There are few sounds in rock to rival a great guitar-player hitting his
stride. Power, melody, the tension between attack and delicacy – all these
separate the real players from that vast band of also-rans.
Let’s define terms. The solo exists to break up the typical
verse/chorus/verse/ chorus structure of songs from every genre of popular
music. A well-turned guitar phrase can form a song’s principal hook (eg,
Satisfaction), the “hook” being the bit you can’t stop whistling – or,
alternatively, the bit that drives you mad because you can’t get it out of
your head. Hooks sell records. (Or stimulate downloads, in the new digital
economy.)
What makes a great soloist? Technical virtuosity is not enough. Top jazz-rock
and fusion players have amazing facility, but all too often nothing to say.
Theirs is the musical equivalent of juggling seven balls while balancing a
chair on your nose. It’s impressive in its way, but nothing that moves the
heart; ultimately, it is just glib. Great guitar-playing bypasses the
intellect and connects straight to the soul.
The fusion wizards can’t be dismissed as unaccomplished, but their style, to
paraphrase the baffled priest preparing Rex Mottram in Brideshead Revisited,
is “like developing one tiny part of a person and calling it a whole human
being”. Classical guitarists (including lutenists such as Julian Bream) have
great virtuosity, but their technique is transparent. It serves the music,
and that is the vital distinction – the precise opposite of the jugglers we
have just been discussing. Whenever technique becomes an end rather than a
means, there is aesthetic trouble ahead.
After punk made ignorance a virtue – so long as the result was exciting – a
reaction was inevitable and, spurred on by the emergence of MTV, the 1980s
made a cult out of pure technique (and big hair). Private guitar
“institutes” flourished, teaching speed-guitar techniques. The schools
churned out lightning-fast young wizards with precocious facility and
nothing to express.
So, what’s going on in a solo? The interplay of two main elements: melody, ie,
the notes selected and the order in which they are placed (the tune); and
rhythm, ie, the length of each note and of the intervening gaps (phrasing).
Special emphasis on the gaps, since it’s not what you play so much as what
you leave unplayed that speaks loudest. The soloist with no feel for rhythm
is less likely to create a satisfying, completed structure and is more prone
to meaningless “widdling” (widdley, widdley, widdley), the stock phrase of
the classic guitar cliché – fast triplets. Compare Keith Richards’s simple
but perfect solo on Gimme Shelter with almost anything from the
blues-boomers of the year 1969.
To make an objective claim for the 10 best solos in rock would, like the 10
best goals or most elegant cover drives, be fatuous. I’ve selected 10 that
have stood the test of time – and that still move me.
If you wonder why Eric Clapton isn’t there, let me quote you a remark made to
him by Jimi Hendrix: “Man – how come you can’t play rhythm guitar?” He had a
point. To invert the popular wisdom, Hendrix was a supreme rhythm guitarist
who happened to play exquisite lead guitar. In any case, his work often
disposes of the distinction between lead and rhythm. The British blues boom
of the mid1960s elevated lead guitarists to cult heroes and relegated rhythm
guitar to the role of dull cousin. The archetypal British blues fan
resembled a trainspotter. He knew the serial numbers of old blues 78s and
liked a static hierarchy of UK blues guitarists, with Clapton at the top.
This hierarchy held until mid-September 1966, when Hendrix arrived at Heathrow.
Within a couple of weeks, he appeared on stage at the Central London Poly to
jam with Cream, who were then at the peak of their powers.
Blues fans were outraged. Cream floated so high above the rest that to even
dream of “sitting in” with them was heresy. So, when an unknown, gawky black
left-hander walked on stage, everyone was prepared for a ritual humiliation.
The ignorant Yank would soon be shown what real blues was about.
Clapton discreetly barred Jimi access to his Marshall amp, so Hendrix plugged
into Jack Bruce’s. He kicked into the double-time riff from Killin’ Floor
(available on the DVD of the 1967 Monterey pop festival), and Bruce and
Ginger Baker joined in.
Clapton, who didn’t deign to play, leaned against his amp, smoking a
cigarette. Within 30 seconds, his expression turned from amused disdain to
disbelief. By 45 seconds, his mouth hung open. He had ears, but he couldn’t
believe what he was hearing. This could not be happening. Hendrix overturned
the established order for ever. Deicide in 60 seconds.
© John Perry 2007
They’re finger-pickin’ good
1 MOONLIGHT DRIVE Robbie Krieger, the Doors Krieger created visual
soundscapes: look at Francis Ford Coppola’s use of The End in Apocalypse
Now. With a lyricist of Jim Morrison’s singularity, he had to devise a way
of accompanying narrative. Krieger did it without ever straying into
melodrama, as on this signature track from Strange Days.
2 LOVE IN VAIN (live) Mick Taylor, the Rolling Stones Live from Madison
Square Garden on the Stones’ 1969 US tour, the one that stepped in something
nasty at Altamont, Taylor’s solo (among the loveliest he created) can be
heard on the album Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out, but it’s better watched on DVD (the
Maysles brothers’ documentary Gimme Shelter). As Taylor improvises an
achingly lovely bottleneck refrain (on a standard-tuned guitar), the film
cuts to slo-mo footage of Mick Jagger doing his Nijinsky routine.
3 OMAHA & HEY GRANDMA Jerry Miller, Moby Grape Moby Grape are among
several groups with peerless credentials whose careers were wrecked by CBS
Records. Bursting at the seams with talent – three great singers, three
great guitarists and one authentic loony in a five-piece band – here was a
band that simply could not fail. What’s more, they were great live.
4 BANGKOK Alex Chilton He was the 16-year-old Memphis prodigy who sang
The Letter with the Box Tops. Chilton’s later work included Big Star’s
essential third album, Sister Lovers, released shortly before Bangkok, a
solo single of 1978. The guitar solo here is made up almost entirely of
feedback, noise and random squeaks.
5 PAINTER MAN Eddie Phillips, the Creation Unless you’re familiar with
rock’s back streets, you probably know this song as a mid1970s MOR hit for
Boney M. But, 10 years earlier, the original, by pop-art band the Creation,
scraped into the Top 40. Phillips used a violin bow on the guitar, and,
since electric-guitar strings don’t respond well to a bow, all sorts of
strange overtones are generated.
Hard sound to describe. Red with purple flashes.
6 DRIFTING Jimi Hendrix, on First Rays of the New Rising Sun “Drifting.
. . on a sea of forgotten teardrops” – Jimi’s favourite compositions were
his ballads.
He was clearly a man carrying a weight.
His melancholia found its purest expression on ballads such as The Wind Cries
Mary, Little Wing and Angel. Drifting is not the greatest of these, but it
contains three or four seconds of the most beautiful electric-guitar tone
ever recorded: 2’23” to 2’26”. Amid sparse backward-guitar, Jimi hits a high
note, slides down, then, playing with just one hand (his right), weaves a
melodic phrase through his backwards-guitar part. It’s Hendrix in cameo;
beautiful, effortless, casual, throwaway.
7 I CAN SEE FOR MILES Pete Townshend, the Who (best on 7in vinyl)/CINNAMON
GIRL Neil Young, on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere Two very different
examples of that specialised solo form, the one-noter. Townshend uses
(rapid) mandolin picking to turn that one note into a blur; Young keeps
steady time and holds a single high D going over eight chords.
8 YOU’LL BE MINE Hubert Sumlin, with Howlin’ Wolf The one
and only Sumlin mixing it with the Wolf’s peerless Chicago blues band.
Marc Bolan “borrowed” most of the song for T Rex’s Jeepster.
9 CHAMBERTIN Bert Jansch Davy Graham came first, but Bert had the
charisma. This record is unobtainable on CD, but there’s a knockout live
version on an album called River Sessions. Jansch at his finest.
10 I’M LEFT, YOU’RE RIGHT, SHE’S GONE Scotty Moore, with Elvis Presley
On this B-side of Presley’s fifth single for Sun, Moore rocks up the basic
Chet Atkins style to give the King the bounce he needed. The solo is a gem,
mirroring the vocal in the treble register and bouncing it off syncopated
picking in the bass line.
Another player, another planet
There shouldn’t have been a guitar solo in Another Girl, Another Planet at all
– punk didn’t have much time for them. Still less for one as literate,
eviscerating and technically dazzling as the 24 bars of virtuosity unleashed
by John Perry.
It had pretty much everything: speed, noise, Fender-driven fluidity, melody.
It was perfectly paced. It had structure, building in pitch and intensity, a
wonderful counterpoint to Peter Perrett’s scratched south London vocal.
Critics marvelled and attempted to excuse the solo, to give Perry an alibi –
it wasn’t a guitar solo at all, it was instead a “guitar solo”, an ironic
postmodern joke, something Perry found hilarious.
Truth is, Perry was really a very traditional rock guitarist, his heroes
Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards. He was just a lot, lot, better than
any of the guitarists in competing bands. Meanwhile, we young punks sat at
home astonished. What the hell was that? A guitar solo? We thought they were
banned! Can we have some more, please?
Rod Liddle
seriously, my top 3 is #1Stairway
#2 Comfortably Numb
#3 Metallica's One
none of them are even on there, I am going to call this a mediocre choice
kyle, philadelphia,
As a result of my comments appearing, I've kept an eye on this debate. It also prompted me to read the original article a bit more closely and in fact I did find a bit of sense in there - the bit about Bream's technique 'serving the music transparently' which actually is quite perceptive. Shame the writer (whoever he is) then goes on to spoil it by referring to Julian Bream (generally regarded as one of the greatest classical guitarists to have lived) as a Lutenist - Bream was/is a leading virtuoso on both instruments. Incidentally Bream cites Django Reinhardt as one of his first and most important musical inspirations. But the rest of it - flipping 'eck ! Still in a nation where "Big Brother" is apparently regarded as some sort of democratic way of identifying ability and we may get Boris Johnson as Mayor of London, I suppose it is entirely possible that it may be me that is completely mad!
Peter, London,
The title of the article is misleading. But the first sentence puts it in perspective.
And you cannot mix solos from live performances with studio solos.
But for everyone's consideration, my choice for best pop solo is I Was Only Joking - the segue from acoustic to electric is seamless.
And Barney Kessell's "Satin Doll" on The Poll Winders album is the best constructed jazz guitar solo I've ever heard.
David van Eyck, Colombo, Sri Lanka
This really is a rather silly article. It might make some sense if renamed "top 10 rock guitar solos" but I would suggest that excluding all the great jazz players (Django, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow, George Benson, Pat Martino, etc. not to mention the fabulous British Jazz guitarist Jim Mullen - who can been seen playing gigs around the UK at any time today - probably indicates how little the author knows about music generally and playing the guitar in particular.
Suggest all you rock fans out there start with Charlie Christian's "Swing to Bop" - recorded 1945 at Minton's Playhouse NY. It's where all modern guitar playing started. Hopefully you'll see what I mean and get things in perspective.
Peter, London,
This article is right-on regarding over-trained musicians and their seeming lack of soul. A brick layer may have amazing skill as well but skill alone does not make an artist. Guitar players employing pyrotechnics put me to sleep. The late James Honeyman-Scott from the Pretenders is my favorite lead player for his sense of melody and timing.
Joe Thomas, Minneapolis, MN
I strongly disagree with your views on Technical virtuosity, to suggest that someone looses something from having a amazing level of skill is lost on me. A Classical music background will always give a musician more options, take into consideration that they know more about music on a deeper level. Consider that perhaps someone who cannot keep up and understand a piece of music played at speeds in excess of 240 bpm will not like it. Ignorance is no excuse when seeking the correct answer. That said all the peices of music you have identified are quite nice however music composed by drug addled minds is not worthy of the title "greatest". To be the greatest is to be outstanding & overachieving in everyway possible, to be better than everyone else.
Personally i like Jason Becker's album Perpetual burn. Michael Angelo Batio is also an outstanding musician.
Both virtuosos can(could in beckers case) play any genre in any key.
Justin, Sydney, Australia
NO Rory Gallagher, Dave Gilmour, Jimmy Page, c'mon. And how come no one else thinks that Machine Gun by Hendrix is the greatest solo in the world? The sonic feedback completely obliterates the 2 notes you call a solo from 'Drifting' anyday.
wyatt, park city, U.S.A. Utah
No Clapton? Fine with me. Um, Mick Taylor's "Love in Vain" slide solos from "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out" are played in open G, not regular tuning as you incorrectly write. As far as I'm concerend, all ten solos should be Mick Taylor. OK, some of them should be Frank Zappa. And that's it.
Ken Buddha, Near New York, CT
I'm glad somebody gave Jimmy Page a mention - credit, when it's due!.
jessica massot, bath,
Rory Gallagher, Richard Thompson - enough said
will , france,
Great Article...and of course opinion. Just would like to add two fave solos and players that still move people...
Stevie Ray...CrossFire
Jimmy Page...Stairway to Heaven
Dan Argenas, Sarasota, Florida
Interesting ideas for inclusion. When I saw the mention of being able to play rhythm as well as lead guitar in the article, it made me think of somebody who was truly an original in this field - Steve Cropper of Booker T & The MGs. Listen to those solos in the early 60s numbers; been copied ever since!
George Sampson, Fleet, Hampshire UK
And what about Martin Barre Aqualung's solo ?
You can heard it for million times and ... it's always a surprise !
Gabriele, Ravenna, Italy
How about Green Grass & High Tides from the Outlaws? Or Yngwie Malmsteen, Alvin Lee,
Steve, Riyadh, KSA
Guitarplayers in rock also have nothing to "say" many times.
So why refering to fusion players?
They got a tougher job,guaranty.
Zaakzelf, Amsterdam, Holland
YES! Reading down the list of comments and thinking surely he must be there...Tom Verlaine, one of the truly great guitarists.
Bazzer, Milton Keynes, UK
Brother Wayne Kramer of The MC 5 on Lookin at you. Now that was a great solo.
Chris, Belfast,
I's have had Sultans of swing by the dire straits , comfortably numb by pinkfloyd and purple haze by jimi hendrix, otherwise great article.
lou, godalming, England
don't understand. clapton is the only guitar player in the world.
peeters, karratha, western australia, wa
Well, Mr Perry, you have certainly upset some folk with your top ten.
Good work, makes a change to read something that invites participation and response, usually these lists send me into deep slumber.
I am most amused at the blasts of discontent from the "how dare you leave Clapton out" brigade, doubtless covering their beards and cardigans with spittle as they type away.
I like the cut of your jib and your choices, they are thankfully not the usual conservative guitar friggin sterotypes.
I too would ask for the addition of James Williamson (from the Stooges) for almost any of his solos on "I got a right" "Open up and bleed" or the mighty "Cock in my pocket"
Finally, I would add your goodself to the list as well, perhaps a top ten of your best would be in order!
Tom Crossley, Greenwich, UK
10 greatest solos or guitar players and so on is purely subjective as the subsequent replies have shown, a bit of fun, little else. And to be fair it was pointed out that it was a personal choice, this seems to have been overlooked by the legions of the outraged. As John's bit about juggling implies, maybe it's a matter of a 'magical moment', a guitar-break rather than a solo. It may have an element of virtuosity, or it might just be Ron Ashton tearing through the first available space between verses.
Is originality a prerequisite? No. this is rock'n'roll we're talking about, 'Planet' is 80% 'Axis bold as love', dosen't make it any less exilerating Rod, which is what it's all about. Isn't it?
Marc Clements, Bristol, England
Jonny Greenwood!
Mark P, Manchester,
Joe Satriani and SRV would be worthy additions to the list.
It seems the fuction of such a list is to promote discussion. If so, then well done.
Malcolm Scarratt, Bragg Creek, Canada
Jeff Beck on Stevie Wonders "looking for another pure love"
IPH, London,
Well blimey! Talk about missing the point, all of you. That was John Perry's list, his opinions and his criteria for what makes a great guitar solo. So you can't argue with it. Wrong as he is. (Damn!) Lovely to see Mick Taylor mentioned though, as I've always thought that if Mr Perry reminded me of any other guitarist, it would be him. And Frank Zappa? Widdly Widdly Widdly Widdly etc Oh, and saw the Only Ones in Nottingham recently. Fantastic. Wish I'd been a bit more sober.......
Mark Grabiec, Nottingham, UK
Fripp, McLaughlin, DiMeola, Zappa, Fripp (worth two mentions)...how can you dismiss the bodies of work of these masters as "just glib"? To do so is, well, pretty glib.
Rick Bunker, Jenkintown, USA / PA
For mine, Leslie West of Mountain gave the ultimate performance in Roll Over Beethoven on the "Flowers of Evil" live side. Something you have got to here before you die!
Steve Melville, Sydney, Australia
Hendrix - Woodstock - Star Spangled Banner - Numero Uno!
Bob Baker, Murcia, Spain
Never heard of any of them. My choices: Eagles -- Hotel California; Kate Bush -- Wuthering Heights; Tom Robinson Band -- Too Good To Be True; Rod Stewart -- I Was Only Joking; Dire Straits -- Tunnel of Love; Thin Lizzy -- Cowboy Song; and, of course, the Only Ones -- Another Girl, Another Planet.
David L, Leeds, UK,
Clapton is a very good soloist but, if I can join the 'I can't believe group', I can't believe Peter Green is missing from this list. But then it's John Perry's list, not mine or yours!
Stephen Towler, LEEDS,
A top 10 guitar solo list without mentioning duane allman? That runs the risk of being a random put-together by a cocky musician with little sense of history.
That said, and this... "Top jazz-rock and fusion players have amazing facility, but all too often nothing to say. Theirs is the musical equivalent of juggling seven balls while balancing a chair on your nose........it's....nothing that moves the heart; ultimately, it is just glib."
That's an uninformed, uneducated thing to say. I do not know John Perry or the Only Ones, but that chap sure as hell hasn't heard John McLaughlin. Being British, that's a shame.
Arka, Calcutta, India
A list without any David Gilmore is well meaning but misses the point.
Jonny Morgan, London,
The beauty here is that the discussion and debate covers limited years. I add Frank Zappa to the mix. The wonderful solo on "Zombie Woof" from the disk/album "Overnite Sensation," is one of many that evokes emotion and adds story to a whimsical song. Anyone agree?
Doug, Wading River, New York
I think we need to adjust the scoring system to take account of solos that drive one to leap off the sofa (often in just pants and socks, naturally), grab the nearest tennis racket and perform the split-kick jump, double-knee slide, teddy boy low-strung walk and bent-back-face-the-sky-and-play-to-god finale. Its not all about syncopation and letting the sould play through one's fingers, its about demonic possession and air guitar too.
Tom, London,
Provoking perverse selection, but I agree with exclusion of Clapton, but not Robert Johnson or Peter Green. On the criteria selected Neil Young should be there, but for "Like a Hurricane", (live). If you want a one note solo that should be Albert King, 'I'll Play the Blues for You', in which he plays one sustained note, (or any number of other licks, rifs and solos borrowed by Clapton), or (if you are simply being perverse) Carlos Santana for the sustained note at the beginning of the "Lotus" concert which goes on for several minutes. At the other end of the scale Robert Fripp plays a lot of notes very quickly on 'St Elmo's Fire' but isn't shredding, and that's been my No.1.Duane Allman, as suggested, must be there, and Steve Winwood for 'Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired' (live).
Neil, Somerset,
Ok how can you say its not about techique as players get caught up in their own virtuosity and don't connect with an audience and then have 10 solos almost noone has heard of????? Lets also not forget Jimi Hendrix thought Eric Clapton was the best guitar player alive!! For me Erics solo on I Feel Free should there also maybe Paul Kossoffs on Alright Now - no virtuosity just emotion. SRV on Tin Pan Alley? John Mayer I Can't Stop Myself From Loving You, Eddie van Halen Beat It etc etc
If its about heart not virtuosity it has to be solos from solngs people have heard of
Thomas, Ballymena, N Ireland
What about the top ten WORST solos?
Up there has to be Jeff Beck's Hi Ho Silver Lining: absolutely dreadful.
Bryan May and Joe Satriani have been responsible for some howlers in their time too!
Sameold, Winchenstein,
Rory Gallagher could occupy the whole top ten as could Rodrigo Y Gabriela.
john, Tokyo,
None of Slash? Seriously? Meh.
Tom, London,
Surley the solo from Lynards Skynards free bird should be in there somewhere?
Dean, swansea,
It's all opinion.
Why is it always the guitar player that gets the mention? What about the bass player. John Paul Jones is the greatest ever bass player and undoubtably held Led Zepplin's amazing sounds together while Jimi pageand john Bonham had the fun and, together with Robert Plant, took all the glory of the band.
E. R. Mann, Warwick, U.K.
How come Michael Bloomfield not mentioned at all ever listened to Grape Jam or Super Session and where's Ry Cooder?
Gung Ho, Amsterdam, netherelands
Listen to Michael Schenker's work with UFO, particularly on the Strangers in the Night live album.
Although he has blistering technique in spades, it's his acute sense of melody (one of the few soloists whose solos can be sung in the bath), honky original tone, a vibrato to die for and the often missing ability in modern rock players to do 'what's right for the song' that made him a target for the Stones. He turned them down thus saving Richards being off blown off stage. Sweet rock and soul music.
D Finnigan, Riom, France
Wot ? No Lynerd Skynerd... Freebird ? How can you miss that ? And to echo another poster, Crossroads by Cream, with Mr Clapton. Simply a waste-of-time-list with out that one...
Pondlife, France,
Cheers John, terrific article. I've spent the last week tracking down all of your top 10 & having a listen. I can't say I agree with your choices, but it opened my jaded ears & mind up again, and now I've got all the tracks mentioned by the commenters to go for! Thanks folks, I'm off to do a little downloading.
kenw, Hemel Hempstead,
My Top 5: (1) Eagles - Hotel California (Don Felder/Joe Walsh); (2) Guns N Roses (Slash) - Sweet Child O Mine; (3) Led Zepplin (Jimmy Page) - Stairway to Heaven; (4) Pink Floyd (Dave Gilmour) - Comfortably Numb; (5) Dire Straits (Mark Knopfler) - Sultan of Swing.
Se7enstringslinger, London,
Roy Buchanan's Sweet Dreams
Mike Williams, Saluda, USA/North Carolina
To me this is a bit of a misinformed list, as the writer doesnt appear to have listened to any guitar music post-1978.There are plenty of more recent guitarists that should be up there, for example Dimebag Darrell, Slash, Kirk Hammett, Randy Rhoads, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen...and its criminal to leave out Jimmy Page!!My own favourites inlude 'Santeria' by Sublime and 'Sweet Home Alabama' by Lynyrd Skynyrd.I have to agree though, the solo on 'Another Girl' is a blinder!
Jon, London,
Jeff Beck,
People Get Ready
doesn't have to a blazing solo , done with so much feeling
Alex Kulczycki, London, On. Canada
The TWO Eric Clapton solos on the live version of Robert Johnson's Crossroads, originally on the Wheels of Fire album but often replicated on numerous collections, are the most blistering testament to the fact that rock and roll can aspire to and indeed on this cut surpass some of the greatest moments in jazz soloing. Probably THE high-water mark for all guitarists to measure themselves against.
Peter Dignam, Brentford Dock, United Kingdom
Good grief! This list is so silly, how about a top 10 favourite teabags or my top 10 crisp flavours. Music shouldn't be competitive...it's not the same as football is it?
Frank Zappa and Carlos Santana should all be up there, along with Dave Gilmour, Brian May and yes the likes of Frampton, The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others. Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson. In fact, I can think of at least a dozen Hendrix solos alone that are "best of the best".
What we really need is a top 10 list of all time top 10 lists.
Justin Silver, London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Top Five: 1. Richard Lloyd's pure mentalist solo on See No Evil, the opening track f Marquee Moon by Television. 2. Hendrix's rhythm guitar on All Along the Watchtower, better than anything ever played by Mr Clapp. 3. Scotty Moore's solo on Hound-dog. 4. Neil Young on Cinnamon Girl - he plays a one note 8-bar solo, then he plays it all again. 5. Erm that's enough. Can we have no more solo's please. The songs are more important.
Daniel Ken, Newcastle,
I could add my own but this is all about opinion.
Oh what the heck!
It's gotta be Jimmi Pages Black Dog.
E. R. Mann, Warwick, U.K.
No Pink Floyd?
Comfortably Numb (Pulse: Live) awesome guitar solo.
Marc, Croydon,
Wonderful to read new definitions all the time and great to see that you have dug deep to find a list that looks as though you have really spent time looking for the right answer. Listen to Song of the Wind from Caranvaserai, Santana, 1972 and confirm to me all your suggestions are better. Another way of looking at things would be to take one note out of any solo. If you can tell who is playing, what is being played and where then you have a guitar perfect solo. You can do that with Jimi and Carlos any time. In any case you have fulfilled your mission as a journalist namely to stir the pot and get people writing. Congrats and keep listening.
Sten, Valby, Denmark
Wow, you certainly have no idea what you're talking about here. By far Hendrix best piece of guitar work (and what should probably be #1) is Machine Gun II. Also, the fact that you've left out some substantial stuff from the likes of Vinnie Moore, Tony Macalpine, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen, suggests to me that you've listen to nothing but trendy kiddy music. Also, because you haven't inserted "electric" into your guitar solo list, I find it a particular crime that you haven't included Paco de Lucia and his work in "Friday Night in San Francisco. Finally, to forget some exceptional bass guitar solos, like anything from Les Claypool, is a crime in and of itself.
Me, Manchester,
What no Peter Green, wasn't it BB King who said that Green was the only white guitarist that gave him the shivers, and I think he meant it as a compliment. Great list, great discussion.
Neil, Toronto, Canada
What? No 'Eruption' from Edward Van Halen?
Andrew Martin, Grays,
stevie ray vaughan - little wing
jc, vancouver, canada
This list can go straight to hell, and the trash can. Without the mention of Stevie Ray Vaughn in there. Im kind of surprised no Clapton either, but we all know that cliche' Clapton is god. SRV lives on forever with his music, but is really spinning in his grave if he cant make this bogus top ten.
Dannlok, roch,
I agree about Ritchie Blackmore. What about "Fligh of the Rat" on "In Rock"?
Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
You have tragically ommited Jimmy Page.His solo on Since I've Been Loving You has accounted for the most thrilling acoustic experience I've ever had.
Leon, PREVEZA, Greece
Well, at 48yrs old and a HM fan since 11yrs old I can honestly say,I cannot recall any of the top 10 solo's,except Jimi H.
What about any Ulrich Roth solo,ie from the EARTHQUAKE album,Ritchie Blackmore on Mistreated live (made in europe)although bootleg copies its much better)
Guitar legends such as Pat Travers,Ronnie Montrose,Jan Akkerman,Eddie Van Halen,Michael Schenker,Matthius Jabbs? (not sure of spelling) These any more I could mention have numerous fantastic solo's to their name,go on look these guys up and have a listen.
P.S.I was in the 'business' for 10 yrs as a guitar tech/tour manager,and know whatr I'm talking about.
My hero was Ritchie Blackmore,but albums never did him justice,you had to see him live,anyway thats about it,long live the real HM from the old days ie 1970/80's.
john lowdon, Newscastle upon Tyne,
Sure, there ought to be a Clapton there, but I'm not sure it's "Crossroads," great though it is -- the contributions of Jack Bruce's improvisations and Ginger Baker pushing the beat are perhaps too great. I've always been blown away by C's solo over Jack Bruce's third verse of 'White Room' -- zooming glissandi, octave jumps, incredible bending of pitches every which way and exquisite use of wah pedal.
D McCracken, Chicago, Illinois
Allow me to say that the list is one person's opinion. Obviously, Jimi's critique would fall flat against the likes of any number of american blues players, the likes of BB King. Clapton reigns as blues player, Jimi was indeed very inventive and creative, and both deserve mention in any list of top 10 solos (as if there is an accurate way to chose).
Duane Allman, Richard Tompson, SRV, and a number of other missing suggest the fallacy in putting forward such a flawed list. Not to mention the dismissal of jazz guitarist such as Django, and a hundred others.
Pete Townsend and Neil Young are worthy composers, but hardly what anyone would call soloists.
Finally, depicting classical guitarists as souless shows how little the reviewer knows about this genre. Anyone who's ever seen performances by Segovia, Parkening, or any one of the Romero brothers are surely laughing at your lack of sensibility, and music appreciation.
Phil, Mission, KS - USA
I agree with the comments about Eric Clapton - any one of at a dozen of his guitar solos could have been included. And what about Neil Young on 'Like a Hurricane', Eagles 'Hotel California', Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Freebird' orPeter Frampton's 'Do You Feel Like We Do'.
I could add more but that will do for now. What about a poll on the best Guitar Solos run by The Sunday Times??
John Kent, Birmingham, UK
call me young and ignorant, but what about any of the solo's on 'blank generation' by richard hell and the voidoids? also, let's not forget clapton's performance of 'while my guitar gently weeps' at the Concert for George, it's not just what is left out, it's also how much of themselves an artist is willing to sacrifice and pour in to a performance. the solo epitomizes both the emotional content of what a solo can be and the smooth-handedness that has come to define clapton's style; while it also embodies the legend creating title of the track, demanding one to take pause and give respect to the song's creator and it's living torch-bearer.
Travis Cheatham, Lodi, CA, California, USA
I can't believe there's no Richard Thompson on this list. Acoustic or electric, he just brilliant!
Adrian Loone, East Devonport, Tasmania, Australia
And no palce for Pete Shelley's glorious anti-solo in Boredom?
Two notes repeated 66 times. Marvelous.
it doesn't get much better than that.
craigie*, Manchester, UK
Somehow eclectic, somehow overrching in it's scope, this list is at best/worst interesting. Let me first point out that Krieger got lucky on Moonlight Drive. He was at best a pedestrian electric player with wretched attack and tone; almost totally devoid of any sense of grace in almost all of his electric work. That being said I do have a hard time arguing his inclusion here. "Moonlight Drive" 's solo simply drove the point of the song home. it is patently gorgeous, and also an anamoly.
I suspect the inclusion of Townsend and Young are purely for minimalist/dada inspired reasoning. Whatever...
One glaring omission would be the solo from The Stooges dutch recorded version of "I Got a Right". Silly me... can't remember the players name. It's brutally savage economic slop. IOW... perfect. Also absent is Ry Cooder's solo on Elvis' "All Shook Up".
Still, a coolly introspective listing, that should elicit all manner of expletive laden barf-back from Skynnard-ites everywhere.
Lewis, Mesa, USA/AZ
More Clapton bashing? Oh dear! Hendrix was great. Clapton was and still is. Get up on stage with Clapton and you had better be on your mettle. There are many great guitarists and guitar solos. To omit Clapton though is a little misguided. For sheer timing, touch, delicay, power and emotion there is no one to touch him
BJ, London,
A good list, Mr. Liddle, however, a few other solos' must be concidered:
Duane Allman on "Done somebody wrong", live at the Fillmore
Robby Kreiger, "Five to one"
Jerry Garcia, "Dark Star" on Live Dead
Alvin Lee, the intro to "Going home" live at Woodstock
Jimmi Hendrix. "Villanova Junction" Ditto.
SK, NBI, Kenya
Nice to see Robby get the credit he deserves! I agree with JC on the omission of Alvin Lee though, the solo in The Bluest Blues is the most expressive solo ever recorded!
cb, cleveland, oh
No mention of Duane Allman, Warren Haynes or indeed the sensational Derek Trucks.. tut tut!!
al stuart, ealing, london
Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane in "Wooden Ships" ('Volunteers') ...3:36 to 3:50...epitomises the stoned '60's in 14 seconds!
Philip, Sunderland,
What, no Richard Thompson,
Huw, Chepstow, Wales
Only an idiot would exclude "Crossroads" on a list of the greatest guitar solos.
pjm, dallas, tx,
There are a hundred more you could have picked, but these are all valid choices, better because they are so overlooked. Jerry Miller was one the most overlooked guitarists in the history of music. A complete musician, with wonderful tone, and fluid musicality . Where is he now?
jac ttanna, Hollywood, CA
You can make all the dumb excuses you want between rhythm and solo guitar riffs, but a top ten list without Clapton is not a top ten list in my book!
Lori, Lubbock, TX
No Alvin Lee?
JC, yourtown,
why isn't the Van Halen Jump solo there? Surely no other solo has ever fitted a song so seemlessly. Coupled with Eddie's keyboard effort, this truely is majestic.
D L Roth, LA, California
What, no Duane Allman? What about "Blue Sky" or the live "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed"? Any one of a hundred live Jerry Garcia leads...
I don't get it.
drp, Pittsburgh, PA
Excellent article.
Very good comments concerning rhythm guitar playing and the comparisons between Clapton and Hendrix, as well as the general UK attitude about blues solos and the structure of blues guitar playing then.
Only one question ... what about SRV? 'Nuff said.
Thanks
flying v, R. Hill,
I would add ANY of the Tom Verlaine solos from Marquee Moon... Ambitious, pure, molodic. Perfect I'd say.
Stephen McNulty, Sydney, Australia
Bruce Springsteen, "Streets of Fire"
Fred Leonhardt, Portland, Oregon
Great! for me Hendrix had any amount of solos to be number 1 on any list including the solo in hey joe and all along the watchtower.
peace
ajani tafari, belize city, belize
Walter Trout is now the best guitar player in the world... blows Clapton right into the weeds... really, check him out... and he can play rhythm as well...
paulc, gloucester,
I always thoght the one note "solo" on the Buzzcocks "Boredom" was before the Only Ones?
Andrew Hambleton, chesterfield,