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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
mikec
199 posts
 
Dekay i remember playing ELL by JH for the first time back in 68 on one of those old huge cabinet console TT and was just blown away listening to what Jimi was doing with that guitar. The bands were excellent at that time and were coming out fast. How bout The Doors even today still great sound, timeless. As far as i'm concerned that was by far the Golden Age of Music and the crap thats out now isn't even concidered music. Pitiful- the best music has to offer now is far and rare. I guess all around its modern jazz for most of anything new. Find myself keep playing the Classics for the real thing and the tuner for any new crap. Sorry but my feelings about most new material.
kdmeyer88fd
15 posts
 
These aren't guitar armies, but I'll submit them for your consideration anyway. Neil Young's guitar albums are my favorites: Reactor (late 70's), is a howling distortion epic. Rust Never Sleeps. Mirror Ball. I love the sound of overdriven tubes. Also Dick Dale--King of the Surf Guitar. e.g. Primal Thunder. He has basically one sound but it's a good one.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,691 posts
 
Mikec: If you have not yet, check out the Cowboy Junkies. They will change your mind about one new band, theirs anyway. The one thing that I find missing in most modern popular songs is the guitar solo. Where is it?
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,270 posts
 
Can't argue with some of the above named bands, but let's not forget Jr. Wells Blues Band (Buddy & Phil Guy); the original Quicksilver Messenger Service (John Cipollina & Gary Duncan); Santana (Carlos & Neal Schon); Miles Davis (Pete Cosey & Reggie Lucas); plus, Herbie Mann's Memphis Underground (Larry Coryell & Sonny Sharrock).
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,691 posts
 
I just picked up "The Best of Pete Townshend, Cool walking, smooth talking, straight smoking, firestoking" today. These are modern renditions of some of his older songs. They do not have the wild resonance of concerts played at race tracks, stadiums or in large auditoriums in Pigsville, they are more intimate recordings. No Roger on vocals Townshend sings them all. There are even a few tiny solos, I have never considered much of Townsend's rythmic offerings to be solos as such. There was a music series on television called "Story Tellers." If anyone has seen some of the small concerts on the series, this is what the CD is like. One song on the CD "Uneasystreet" was previously unreleased. Kind of interesting to hear what an old guitar wildman is doing (sounds like) recently ,released in 1996. I also finally got a copy of The Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" CD that someone mentioned a while back in another thread. A lot of their old giutar work, but not as drugged out as before. Really good playing IMO.
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