This has had a mention already, are you folks sure about the Stomp bit. I would vote for Bron-Y-Aur the instrumental off Physical Graffiti, I think Bron-Y-Aur Stomp is a different song, I don’t remember even what album it’s on and I certainly don’t remember being especially impressed by it, am I missing something?
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp is an upbeat accoustic song on Led Zeppelin III. It’s played with an open F tuning IIRC. I do have the mp3 (recorded from my vinyl copy) if you’re interested in hearing it.
Thanks, s’OK I’ve got my own copy of Zep III, I’ll give it a listen later. I bet I’ll still prefer the non-stomp version tho’.
If I had to choose but one, it would have to be Pearl Jam’s “Yellow Bedletter”. I so wish in my lifetime to hear it live. I bet there’s alot of improvision when they play that song.
If you can, try to get your hands on the version on the Led Zeppelin DVD. You’ll never look back.
Bron-Yr-Aur (without the Stomp) is a great song too.
I’ll toss in Ritchie Blackmore’s solo in “The Spanish Archer” from the The House of Blue Light and the live version of Child in Time.
Apparently you missed their concert in St. Paul last year… their final song was “Yellow Ledbetter”. Absolutely amazing.
The mighty Richard Thompson, “Tear-Stained Letter” from Hand of Kindness. I’m not bad at stealing licks from recordings, but I’m still not sure what’s going on there. The best non-guitar-effects solo I can think of.
Alex Chilton, “O My Soul,” from Big Star’s Radio City. Mmm. That Rickenbacker clang makes me happy.
Richard Lloyd, “See No Evil,” on Television’s Marquee Moon. As good as Tom Verlaine. These 2 and Robert Quine are my heroes: the we-don’t-need-none-of-your-steenking-riffs school.
Slide: Roy Rogers’ “Ducktalk” is pretty great. And George Harrison’s on Lennon’s “How Do You Sleep?” (Let’s leave Duane Allman and Ry Cooder out of it because there’s too much.) I was listening to some early Beatles record the other day, I think it was Beatles For Sale, and so many of George Harrison’s early solos are little clumsy little puppies that come up to you and lick your face, trying to be liked. And so I like them.
I wish I could think of something from the last 10 years, but I can’t.
Me? I can play the guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell. (One note, over and over, without variation in rhythm or tone, in other words.)
Pete Townshend has a terrific lead on Eminince Front before the singing begins but after the signature lick. His playing is both powerful and fluid. I swear to God I have been trying to play it forever and just cannot do it. Townshend always amazes me, though. Half the time he and Entwistle just fuckin’ seem to play lead at the same time.
Knopfler always has me hitting the rewind button. Check out his solos on Bob Dylan’s Infidels. A number of those songs have great leads and solos - esp. Sweetheart Like You .
A number of people have commented on David Gilmour . Nothing much to add. He’s great.
Then there is Jerry Garcia . Never has been one like him and never will be. My favorite guitarist ever. My favorite musician ever. My favorite singer ever. My favorite bandleader ever. But just to name a selection, you must check out his lead on the Jam > U.S. Blues from Boston Garden on 6/28/74. I was so thankful when they put that out on Dick’s Picks 12 . My old bootleg copy barely revealed the magic.
Hm. Except for “Taxman”, Television, Richard Thompson and Alex Chilton, I don’t like any of them mentioned so far. My favorites:
Bob Mould’s solo at the end of Husker Du’s Celebrated Summer.
Peter Buck on R.E.M.'s The Flowers Of Guatemala.
Mick Jones on The Clash’s Complete Control.
Pete Townsend on The Who’s Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere.
George Harrison’s 3-second solo at the end of The Beatles’s Got To Get You Into My Life.
Bob Stinson on The Replacements’s Sixteen Blue.
Bob Mould again on Husker Du’s Flip Your Wig.
Andy Gill on Gang Of Four’s At Home He’s A Tourist.
Bill Million and Glenn Mercer’s rave-up on The Feelies’s Slipping (Into Something.