Robert Quine’s solo on Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend must just work for you.
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.
Probably Frank Zappa’s Carolina Hard Core Ecstasy".
Clapton/Allman on “Key to the Highway” is right up there as well.
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.
Great solo and great song. How the hell have I missed Robert Quine and how have I missed this particular band?
I have an odd one: Replacements, Sixteen Blue. (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.
My all time very favorite hasn’t changed for 40+ years:
Allmans / Fillmore / Duane’s solo in “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.”
Here are 4 of my favorites:
Guitars In The Sky by The Records. Solo starts @ 2:40.
Living A Lie by Babe Ruth. Solo by Bernie Marsden starts @ 4:45
Hold On by Wishbone Ash. Solo by Laurie Wisefield starts @ 3:56.
25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago. Song starts @ 22:55 with solo by Terry Kath starting @25:20.
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.
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.
Fripp on Teenage Wildlife. Or John McGeoch on practically anything.
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”…
Steve Hackett, “Every Day.” The live version from Time Lapse especially.
Allman Brothers, “Blue Sky”. 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.
I think both of these are double leads (I’m sure on the second one)-
1994, “Shoot to Kill” 1994 ::: Shoot to Kill - YouTube
Lou Reed, “Sweet Jane” - YouTube
“Favorite” means the one you like best of all. Technical difficulty doesn’t matter unless that happens to be why you like it.
Hendrix’s solo on “Are You Experienced”.
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…
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 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.
And Love in Vain (from Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out!). Slow blues, though, not really rock per se.
My favorite is Hackett’s solo on “Firth of Fifth”. The solo starts around 4:40.