The greatest guitar/musical solos ever

[Argonne69]

In the category of "musical solos", I don't think you can go wrong with jazz (fusion) violinist Jean Luc Ponty. I discovered him back in the late 70's when I was starting to get into jazz fusion. As far as I'm aware he was one of the first to use an electric violin with effects pedals, giving an incredible sound. My favorite album of his is Cosmic Messenger, and the track "Egocentric Molecules" really highlights his soloing (3rd solo at 3:10). The album Taste for Passion is also excellent.

 

 

[Obiwan21]

Mason Williams-Classical Gas, original version probably doesn't qualify as a "solo" but I've heard it played solo and sounds just as good.

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Obiwan21

[Argonne69]

How about horn solos? I'm a huge fan of 80's music, and sax solos were all the rage in this decade. They tended to be shorter than your typical 70's guitar solo, but they could still pack a punch. 

 

For example, Duran Duran's Rio (Solo at 2:50). It's not over the top, but fits perfectly in this 80's pop classic.

 

Duran Duran - Rio (Official Music Video) - YouTube

 

Also, Foreigner's Urgent (solo at 2:45).

 

Foreigner - Urgent (1981) - Original Video - YouTube

 

 

Of course, two of the greatest are the sax solos in Pink Floyd's Money and Us and Them.

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Argonne69

[davep043]

1 hour ago, Argonne69 said:

How about horn solos? I'm a huge fan of 80's music, and sax solos were all the rage in this decade.

I was thinking about sax solos, and one that comes to my mind is at the end of Changes, by David Bowie. 

Piano solos can be fun, I like this one from NRBQ.

I always felt that Terry Adams was like the illegitimate love child of Jerry Lee Lewis and Dennis the Menace.

[tbowles411]

Because I'm old (LOL), Guitar?  Stariway to Heaven.  Sax?  Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street.

[Gsea]

SAX, anything "the big man" did. Some of his solos with the e street band were pure ..........

[Argonne69]

You don't hear many bass solos on records. One of my favorite bass players is jazz bassist Richard Patterson. I first saw him in the mid-80's at Jazz Bulls in Chicago playing for the jazz fusion band Insight. They recorded two albums before splitting up. Here's a track from one of their albums. Solo starts at 2:50.

 

Late Night Walk

 

He went on to play for Miles Davis and David Sanborn Group.

 

 

 

[Conrad1953]

On 4/5/2021 at 1:44 PM, Argonne69 said:

You don't hear many bass solos on records. One of my favorite bass players is jazz bassist Richard Patterson. I first saw him in the mid-80's at Jazz Bulls in Chicago playing for the jazz fusion band Insight. They recorded two albums before splitting up. Here's a track from one of their albums. Solo starts at 2:50.

 

Late Night Walk

 

He went on to play for Miles Davis and David Sanborn Group.

 

 

 

 

That's awesome. When I think of jazz and bass playing I think of Esperanza Spalding. She's also

a jazz singer, of course. Her melodic bass playing is unique IMO. She's usually playing an electric

bass but grabbed an acoustic bass for this one.

 

[tbowles411]

On 4/5/2021 at 2:44 PM, Argonne69 said:

You don't hear many bass solos on records. One of my favorite bass players is jazz bassist Richard Patterson. I first saw him in the mid-80's at Jazz Bulls in Chicago playing for the jazz fusion band Insight. They recorded two albums before splitting up. Here's a track from one of their albums. Solo starts at 2:50.

 

Late Night Walk

 

He went on to play for Miles Davis and David Sanborn Group.

 

 

 

For me, I go in a slightly more modern direction:  Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire and Nathan East, of darn near 2000 songs.

[golfortennis]

On 2/20/2021 at 5:34 PM, DennyJones said:

Jeff Beck at his induction in the HOF:

 

You know you've done something right in life when you look over your shoulder & Jimmy Page is playing rhythm guitar for your lead solo.

 

 

I saw this and all it reminded me of was being in high school in the early 90s, getting excited when someone would say they were going to play Beck...... and then finding out they had something different in mind.

 

[golfortennis]

On 3/16/2021 at 8:40 AM, Argonne69 said:

How about horn solos? I'm a huge fan of 80's music, and sax solos were all the rage in this decade. They tended to be shorter than your typical 70's guitar solo, but they could still pack a punch. 

 

For example, Duran Duran's Rio (Solo at 2:50). It's not over the top, but fits perfectly in this 80's pop classic.

 

Duran Duran - Rio (Official Music Video) - YouTube

 

Also, Foreigner's Urgent (solo at 2:45).

 

Foreigner - Urgent (1981) - Original Video - YouTube

 

 

Of course, two of the greatest are the sax solos in Pink Floyd's Money and Us and Them.

 

 

I've always loved the sax at the end of "One More Night."  I know, it's cool to not like it, but I don't care.

 

Not really a solo, but Alto Reed's work on "Turn the Page" is just mesmerizing, IMHO.  Especially the quieter parts under the verses.  If you listen closely "Most times you can't hear 'em talk" you hear it.   

 

[touch]

Even though rather ill with cancer at  this part of his life,  Mr. Fogelberg delivered a great solo here I thought.

 

Yes guys and gals Dan Fogelberg. 

 

Solo time cued up 

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2021 by touch

[llamont]

Prince’s guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” as performed during the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is probably my (personal) favorite solo shred of all time. He absolutely owned his solo and from what I read on the internet, he was very secretive about his part during sound check. I love the look on Dhani’s face when Prince gets into his performance. His guitar face was serious!

 

RIP Prince and Tom Petty 💜😔
 

 

And because this is the WRX and many of us are absolute gear fiends, here’s my custom Prince-inspired FrankenMadCat...

 

 

Edited April 24, 2021 by llamont

[bscinstnct]

/thread

 

 

[Argonne69]

9 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

/thread

 

 

 

'Definitely rate that an 11.

 

[Petethreeput]

16 hours ago, llamont said:

Prince’s guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” as performed during the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is probably my (personal) favorite solo shred of all time. He absolutely owned his solo and from what I read on the internet, he was very secretive about his part during sound check. I love the look on Dhani’s face when Prince gets into his performance. His guitar face was serious!

 

RIP Prince and Tom Petty 💜😔
 

 

And because this is the WRX and many of us are absolute gear fiends, here’s my custom Prince-inspired FrankenMadCat...

 

 

It was this performance when I moved Prince (in my mind) from quirky genius with a love of all things female to a serious musician.

 

Admittedly, I was terribly late.

[Argonne69]

1 hour ago, Petethreeput said:

It was this performance when I moved Prince (in my mind) from quirky genius with a love of all things female to a serious musician.

 

Admittedly, I was terribly late.

 

His solo (2:09) and closing riff (3:12) on 'Let's Go Crazy' wasn't too shabby.

 

Prince & The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy (Official Music Video) - YouTube

 

 

[Soloman1]

Great guitar, drums, horns, bass, vocals... what's not to love about this incredible cover? If you're an old geezer like me, I'll bet something on your body will be moving to the beat. It's better than the original.

 

 

[Texas Golfer]

Randy Rhoads, who was taken from us way too early

 

 

[TiScape]

I believe it was mentioned once, maybe twice, but no video. It’s definitely obvious and a bit of a cliche, but so what! Stairway To Heaven is an all time great and contains a timeless Jimmy Paige solo. No need to be “too cool” and not give it it’s due as one of the all time greats. 
 

 

Edited May 18, 2021 by TiScape

[TiScape]

Legendary 

[Kaysquare]

I noticed not too many jazz guitarists have been mentioned here, but I just wanted to mention Wes Montgomery, who died at age 96 a few days ago.  He never used a pick, using his thumb to play the guitar making his sound soft & sort of muffled.  He was a genius, and was highly regarded by the jazz community.  If you've never heard of him, or listened to his music, he's no doubt on Youtube.

[MtlJeff]

Tunnel of Love outro from dire straits is REALLY growing on me

[Petethreeput]

1 hour ago, MtlJeff said:

Tunnel of Love outro from dire straits is REALLY growing on me

That’s is one of the few albums ever released, IMO of course, where every song is fantastic.

[Kaysquare]

11 hours ago, Petethreeput said:

That’s is one of the few albums ever released, IMO of course, where every song is fantastic.

I feel the same way about Santana's Abraxas album.

[Argonne69]

Great organ solo on REO's Roll With the Changes. Gary's guitar solo isn't too bad either. 

 

 

[Soloman1]

On 3/16/2021 at 7:55 AM, tbowles411 said:

Stariway to Heaven.

 

That's a two stroke penalty.

[miamistomp]

 

[touch]

How about some excellent horn playing or horn sections in a band?

 

 

[Qqq123xx]

Well old guy got confused wrong thread. First one works though. 

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 2021 by Qqq123xx