players).

- On their Rock Of Ages live album The Band augmented their 5-piece line-up with a great horn section, the charts written by Alan Toussaint.

Check out “The Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic”. When I first read about this project I thought “Uh, oh!”. Why mess with a good thing?  Boy, was I wrong. Richard Carpenter produced, orchestrated and conducted The Royal Philharmonic in a reworking of their classic recordings using the original vocal and instrumental tracks, now with beautiful, lush orchestral arrangements. Not your typical small(ish) orchestral sound of studio orchestras heard on some Rock recordings, but the real deal.

For something completely different musically, try Frank Zappa with the London Symphony vols. 1&2.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. That´s plenty to explore, I´ll be quite busy in the next couple of days.

Today I listened to Chicago V (I´m going through the discography) and maybe it´s a bit too jazzy for my taste but the overall sound of the band is very pleasing. Rock with horns. Nice.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood´s „Welcome to the Pleasuredome) was the second album I ever bought. It still holds up, even though I don´t listen to it that often. The second album has some great songs and production, even though it´s a bit less over the top.

Early Pet Shop Boys is right down my alley, even though I didn´t think of them. But hey, „It´s a sin“ is big. One song I love to return to every now and then is the long version of „It´s alright“. Recommended!

I´m very much into early Genesis and Yes, I love the sound of the B3 and Mellotron and it always presented a hurdle when bands started using other synths. I know few of the other bands @simonmoon recommends (thanks!) and will check them out. I can already return the favour and recommend Magma´s „Mekanik Destruktiv Kommandöh“: On the one hand it´s really out there on the other it´s so rhythmic and rocking, a bit of a take it or leave it thing. I love it.

I had not heard at all of the Carpenters album. And maybe I would have dismissed it as a cash grab and lazy, but now I´m intrigued. Thanks!

Santana´s first is great, even though I like the Woodstock performance better (it´s included in the legacy edition 2CD set). Late 60s and early 70s salsa albums have a lot of players on them: „Fania All Stars Live at the Cheetah“ is a good example.

Joni Mitchell – „Miles of Aisles“ – that is also a nice album.

Thanks again everyone!

If you want to get very ambitious and adventurous, look for a copy of St. Giles Cripplegate, a 1972 album of modern Classical music written by Jack Nitzsche and performed by The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by David Measham (Reprise Records MS2092).

Nitzsche was Phil Spector’s arranger and orchestrator (including the incredible "River Deep, Mountain High"), and did the same for a number of Rock bands, including Buffalo Springfield (on Neil Young’s "Expecting To Fly") and The Stones. He and Ry Cooder produced Neil Young’s debut album, and Jack later played piano on a number of Neil Young records, including Harvest. He’s all over the debut album of Crazy Horse, a fantastic album. He also did a number of soundtracks, such as Performance, The Exorcist, and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. A very talented guy.

Check out Elton John live in Australia with the Melbourne symphony orchestra.  Great performances and recorded well.