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Your Favorite, Most Outstanding Guitar Solo

Of all the musical performances I own on recorded format, whether they be LP or CD, there are certain guitar solos that are the most engaging and memorable. You know, the ones that when they're over, you just sit there speechless, wondering "How the hell did they just do that"?

As with anything, there are certain performances when everything was "just right". When the musician had that "perfect connection" between themselves and the instrument. This is not limited to acoustic or electric, live or studio, or any specific discipline of music. It also does not necessarily have to be your favorite guitarist. Very simply, your favorite guitar solo.

I would like to hear your opinions. This would be a great thread for providing exposure to other listeners, to material that they may be unaware of. If possible, also name the album that the solo is from.

My two favorites would have to be:

Jeff Beck / "The Golden Road" off of "There And Back".

John Mc Laughlin / "Every Tear From Every Eye" off of "Electric Guitarist"

Thanks for your responses.

128x128buscis2
onlywax
16 posts
 
The guitar work on Slave's "Drac Is Back" is entertaining. I'm not a rock "expert" by any measure, but the guitar player, Marc Hicks, appears to know how to use his chosen instrument.
harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
1. Mick Box "Salisbury" 1971 and "The Magician´s Birthday" 1972
2. Buck Dharma "Then Came the Last Days of May" both studio and live    1972....1975, "Astronomy" certain bootleg circa 1975 and (of course)  "Dominance and Submission" studio 1974, cheers twl, you´ve got taste :)
  Btw, did Buck ever play mediocre stuff, not my knowledge...
3. Dave Clem Clempson COLOSSEUM LIVE 1971 thruout
5. Steve Hackett many but best "Firth of Fifth" certain bootlegs 70´s
4. Leslie West Mountain Twin Peaks "Theme for an Imaginary Western"
5. Neal Schon "Of a Lifetime" and "My Lonely Feeling" + CAPTURED 1981
6. Andrew Latimer "Ice" 1979
7. Michael Schenker UFO live "Strangers in the Night" 1978
8. Robin Trower "Bridge of Signs" 1974
9. Paco De Lucia, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin live 1981
9. Joe Satriani "Surfing.." 1987

... and of course Jimi Hendrix "All Along the Watchtower" 1968 and some Jeff Beck late 60´s... Carlos Santana early 70´s...
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

My taste runs to "musical" guitarists, ones whose both song parts and solos serve the music, not just show off their chops. Call me old fashioned! I wear the badge proudly. There are many examples of extraordinary guitar playing where the part greatly enhances the song (The Band’s Robbie Robertson comes to mind), but the topic here is solos. Here are some of my favorites:

- Paul Burlinson in Johnny Burnette And The Rock ’n’ Roll Trio’s recording of Tiny Bradshaw’s "Train Kept A-Rollin’". Yes, it was later done fairly well by Jeff Beck in The Yardbirds (and also lamely by Joe somebody in Aerosh*t), but this is THE version.

- James Burton in Ricky Nelsons "Young World".

- Steve Cropper in Booker T & The MG’s "Green Onions".

- George Harrison in The Beatles "Nowhere Man".

- Dave Edmunds in his 1970 recording of Smiley Lewis’ "I Hear You Knocking". In this song, Dave creates the most intense "tension and release" I've ever heard. Very sexual!

- Robbie Robertson in The Band’s "Jemima Surrender", "Look Out Cleveland", "Jawbone", "The Unfaithful Servant", and "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)". All these songs are found on the best album ever recorded and released by a Rock ’n’ Roll Band, the Band’s 2nd (the "brown") album.

- Ry Cooder in John Hiatt’s "Lipstick Sunset".

falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
It has already been mentioned a couple of times but one of my absolute favorites is Steve Hackett, Firth of Fifth, the solo just dovetails so well with Tony's keyboards. It's amazing.

Also have to agree with the mention of Mr. Robin Trower on Bridge of Sighs.

I also have always enjoyed Buckethead, Soothsayer, such sweetness! 
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
What a great thread to resurrect, Harold. Well done.

There are many that deserve mention, no doubt. I’d like to submit one I suspect is generally overlooked:

Frank Zappa’s solo (starting at 3:20) on Track 6 of Burnt Weeny Sandwich, "Holiday in Berlin, Full Blown".

Honorable mention from the same album to his soloing throughout Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich (Track 4).

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