Great guitar songs similar to...

Cafe Society
1

Awkward title but I’m looking for some great guitar songs that are similar to the ones I’m about to list.

Led Zeppelin - Since I’ve Been Loving You
Ted Nugent - Stranglehold
Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Down by the River
Allman Brothers - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (live version)
Allman Brothers - You Don’t Love Me (live version)
Lynryd Skynryd - Freebird
Pearl Jam - Nothing As It Seems

As you probably can tell, I tend to like long, drawn-out songs that tend to build rather than just assault you with fury and virtuosity in 3 minutes. So I’m not really looking for Slayer. However, though, I’m not really looking for Grateful Dead either although I know some of their songs would fit.

Any takers?

2

Hmm, you like long drawn out songs that build? How about a sons tribute to his dead mother? Wings for Marie and Ten thousand days by Tool. They are a Part 1 and Part 2 type of songs.

3

Hard to believe they’re both almost forty years old, but Sweet Child in Time by Deep Purple and Phoenix by Wishbone Ash may satisfy your criteria. Even if they don’t, they’re still terrific cuts*.

*I couldn’t find a studio version of Phoenix and the live versions don’t quite do it justice, but this one will do.

Now, not quite what you were looking for (it’s ‘only’ 6 plus minutes) is this super take on Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King by the hugely underrated SRC. Watch it!

ETA: How could I forget?! Maggot Brain by the late and more than great Eddie Hazel.

4

Might want to check out Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs as well.

5

The Outlaws - Green Grass and High Tides Forever
Tommy Bolin - Post Toastee
Lou Reed - Rock & Roll

6

Pat Metheny Group - Half Life Of Absolution
Return To Forever - Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant

7

I assume you’re familiar with Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child”, and the Doors’ “The End” and “When the Music’s Over”.

Some other long drawn out songs that build (or have pronounced dynamics of one sort or another), and feature some serious guitar:

“Intro/Sweet Jane” by Lou Reed from Rock and Roll Animal
“Fracture” by King Crimson (also “21st Century Schizoid Man”)
“Careful With That Axe, Eugene” by Pink Floyd (also “Echoes”)
“Two Trains Running” by the Blues Project
“Apocalyptik Bore” by Amon Duul II

I like these also, but forget how much guitar is involved:

“Hymn for the Dudes” by Mott the Hoople
“Earth Shanty” by the Groundhogs
“Ghosts” by the Strawbs

8

Boston - Foreplay / Long Time
Buckethead - Soothsayer
In Flames - The Chosen Pessimist (no so big on intense guitar, but still long and building)
Smashing Pumpkins - Starla

There are also the classics that probably fit your description more less:
Guns N’ Roses - November Rain
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

You may also be interested in the instrumental rock/metal band, Russian Circles. Most of their songs are pretty much nothing but long guitar buildups.

9

Green Grass And High Tides, the Outlaws, perhaps? (I saw someone else mentioned it, but hey, here’s a listen.)