rock al***s with the most memorable guitar solos

Actually, ROTF, I always thought that 'Sssh' was better than 'Cricklewood Green'. But Alvin Lee was a great guitar hero. What ever happened to him? I agree with Steve Hillage, although I think that 'Fish Rising' was his highpoint.

As to the more general question, you chaps haven't been listening to 'Are You Expereinced', 'Axis: Bold As Love' and 'Electric Ladyland'. These contain more killer guitar work per minute than anyone before or since.

Graham

PS How come John Fahey and Leo Kottke aren't being mentioned here?

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:


PS How come John Fahey and Leo Kottke aren't being mentioned here?

I think it was supposed to be rock guitar solos, Perhaps some one could find out what tracks are used in these Air Guitar championships, those bedroom players must know the hottest licks.

Diode, my apologies, you've got the terms of reference right. But Fahey and Kottke would slay most of the players referred to here!

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
But Fahey and Kottke would slay most of the players referred to here!

Graham

That's intersting, both Fahey and Kottke are essentially accoustic players (although they might have gone electric at some stage), is there a point of view that perhaps you have to be a better guitarist to make it playing accoustic ? Is the electric guitar, with all the gizmos and effects that are available off the shelf, just too user friendly ?

quote:

Originally posted by Diode100:

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
But Fahey and Kottke would slay most of the players referred to here!

Graham

That's intersting, both Fahey and Kottke are essentially accoustic players (although they might have gone electric at some stage), is there a point of view that perhaps you have to be a better guitarist to make it playing accoustic ? Is the electric guitar, with all the gizmos and effects that are available off the shelf, just too user friendly ?

My favourite guitar moments are mostly acoustic - though I'm sure more of my records have electric guitars to the fore.

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
.. Alvin Lee was a great guitar hero. What ever happened to him?

Graham

Alvin is alive and well and has released a new album, and he's still playing I'm Going Home



More info here

Alvin's web site is here

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:

quote:

Originally posted by rupert bear:
Next one would be Glenn Ross Campbell's playing on the Misunderstood's 1966 recording 'Children of the Sun'.

Good call - his work with Jucy Lucy is great too.

Someone's allowed us all to hear it here:

http://www.themisunderstood.com/band.html

OK, not so much a solo, more a sound - but any song from '66 that actually has the line 'Relax yourself and trip into the regions of your mind' has got to be worth hearing!

quote:

Next one would be Glenn Ross Campbell's playing on the Misunderstood's 1966 recording 'Children of the Sun'.

Yeah, let's hear it for the lesser sung axemen. Sure, Hendrix et al are swell but there was some interestingly superb work done by the likes of Richard Lloyd, Robert Quine, Marc Ribot, Gary Lucas etc.. A refreshing change from blues based players.

As ROTF seems to have disregarded the 'rock' part of the thread I shall mention some non rock stuff myself-

Unfortgettable rock solos:

Metallica- Enter Sandman, Unforgiven (both from 'Metallica')
Guns n Roses- Sweet Child O mine (Use your illusion)
Deep Purple- Burn (no idea bout album)
Blue Oyster Cult- Don't fear the reaper (Agents of Fortune)
Hendrix- Little Wing
Van Halen- Eruption (Van Halen)
Michael Jackson- Beat it solo (played by EVH)
Joe Satriani- Surfing with the alien

Unforgettable non-rock solos:

Roy Buchanan- The messiah will come again
Prince- Purple Rain
George Harrison- While my guitar gently weeps
Sting- Its probably me (played by Clapton)

Well someone mentioned George Harrison but that guitar work on the white Album was actually done by Clapton, George had the notes, but couldn't get the right sound and took Clapton in to work it out. However, I think they each did a real quick take on Abbey Road second side just after the drum solo there seems to be dueling guitars however short it's absolutely stunning. And the end piece on the first side. I Want You (she's so heavy) nice blues guitar.

And Harrison returned the compliment by co-writing with Clapton and playing on Cream's 'Badge', one of that group's very best.

G

Man these are some great posts. I am going through each entry and singing the guitar solos in my head. So many of my own memorable favorites. I especially like Joe Walsh's work (someone mentioned Hotel California, which is his best ever IMHO, but to which I add Rocky Mountain Way and Funk 49.)

Don't kill me but I have to mention Peter Frampton. I really liked his Humble Pie work, especially the "Performance, Live at the Fillmore" solos in I'm Ready, Four Day Creep, I Don't Need no Doctor, Hallelujah and most outrageously I Walk on Gilded Splinters. I know that Steve Marriott was the genius, but the golden haired idol put in some tasty solos!

I also like the fact that many sub-genres are included in the rock category. Bert Jansch and John Renborn definitely "rock!" I was just in the old neighborhood vinyl shop and they put on the Pentangle (right after playing some way too loud non-descript guitar heavy black metal,) and the whole place sprang to life with toe tapping. I think they sold a few Pentangle sides on the spot.

But can I venture into the jazzier side of what I call rock for a few shout outs? How about Larry Carlton's solo on Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne" or any of Jeff Baxter/Denny Dias/Elliot Randall's solos on other Dan albums (Bhodisattva, Do it Again, etc.) Donald Fagen always knew how to choose his axemen.

In the Jazz/Rock area I must also mention Tommy Bolin, but not the obvious solo work, or that on Deep Purple, but how about his solo(s) on Billy Cobham's solo album "Spectrum" specifically the song "Stratus."

And don't kill me but I really did like alot of Steve Howe's guitar solos in Yes. Most of the comments here are in the blues rock category, but someone mentioned Amon Duul, so I figured that Yes was fair game. Steve Howe's intensity all over the Yes Album and Close to the Edge pretty much sucks the oxygen out of the room when I listen to it (if you like that sort of thing!) I just had to mention it since it had not been said.

I really like the following

Still in love with you - Lizzy (Live and Dangerous)

Messin with the Kid - Rory Gallagher (Live in Europe)

Cavalry Cross - Richard Thompson (Watching the Dark (another live track)


Zuma - Neil Young - Zuma


Robert Fripp on Bowie's "Fashion"


SJB

Darn, John beat me to it. I was showing a friend Joe Walsh's 'Rocky Mnt Way' the other night and we had it up really loud. The Smoker you Drink the Player you Get album. Just didn't get to put in on here fast enough. I remember my roommate at college in '75 putting it on with a big silly grin on his face, probably remembering all the doobies he'd smoked listening to it. Great guitar work.

Wolf,

Rocky Mountain Way - another shared experience.

Just Post Eagles Joe walsh came to Oz to play with an occasional group called 'The Party Boys'. The result was a live Album which is a delight. Great to hear Joe and our own Aussie legend Kevin Borich trading licks.

Regards,
David

David

I'm not in rock music anymore.
Not so much as i was in the past decades.
But i do remember and listen gladly again to Pink Floyd's "The wall" and those guitar solos.
In the Berlin concert there are pieces that still makes me shiver!

Ciao!
Gianluigi

quote:

And don't kill me but I really did like alot of Steve Howe's guitar solos in Yes.

Why are Yes fans so self-loathing?

I LOVE many of Steve Howe's solos, especially the ones from Yessongs - for example, the Starship Trooper solo - mind-boggling! I've only ever been to one Yes concert, and I remember Howe's acoustic solo spot was absolutely stunning.

If anyone wants to pour scorn on the above, please go right ahead - we're used to it

Steve

To be more precise "Confortably numb" is the song.

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:
Why are Yes fans so self-loathing?

Howe's acoustic solo spot was absolutely stunning.

If anyone wants to pour scorn on the above, please go right ahead - we're used to it

Not at all. Howe is, as you say, a stunning acoustic player. I just can't get on with Yes these days.

quote:

I just can't get on with Yes these days.

I agree. As a band, they can't write good tunes any more.

Steve

How about TOTO - Rosanna. Surprisingly good.

Snowy White - Bird of Paradise. A surprise hit to boot.

Milan

When I lived in Santa Barbara I used to see Joe Walsh cruising the beach road and around town in his red Ferrari. Every rock star has to have one of them in the garage right? One of the women I knew hated him because he tried to pick up her girl friend in a bar. Thought he was sleazy, but hey he can really play guitar.

glenn

quote:

Originally posted by ROTF:


Did anybody mention this - Cricklewood Green by Ten Years After. Alvin Lee at his best.

I second my vote for the original Shredder - Alvin Lee

Cheers,

Larry