Best Solo Ever (No Nirvana allowed, Or Dave Grohl)

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John Petrucci - Dream Theater's 'Never Enough'...Fantastic! :)

Darkest Hour 'Sound the Surrender' (but does it classify as a solo or a harmony? Still kicks ass) in fact that whole tune...the whole album is a hotbed of beautiful leads :)

And another vote for Brian May in Bohemian Rhapsody. I saw some show on TV the other night about queens recordings, where he was talking about the guitar he used, and he quickly ran the solo off on it. It sounds just as good with no backing, and thats a mark of a good solo in my opinion.
 
What a Slade Song!?

For something completely different Dave Hill's 8 bars in Everyday by Slade (Old New Borrowed & Blue). Very Melodic
For true off the wallness Robert Quinne of the Voidoids doing Love Comes In Spurts (& nice work with almost anything he did for Mattew Sweet too)
The Interplay of Clapton & Harrison on While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
& for obscurist fans the lead line (ending in seagulls) of Budgie's Parents.
 
mandocaster said:
I will probably get flamed...

Sultans of Swing

No flames at all. That is one fabulous solo, especially once you understand the positioning and articulation behind it. Knopfler is an amazing musician.

By the way, thanks to everyone for all the variety being presented in this thread. I am seeing so many songs I have not listened to in a long time from all walks of music. Time to haul out all the old records, tapes and CDs and go on a "solo" marathon. :)
 
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Here are my faves...(I have disregarded the original poster's "restrictions")


Say it Ain't So- Weezer
There's No Home for you Here, Girl- White Stripes
Flood- Pantera
^the outro to same song

That's all I can think of right now.
 
I didn't read through the whole thread so sorry if this is a repeat: Eric Clapton's solo on Blind Faith's "Presence of the Lord".
 
Giving creedence to the rumour

Whoops,
Left out John Fogerty - probably the solo & feedback on I Put A Spell On You &/or Suzy Q.
Neil Young really knows how to bend & stretch, reach for the sky doesn't he?
& I have to apologise as, despite recognising his guitar playing prowes, tonality, dexterity & creativity, I find Mr Knoffler's songs a tad tedious. I'd love to hear him play guitar for other people, hands off the writing & production though.
Brian May up to & including much of ANATOpera rocked - saw him live in '76.
Cheers
rayC
 
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+1 for Maggot Brain...when I listen to that I'm almost in tears. Reminds me of some kid getting drafted into the Viet Nam war, tripping the weekend before he leaves for boot. Crushing.

I always liked George Lynch's and Jake Lee's solos compared to their contemporaries.

the Butthole Surfers Paul Leary's solo on "22 going on 23".

even the worst guitar players can find their voice and speak with clarity and conviction.
 
zappa

I can't contribute to any discussion of "best" or "worst," because I think any assessment of any art is crap. It all just exists by virtue of the artist, there's absolutely no value I can see in assigning quality or rankings to it as if musicians were college football teams. Pretty soon we'll have Yes or Phish fans in here talking about divergent meters or chord progressions as if ther were penis sizes.

I used to read the record reviews in Rolling Stone and all of that crap, but at this point in my life, I'm older, and I acknowlege only two kinds of music:

1) that which moves me
2) that which don't

Well, enough of my hippy ramblings. I love the parts of this thread where people talk about what moves them, and the parts where people just bash music, well, that's easy enough to ignore.

For what it's worth, here is some guitar work that really deeply moves me:
Zappa - the last "imaginary" guitar solo on Joe's Garage (plus a LOT of other Zappa)
Gilberto Puente - Anything, but especially his work in earlier Tres Reyes
Baden Powell - Valse se Nombre
Paul Gilbert - Frenzy (wanking? maybe, but it gets to me)
Jimi - Little Wing

But to me, music is one big buffet, where you can eat as much as you want, and I'm always hungry. I'm too busy tasting new things to go back and condemn others.
 
For a combination of taste, skill and feeling, probably any B.B. King solo. Those just give me chills. As far as rock, you can't beat Stairway. Just brilliant.
 
rayc said:
Neil Young really knows how to bend & stretch, reach for the sky doesn't he?

Yes. He's very creative playing just one note.
 
As far as one note goes

nothing can beat the one in Santana's Europa.

And yeah, I forgot about Elliot Randall. My bad.

People used to tell me I solo'ed like Neil Young. As much as I like Neil (and CSN&Y in their various incarnations in general), I still don't consider that a compliment.

And a vote for the Duane Allman on Please Call Home, Not My Cross to Bear, Stormy Monday, Elizabeth Reed (one where Dickie actually outshines him) and their version of How Blue Can You Get.

Mick Box of Uriah Heep - Magicians' Birthday.

OK, now I'm just waxing nostalgic. I'll stop. Really.

Can my addiction to this entitle me to register in the SAS forum?
 
new here, but thought I'd chime in...

the solo at the end of "Bold as Love" by hendrix actually gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. Especially cranking up the volume to hear the last trailing notes...
 
a few guitar ones that come to mind:
John McLaughlin w/Guitar Trio - "La Estiba"
Frank Zappa - "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
Dream Theater - "Metropolis pt 2"
Wes Montgomery - "West Coast Blues"
 
I love acoustic solos my favorites are in:

"I'm Free" by The Who
"Thank You" by Led Zeppelin
"No Rain" by Blind Melon
 
Can't beleive no one has mentioned

La Villa Strangiata (live) - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
Moonage Daydream - Mic Ronson (Bowie)

some other entries
Three of a perfect Pair - Robert Frip (I think) King Krimson
Paranoid - Tony Iomi Sabbath
Muffin Man - Zappa (from Bongo Fury, live I think)
Couldn't stand the weather - SRV

Stuff like Sound Chaser and Voodoo Chile don't qualify in my opinion cause ehy aren't a clear cut guitar break.
 
The one that always evoked the most emotion/feeling in me as a younger man was the Richie Blackmore Solo in the song Long Live Rock and Roll.

Not a fan of wanking solo's but this one is simple and powerful.

Tony
 
Some Canadian Content:

Overemphasizing - Ian Thornley while he was in Big Wreck
Earth, Sky and C - Jag, I Mother Earth

Jacob
 
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