Jees, how did I forget this one. Some people deride Gilmour for recording several takes of solos and then mixing them to create one unit, but even so his phrasing is just incredible, and that’s something that no amount of “studio magic” would ever simulate.
I know there are plenty o’ guitarists out there who could play circles around my man Keith Richards…however, his solo on “Sympathy for the Devil” is remarkable. The tone, note selection and the delivery of his solo just NAILS this song. Outstanding.
I also would mention Mick Taylor’s solo in the Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” is fantastic. Rumor has it that the Stones improvised the last half of this song as they recorded.
Tommy Bolin’s Post Toastie has always been one of my favs and Eddie’s Cathedral off of Diver Down.
I like the bit at the end of “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush.
Anyone know if thats David Gilmour? Its sounds quite like him and I’ve heard a few people say that he helped Kate Bush at the start of her career, but nobody seems to know what he actually did.
milo
Beat me to it - I couldn’t agree with you more about Keef’s work on Sympathy - in terms of “most effective use of a minimal number of notes” - got to go with this one.
My all-time favorite lead work is by Jeff Beck on “Let Me Love You” off of the Truth album. It tought me a ton as a guitarist and sounds like the blueprint for most solos that came in the 10-20 years after it…
Mark Andes, Heart – Magic Man
Buck Dharma, Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear the Reaper
Gotta agree with a lot of what’s already been mentioned, and add “Voices” from Dream Theater’s album “Awake”. It just rocks, and is incrediably climatic at the end of a ten minute piece of music.
Mark Knopfler on “Sultans of Swing”. Drops my jaw everytime.
i cant believe that you a-holes could forget Free Bird. come on. it has only THE definitive guitar solo. but even at that, i am still torn between that and the like barely-a-minute solo in Stairway to Heaven. That’s gold right there. Money is a great one too. Achilles Last Stand contains some nice parts, but its not as good as others. im with Jack Batty on My Sharona. its not as good as others, but it deserves respect.
In addition to some greats already mentioned:
Hedrix’s version of ‘Johny B. Goode’
Skid row’s ‘Little wing’
Queen, ‘I’m in Love With My Car’
Most things Eddie…
And I hate to even say this but, (takes a deep breath)
when I was a kid my sister used to drive me nuts playing ‘The Carpenters’ LPs all the time but there was this one guitar solo that I loved - on the song ‘Goodbye to love’. Nothing over the top, just there!
I saw a ‘Making Of…’ about the ‘Layla’ record. D. Allman did indeed play most of the hot stuff on that whole album. He even made up the ‘Layla’ intro lick.
In addition to some greats already mentioned:
Hedrix’s version of ‘Johny B. Goode’
Skid row’s ‘Little wing’
Queen, ‘I’m in Love With My Car’
And I hate to even say this but, (takes a deep breath)
when I was a kid my sister used to drive me nuts playing ‘The Carpenters’ LPs all the time but there was this one guitar solo that I loved - on the song ‘Goodbye to love’. Nothing over the top, just there!
I saw a ‘Making Of…’ about the ‘Layla’ record. D. Allman did indeed play most of the hot stuff on that whole album. He even made up the ‘Layla’ intro lick.
In addition to some greats already mentioned:
Hedrix’s version of ‘Johny B. Goode’
Skid row’s ‘Little wing’
Queen, ‘I’m in Love With My Car’
And I hate to even say this but, (takes a deep breath)
when I was a kid my sister used to drive me nuts playing ‘The Carpenters’ LPs all the time but there was this one guitar solo that I loved - on the song ‘Goodbye to love’. Nothing over the top, just there!
I saw a ‘Making Of…’ about the ‘Layla’ record. D. Allman did indeed play most of the hot stuff on that whole album. He even made up, and played, the ‘Layla’ intro lick.
COME ON GUYS!!!
Hello??
The winner, hands down is Randy Rhoads playing the solo in the Ozzy Osbourne song “Mr. Crowley”. I can’t believe I’m the first to mention this. Y’all make me ashamed to be a doper. Geez.
LC
Not to be petty, but that double post was NOT my fault! I 'preview’ed, decided to add “and played” in the last line THEN 'submit’ed!
Some excellent suggestions here!
‘Nine to the Universe’ by Hendrix is pretty much one long, uninterrupted solo jam, and much of it defies belief (in the good way).
I echo all the praise for Dave Gilmour, especially ‘Time’. And yes, that IS him at the end of ‘Wuthering Heights’.
Few great guitarists are as unfashionable these days as Mike Oldfield. That’s a shame. His first three albums (Tubular Bells, Hergest Ridge, Ommadawn) contain some stunning guitar workouts, with the emphasis on melodic lead lines. There is very little in the rock guitar canon that can hold a candle to his solo work towards the close of side 1 of “Ommadawn”. Also, a few Dopers may have heard his guitar work on a track called “QE2” from the album of the same name. A dreadful album, yes, but if you like spiffy guitar workouts, then that one takes some beating.
Stanley Jordan - solo version of ‘Eleanor Rigby’. Another personal favourite, and to see him play it live is awesome.
Any Frank Zappa guitar solo is awesome. Especially Black Napkins. If you don’t believe me listen to Shut Up and Play Yer Guitaror the Guitar albums.
The ultimate minimalist guitar solo: Johnny Ramone on I Wanna Be Sedate - all eigth notes, all the same note
Preview is for L00Z3RZ
I’m also not really into solo-friendly music but here’s a few…
I agree with the OP about Santeria but I think Lincoln Highway Dub was a much better song.
Also
311 - Use of Time I’ve been told by guitar players that this is really easy to play but I don’t care, it sounds awesome.
And a bass solo:
Rancid’s Axiom. Absolutely mind-blowing, I love it.
Of course, maybe a handful of you at best have heard these songs, they’re still great though. Check them out.