OK, here’s one for the musos among you.
What’s your favourite guitar solo?
I’ve a riffing €25 Golden Discs voucher to give away.
Simply tell me below with video links if possible.
Here’s mine.
Lines MUST close at 5.15pm EXTENDED until 6am!
Nick says: Good luck!
Last week’s winner here.
Sponsored Link
King’s Call – Philo
https://youtu.be/2oliMOPsXis
Mick Jones-Complete Control with the only band that matters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeTw_p_WglY
John Squire – Stone Roses – ‘I Am The Resurrection’ (outro solo)
https://youtu.be/e6QnK0yql8s
from 3’30”
Goodnight
+1 a wonderfully joyous solo :)
oooooooh yes
Jeux Interdits/Forbidden Games
Guitarist: Narciso Yepes
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sNaZWlApXx0
AC/DCs It’s A Long Way To The Top. Searing guitar solo by Angus, segued seamlessly into bagpipe duet with Bon.
Unique
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sUXMzkh-jI
While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Prince playing the guitar solo is the only man for the job. Stuff of legend. When he throws the guitar…
https://youtu.be/6SFNW5F8K9Y
Great shout.
Wasn’t there an added edge to this performance after his Purple Oneness was snubbed from a list of the top guitarists of all time so he decided to really let loose here?
Still vividly recall his RDS gig in the early 90s. Incredible talent.
I didn’t know that! What an excellent piece of trivia.
I just remember my brother in law pulling this vid out to settle an argument about guitar solos, which effectively silenced everyone because WHERE DID THE GUITAR GO AT THE END?
This is brilliant.
oh, yes
Absolutely Millie.
the eagles. hotel California
Why would you even ask such a question when its the dreamy Albatross by Fleetwood Mac – soaring high above the clouds on cloud 9!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QooCN5JbOkU
Thin Lizzy – Still in Love with You
https://youtu.be/-jtcAEquRjI
In fact, two great solos in the one, epic, timeless song
This was my first choice too
I’m still in love with this song
What about a bit of Stiff LittleFingers??
https://youtu.be/qLo7z50Tt2g
OOh, good choice. Possibly only rivalled by their single, At The Edge, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0l_UzVjplY
Much better than anything by the Edge for that matter.
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
https://youtu.be/P_4uEaZQ2Kg
+1
Te entire album of Paris, Texas by Ry Cooder.
Haunting yet sparse, and powerful as a standalone piece even without the (excellent) film to accompany it.
https://youtu.be/X6ymVaq3Fqk
This is off to a great start… I’ll have to think on it for a bit :)
One without the benefits of the various pedals to modify sound. Raw and brilliant. About half-way through.
Glen Campbell – Gentle on my mind.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kboMSfPMLDs
Popa Chubby “Hey Joe”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW9G_9nZlSM
He absolutely made the song his own, extraordinary virtuoso guitar playing about 2:58 seconds into the video, I defy anyone to find anyone else this side of Jimi Hendrix who can play it as well!
Beck from Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac with Charlotte Gainsburg:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ddEkj-7qA8
Television- Marquee Moon. Tom Verlaine’s solo at 5 minutes. Taught me a few things about phrasing, melody and a good clean tone. Also like Richard Lloyd’s solo after it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlbunmCbTBA
You have too have a bit of Johnny Cash
https://youtu.be/Lq0fUa0vW_E
Beautiful Linda Gretchell, from John Fahey’s The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death. The album came with a handwrittten book of stories; the story about Beautiful Linda Gretchell was about a man who made his fortune selling gretchells, an adorably cuddly pet – and also selling tins of the only food gretchells ate, afterbirth. His name was something something, the Afterbirth King, if memory serves. A young lad who minded some gretchells, kept carefully caged because if they couldn’t get aftergbirth they’d eat, well, humans, was entranced by the lovely gretchell called Linda Gretchell. Then the afterbirth ran out…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvlUa8o8p6s
RHCP – I Could Have Lied https://youtu.be/pi9dIpfWd4c?t=116
FreeBird (LIve) by Lynyrd Skynyrd Timeless
The Strokes – Reptilia
https://youtu.be/b8-tXG8KrWs
Mick Ronson basically solos throughout this scintillating Bowie cover of the VU’s “Waiting for the Man” back when Bowie and Ronson were at the peak of their powers. It’s pure telepathy.
Better than the original – that’s right, deal with it. If you haven’t heard this get a pair of cans on yer head and play it loud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byvq4O5i1Wk
Ahem.
You are all technically incorrect. A guitar solo is performed without accompaniment. You have all listed lead guitar breaks, not solos. This is a solo, Van Halen – eruption ‘
https://youtu.be/sI7XiJgt0vY
…does Kevin Shields on Only Shallow qualify then scottser:)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyYMzEplnfU
No Johnny, it doesn’t.
I take it Cliff Burton’s bass on Metallica’s Pulling Teeth should pass?
He plays on his own for more than half the track!
* crosses fingers *
Agree clampers. He had fingers of steel. Metallica released a gig from 1983 on their YouTube channel last Monday. Go to 28 minutes and enjoy!
Oooohhh… Will do :)
Rory Gallagher – Tattoo’d Lady (Irish Tour 74)
https://youtu.be/3mlrrm0r3Ks
Incredible solo, with the added bonus of amazing outro solo
Magic
Mark Knophler – Multiple but Sultans of Swing (Live 1983) great example of his greatness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoaNnqLObak
PIL – Rise
https://youtu.be/Vq7JSic1DtM
From the sublime to the predictable!
I’m gonna go with Paranoid Android by Radiohead. A great guitar solo can only really work in the context of the entire composition of the song. There have been many amazing solos but sometimes they can feel out of place. Jonny Greenwood’s efforts truly capture the mania that influenced some of Thom Yorke’s lyrics in the track.
I also completely lost my poo rocking to it when they played the Point a few years back. What a gig!
https://youtu.be/fHiGbolFFGw
What about a bit of Ozzy with the unbelievable, Randy Rhoads!!
https://youtu.be/G3LvhdFEOqs
Enjoy!
The Velvet Underground -Run run run-
Lou Reed (not the guitar solo type)’ solo rips through the song like a barbed-wire out of control. Careful with this axe Lou!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGqwy_DQnS4
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy for the devil
https://youtu.be/GgnClrx8N2k
Excellent choice…their is a brilliant version of it on Get Yr Ya Yas Out… Keith Richards knew when to leave a space in a solo rather than throw in the kitchen sink…
Hard to compete with some of these suggestions.
Dimebag shredded some gnar back in his day, in fairness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJHkUze9lc
Janice from Dr Teeth and the Electric Mayhem – Happy World Guitar Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxhcWFKpQ3k&ab_channel=TheMuppets
Is solo guitar same as guitar solo?
If so, I got some top quality links.
BLACK BETTY by RamJam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_2D8Eo15wE
or
FAST AS A SHARK by Accept
https://youtu.be/to_fSIj5gaA?t=160
Oh yes. Excellent.
Anaesthesia (Pulling Teeth), 1983, by Metallica’s Cliff Burton was the first time I’d heard a band do a bass solo and I was mesmerised by it at the time.
Still sounds amazing today, and that break at 2mins+ still gets the head bangin’ :)
https://youtu.be/S002MadnlQs
But I can’t leave it there :)
Cliff proved himself again (as if he had to… pffft) with his truly iconic solo at the half way mark through the metal instrumental masterpiece that is Metallica’s Orion…
https://youtu.be/c8qrwON1-zE
Haha… still getting goose bumps off that :0) Deadly!
Did you see the S&M 2 gig. Same song played on an electric cello. Watched it in the cinema. Audience was mesmerised!
Just googled that… thanks!
What about the man who could have invented the guitar solo??
https://youtu.be/3z4u7h4PtdI
I think I read somewhere that he plagiarised the tune from an unknown stand-in guitarist who performed in a legendary one-off show with his cousin’s band, Marvin Berry and the Starlighters
Fair play to you!!,
I’ve searched the tin’ernet and found some rare footage of what your talking about!!!
https://youtu.be/S1i5coU-0_Q
Thanks again!
Black Sabbath’s Planet Caravan’s closing minute has the most doobie ridden hippie vibe I’ve ever found on a metal album…
A sublime respite to the heavy guitar through out the rest of the album, the outro solo is so cushy and comfortable it luls you into a false sense of relaxation before reasserting your head again with the following track on the album, Paranoid. Brilliantly placed track order :)
https://youtu.be/EtwPQlIhc1c?list=PL5lmIbuJ_sMcVx523KtRHUDCOhtYXZDgn
https://youtu.be/mac46omEYBE
Ozric Tentacles – kick muck
Brian Robertson’s guitar solo on Thin Lizzy’s Live And Dangerous version of “Still In Love With You”. Robertson refused to play on the studio version because he thought Gary Moore’s demo version was perfect and couldn’t be improved upon. In this version, I think Robertson does just that.
https://youtu.be/QIJo9rXMizM
The man in Black. Richie Blackmore.. Highway Star from made in Japan https://youtu.be/7zKAS7XOWaQ
or
Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkUpfw4Hf3w
How about:-
Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkUpfw4Hf3w
My entry is ‘Dazed and Confused’ by Led Zepplin. This is a link to the original track but a few versions out there where Jimmy gives it the full on playing the guitar with a bow…..some are impressive but most i feel detract from the original song…
https://youtu.be/sCg3q0od5ts
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk_gzDQd4zw
Stanley Clarke, school days
The guitar solo is class, but the bass solo is better still, and that’s a guitar too right?
The brilliant Irish band, Revelino
https://youtu.be/2koh4fogHo4
Was one of John Peels favourite bands, you can’t blame him!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lrmtAzsZG4
Steely Dan – Reelin’ in the Years
The solo is probably more well-known in Ireland than the song itself
You are all wrong. Link Wray, rumble:
https://youtu.be/ucTg6rZJCu4
Not sure if solo guitar or guitar solo, It is one or the other
Ivan bogaloo jones – black whip
https://youtu.be/nwQnlonagCQ
Ronny jordan – so what
https://youtu.be/lANilh2bLo4
Both have a bit of both ?
Has to be this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY
Jimi wants a word…
https://youtu.be/qmGFFJtkDXA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkF3oxziUI4
Some great ones posted so far but for me this isn’t up for debate. Invokes some great memories.
There used to be a sign up in musik maker that simply read “ no stairway “
Took a moment :)
Any love for Bernard Butler?
Suede – Animal Nitrate
https://youtu.be/i7mEB2wnDLQ
Defo.
+1 :)
Well what about,
https://youtu.be/XbOx8TyvUmI
School Disco Air Guitar Classic.
Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell –
https://youtu.be/3QGMCSCFoKA
(Todd Rundgren playing I think)
Nels Cline
Wilco – Impossible Germany
https://youtu.be/kmI7SiLe4Vw
Gotta have something by the lady above: Eric Clapton
Got To Get Better
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efFo-Clq844
(Derek and the Dominoes)
Slash in November Rain
Brilliant choices from everyone so far, and all worthy winners, what’s amazing is we’ve covered all genres.
From punk, indie, metal and country and so on, it’s amazing that the guitar solo has been so important in the shaping of a song.
Some songs are probably better known just for the solo, some artists are probably better known for their solo on a classic track.
But nobody says it like this man,
https://youtu.be/-Y8QxOjuYHg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUYI7kIR0S4
Clapton is GOD
ernest ranglin – congo man
https://youtu.be/PcFHeJ9SGkM
what is not to like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybExfDHg1i0
The only cool guitar solo ever, apart from maybe Purple Rain.
Fin
The brilliant J Mascis on Dinosaur Jr’s “No Words Just Solo” B-side to Feel the Pain:
https://youtu.be/DyHdzO7p1jo
5 and a half minutes. No words. Just solo.
If yiz can make it, this will be played at my funeral…
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
https://youtu.be/-1pMMIe4hb4
If you haven’t seen…
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/19/the-100-greatest-uk-no-1s-no-14-kate-bush-wuthering-heights?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Thanks OB, I saw that during the week :)
Lynyrd Skynyrd – FreeBird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuZyMx2NXZM
Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child
OR
The Jimi at Woodstock
The Star Spangled Banner
Aztec Camera – Oblivious. Roddy Frame plays a 12 string acoustic guitar on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B2Sc2G_5ZA
Or this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjNEg8ctME where he performs it acoustically with Neil Finn from Crowded House/Fleetwood Mac and Graham Gouldman from 10CC
My compadre, Carlos Santana, is one of the world’s best guitarists. He has so many good examples to choose from, but in my mind it has to be Samba Pa Ti. Searing, haunting, soulful and who needs lyrics when your guitar can say it all so much better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5AUm_xaE9A
Paul McCartney – No more lonely nights
I love this song and I don’t care how uncool that makes me :)
Skip to 3 minutes 40 if you just want to hear Dave Gilmour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Xn9A4Negk
Didn’t know it was Gilmore playing on it :)
Bass time.
Level 42 – Love Games
https://youtu.be/e0BcV8ES47A
Jane’s Addiction – Just Because
Ridiculous and sublime in equal measure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb3FJdRk-tI
Jerry Reed playing on ELVIS Guitar Man. If you can play this, then you can call yourself a guitarist
https://youtu.be/clm1QK5wIR8
I’m with Scottser, to whit https://youtu.be/P701paKEMXs
And a 12 string solo at that, from the only guitarist that matters.
“Heroes” – Bowie
(Robert Fripp with the missus version – https://youtu.be/Te0qfJUidHQ)
They say almost everything Fripp did on the album is a first take. Unreal.
Roxy Music – In Every Dream Home a Heartache
https://youtu.be/G56DaSAeZfM
(Manzanera)
Great call.
Ball and a Biscuit by The White Stripes, ear bleedingly savage
https://youtu.be/sTXuPydruvk
My favourite guitar player since I was a kid has been Johnny Marr and yet I can’t really think of any memorable solos outside of “Shoplifters…”
Yeah I know I’m late, but this only came too me now. It’s simply amazing !!
https://youtu.be/3pUdUX5Gagc