Many solos from Steely Dan songs, but Kid Carlemagne stands out, also Boddhisahtva.
I can’t believe someone out there actually likes this garbage.
Hmmm? The part directly in the middle of the live song – Betts solos for a bit, the drum folk whack for 8 bars, and the bass comes in Waaay late, just as Dwayne starts to crank up. The band struggles for several bars, ruining some blazing slide guitar. Surely you’ve heard this cut?
I mean, Barry’s great and all, but since he messed up live (which happens, shrug) and then Duane had to get run over and all, there was no chance to go back and do it right. Pity.
I’ve probably heard the Eat a Peach version hundreds of times, plus who knows how many times on concert recordings and at shows I listened 3 times to check, and then put on another live show to check (yeah, I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to the ABB 
;)). That’s really how they do that part of the song. Duane and Dickey (or later, other combos) trade riffs a couple of times, and the bass comes in in the middle as the other guitarist solos.
Anyway, had I thought of it, I would’ve nominated Dickey’s solo from this song - one of his best, I think, the tone is outstanding.
Marley23: mmmkay. I just went and re-listened to the cut, and the band basically struggles for a bit, and then the drums drop 2 beats to match up with the bass; the bass goes on as before and a 4/4 rock cut is now 2 beats short on just the drum tracks. This does not sound planned or even well done. Duane is clearly befuddled for about 8 beats, then pulls it out wonderfully at the break just before the vocals start back up, finishing with a wonderfully nasty nail-biter slide (yowch!).
Yeah, Dicky sounded good but a bit brassy for my taste. He also repeats himself more than I’d like. Duana can be a bit disorganized, but can really pull out a phrase to send shit up your spine and make your hair stand on end. YMMV.
Al DiMeola does some incredible soloing in Return To Forever’s “Sophistifunk.”
I also love the little solo guitar break in the Pixies’ “Alex Eiffel.”
Shine on You Crazy Diamond Part V(?) - ya know the one I’m talking about, right after the windy transition from WYWH.
The end of Hotel California
The guitar bridge in Queen’s “Innuendo.”
And howzabout the guitar solo at the end of Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango in the Night”?
Finally, the guitar riff at the beginning of the Doors’ “Spanish Caravan…” [hijack]I understand that’s based on a classical piece, but what is it?[/hijack]
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Pretty much anything by Hendrix.
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Stanley Jordan’s solo version of Eleanor Rigby. There is nothing any mortal soul can do with a guitar that will ever impress me so much, or fill me with such conviction that I’m in the presence of raw, gifted genius, as seeing SJ play this. Which I’ve done twice.
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Dave Gilmore. Time. Searing, passionate, lyrical, well-crafted, articulate, transcendant, musically perfect for the song, technically proficient, stylish, inventive and just nuance-perfect. If I’m with someone who isn’t sure rock music has much to offer, I sit them down, explain a little about the background to the song, and then let Mr Gilmore do his thing.
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Randy Rhoads. Quiet Riot’s cover of Slade’s Cum On Feel The Noize. The greatest solo ever gifted upon a simple, straightforward no-frills pop song (although number 10 is a strong contender). Deft, impressive, flashy in a good way, exhilarating, creative.
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Mike Oldfield. Two thirds of the way through side 1 of Ommadawn, in the section preceding the first appearance of the African drums. The lyrically expressive side of the electric guitar given full reign. The melodic line seems to take flight and soar like a bird set free in an infinite sky, and it’s also technically majestic - this never gets mentioned on all the ‘guitar heroes’ lists, but it’s one hell of a feat of guitar playing, and I’ve seen him play it live too (so it wasn’t just a studio item).
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Van Halen, on Whacko’s Beat It. The solo that alerted a zillion non-guitar-geek pop lovers to the reality of tapping technique, and breathtakingly audacious.
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Steve Howe on Going For The One by Yes. Just amazing, a careful, eloquent and extended piece of musical foreplay that builds and builds and builds until that sweet moment of climactic resolution.
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Jimmy Page, Whole Lotta Love. Notwithstanding my genuflection at the very mention of Mr Page, the guitar solo itself, considered in isolation, wouldn’t make my Top Ten. However, I’m thinking here of a sort of combined score for best riff and best solo in one song, in which case of course this track - blessed with possibly the greatest single riff in rock history - trounces all competition. His work on Black Dog and Rock and Roll, if evaluated the same way, is similarly unequalled.
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Ritchie Blackmore, Catch The Rainbow. The live version, obviously. Yes, it goes on forever and is indulgent and rambling and… yada yada… come on, it’s Blackmore, whaddya expect? But by all that’s sacred, this solo was a large part of my early realisation that the universe is essentially guitar-shaped, mankind came of age with the invention of the electric guitar, and God’s purpose in putting us here was so that we could appreciate the finest plank spankers in their finest hours and know what it is to be happy.
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Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart. Not sure who actually played the solo. But it’s magnificent.
That’s enough for now.
Ianzin,
Carlos Cavasso played the solo on “Cum on feel the Noize” not Randy Rhoads. Randy was in Quiet Riot at one point but he left to play with Ozzy before they recorded the Metal health album.
It is a tasty solo, though.
Ianzin we’ve both mentioned Steve Howe’s solo on Going For the One. How many others on this list were soloing on a pedal steel ? lol
the man can just do So much on So many differant instruments, from nylon classical, to sitar guitar, to pedal steel.
To any guitar enthusiasts I also heartily recommend Steve’s Book, “The Steve Howe Guitar Collection”. Gorgeous book
Nice to see my namesake mentioned twice already! IMO, Kid Charlemagne is the best guitar solo of all time. Even a rag like Rolling Stone put it in the top three of all time. I can play virtually every Steely Dan tune note for note and while my favorite to listen to is KC, my favorite to play is Bodhisattva. Nothing is more fun to finger than bebop. I only wish Denny Dias still recorded. Since it’s too hard to put them in order of what I like to listen too, I’ll put them in order of what I like to play
Bodhisattva
Kid Charlemagne
Your Gold Teeth II
My Old School
King of the World
Peg
Ricki Don’t Lose that Number
Other great guitar solos
Alex Lifeson’s in Red Barchetta. Eddie Van Halen’s on “So this is Love.” Walsh’s on Hotel Carlifornia is certainly a classic. Hendrix’s Hey Joe. Jim Hall’s solo on Sonny Rollin’s “Without a Song.” I also like alot of Grant Green’s solos, especially with Lee Morgan.
The solo in The Black Crowes’ version of "Hard to Handle.
Couldn’t remember this one so I went and listened to it and it is really good. Solos are about tension and release around a theme that matches the mood of the piece which this solo achieves very nicely. Too bad that tele sounds like it had a coffee can for an amp - terrible sound.
Yes, that one too. I especially like that blinding little scale right after the climax of the solo.
While this is a guitar thread, I feel it necessary to point out that the unique jazz-waltz feel (3/4, 6/4, and 9/4) was learned by Jeff Porcaro in just two days after borrowing a Charlie Mingus album of Fagen’s.
Eric Clapton: Tales of Brave Ulysses
From: Live Cream Vol II
The wah pedal work during the solo is mind bending.
Jeff Beck: Ain’t Superstitious
From: Truth
Similarly incredible wah pedal work.
Rudolph and Michael Shenker: No One Like You
From: Blackout
A fine musical pairing and fantastic rock solo.
Johnny Winter and Rick Derringer: Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
From: Johnny Winter and Live
Solid blues work from an excellent team.
Robert Fripp: 20[sup]th[/sup] Century Schizoid Man
From: Court of the Crimson King
The sax and guitar duet during the solo is superb.
When I finally acheive my Destiny and become the Master of the Universe, all guitar solos will be forbidden. It’s just musical masturbation. Guitar is strictly a rythm instrument, outside classical music.
Paul Clark and Friends: “Unveiling” solo by Phil Keaggy
Focus: ‘Hocus Pocus’ solo by Jan Akkerman
Metallica: ‘One’ solo by what’s his name
(I think the metallica solo is the same solo that ritchie blackmore plays in ‘Burn’, but i’m not sure.)
Rush: “Passage to Bangkok” solo by alex lifeson.
Gary Moore: Still Got the Blues
From: Still Got the Blues
Simply an outstanding blues solo on electric guitar.
Sounds like you’ve been listening to some pretty crappy rock guitar work. Tough luck.