Something Different

[ProfessorGAC]

Thought I'd throw this out to the music lovers that dig guitar.
So, here's the game: name 2 or 3 guitar solos that people don't always think of, even though they know the song.
Just 2 simple rules:
1. The song had to be a hit that got reasonably high airplay both then & now.
2. Tell us why you think the solo is so great.

I'll throw 4 out, to get started.
1. Just What I Needed, The Cars. Elliot Eaton's solo is singable, fits the song perfectly, has 4 really good guitar tricks and finishes at a climax.
2. Two Tickets To Paradise, Eddie Money. Another solo that builds continuously. Starts with the melody line and gets more & more aggressive. It's not a high difficulty solo but builds all the way to the end.
3. Reeling In The Years, Steely Dan. People know that Carlton, Ritnour, Baxter, and Becker played leads, but this was Elliott Randall. Again, singably melodic but with skills, and it is perfect for the tune. Fun fact, it's a first take!
4. Aqualung, Jethro Tull. Martin Barre kills this for similar reasons. Build from beginning to end, the tone is magnificent, and it's perfect for the tune.
I admit that East on & Barre on in my top 5 underrated guitarists in rock. So, I'm biased.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Chain Lightning...Steely Dan

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Why?

What about that solo floats your boat?
And, was that a hit?
I'm a big fan of the Dan, but not sure that was a hit.

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. Well, it was played a LOT on my FM station...

and featured Rick Derringer on the guitar solo. Was just trying to help your thread.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Saw Rick...

...when he was in Cyndi Lauper's band.
I loved(!) All American Boy.

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Just Kidding Around

Gotta do something light. Essential or not, I'm retired. So, I literally have nothing to do.
Getting a little stir crazy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. 👍

[Docreed2003]

2. Here's a couple

1). Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen: Brian May's guitar work and two solos on that song are the driving force behind the drama of the song and Freddie's vocals.

2). While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles; while the song is all George's creation, it is not George playing electric on the track, it's Eric Clapton. George knee the song could be a good one and had the sound he wanted in his head and so he brought Clapton in to bring life to the electric guitar portion of the song, while he played the rhythm acoustic portion. If you've never heard the isolated Clapton track from this song, give it a listen...it's sick and carries the weight of the song and adds the "weeping guitar" the song needed. The irony is that Clapton gave Harrison, who was clearly a legendary guitarist, the sound his song needed much in the same way that Clapton's own singular song "Layla" was made iconic by the slide guitar work of another guitarist, Duane Allman.

Edit to add one more:

3). Sultans of Swing, Dire Straights: Mark Knopfler's guitar works is as much of a driving force in that song as the vocals. Plus, the entire song is essentially a long guitar solo.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. I Thought Of The Second

Did not think of Rhapsody, but you're right!
Nice catch on your write up of weeps!

[Docreed2003]

5. Thanks...love that song!

Love the question! Can't wait to see what others add

[hangaleft]

6. I can't spell out with specificity the reasons you've requested

But I love Fogerty’s guitar work on Suzie Q and I Heard It Through the Grapevine.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. He Played A Lot Of Good Parts

Guy who used to follow the band was a CCR & Fogerty nut!
He played some guitar, but the only thing he really nailed was Fogerty stuff.

[The Polack MSgt]

8. "I admit that East on & Barre...." - are loaded up and truckin'

Ok, my real post now...

I have to say that all of Toto's songs (Except Draw the Line) meet your parameters - Except that Steve Luthaker's solos are so famous for being under rated that they are now kinda properly rated

SO I'm going with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Even the losers". Mike Cambell is better known for tasty fills and quick solosthan for long complicated shred sessions.

This song is no different but at 1:40, Mark lays out a lead that manages to add to melody and still fit completely in a pocket of the song - Neither this solo or the finishing guitar part to close the song are turned up in the mix - His solos are still incorporated in the song

But just because he isn't overpowering the band doesn't mean he's not playing killer licks. SO TASTY.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Yeah, I Like Him Too

I love the electric sitar on Don't Come Around...
Note added: the solo on Steely Dan's Do I Again, is Denny Diaz on sitar. Loved that too.

Oh, forgot: Toto was LOADED with players! Those cats could burn!

[hangaleft]

14. I could easily name a dozen Neil Young songs that fit the bill

But you asked for two or three.

So I’m gonna go with Like a Hurricane, Southern Man and Down By the River.

Here’s one I didn’t name. Like I said, the list is endless. He’s been as, if not more, prolific as Eric Clapton.

https://m.