So I’m just listening to Larry Carlton’s solo on Steely Dan’s “Kid Charlemagne” and thinking that it is rather incredible, though I’ve never heard it mentioned among the great guitar moments. SD does have a tendency to throw away solos in their arrangments, but still.
But it got me thinking about other marvelous solos. Phil Manzanera’s soaring guitar on Roxy Music’s “Out of the Blue.” The Ritchie Blackmore solos on Deep Purple’s “Lazy” that are everything a bluesy guitar solo should be (and the basis for every solo Eddie Van Halen ever played). John Entwistle’s bass lead on The Who’s “The Real Me” (IMO the greatest metal song ever recorded, but that’s just me).
So what are y’all’s favorite solos, guitar and otherwise? Except drum solos, I hate drum solos.
It’s a bass solo by Cliff Burton.
This revoloutionary solo rocked the metal world in the early 80’s, showing people that the electric bass was more than a backing instrument.
“Winners never quit and quitters never win, but those who never win and never quit are idiots.”
Lexicon hit the nail on the head with his description. I’ve learned it up to around where the drums come in – another year or two and I’ll have it down!
TMR
“You should apologize for using up oxygen and other essential supplies that are desperately needed for survival by banana slugs.” – Judith Bandsma
The best guitar work Ive ever heard is from ‘The Reverend Horton Heat’. Its a three piece rock-a-billy outfit from Texas. They do 2 or 3 instrumentals per album. The song ‘Psychobilly freak-out’ still gets my heart racing.
The greatest guitar solo ever are the two solo bits by David Gilmore in Pink FloydsComfortably Numb.
Other possibilities:
Mark Knopfler on Dire Straits’Sultans of Swing Alex Lifesons accoustic solo at the beginning of Rush’sLa Villa Strangiato John Petrucci on Dream TheatersSurrounded
Oh, and Bluepony: your information on Candy Dulfer is correct (more trivia: Lily was here features and is co-written by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame) - although it is a DREADFUL song
Damn, CF, did I ever tell you that you have the best taste in music of anyone on this board (besides me)? I was just thinking of Surrounded and a couple of other Dream Theater songs, but you beat me to the chase. Once I took acid and listened to La Villa Strangiato twelve times in a row. An impressive feat considering that song is like nine minutes long!
My nominations : Brian May(a very underrated guitarist; he still plays the guitar that he built himself as a teenager) in Queen’s Brighton Rock
Eddie Van Halen in every single song he has ever played.
And a couple of fully instrumental songs I really love :
Well, I guess we got to include Hendrix’s famed Star Spangled Banner in this mix. Like to hear a CD with all the stuff on this thread, guitar-wise, that is.
Coldfire, I kinda liked the Lily number, but you’re right, the rest of the album sucked. Ms. Dulfer picture on the cover is real easy on the eyes. Pretty blondes that play decent sax really get to me. God, am I really that shallow?
I wouldn’t have said this yesterday, but after hearing Peter Frampton’s Do You Feel Like I Do? for the first time in a long time made me favorably reconsider the gratifying cheesiness of that moment in rock-n-roll history. Kind of a comfort-food thing. Give it a second chance.
Alex Lifeson’s solo on Kid Gloves (Rush’s “Grace Under Pressure”) is an astonishing home run blast.
Damn, you beat me to it. That’s one of my favorite guitar solos ever. Let’s see what else…Joe Walsh kicks butt (though on Hotel California, it’s not all him–he’s trading 4’s with [whoever was the other guitarist]).
Also, my favorite hair band guitar breaks are from Skid Row (ever tried to play “count the harmonics”? You can’t beat Skid Row for that game!), particularly on “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You”.
Mere Life is not Victory.
Mere Death is not Defeat.
Too bad they suck now. Oh well.
