Not being much of a Genesis fan I only really came to Selling England by the Pound in the last decade and was absolutely stunned by the guitar solo on Firth of Fifth. Doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, it just takes my breath away and is equal to, if not better than, Comformtably Numb in my opinion. Apart from that my list would have to include something from SRV, probably Little Wing
Nice one, John. Couple worth a listen to that, for me, get close to the mighty Gilmore. Guthrie Govern's solo on Regret #9 from Steven Wilson's Hand Cannot Erase and Trevor Rabin's solo on Shoot High Aim Low from Yes' Big Generator.
I remember watching the Tube broadcast of that Dire Straits concert in 1985. I recorded it at the time onto VHS - still have it somewhere. It's also got the best live version of Brothers In Arms.
A few of my faves: The Free Bird harmony solo. Al DiMeola's Rac WIth the Devil Down the Spanish Highway. Page's Stairway. It's a Voodoo Child tie between Jimi and Stevie. The "sustain forever" solos in More than a Feeling. Rhodes' incredible Crazy Train. Earl Slick's work on Bowie's Staition to Station. So many more,...
Key to the Highway, I would love to play that again with the current band incarnation. I would even volunteer for singing this. One of the other two guitarists plays a mean slide guitar.
Yup, Comfortably Numb solo transcends time and space. Other favourite solos include Slash November Rain outro solo, Hammett & Hetfield Master of Puppets interlude solo, Gary Moore Jumping at Shadows last solo, Peter Green Need Your Love So Bad all solos, YJM Disciples of Hell intro classical solo, B.B. King How Blue Can You Get (the one where he had to change a broken string live), Les Paul Sleepwalk, and of course Key to the Highway and the slide guitar on the coda of Layla ❤🔥
Cheers for the list. I'm a little bit younger. Lots to listen to, but familiar with a few. When I first heard the solo from "Get The Funk Out" by Extreme at around 10 years old, it blew my mind! Nuno Bettencourt is amazing. Brian May loves it too!
Check out Deep Purple's first album with Steve Morse 'Purpendicular' (it contains 'Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming,' and is chock full of stunning tracks). For Blackmore's tenure with the band I love his solos on 'Wasted Sunsets,' 'Child In Time' ('Made In Japan' live version), and a wonderfully fiery solo that seems to me to be head and shoulders above many guitarists in the hard rock field from that time in 1971, on an album outtake/single B-side called 'I'm Alone.'
Tunnel of Love is Mark Knopfler’s best guitar playing ever, and the rest of it is fantastic. For David Gilmour, Shine On Crazy You Crazy Diamond speaks more to me, but I get why people would name Comfortably Numb. I like Larry Carlton’s version of Layla, but Kid Chalegmagne is way ahead of his other solos. Check out his instrumental version of Josie, cool playing (He didn’t play the solo on that one) My list would also include Albert King, BB King, Jeff Beck and Neil Young.
Glad to see normal service has been resumed, with praise for Gary Moore - a great choice, mate! I’m going to go for a solo from my favourite Gary album, ‘Back on the Streets’ - “Don’t Believe A Word”: the unmistakable sound of Greeny and with Moore showing restraint along with such tasteful fluid runs. Hard to pick one but that’s mine (for today, anyway!). “Key To The Highway’ had the same effect on me when I first heard the Layla album - a moment so nearly missed, just like with “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” on ‘Unplugged’, which also has a fade-in. I’d include “Stairway To Heaven”. Surprise choice for me, as I’m not into Jimmy Page, or Led Zep for that matter but it is rather good to be fair! 🎸👍
no Django ??? Mick Ronson Phil Manzenera are very underated .Also George Benson and Johnny Smith.For my mind Hendrix could replace a lot of people on this list for blues and rock playing.Although one of my favourate guitarists is John Mcgeoch for solo and riff playing, very different and imaginative, no cliches.
Happy Floyd got an entry, I prefer the solos in the live 'pulse' version of 'Coming back to life.'' More so, as I was there when it was recorded, it still blows me away.
Not being much of a Genesis fan I only really came to Selling England by the Pound in the last decade and was absolutely stunned by the guitar solo on Firth of Fifth. Doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, it just takes my breath away and is equal to, if not better than, Comformtably Numb in my opinion. Apart from that my list would have to include something from SRV, probably Little Wing
Nice one, John. Couple worth a listen to that, for me, get close to the mighty Gilmore. Guthrie Govern's solo on Regret #9 from Steven Wilson's Hand Cannot Erase and Trevor Rabin's solo on Shoot High Aim Low from Yes' Big Generator.
I had a strong feeling that Hotel California would be on your list.
I'm currently learning it
I remember watching the Tube broadcast of that Dire Straits concert in 1985.
I recorded it at the time onto VHS - still have it somewhere.
It's also got the best live version of Brothers In Arms.
A few of my faves: The Free Bird harmony solo. Al DiMeola's Rac WIth the Devil Down the Spanish Highway. Page's Stairway. It's a Voodoo Child tie between Jimi and Stevie. The "sustain forever" solos in More than a Feeling. Rhodes' incredible Crazy Train. Earl Slick's work on Bowie's Staition to Station. So many more,...
Key to the Highway, I would love to play that again with the current band incarnation. I would even volunteer for singing this. One of the other two guitarists plays a mean slide guitar.
Purple rain - bar room girls , gillian welch and dave rawlins (perfect, though acoustic), teenage kicks - alright now -
Awesome list with some legendary solos. We all have our own lists , but like you say , if you asked me a week from now it would be different!
Yup, Comfortably Numb solo transcends time and space. Other favourite solos include Slash November Rain outro solo, Hammett & Hetfield Master of Puppets interlude solo, Gary Moore Jumping at Shadows last solo, Peter Green Need Your Love So Bad all solos, YJM Disciples of Hell intro classical solo, B.B. King How Blue Can You Get (the one where he had to change a broken string live), Les Paul Sleepwalk, and of course Key to the Highway and the slide guitar on the coda of Layla ❤🔥
Black Rose, that's shivers-down-my-back material....
Thank you, John, I'm a fan of Gary Moore, but unbelievably, I'd never heard that version of Black Rose....tremendous!
Cheers for the list. I'm a little bit younger. Lots to listen to, but familiar with a few. When I first heard the solo from "Get The Funk Out" by Extreme at around 10 years old, it blew my mind! Nuno Bettencourt is amazing. Brian May loves it too!
Check out Deep Purple's first album with Steve Morse 'Purpendicular' (it contains 'Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming,' and is chock full of stunning tracks). For Blackmore's tenure with the band I love his solos on 'Wasted Sunsets,' 'Child In Time' ('Made In Japan' live version), and a wonderfully fiery solo that seems to me to be head and shoulders above many guitarists in the hard rock field from that time in 1971, on an album outtake/single B-side called 'I'm Alone.'
Tunnel of Love is Mark Knopfler’s best guitar playing ever, and the rest of it is fantastic.
For David Gilmour, Shine On Crazy You Crazy Diamond speaks more to me, but I get why people would name Comfortably Numb.
I like Larry Carlton’s version of Layla, but Kid Chalegmagne is way ahead of his other solos. Check out his instrumental version of Josie, cool playing (He didn’t play the solo on that one)
My list would also include Albert King, BB King, Jeff Beck and Neil Young.
Glad to see normal service has been resumed, with praise for Gary Moore - a great choice, mate! I’m going to go for a solo from my favourite Gary album, ‘Back on the Streets’ - “Don’t Believe A Word”: the unmistakable sound of Greeny and with Moore showing restraint along with such tasteful fluid runs. Hard to pick one but that’s mine (for today, anyway!).
“Key To The Highway’ had the same effect on me when I first heard the Layla album - a moment so nearly missed, just like with “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” on ‘Unplugged’, which also has a fade-in.
I’d include “Stairway To Heaven”. Surprise choice for me, as I’m not into Jimmy Page, or Led Zep for that matter but it is rather good to be fair! 🎸👍
Thanks.
Not a bad list, but there's no way I could have a top ten without Jeff Beck, Robbo, and Steve Howe.
no Django ??? Mick Ronson Phil Manzenera are very underated .Also George Benson and Johnny Smith.For my mind Hendrix could replace a lot of people on this list for blues and rock playing.Although one of my favourate guitarists is John Mcgeoch for solo and riff playing, very different and imaginative, no cliches.
Happy Floyd got an entry, I prefer the solos in the live 'pulse' version of 'Coming back to life.'' More so, as I was there when it was recorded, it still blows me away.
Yngwie Malmsteen: Far Beyonce the sun. Allen Collins (Synyrd): Freebird. Billy Gibbons: Just got paid. Blackmoore: Highwaystar.