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Your Favorite, Most Outstanding Guitar Solo

Of all the musical performances I own on recorded format, whether they be LP or CD, there are certain guitar solos that are the most engaging and memorable. You know, the ones that when they're over, you just sit there speechless, wondering "How the hell did they just do that"?

As with anything, there are certain performances when everything was "just right". When the musician had that "perfect connection" between themselves and the instrument. This is not limited to acoustic or electric, live or studio, or any specific discipline of music. It also does not necessarily have to be your favorite guitarist. Very simply, your favorite guitar solo.

I would like to hear your opinions. This would be a great thread for providing exposure to other listeners, to material that they may be unaware of. If possible, also name the album that the solo is from.

My two favorites would have to be:

Jeff Beck / "The Golden Road" off of "There And Back".

John Mc Laughlin / "Every Tear From Every Eye" off of "Electric Guitarist"

Thanks for your responses.

buscis2

Showing 4 responses by martykl

martykl
3,578 posts
 
Oregon,

Thanks for the mention of Bertha.
Earlier in this thread i noted that Hidalgo probably belonged, but I couldn't think of a solo on record that captured his riveting live performance. Bertha is a great answer.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I saw Fleetwood Mac a few weeks back and thought I'd resurrect this thread to add "I'm So Afraid" by Lindsey Buckingham. Unfortunately, they didn't play "Come" this time around, but the solo on that one is an absolute monster, too.

Marty
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Where to start?

Some alternative cuts from the already cited Robert Fripp (try St Elmo's Fire from Eno's Another Green World) and Richard Thompson Calvary Cross (choose your version).

Not yet mentioned:

Todd Rundgren (Can't Stop Runnin' and While My Guitar Gently Weeps) from his new Greatest Hits LIve CD... finally a taste of TR's playing on disc.

Dave Davies "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" - like Steve Cropper on "Green Onions" this one is creative and economical especially in historical context.

Richard Lloyd's double LP (can't recall the Title) is full of great soloing throughout - I'd take it over anything from Television or Tom Verlaine.

David Hidalgo has an interesting, distinctive solo voice - though I'm not sure any Lobos recording captures it particularly well.

BTW:

I was always under the impression that the lead guitar on "Baby's On Fire" was Phil Manzanera not Robert Fripp. Am I mistaken?

Also Bill Kirchen (Commander Cody's guitarist on "Hot Rod Lincoln") does an hilarious solo in his live show in which he sequentially plays a brief, distinctive phrase in the style of many, many famous guitarists while calling out their names (he was up over thirty last time I saw him - maybe 10 years ago).
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Rathmullan,

You made a great choice, but I don't think Matthew Sweet played that solo. The band that recorded Girlfriend included Ivan Julien, Robert Quine, and Richard Lloyd - three monster electric guitarists. Sweet is an underrated player and might have handled it himself, but AFAIK he has more often (tho not always) played acoustic guitar and delegated the leads to others on his records. He seems to be a true fan and has played and/or recorded with a ridiculous array of great players - including the three listed above.

Sweet has certainly made records where he handles all guitars - but that's usually indicated in the liner notes. He tracked a few stunning leads on "In Reverse" IIRC and he's always acquitted himself remarkably well on the leads when he goes there, but I tend to doubt he played any of the lead parts on Girlfriend. I could be wrong and, either way, it's a great solo and a cool choice.

Marty
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