OT: Best Guitar Solos

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Hendrix: Voodoo Chile

Spring 1973, side one of Ladyland was my falling asleep soundtrack more times than anything else. Nothing ever surpassed it.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Although he's not my favorite guitarist, Clapton's solo in "Let it Rain" always makes me happy.

Memorable as my first ever regarded-as-favorite guitar solo, summer 1970.

As to agreement that he is not one of my favorites (not saying I don't like him) I love the 3 guitar solos on the Derek and the Dominoes Live version of "Gotta Get Better in a Little While" enough to be satisfied if someone said that I could only ever again listen to one Clapton song.

 

[Excalibur]

Which section?

For me it’s the coda where he plays under the piano melody. Clapton’s there too, but Allman’s Playing stands out.

 

[joober jones]

While he's a bassist and not a guitarist, Les Claypool has had some of the best solos out there.

 

[RichCTBB]

Grant Geissman on Chuck Mangione's "Feel so good"

 

[8893]

Memorable as my first ever regarded-as-favorite guitar solo, summer 1970.

As to agreement that he is not one of my favorites (not saying I don't like him) I love the 3 guitar solos on the Derek and the Dominoes Live version of "Gotta Get Better in a Little While" enough to be satisfied if someone said that I could only ever again listen to one Clapton song.

I have that Derek and the Dominoes box set and the disc of jams is my favorite.

The thing about the “Let it Rain” solo is that it still always brings a knee-jerk reaction to do air guitar.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I have that Derek and the Dominoes box set and the disc of jams is my favorite.

The thing about the “Let it Rain” solo is that it still always brings a knee-jerk reaction to do air guitar.

Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Saw Carlton last summer. As a solo artist, Carlton just builds on the solo throughout. Certainly underappreciated by the masses as are most guys known mostly for jazz.

I'd think there are a number of jazz players could probably outplay the famous rock/blues guys, Wes Montgomery for one (check out "No Blues"). Loved most of Frampton's "Fingerprints" album (except for the unfortunate inclusion of "Black Hole Sun"). I love what guys like Frampton and Gilmour have been doing in their 60s and beyond. Just doing what appeals to them instead of for commercial appeal or for their old fan base.

Lots of guys I love listening to, too many to list, but ones I keep going back to for rock are Bill Nelson's "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape", Zappa on "Montana", Knopfler on several live versions of "Tunnel of Love", and the one I still consider the best of all Gilmour's solos, this unedited version of "Comfortably Numb" from the Pulse tour.

For Knopfler/Straits I prefer the Telegraph Road solos.

 

[nomar]

Definitely SRV’s Little Wing, for me.

When I was 16 or 17, I was driving down the road spinning the dial, when I landed on WPLR and heard this incredible version of Little Wing. I really just caught the end of the solo. As soon as I got home I called the radio station and asked what version of Little Wing it was. And the guy told me it was SRV.

And that, millenials, is what we did before Shazam!

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad.

May have been my first experience of being stoned: eating an entire sleeve of Ritz crackers and thinking that the song was going on forever, in my friend's Yale dorm room, with his friend who was kinda dumb but a Weyerhauser heir of some sort.

 

[nomar]

I'm a huge Pink Floyd fan. Some of the live versions of Comfortably Numb are incredible. And the studio version of Dogs was a great call. Just beautiful.

I'm also a huge Zappa fan. Even if you don't like the silliness, his guitar solos are insanely good. Just that little burst in Muffin Man, for instance. But I have some live versions of Advance Romance and The Illinois Enema Bandit (yes that's the name of the song) where the guitar solos are mind-blowing. And I could listen to Hot Rats on repeat.

 

[storrsroars]

For Knopfler/Straits I prefer the Telegraph Road solos.

Lots of folks prefer that simply due to the solo and I can respect that. I simply like Tunnel of Love as I like the song leading to it much more that Telegraph. The solo is the cherry on top.

 

[TRest]

Prince's "Purple Rain"
Slash in "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain"
Duane Allman in "Layla"

Estranged has the best Slash solo for my money.

 

[huskyhaven]

Live Stairway off of Song Remains the Same, and it ain't even close. There are many times when I'm on a flight I'll listen to that solo back to back about 10 times in a row. Page just goes OFF

Saw him during the Song Remains the Same tour at the MSG. Just awesome.

 

[pepband99]

Almost any live recording of SRV doing "Leave my little girl alone"
Almost any recording ever of Gary Moore, though I'm partial to "Still got the Blues"

November Rain, Comfortably Numb, both solid favorites of mine too.

 

[mauconnfan]

 

[Fairfield_1st]

I'm in the what sounds good camp. I do love SRV. Had the chance to see him at UConn for a Spring Weekend, but at the time didn't like/appreciate him. Sadly for me my appreciation came after his passing.
I'd like to add Duane Allman and Dickey Betts doing "Blue Sky" and Don Felder & Joe Walsh on "Hotel California."

 

[UConn Esq]

The two that makes me the happiest are Hotel California and Clapton on While My Guitar Gently Weep - both always gets stuck in my head after I hear them.


Metallica - One and Black Sabbath - Crazy Train also come to mind that weren't said yet.

 

[alphasigko]

Dickie Betts: Blue Sky! Almost nothing better!

 

[superjohn]

Neal Schon from the 2:50 mark on...
Watch "Journey - Stone In Love (from Live in Houston 1981: The Escape Tour)" on YouTube

 

[nygblue]

Almost any live recording of SRV doing "Leave my little girl alone"
Almost any recording ever of Gary Moore, though I'm partial to "Still got the Blues"

November Rain, Comfortably Numb, both solid favorites of mine too.

I second Gary Moore. And nominate Story of the Blues. The man was brilliant.

 

[DogBoy]

Always liked this one however the solo is actually the 45 second intro

 

[DogBoy]

This is a two for one with Steve Wariner and Glenn Cambell. Steve on I think a Dano Baritone then to Glenn on a Strat.

 

[DogBoy]

One more for the old folks

 

[SoFla Steve]

Almost any recording ever of Gary Moore, though I'm partial to "Still got the Blues"

Me too. RIP, Gary.

 

[JakeTheDog]

Almost an impossible question to answer. I feel Freddie King just continually nails it on three succesive albums:

1972- Texas Cannonball
1973- Woman Across the River
1974- Burglar

Can't pick one song or solo!

 

[QDOG5]

Mick Taylor on Can't You Hear Me Knocking is a favorite of mine. My avatar had a nice intro on that song, too. Bobby Keys' solo was excellent and Charlie Watts is magical throughout the entire song. Richards and Taylor are great on Time Waits For No One also.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Freebird the studio version. Yeah, the live versions with the more extended jams sound better, especially when cruising on the road.

Here's the thing. Like most bands Skynyrd was flat broke when they went in on their first studio recording. Ronnie was notorious for long practicing and getting every note down pat so their performances were consistent and always top notch. He used the extended solo at the end of the live performances to give his voice a break because they did a bunch of shows with multiple sets.

So what you get here are lyrics and a coda at the end which had been practiced, refined and honed. This isn't a Duane Allman and Wilson Pickett or Mick Taylor and Bobby Keys just keep the recordings going and finding a pearl.

Tough to find a better combination of lyrics and musicianship off a debut album.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Speaking of Mick Taylor and Bobby Keys, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is right up there too. Stones were at their absolute best with Taylor.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Prince- Purple Rain
Slash- Sweet November