# My all time favorite rock guitar solo... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015 "2014-04-26T02:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/21 "2014-04-26T15:13:48Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Thanks. Yours, too. Post-punk is right in my wheelhouse, for some reason, so my tastes tend not to be the usual fluid, blues-based guitar solo. (It’s somewhat odd, as that’s what I grew up with–lots of Zeppelin in my teenaged years. 🙂 Plus Chicago blues were always a favorite of mine.) If I went more with blues-based rock, it’d probably have to be some Hendrix tune. Maybe “Voodoo Chile.” Robert Quine’s solo on Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend must just _work_ for you. https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q9aWPTCc2r0?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque Or Fripp on Bowie’s Fashion ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/22 "2014-04-26T15:51:43Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Or Fripp on Bowie’s Fashion We’ll…talk about a guy who made remarkable contributions to others’ albums. I’d go with Brian Eno’s “King’s Lead Hat” to hear Fripp tip over the edge a little. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/23 "2014-04-26T15:56:54Z")
Probably Frank Zappa’s Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy". Clapton/Allman on “Key to the Highway” is right up there as well. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/24 "2014-04-26T16:08:39Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Robert Quine’s solo on Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend must just _work_ for you. > [http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9aWPTCc2r0](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9aWPTCc2r0) > Or Fripp on Bowie’s Fashion Good call on both those, especially “Girlfriend.” I have to say, I don’t know who Robert Quine is–for some reason, I always thought that was Matthew Sweet soloing, but I never bothered to research it. Looks like I’ll have to check this Quine fellow out. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/25 "2014-04-26T16:15:07Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > It’s short…it’s not particularly technical…but it’s indeed a favorite: Robert Quine’s skronky goodness in Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ “Love Comes in Spurts”. > > [http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo\_88u0JGSo](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo_88u0JGSo) Great solo and great song. How the hell have I missed Robert Quine and how have I missed this particular band? ---
**Author:** ![spazurek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@spazurek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazurek)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/26 "2014-04-26T16:22:59Z")
I have an odd one: Replacements, [Sixteen Blue](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYnXvP_1rsw). (Starts about 3:32). This is not a band that was known for instrumental chops; from my understanding, they frequently played drunk. But this short, sweet, perfect little solo is what guitar solos are for. As that first note fades out, then back in…always gives me shivers. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/27 "2014-04-26T17:49:30Z")
My all time very favorite hasn’t changed for 40+ years: Allmans / Fillmore / Duane’s solo in “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.” ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/28 "2014-04-26T18:22:31Z")
Here are 4 of my favorites: [Guitars In The Sky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRdFictnQAs) by **The Records**. Solo starts @ 2:40. [Living A Lie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbNMRgrSoU0) by **Babe Ruth**. Solo by Bernie Marsden starts @ 4:45 [Hold On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1d7ZKOMq4c) by **Wishbone Ash**. Solo by Laurie Wisefield starts @ 3:56. [25 or 6 to 4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWKtVzzWo4U) by **Chicago**. Song starts @ 22:55 with solo by Terry Kath starting @25:20. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/29 "2014-04-26T19:03:39Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Yes! Love NY, love that song. Good choice. > > Have you heard _Year Of The Horse_? That’s my favorite NY/Crazy Horse. I somehow missed out on that when it came out, but I have the documentary in my Netflix queue. I’ll have to find a non-Friday or Saturday night to watch it (weekends have too many streaming issues for me). When I think about it, a lot of the others mentioned here are obviously technically superior (and I do love me some Frank Zappa), but there’s still something about this one that just grabs me viscerally. > [@aceplace57](#): > > [Radar Love](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwqMKf7r7Xg) > > First the drum solos, then vocals, the lead guitar has some great solos throughout. at 3:30 the vocals and guitar go back and forth answering each other. Speaking of things grabbing one viscerally, I saw this live in the early 80s. Because I had certain self-administered chemical complications at the time, I started feeling like my heartbeat was being controlled by the drumbeat during this song. Even after thirty years, I still get a bit of a panicky feeling when I hear the drums kick in. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/30 "2014-04-26T20:47:58Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Or Fripp on Bowie’s Fashion Fripp on Teenage Wildlife. Or John McGeoch on practically anything. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/31 "2014-04-26T20:56:15Z")
I’d probably go with Robert Fripp on “Evening Star”, although perhaps that’s stretching the definition of “rock” too far. In which case I might go with his solos on Brian Eno’s “St. Elmo’s Fire” or the Roches’ “Hammond Song”. But you know, I sure do love that break by McCartney on “Taxman”… ---
**Author:** ![bytheway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bytheway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bytheway)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/32 "2014-04-26T21:57:06Z")
Steve Hackett, “Every Day.” The live version from Time Lapse especially. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/33 "2014-04-26T23:53:39Z")
Allman Brothers, “[Blue Sky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYYwzmVz3Ng)”. It’s not as technically impressive in difficulty as many of the others mentioned here, but it’s just so damn beautiful and never fails to make me happy. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/34 "2014-04-27T00:07:40Z")
I think both of these are double leads (I’m sure on the second one)- 1994, “Shoot to Kill” [1994 ::: Shoot to Kill - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ru0peeaF74) Lou Reed, “Sweet Jane” [- YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoytmVwcsB4) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/35 "2014-04-27T02:26:25Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > Allman Brothers, “[Blue Sky](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYYwzmVz3Ng)”. It’s not as technically impressive in difficulty as many of the others mentioned here, but it’s just so damn beautiful and never fails to make me happy. “Favorite” means the one you like best of all. Technical difficulty doesn’t matter unless that happens to be why you like it. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/36 "2014-04-27T06:00:20Z")
Hendrix’s solo on “Are You Experienced”. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/37 "2014-04-27T10:17:49Z")
There’s a lot of great solos out there, but mine is Telegraph Road by Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits.) I visualise a train when listening to it… ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/38 "2014-04-27T10:28:53Z")
I’ve played too much rock band not to mention the solos in Green Grass and High Tides. Both of them. The solo at the end of [Land of the Dead](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USyyyOOQC6Y) kicks all kinds of ass (around 3:55), and while on the subject, “To the End” and “We Are Pirates” both contain amazing solos, if you’re into that kind of music. Really can’t leave without special mention to “Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel” by Zappa. Holy cow, that solo is _still_ stuck my head and it’s been like five years since I heard that song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/39 "2014-04-27T14:20:18Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > There are many others, but another song that, to me, represents the best rhythm+lead guitar work I look to as a guide is the live version of Tumblin’ Dice off the long-bootlegged, now-available Belgian Affair CD by the Stones. Mick Taylor could not be more lyrically fluid - simple yet melodic with the best tone around - and Keith demonstrates his ability to play haiku-perfect simple rhythm work. Pretty much the bar to hit as far as I am concerned: [http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dks3VUDEbb4](http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dks3VUDEbb4) And [Love in Vain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=syCa6U2zWn8#t=824) (from _Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!)_. Slow blues, though, not really rock per se. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015/40 "2014-04-27T14:22:51Z")
> [@bytheway](#): > > Steve Hackett, “Every Day.” The live version from Time Lapse especially. My favorite is Hackett’s solo on “[Firth of Fifth](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tloxTQjNjA)”. The solo starts around 4:40. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-all-time-favorite-rock-guitar-solo/687015.md?page=3)