Your Favorite, Most Outstanding Guitar Solo
Twl sez: "Skunk Baxter, Steely Dan, Countdown to Ecstacy "My Old School"" Tom, if you liked that solo (and who wouldn't?), you should have heard the current lead man the Dan had with them in concert this year, John Herrington, who is also featured on the new EMG LP take his turn. They played MOS as an encore and he totally ripped the joint asunder. The Skunk, himself, would have been impressed. BTW, the EMG LP is fantastic - check out "Lunch With Gina". Here is a link to a Fagen/Becker discussion of EMG. Typical Fagen. And check out the references to the Lp having been done in analog. Becker sez they went FORWARD to analog, not back, and Fagen sez analog is the thing of the future. I'll take their word for it! :-) http://mixonline.com/ar/audio_steely_dan_everything/ |
Marco, You da man! What a sweet call on the Tim Reynolds/Dave Matthews "Luther College" There is some great pickin' and grinnin' from TR on that one. If I can add another one: Jerry Garcia's solos in the Dark Star>Playing In The Band>Uncle John's Band from 1990's NJ Meadowlands show, released on Arista as "Nightfall of Diamonds" |
Any solo performed by native New Orleans guitarist Robby Longley. A great blend of modern guitar with Flamenco, and New Orleans gumbo. I also like Jeff Beck's performances on There And Back, but my favorite is "The Final Peace". I'll go along with Dekay on "Green Onions". When I first saw Amercian Grafitti back in the early seventies in a damp deserted movie theater somewhere on Oahu, "Green Onions" seemed so incongruous with the rest of that fantastic soundtrack, but it also was so "right " for the final drag race at the end of the movie. A really nice piece. Ritchie Blackmore's solo on "Space Truckin'" from Made in Japan. Neil Schon's solo at the end of "Stone in Love" from the Journey album Escape. Dave Gilmore's solo at the end of "Comfortably Numb" on The Wall album. Eric Clapton's solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from The Beatles White Album. Tim Heintz' guitar solo on "Dear Jacqui" from his no longer available debut album. James Taylor's solo on "Fire and Rain" is pretty damn moving, especially if you see it context of the film "Running on Empty". Steve Denny has some guitar solo with great pathos on his own album "Oscuro" and in his collaboration with Tom Maxwell on "Magic Box". And my first ever favorite guitar solo is by Chet Atkins from the In Hollywood album, the fourth song entitled "Theme From A Dream". Chet made two versions of this album, so make sure you get the older, less orchestrated one. So simple, so sad, so good. Lots of good stuff and damn near impossible for me to choose just one. |
Alvin Lee, Ten Years After, Cricklewood Green "Love Like a Man" Buck Dharma, Blue Oyster Cult, Secret Treaties, "Dominance and Submission" Jeff Beck, Jeff Beck Group "Goin' Down", "Highways", "Definitely Maybe" Skunk Baxter, Steely Dan, Countdown to Ecstacy "My Old School" David Sancious, Transformation, the Speed of Love "Piktor's Metamorphosis", "Sky Church Hymn #9" Martin Barr, Jethro Tull, Aqualung "Aqualung" Just a few off the top of my head. |
I've seen these guys live and was in awe: Frank & Dweezil Zappa covering "Whipping Post" on the live release "Does Humour Belong in Music"?. Unreal. Still my favourite of all time. Frank was recognized more as a writer/composer than a guitarist, but believe you me (I saw him 8 times) he could play. I marvel at his genius. Stevie Ray Vaughn covering VooDoo Child... to hell with it.... SRV playing anything! You don't just play the blues, you FEEL the blues! Saw him many times, most memorable was when he opened for the The Police's "Synchronicity" tour. Eddie Van Halen: playing, doesn't matter what. The most natural guitar player ever. He was born to play guitar and has spent pretty well every waking hour re-inventing his skill and style. He really ought to play the blues IMHO. Martin Barre from Jethro Tull: intense, and yet subtle chord changes that flow naturally. An artist with an artist's disposition. Mark Knopfler: Yeah I know you see him as a rythym guitarist, he can wail in his own way. Day in and day out my favorite guitarist to listen to. |
Brian May from Queen's "We Will Rock You". Brian May from Queen's "Crazy little thing called love". Both fit the songs perfectly, both played well. To my mind Brian May is one of the most underrated guitarists in fusing technical ability with a great musical ear, songwriting talent, and an ability to play almost any style from metal to jazz. |
Easy, Eric Johnson Cliffs of Dover, one of the most inovative guitar solos ever, Danny Gatton entire CD Crusin' Deuces he was the best guitarist period, it is not even up for discussion pleaze, Duane Allman side geetar Layla and Statesboro Blues, Steely Dan Reelin' in the Years solo by Elliot Randall, the guy who did the solo on Chuck Mangione Feels so good, the guy who did the solo on Midnight at the Oasis, the guy from the Cars, he was the best solo guitarist I heard who could play a different solo in a 3-5 minute song, Roy Buchanan fine guitar solos like Sweet Dreams, the man could play oh mamma and also the solo on the Messiah will come again, he made the geetar literally speak, Stevie Ray anything he played, Yngwie Malmsteen for heavy metal solos, can't remember the song(s), Jeff Beck, AL Di Meola, just listen to Mediterranean Sundance but keep a fire extinguisher handy, really smokin' on acustic geetar, Steve Howe from Yes go listen to The Clap, another acustic guitar solo, Yan Ackerman from Focus, he was way before Yngwie, gotta have Jimi, he's still talkin' to us everyday even more than ever! I think that covers it for now, I am done. Gotta pick up the '59 Burst and do a little playin' now. This got my motor going! Happy Listening. |
