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Greatest Guitar Band

I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????
shubertmaniac
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,681 posts
 
Check out Savoy Brown or the original Fleetwood Mac. I have not seen FM's first group of albums like "Kiln House" on CD and do not know if they exist nor have I checked for CD's by Savoy Brown. I am just going from memory of vinyl and also saw them both live quite a few times when growing up in the Midwest. Lots of guitarists in each band and Peter Green was in the original FM. Another popular guitar band at the time was Wishbone Ash that I personally did not listen to much. I once saw FM and Savoy Brown share the stage for an encore at a concert and it looked like there were nine or ten guitarists on the stage at one time, but they played some standard blues tunes and did so well together. Better than an "all star" band if you have seen the likes of those. Another favorite other than those you mention was Alan Holdsworth who I felt was somewhat like Beck in his "Blow by Blow" stage, but all the time. Holdsworth also did a huge favor for a friend of mine (allowed him to mix his album at Alan's home digital studio for free when funds ran out on the private project, plus contributed a solo.) and is a stand up guy as well.
shubertmaniac OP
350 posts
 
Yes the original FM was a great guitar band when Peter Green was lead guitar. I believe all three(J. McVie, M. Fleetwood, and P. Green) came from the John Mayall Blues Band. The Brits were a close knit group of musicians and it was not uncommon for them to sit in others recording studios and help out. Got to remember that J Page before he joined the Yardbirds was a sessions guitarist, it is a well founded fact that he was the sessions guitarist for the kinks and the rolling stones. Did you really think R.Davies could get that guitar lick out for "All Day and All Night" by himself?? Saw Savoy Brown good but not great:Wishbone Ash ok but nothing outstanding. J Beck if you ever get to see the man in action do so because he still does rock!! I want to see JPage and JBeck do an album and go on tour(without that godawful R Plant singing) together.Probably never happen but I can always wish. How about Alvin Lee??
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,681 posts
 
Yes, saw Alvin Lee quite a few times (Ten Years After) also remembering Johhny Winters and Rick Deringer as being good on stage. Lee's performances were not very consistant and were either great or very sloppy. Saw Deryk and the Dominoes after Duane Allmans death and thought they were great. Also always enjoyed the Allamn Brothers live and Creedence Clearwater (much better live than their albums). Hated Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes but always enjoyed Ry Cooder and some of the bands that Taj Mahal put together. My favorite rythem players were Jim Gordan, James Keltner, Charlie Watts, Carl Radle (Mr. Taste) and John Entwistle whos bass playing was remarkable when seen live. Also Keith Moon before his demise. Zepalin got on my nerves and I did not care that much for them until they came out with Houses of the Holy, just my personal taste. Saw Cream as well and did not like EC's work except for Badge, liked him before and after though. Two others that I saw once live, both in bars in Iowa City, Ia in the early 70's, were Bonnie Raite and Asleep at the Wheel (some of the best steel and slide guitar ever), very clean but "out there" playing. One other good band were the Faces that played with Rod Sterwart. The only CD's that I own from this era are "Blow by Blow" and "Layla" on MFSL, it would be nice to add some others.
shubertmaniac OP
350 posts
 
It is kind of funny that you name LZ's House of the Holies as the first album of theirs you liked. Me too!! As I said before their first album was a rip-off of the 1968 version of the Yardbirds. After that it was pure stadium rock which could be fun once in awhile but I could not take in large doses. As far as the others you mention most of them I would individually call either great or very good. But to me a guitar band had to have a very energtic rhthym guitarist and a very involved bass player that is why the Yardbirds were great. Something was always happening whether upfront with J Beck or C Deja or Samwell Smith. J McCarty gave the best impression of a martial band drummer with K Relf wailing away on harmonica. From my username I am really a Schubert nut but the Yardbirds are the rock equals of the Emerson Quartet recording of a Schubert string quartet, always something happening musically. If you are remotely interested, most Yardbird records /CDs were recorded ok for the 60s. Lots of distortion intended or otherwise,lots of dynamic compression, some recorded mono. But to me there was nothing like them. Lots of people wonder why they are in the RnR Hall of Fame,maybe because the insiders knew of all the 60s groups the Yardbirds could play their guitars and play them well.
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