Best/Worst Guitar solo

[guitarjamman]

Everyone has their own opinions on what can be considered "good" guitar playing. That being said, what do you consider to be the best and worst guitar solos that exist out there? I could name a billion for each but I have narrowed it down to the two on my mind as of right now.

One of the best guitar solos/performances in my book. Song written and performed by a smaller independent band - DISPATCH - with ridiculous lead guitar by Phil Keaggy. Song was performed at the Hatch Shell in Boston, MA back in May of 2004....Hands down the best concert I have been to; please ignore the skirt, can't quite figure it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHAn0aYu ... re=related

The worst guitar solo I can think of (I am probably going to catch some heat for this one) is Keith Richards in "Sympathy for the Devil". The song is a true masterpiece and then Keith comes in and tears it apart with 30 seconds of scratchy and unmelodic guitar playing. But to each their own:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia1UjNBK_3Y

 

[West R Lee]

The best I've ever seen...................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYGl4RCtw0Y

West

 

[Frosty]

...I am probably going to catch some heat for this one...

Allow me to be the first to throw heat your way.

 

[idealassets]

Not attempting to offend, but Keith Richards is #4 of the Rolling Stone Top 100 (of all time) for this year 2012.

I believe that being recorded in 1968, Sympathy has an innovative blues orientated solo by Mr Richards, whereas Brian Jones and Charlie Watts were useless in this track. Mick Jagger and an additional conga player supplied the lead percussion section in the recording, while Charlie Watts was at a loss. Bill Wyman supplied an excellent bass riff, after Keith Richards laid it down right on the Fender bass for him, while Mr Wyman was shaking a mirracca:

#1 1968 studiohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDVq50i6Zzc&feature=related
#2 1968 studiohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd3458C-LjY

I'll admit I liked The Byrds, The Airplane, The Dead, etc during the time; but not the Stones. Regardless I can never really state that Keith Richards played a whole lot of trash guitar leads by any stretch. I am still not crazy about the Stones, but Keith Richards & Mick Jagger have definately left their own unique mark in rock and music history to date.

Thats just my 2c,
Craig

 

[Ian]

Anything by Jimmy Page could fit into either of those categories depending on your point of view.....

 

[Zelja]

I think the "Sympathy" solo fits the song perfectly - it's got a certain menace which is needed. If Mick Taylor (technically a far more accomplished soloist) did it, then it would probably have been too pretty.

 

[walrus]

Ideal, I posted those links under "The Store" earlier - your point is exactly correct - the videos show that it was definitely a Mick and Keith production. Keith's versatility is very much on display there. Those clips are great!

Back to the "solos", I too think the solo on "Sympathy" fits perfectly. As far as "best", that is too hard for me! I can think of several solos I simply love, from George Harrison to Steve Howe to Neil Young (how about that repetitive one note solo on "Cinnamin Girl"!!!) to Jimmy Page (i.e. "Whole Lotta Love"!!!).

Also, the "guitar fight" from Abbey Road's "The End" is on my list. For years (as a youngster) I thought that was George. Once I learned it was the three of them taking turns, and it was recorded live in the studio in one take, I was even more blown away.

Too many great solos to pick from...

walrus

 

[geoguy]

The best I've ever seen...................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYGl4RCtw0Y

West

FYI, that tune is actually "Guitar Boogie", written by Arthur Smith in the late 1940's. Tommy Emmanuel certainly puts his own imprint on it!

"Best ever" solo is impossible to define. One that has impressed me for several decades now is Jerry Garcia's solo on numerous live recordings of "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad". I like the way he never forgot about the melody.

One example here (though not my favorite): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gttPt6ba ... re=related

An interesting bit of trivia in that video . . . note how Garcia fingerpicks during the lyrics (with the pick tucked between his index finger & his middle-finger stump). The pick then comes out for single-note leads, & returns to its hiding place during the next lyric.

 

[adorshki]

Man that might be worse than having to pick a favorite/least favorite guitarist. :lol:
One obscure little Hendrix instrumental springs to mind though, from the "Rainbow Bridge" soundtrack: "Pali Gap". It's basically one big solo.
Personally I think he saw Carlos Santana somewhere and was impressed enough to come up with that, notorious mimic that he was.....
Otherwise there's tons of stuff I wouldn't want to to live without. Several "number 2's" would easily hold ties for number 1: Jorma Kaukonen's tour de force on "Baxter's": "Spare Chaynge", both of Jeff Beck's versions of "Shapes of Things", Peter Green's "Green Manalishi" and "Oh Well", and hell I haven't even got to the jazz guys yet, but on a segue:
Larry Coryell's "Lady Coryell", and then for some hard-core "old school" jazz Grant Green "Bedouin" on the "Matador" album. In fact that whole effin' album.
And Jerry Garcia might be one of the most under-appreciated and under-rated guitarists there ever was. Thing is, I only understand him after a couple of brownies. :lol:

 

[adorshki]

Anything by Jimmy Page could fit into either of those categories depending on your point of view.....

:lol: yep.

 

[fronobulax]

My computer ate a long response to this yesterday. Two points are still worth making.

I certainly hope that whatever the "worst" guitar solo is/was, it was never released commercially so if we are looking for The Worst then YouTube is a better place to look than in our music collections.

Best and worst are also very genre specific. The best jazz solo may very well be the worst rock solo, for example.

 

[dreadnut]

My favorite all time solo, by Terry Kath of Chicago Transit Authority, 25 or 6 to 4.

http://youtu.be/WLiuMkGCOC4

Worst solo: Dr. Hook, Cover Of The Rolling Stone :lol:

http://youtu.be/-Ux3-a9RE1Q

Omigosh, this looks like a Starfire IV...

http://youtu.be/7xI0tUldpK4

 

[6L6]

BEST: Chuck Berry's second solo in "No Particular Place to Go".

 

[Ridgemont]

Can't think of any likes or dislikes, but I have to say that I enjoyed the video of the Rolling Stones's recording sessions.

 

[idealassets]

I certainly liked this innovation and guitar tone from back in the "Summer of Love". The bass player here is my Mom's age.

-Some of these folks at Monterey look perhaps "high on life"?

I hope you like this from a historical context from the Late John Cippolins (using a thumb pick + one index finger pick) The solo is at 2:47: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqVVnExlX9c

Craig

 

[dapmdave]

I believe that being recorded in 1968, Sympathy has an innovative blues orientated solo by Mr Richards, whereas Brian Jones and Charlie Watts were useless in this track. Mick Jagger and an additional conga player supplied the lead percussion section in the recording, while Charlie Watts was at a loss. Bill Wyman supplied an excellent bass riff, after Keith Richards laid it down right on the Fender bass for him, while Mr Wyman was shaking a mirracca:

#1 1968 studiohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDVq50i6Zzc&feature=related
#2 1968 studiohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd3458C-LjY

Thats just my 2c,
Craig

Thanks for videos! I kind of liked the initial slower version with acoustic guitars and organ. Jagger is doing his best Dylan, too! The development of a classic hit song in the studio is fascinating to me.

And, back to topic, this isn't Keef at his best, but no way the worst ever.

Dave