My 10 Favorite Guitar Solos
John on January 23, 2006 at 12:50 am
And now for something completely different…
Here is my list of my 10 favorite guitar solos with my comments. Understand I am not claiming these are the best solos or that I’ve heard everything worth hearing. These are simply the ones I never get tired of hearing.
Here they are with mp3 samples:
10. La Villa Strangiato (Alex Lifeson) – One of my favorite players. Alex still sounds good 30 years later. [25 secs]
9. Any Way You Want It (Neil Schon) – Neil Schon has long been my favorite melodic solo player. I saw him with the reformed Journey in 2004 and his version of the star spangled banner was the highlight of the show. [16 secs]
8. Crossroads (Eric Clapton) – I’m not a Clapton connisseur, but I’ve always liked this solo. [23 secs]
7. Eruption (Eddie Van Halen) – The solo which introduced the world to finger tapping. Eddie has done a lot of nice solos in his career, but this one wins on pure originality. [30 secs]
6. Crazy Train (Randy Rhoads) – Another great tapping solo. Sorry he’s gone. [28 secs]
5. Attitude Song (Steve Vai) – I laugh every time I hear this song. Off his first album and Vai has admitted this was pure self indulgence. Absurdly brilliant. [27 secs]
4. Cult of Personality (Vernon Reid) – My wife grits her teeth when this comes on, but I love the insane frenzy of this solo. Mostly noise, but what a glorious noise! [30 secs]
3. Hordes of Locusts (Joe Satriani) – I saw him play this live in 1989, 2nd row. He played most of his solos with his eyes closed. Scary talent. [35 secs]
2. Far Beyond the Sun (Yngwie J. Malmsteen) – Bach rock was out of style about 10 minutes after it was in style, but I still like Yngwie and especially the Rising Force album. Listening to Malmsteen in his prime makes me understand why people long ago believed the rumor that Niccolo Paganini had sold his soul to the devil to aquire his mastery of the violin. It’s impossible that anyone can play like this and yet there it is. [30 secs]
1. Comfortably Numb (David Gilmour) – I know it’s a predictable choice but the outro solo in this song is a work of art. Gilmour puts more pathos into his solos than anyone, anywhere. [25 secs]
Favorite players left off this list but not forgotten: Elliot Easton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and of course Jimi Hendrix. Love them all, but these are the solos that came to mind.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled program…
Category: Music |
Salutes For all of the above .. gilmour – Ed.Van Halen – Vai & most of all ..SATRIANI .. Great taste man – Salute :)
January 29, 2006 @ 3:43 pmKudos, John! They resonated with me. I listened to all ten. They are a wonderful slice of guitar soundscape. I have heard others with this speed who are unknown. maybe I can get a list of the flashiest together, sometime.
Some players that I wouldn’t want to be without are:
-Django “all this with just two workable fingers?” Reinhardt
-Albert Lee for his wonderful unorthodox picking, bending, and rhythmic stuff, and his humbleness (not enough of that out there in guitar-land)
-Michael Manring, bass player, (he is “where it began” regarding the percussive and harmonically-laden style popularized by Michael Hedges)
-Steve Morse, for musicality and execution, and his early composing’s variety
-Kurt Winter (deceased) for the juicy guitar parts he wrote in a power trio called Brother as well as in that famous Canadian band
-Robert Randolph, for making old blues guitarists smile again
-Derek Trucks, for his concentration, execution, and creativity
-Dean Brown, my favorite guitarist to watch– there’s nothing more weird…No, really. Nothing.
-Tal Farlow (dec.) for his impeccable navigation of artificial harmonics, and his bass strings accompaniment
-Allan Holdsworth for his taste in beer and for the best expression of emotion in guitar solos (see I.O.U., or Bruford)
-Groucho Marx for probably the most sarcastic guitar accompaniment ever, in his version of “Everyone Says I Love You”
And As For Classic Rock:
-Steve Howe, for his guitar collection, his acoustic playing, and his memorable electric parts
-Jeff “I did it my way” Beck. Go ahead, try and play like him– it’s not a matter of practice and speed (must be the drugs)
Oh yeah, and Nate Watkins, before the hand injury
March 21, 2007 @ 9:51 pmGroucho Marx? I didn’t know he played. I’d like to hear that if you have it.
Man I love Harpo though.
March 21, 2007 @ 10:55 pmGolly Jeff. This post must’ve really struck a chord with you!
[I just crack myself up sometimes]
“)
March 22, 2007 @ 4:01 pmAnd on that note, I must say you have a sharp wit, and that’s the flat truth. Guess it just resonates with me.
I figured it was time to finally start using this as my sounding board.
Def Jef
March 23, 2007 @ 8:40 pm