Crosby Stills & Nash

quote:

Steve Stills re-opened the debate on the best guitarist of all time

There's no debate, it's Albert Lee.

I'd add Peter Green - the sweetest Blues man ever.
Last year I also witnessed Lindsey Buckingham - I was in awe.

quote:

Originally posted by munch:

There are so many greats now dead and alive you cant just pick one.
To hard.

Exactly right.

Now, no one loves Stephen Stills' guitar playing (and songwriting, singing, arranging, etc.) more than I do, one of my top faves, but once again I have to say that I just don't understand what drives folks to anoint one musician as best on his/her instrument ... it's impossible, meaningless, and frankly, I have no idea what it even means that so-and-so is "the best of all time" ... how is this even measured?

If what is meant is that so-and-so is your favorite guitarist, then, fine, just say that ... no one can argue with that! Or so-and-so is one of the best of all time? Sure. But proclaiming someone is "the best of all time" is ludicrous.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Best,
Fred

If you were picking the ultimate supergroup then you'd have

Nigel Blackwell - Lyrics and song composition
Dame Shirley Collins - Vocals
Captain Don Van Vliet - Vocals
Sir Keith Emerson - Keyboards
Lord Albert Lee - Guitars
King Danny Thompson - Bass
Supreme Emperor Jon Hiseman - Drums

with guest appearances by

Basia Bulat
Karine Polwart
Annie Haslam
Scott Walker
Kevin Ayers
Paul McCartney
Ray Davies
Fred Simon

I'll have two tickets please .....

quote:

but once again I have to say that I just don't understand what drives folks to anoint one musician as best on his/her instrument ... it's impossible, meaningless, and frankly, I have no idea what it even means that so-and-so is "the best of all time" ... how is this even measured?

Hi Fred - it was a joke (sorry should have put in smiley): Albert Lee is one of the very finest guitarists for sure, but I agree you about the concept of best.

I argue this in the hi-fi room when folks say Naim DAC makes CD555 seem broken - I think they mean they prefer one product to the other.

I'm not even sure I'd say I prefer Albert to any other guitarist I've heard, but it is very hard to think of one I prefer to Albert.

For me.....

.....Richard Thompson
Jimi Hendrix
John McLaughlin
Duane Allman
Tom Verlaine