Top Guitar Solos of All Time
Aug 19th, 2007 by Guitar MX Admin
John Perry of the Only Ones recently contributed an article to The Times, where he lists the Top 10 Guitar Solos of all time, along with an explanation on what he likes about each solo. It’s quite an eclectic list. Some of these songs have links to videos, where you can hear the solos.
- The Doors: Moonlight Drive
- The Rolling Stones: Love in Vain (Live)
- Moby Grape: Omaha & Hey Grandma
- Alex Chilton: Bangkok
- The Creation: Painter Man
- Jimi Hendrix: Drifting
- TIE: The Who: I Can See for Miles & Neil Young: Cinnamon Girl
- Hubert Sumlin with Howlin’ Wolf: You’ll Be Mine
- Bert Jansch: Chambertin
- Scotty Moore, with Elvis Presley: I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
Meanwhile, Q Magazine recently did an internal straw poll among their staff, and came up with this more contemporary list of the 20 Greatest Guitar Solos, in no particular order.
- Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb
- Queen: Killer Queen
- Led Zeppelin: Stairway To Heaven
- Stone Roses: Love Spreads
- Michael Jackson with Eddie Van Halen: Beat It
- Guns & Roses: Sweet Child O’ Mine
- The Beatles: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- Steely Dan: Reelin In The Years
- Muse: Knights Of Cydonia
- Fleetwood Mac: Go Your Own Way
- Television: Marquee Moon
- Rage Against The Machine: Bullet In The Head
- Prince: Purple Rain
- Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Like A Hurricane
- AC/DC: Let There Be Rock
- The Byrds: Eight Miles High
- The Smiths: Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
- David Bowie: Moonage Daydream
- Radiohead: The Bends
- The White Stripes: Ball And Biscuit
Did your favorite guitar solo make these lists? Which one would you add?
I find it amazing how many people overlook Paul Kossoff, his solo on Heavy Load is sublime!
Paul Kossoff is definitely underrated.
I can’t believe Dragonforce hasn’t appeared on any lists… “Throught the Fire and Flames” and “Fury of the Storm” are both ridicolous. And what about “Play with me”? or “Because it’s Midnight”?
There are some good ones on there…I would have added Elliot Easton’s solo on “Just What I Needed” by the Cars…to me it is the perfect pop guitar solo…
I’ve never really thought of that as a guitar-solo song, but having just listened to it now, it is a classic.
I thought you’d dig that one…here are some others that are on my classic list:
For concise pop solos:
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Lights – Journey
Longer ones include:
Hotel California – Eagles
Shine on You Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd
Non-traditional:
Killing in the name of – Rage against the machine
Santeria – Sublime
All time favorite:
All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix