Les Paul Forum members - best solos ever ! 🤩

[MarcB]

..but what is THE best solo ever!?

This would any solo from any decade and any style of music..
I know this is a very difficult question to ask.. as I’m also struggling to answer it .. as today.. I would say it’s the solos Terry Kath (Chicago) plays on 25 or 6 to 4
As it nails the motive of the song perfectly..
but a few months ago I would’ve said .. Fred Smith (MC5) on “Looking at You” as it again nails the songs completely…
But I’m trying to decide on what is the best solo ever.. and I’m gonna say it’s by a girl !? And it’s ..

Shele Pinizzotto from Birtha with the song “Free the Spirit” not only is it utterly amazing ..but enters with an almighty scream.. which is perfection!

Let me know what you think.. and also post your opinion on what’s the best guitar solo of all time, with video reference ..

Look forward to your replies ..
..as I’m planning on making a playlist too..


(Any reference to Rolling Stone magazine lists will be immediately dismissed lol)

 

[thin sissy]

IMHO, Mick Ronson has multiple examples that I would call the best solos of all time. Here's one of them:

Here's another fav:

I liked your clip! I hadn't heard of them before

 

[gitmohair]

Tony Peluso's solos on Goodbye To Love have to be up there on the "ones that made the song" front - and that's quite an achievement on a song with "that voice" on it...

 

[MarcB]

Jeeze.. from just my drive in to work.. there’s so many..
•comfortably numb
•baker st
•stairway

 

[JASIII]

When I'm feeling "minimalist rock n' roll spirit" I lean towards Keith's solos at the end of Sympathy For The Devil
Clapton's second solo on Crossroads
Outro solo on Blues Image's "Ride Captain Ride"

 

[garywright]

I can’t pick one but the leads in Maybe I’m Amazed are beautifully melodic

( added vid )

 

[Midnight Blues]

There are just so many, but even though it's spliced from two different shows (the one around 8:50), a fact unbeknownst to me for 42 years, I've always been partial to this one (skip to around 8:50, then around 15:48 and then 20:07 if you like):

 

[GlassSnuff]

If you didn't buy an LP because of this record, then you should buy this record because you own an LP.

 

[EdF_PA]

I can’t pick one but the leads in Maybe I’m Amazed are beautifully melodic

( added vid )

Yeah for sure! I just learned that song and the solo/riffs, like a week ago. My daughter is into anything Beatles (or post-Beatles) and plays piano so it’s a good one to duet with her. But a tough vocal!

 

[the_007_life]

Kind of a random one but a core memory of mine that hasn’t been said would be Blackfoot ‘Highway song’.

It was extremely inspiring to me when I first heard it and still is.

 

[jb_abides]

Impossible to answer, perhaps something that shouldn't even be asked, but...

I've always enjoyed this immensely:

 

[Wilko]

Many from the most underrated guitarist IMNSHO Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze: Pulling Mussels from a Shell, Another Nail in My Heart, Black Coffee in Bed. Not just wanking. He writes actual solos and plays them live.
at 1:40

at 2:50

at :50

and of course, Mark Knopfler Sultans of Swing.

 

[jb_abides]

Many from the most underrated guitarist IMNSHO Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze: Pulling Mussels from a Shell, Another Nail in My Heart, Black Coffee in Bed. Not just wanking. He writes actual solos and plays them live.

Tilbrook, like Elliot Easton, is master of the 'song within a song' composed solo; and he plays with fire! Definitely underrated for sure.

Going to see Squeeze on this fall tour.

 

[TBurst Std]

I guess technically they are not solos but songs:
Jeff Beck
Cause we ended as Lovers
Nadia

 

[Wilko]

I've seen them many times. Difford and Tillbrook, too. Love them.

Oh yeah, Elliot Easton is another fave.


Here's me playing the black coffee solo:

 

[Amp360]

I thought it was supposed to be Politician, the Robin Ford version?

 

[Dave P]

I guess it depends on my mood. Holdsworth was pretty terrifying on this one

This solo always knocks me out

 

[MarcB]

Impossible to answer, perhaps something that shouldn't even be asked, but...

I've always enjoyed this immensely:

As I said JB.. this is a very difficult question to ask.. anyone !!

But some great suggestions have been made.. and it’s also very interesting as to what a person classes as their best solo.. as it means something entirely different to others.. from memories, musicality and meaning..

I’m diggin all the responses so far

 

[Xpensive Wino]

​

There is some dispute regarding the musicians who performed on the song.

In the booklet that came with Donovan's 1992 double CD, Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964–1976, Allan Holdsworth and Jimmy Page are listed as the electric guitar players. John Paul Jones, who arranged and played bass on the track (and also booked the session musicians), was reported to have said by email that Alan Parker played the electric guitar.

In a published interview circa 2013, Donovan said he and Jones both credit Holdsworth for the guitars solo.

On Jimmy Page's website, he lists this song as one on which he plays. Engineer Eddie Kramer also cites Jimmy Page as playing on the track.

Hurdy Gurdy Man - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MarcB]

​

There is some dispute regarding the musicians who performed on the song.

In the booklet that came with Donovan's 1992 double CD, Troubadour: The Definitive Collection 1964–1976, Allan Holdsworth and Jimmy Page are listed as the electric guitar players. John Paul Jones, who arranged and played bass on the track (and also booked the session musicians), was reported to have said by email that Alan Parker played the electric guitar.

In a published interview circa 2013, Donovan said he and Jones both credit Holdsworth for the guitars solo.

On Jimmy Page's website, he lists this song as one on which he plays. Engineer Eddie Kramer also cites Jimmy Page as playing on the track.

Hurdy Gurdy Man - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If Hurdy Gurdy man is your choice .. I commend and applaud you !!