Guitar rock then. . . and now.

Cafe Society
1

My son has discovered Classic rock. So in amongst his Hoobaskank and WWF theme songs, I found Voodoo Chile and Led Zep. Recently I bought a Classic Rock Hits from Sony records which included some really great (IMHO) guitar rock. Edgar Winters Group’s Frankenstein and Kansas’ Carry On Wayward Son are a few examples of what I’m talking about.

My question to you all-- the group with the most diverse tastes I’ve ever encountered in one place-- is: What other oldie guitar rock would be good to get him to listen to and what new groups are continuing this guitar rock tradition?

2

Old: Hendrix, Clapton, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac (pre-1970)

Sorta old-to-not-so-new: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen

Avoid: most hair-metal bands from the 80’s

3

I’ve got Rumors at home, he thinks it’s sappy–except Tusk. He’s in his high school marching band. He enjoyed my Queens Greatests Hits, though. Which songs do you think shows off those artists’ great guitars Mr. Blue Sky?

4

Clapton’s work with various “supergroups” (Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos) as well as the bulk of this 70’s solo work.

Hendrix: geez, where to start? Anything, really.

Fleetwood Mac - There was a great box set put out a couple of years ago which included all their work on Blue Horizon Records. If he (or you) digs the Chicago blues, get this set.

Stevie Ray Vaughn: a tremendous talent (and equally a tremendous loss). As close to Hendrix as you’ll ever get, yet had his own style.

Eddie Van Halen: mostly the early stuff.

Depends on what styles your son is interested in. There’s so many underrated guitarists: Steve Hackett, for example. He was pretty constricted while playing for Genesis.

Also look for Jeff Beck, Duane Allman (slide guitarist extrondanaire)

And then there’s blues, which is a whole 'nother story. I’m not much on blues, myself.

Oh yeah, Stanley Jordan. I saw him on the Tonight Show back in the 80’s. He uses the hammering technique (although I’m not sure if that’s the correct name for it) to the extreme and usually plays two guitars at the same time.

Try to find a used record store and grab a couple of albums by each until he finds something that strikes his fancy.

5

Old Aerosmith
Old AC/DC
Any Hendrix
Any Zep
Derek and the Dominos Layla album
Pink Floyd
Classic Black Sabbath (Ozzy era only)

6

I should also mention that the two albums Ozzy made with Randy Rhoads (Blizzard of Oz, Diary of a Madman) are both outstanding.

7

Pearl Jam has Mike McCready, who is way underrated IMO. He plays a lot of solos live, but not as many on studio albums. Check out Live on Two Legs, or you could try any of the 70+ official bootlegs.

8

I have to agree with Diogenes, the Randy Rhoads performances on both Ozzy albums were amazing. Rick Emmit of Triumph is consistently awesome and has some interesting blues influences. Also, Alex Lifeson of Rush plays some technically brilliant, though often not flashy, guitar. Night Ranger has some tasty licks here and there, as well. I still remember listening to the six finger liftoffs in “Rock in America” over and over. Joe Satriani is incredibly good, as well.

While it is not rock, Andres Segovia is in a league of his own.

I guess I am just getting old, but I haven’t heard any interesting guitar in quite a while. Man, I miss the eighties. I think it’s time to grow my hair back out.

9

I have to agree with Diogenes, the Randy Rhoads performances on both Ozzy albums were amazing. Rick Emmit of Triumph is consistently awesome and has some interesting blues influences. Also, Alex Lifeson of Rush plays some technically brilliant, though often not flashy, guitar. Night Ranger has some tasty licks here and there, as well. I still remember listening to the six finger liftoffs in “Rock in America” over and over. Joe Satriani is incredibly good, as well.

While it is not rock, Andres Segovia is in a league of his own.

I guess I am just getting old, but I haven’t heard any interesting guitar in quite a while. Man, I miss the eighties. I think it’s time to grow my hair back out.

10

Another vote for Ozzy with Randy Rhoads. But there are three albums out there. The one that the others missed is “Tribute” which is a live album recorded not long before Randy died[#1].

Some other thoughts if your kid really likes Music. (Note, this is a wide group)

Metallica: “Ride the Lightning” (SP?)
Rush: “2112” up to about “Signals”. “Moving Pictures” is probably the best.
Deep Purple: “Machine Head”
The Steve Morse Band: Anything by the SMB. Note, Steve and the band play a wide range of styles. At the same time Steve is just about the best rock guitarist around. It is instrumental stuff so you may want to wait until your kid is hooked on music to buy this. (In my expereince it takes some people a while before they really understand instrumental music). Also Steve was in Kansas for a while.
Dream Theater: Images and Words. A great progressive band.

Slee

11

Thin Lizzy had good guitars, in my opinion.

12

Some older classic rock CDs I would reccommend…

Allman Brothers Band: Fillmore East
Aerosmith: Get Your Wings
Ted Nugent: Self titled 1st album
Rush: Self titled 1st album
Kiss: Alive
Alice Cooper: Greatest Hits (circa 74’…not the newer “hits”)
ZZ Top: Deguello
Robin Trower: Bridge of Sighs
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush: Live
Jimi Hendrix Experience: Electric Ladyland
Cream: Best of Cream
The Who: Live at Leeds
The Rolling Stones: Let it Bleed and perhaps Sticky Fingers
Johnny Winter: Self titled 1st album
Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak
Jeff Beck: Truth
Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II

13

I’d recommend Joe Satriani. The vast majority of his songs are instrumentals. As such, he hasn’t had much mainstream commercial success. Indeed, I’ve heard DJs talk over his songs more often then I’ve heard them actually play them.

Eric Johnson is another fellow who likes to let his guitar do the talking for him. And man can it talk. He scored a decent radio hit with the chilling “Cliffs of Dover.” You’d probably know it if you heard it.

I also see you mentioned Queen. I’ve always considered Brian May to be one of rock’s greatest guitarists, but I guess Freddie’s personality was so strong that Brian was pushed off to the side. What a great story too. How can you not appreciate a guy who grew up poor but wanted to play so bad that, with help from his father, he built his own guitar as a teenager? And he still plays that guitar to this day. For some of his best guitar work, I’d recommend the song “Brighton Rock.”

I also like Van Halen’s first album. “Eruption” still makes my jaw drop.

Dream Theater is awesome if you can stand the lead singer’s voice. The way they meld intricate guitar work with equally precise keyboarding is truly intoxicating. Ditto on sleestack’s nod to “Images and Words.” It really is their best album.

14

Let’s not forget Dire Straits - from “Sultans of Swing” in the first album all the way to “Brothers in Arms”. I also enjoy “On Every Street” as well, although not many folks know about that album. Mark Knopfler knew what a steel guitar was really made for, and his fingers made sweet love to those strings…

I second the Pink Floyd nomination - Obscurred by Clouds, Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall - Gilmour in his prime…but Waters was and still is the Original P. Floyd and without him, Gilmour’s guitar seemed pointless with out the guidance of Water’s songwriting…

15

Television, Marquee Moon. Awesome guitars on that album.

16

With you all on the Randy Rhodes and Joe Satriani… as well as the vast majority of the others. A few that haven’t been mentioned:
Blue Cheer
Ten Years After (Alvin Lee)
Dick Dale
Link Wray
Chuck Berry

17

Like the choices so far - definitely assuming you want to narrow it down to a few.

I have been playing guitar for way too long, and been in a ton of bands - just stating that so’s you know I listen with an ear towards playing, too…

Aerosmith - any of the first four albums, but especially Toys in the Attic (has Walk this Way and Sweet Emotion) and Rocks

Zep - II (with Whole Lotta Love), IV (with Stairway and Rock n’ Roll). Physical Graffiti is a fave, but start with one of the others

Hendrix - get a best of. Essential Jimi Hendrix, I think, has 20 of his best tracks - the cover is a photo of him in gold and white (as opposed to black and white)

Ozzy - I got Tribute because it has I Don’t Know, Crazy Train and Flying High Again, and because Rhoads plays exactly the way he does on the studio albums.

Jeff Beck Group - Truth or Beckola. Monster albums from the master, with Rod Stewart back when he had credibility. Truth is the album that got me off of bad 70’s rock and led me to really pursue playing guitar well. Beck is the best lead guitar player, pretty much ever - says more with one note than most say with thousands…

UFO - Strangers in the Night - one of the best live albums ever. These versions of Lights Out, Only You Can Rock Me, and especially Rock Bottom are awesome. Michael Schenker’s lead playing was just amazing and the songs are great, great songs.

Van Halen - first Album. 'nuff said.

Cream - Strange Brew, the Very Best of Cream. Great songs, good playing.

SRV - Best of. I have all his albums - he is truly amazing, but this best of should do it.

AC/DC - Highway to Hell is my fave. Anything with Bon Scott on vocals will serve you well.

Who - Who’s Next

Stones - the big 3 (Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St) but know that Keith plays in an open Blues tuning on a lot of the songs…

Queen - probably A Night at the Opera - whatever has Bohemian Rhapsody on it.

There are plenty of others, but you get the idea. These are all 5 star CD’s that rock hard, have great songs, and are playable. Most of the other recommendations are strong from the other posters, too - there are exceptions, but why stir the pot…

18

Did anyone mention Sammy Hagar? Standing Hampton rocks hard.

Don’t know if he’d like it or not, but Bon Jovi and Def Lep are great straight ahead rock too. Try Slippery When Wet & Pyromania.

I echo the Triumph remark, Rik Emmett is great (there is a best of cd that would do nicely). His solo stuff is very good too but that’s more jazz than rock. Also, the self titled Zebra album is great, very Led Zep like.

Night Ranger is excellent guitar rock (they also have a best of you can start with) and the two Damn Yankees albums are fantastic. Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades… lots of hair, lots of attitude, lots of talent, LOADS of fun.

19

I realized I didn’t answer the other half of the question - what new bands are continuing that tradition.

The answer is lots, surprisingly. It’s not like you’ll hear them on the radio but they’re still out there. I direct you and anyone else into that scene to www.melodicrock.com for a great resource. I shall rattle off the name of a few bands I love that are out there keepin’ the faith, all of which you can learn about there:

Danny Danzi
Gotthard
Harem Scarem
Steelhouse Lane
Hardline
Tyketto/Vaughn (they changed their name after the third album)
Westworld

…and many more I’m sure I’ll come up with after I leave here. Go, listen to soundclips and enjoy. This web site has made my musical life worth living, no exaggeration. I really thought I was stuck listening to the “nu metal” bands that I don’t really like and then I found this place. Ah… my kinda music!

20

Lynard Skynard is a great guitar band…and teenagers really seem to dig “Sweet Home Alabama”.

Skynard’s Innards would be a good place to start…it has most of the essential Skynard on one album. Free Bird, Gimme Three Steps, and, of course, Sweet Home Alabama are good places to start.

Of course, it is missing my all-time Skynard favorite: “Tuesday’s Gone”…

A couple of other possible choices are from a movie that may not be good entertainment for a teenager. The two soundtracks to Dazed and Confused contain some excellent guitar-rock: Edgar Winter, ZZ Top, Rick Derringer (Rock and Roll, Hootchie Coo), and, of course, Tuesday’s Gone by Skynard populate the soundtracks.

But I would warn against letting your kid seeing the movie if he is too young as it has a lot of drug and alcohol themes within.