# Great Instrumental Solos **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244 "2000-03-24T05:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Catrandom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@Catrandom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catrandom)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/1 "2000-03-24T05:11:00Z")
Here’s something pointless for y’all: 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. Catrandom ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/2 "2000-03-24T05:16:00Z")
Jimmy Page’s solo from ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth). Cliff Burton was the man. * * * TMR “You should apologize for using up oxygen and other essential supplies that are desperately needed for survival by banana slugs.” – Judith Bandsma ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/3 "2000-03-24T05:17:00Z")
The entire Miles Davis/Gil Evans “Kind of Blue” album. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Lexicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lexicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lexicon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/4 "2000-03-24T05:23:00Z")
anaesthesia-pulling teeth 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.” ---
**Author:** ![Shagrath\_Borgir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/46a35a/32.png) [@Shagrath\_Borgir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagrath_Borgir)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/5 "2000-03-24T05:28:00Z")
I thought the “Breadfan” solo from the metallica live box set was pretty spiffy. 🙂 Too bad they suck now. Oh well. * * * “Oh dreadful angel of mine, enrich me with the vastness of your being…” ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/6 "2000-03-24T05:31:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Lexicon: > \*\*anaesthesia-pulling teeth > > 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. > \*\* 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 ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/7 "2000-03-24T05:32:00Z")
Cool sax number by Candy Dulfer called _Lily Was Here_. I think the album was called _Saxuality_. * * * _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` ---
**Author:** ![Silo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Silo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silo)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/8 "2000-03-24T06:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > 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). I wouldn’t go quite that far. * * * If at first you don’t succeed you’re about average. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/9 "2000-03-24T06:55:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/10 "2000-03-24T09:31:00Z")
The greatest guitar solo ever are the two solo bits by **David Gilmore** in _Pink Floyds_ **Comfortably Numb**. Other possibilities: **Mark Knopfler** on _Dire Straits’_ **Sultans of Swing** **Alex Lifesons** accoustic solo at the beginning of _Rush’s_ **La Villa Strangiato** **John Petrucci** on _Dream Theaters_ **Surrounded** 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 😉 * * * **Coldfire** _Voted **Poster Most Likely To Post Drunk** _ * * * _ **"You know how complex women are"** _ - Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993) ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/11 "2000-03-24T09:41:00Z")
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 : **Gary Hoey** ’s rendition of _Hocus Pocus_ and _Cliffs of Dover_ by **Eric Johnson**. Naturally, anything by Joe Satriani rules too. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/12 "2000-03-24T10:45:00Z")
John Squire “I am the Resurrection” The Stone Roses. Pete Townshend “the real me” from Quadrophenia… definitley… Dave Gilmour “Time” DSOTM. 2 words for Don Henley… “Joe” and “Walsh” (Hotel California) * * * “I’m a rebel, soul rebel. I’m a capturer, soul adventurer” ~Bob Marley ---
**Author:** ![AKAmame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@AKAmame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AKAmame)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/13 "2000-03-24T12:11:00Z")
The Koln Concerts by Keith Jarret. Red wine, a storm outside, and just coast on the music. ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/14 "2000-03-24T12:15:00Z")
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? * * * _…send lawyers, guns, and money…_ ``` Warren Zevon ``` ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/15 "2000-03-24T12:20:00Z")
Do not be ashamed, BluePony. She’s a fox alright 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/16 "2000-03-24T12:25:00Z")
Fox Hijack! [http://www.947wave.com/candydulfer\_big.gif](http://www.947wave.com/candydulfer_big.gif) I rest my case. You may proceed now. * * * **Coldfire** _Voted **Poster Most Likely To Post Drunk** _ * * * _ **"You know how complex women are"** _ - Neil Peart, **Rush** (1993) ---
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/17 "2000-03-24T12:33:00Z")
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. * * * I’m a loner, Dottie … a rebel. ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/18 "2000-03-24T14:10:00Z")
My favorite solo: John Coltrane’s on the song “Lush Life” with Johnny Hartman. Second favorite: John Coltrane’s with Monk on “Well You Needn’t”. Whenever Coltrane busts in, it’s like being mauled by a train - powerful playing really gets my goat. I also agree with Tuba: “Kind of Blue” is a great album - tons of beautiful music. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Cool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Joe\_Cool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Cool)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/19 "2000-03-24T17:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by RTA: > **I wouldn’t have said this yesterday, but after hearing Peter Frampton’s _Do You Feel Like I Do?_…** 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. Joe Cool ---
**Author:** ![Sealemon88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Sealemon88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sealemon88)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244/20 "2000-03-24T17:37:00Z")
SRV’s cover of Voodoo Chile (Slight Return). Actually, pretty much any guitar solo SRV ever did. Alex Lifeson’s solos on La Villa, Camera Eye, Analog Kid, and of course 2112! Squirrel Nut Zippers: The violen part on The ghost Of Stephen Foster, and the trumpet solo on Flight Of The Passing Fancy. Beethoven’s Fur Elise. I’m sure I’ll think of more later. * * * You say “cheesy” like that’s a **BAD** thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-instrumental-solos/15244.md?page=2)