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darkstar

(5,812 posts)
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 03:22 PM Sunday

Hey classic rock fans: post a lesser known, maybe forgotten, guitar solo that really does it for you

Here’s one from me. Steve Hillage, 1976, covering Its All Too Much by the Beatles. There’s a solo in the body of the song, but it’s the outro solo that begins at 4:30 that does it for me if you want to skip ahead.

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Hey classic rock fans: post a lesser known, maybe forgotten, guitar solo that really does it for you (Original Post) darkstar Sunday OP
Alvin Lee - Ten Years After - I'm Going Home red dog 1 Sunday #1
Sizzling indeed! darkstar Sunday #2
Right on! hermetic Sunday #17
That's Not Lesser Known Though ProfessorGAC Sunday #24
I would go for moniss Sunday #46
As good as it will ever get. Botany Sunday #44
Ween (Mickey Melchiondo). Johnny on The Spot. Starts at 1:10. LuckyCharms Sunday #3
Hot stuff! darkstar Sunday #6
Electric Sun SonOfNebanaube Sunday #4
Dig the brief use of harmony lines... darkstar Sunday #7
Well, this will certain fall into the catagory of "lesser known", but is one of the best guitar solo's ever... Ferrets are Cool Sunday #5
That is really to my tastes. darkstar Sunday #8
Big fan of LA Blue Bengal Sunday #13
Ooooh, that was pretty hermetic Sunday #16
Steven Wilson's catalog is immense. You will not be disappointed going down that rabbit hole. Ferrets are Cool Sunday #60
Guthrie Is Lesser Known To The Masses ProfessorGAC Sunday #25
I agree 100%. Ferrets are Cool Sunday #61
Nice! John Ludi Sunday #32
Man I'm so jaded when it comes to guitar solos. Eko Sunday #35
The Tubes Hey Joe Sunday #9
Looked it up and it sounds like it's darkstar Sunday #10
Steve Lukather! ProfessorGAC Sunday #26
From the Completion Backward Principle. Produced by David Foster, with ms liberty Sunday #33
Uli Jon Roth in Scorpions' "Sails of Charon" LA Blue Bengal Sunday #11
Cool! darkstar Sunday #14
Mick Taylor WA-03 Democrat Sunday #12
Agreed regarding MT! darkstar Sunday #15
Beat me to it. amerikat Sunday #38
I have long been fascinated hermetic Sunday #18
A classic fer sure! darkstar Sunday #19
Ice - Camel Andy Latimer puts it all together for this one. Midnight Writer Sunday #20
That's a lot to get through darkstar Sunday #21
What can I say? I am a big fan of guitar music. I could list dozens of amazing performances. Midnight Writer Sunday #22
Here's some awesome guitaring... hermetic Sunday #23
Had forgotten about that one! darkstar Sunday #39
One of the best of all excellent jams of the 20th century, hands down, I can air guitar the shit out of this one!!!! Leghorn21 Sunday #55
Intro to Lou Reed's Sweet Jane DEbluedude Sunday #27
Oh, ya. Tasty lick, that one. Charlie Chapulin Sunday #41
I posted below a reference to a mashup of that number with . . . John1956PA Sunday #58
What a great question Easterncedar Sunday #28
Keller Williams Maninacan Sunday #29
I see... darkstar Sunday #43
UK In the Dead of Night John Ludi Sunday #30
Marillion - Easter John Ludi Sunday #31
Frank Zappa - Any Kind Of Pain bbernardini Sunday #34
Frank is so underappreciated as a guitarist. Ferrets are Cool Sunday #62
Michael Schenker (UFO) Morbius Sunday #36
Yes! D. Spaulding Yesterday #64
Armageddon Silver Tightrope Charlie Chapulin Sunday #37
Long song, comes at the end. Charlie Chapulin Sunday #40
Jesse Ed Davis Earl_from_PA Sunday #42
Just saw a nice mention of him on an interview of moniss Sunday #47
Chet Atkins and Mark Kopfler Botany Sunday #45
My (deceased) father's two favorite guitarists! Buckeye_Democrat Yesterday #67
John McFee Playing Chicken Butt with Clover Brother Buzz Sunday #48
Gary Moore with John Mayall "So Many Roads" moniss Sunday #49
Al Kooper "As The Years Go Passing By" moniss Sunday #50
Gary Richrath and REO Live in 1976 "Golden Country" moniss Sunday #51
Gary was one of the most Earl_from_PA Sunday #59
Jim Krueger with Dave Mason "All Along The Watchtower" moniss Sunday #52
Damn! That was quite an enjoyable ride down memory lane! bobalew Sunday #53
The Allman Brothers Band, "Seven Turns" John1956PA Sunday #54
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush - Something's Comin' Our Way Sewa Sunday #56
Michael Stanley, "Sweet Jane / Wichi Tai To" mashup John1956PA Sunday #57
Here's one for ya BWdem4life Yesterday #63
One of my favorites from Alex Lifeson of Rush; D. Spaulding Yesterday #65
Cause We've Ended as Lovers IrishAfricanAmerican Yesterday #66
Beck's Bolero VGNonly 21 hrs ago #68
"Louie, Louie". 1963 Paul Revere and the Raiders.. Tikki 12 hrs ago #69

ProfessorGAC

(77,062 posts)
24. That's Not Lesser Known Though
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 06:15 PM
Sunday

Practically ever rock guitar fan knows about that Woodstock performance.
I'm in the camp that finds it unimpressive & way too long, I find it to be a slopfest.
But that's not my objection:
His solo on I'd Love To Change The World is WAY better. Cleaner, more accurate, more musical.
The OP was talking lesser known solos. Not sure Alvin at Woodstock qualifies.

moniss

(9,119 posts)
46. I would go for
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 08:47 PM
Sunday

"Bluest Blues". The added attraction being George Harrison doing the first slide solo in the song. The rest is Alvin Lee. While the song is more a blues ballad/blues rock than purely a rock song. As far as rock I would say this is pretty good from "Night of The Guitars". I always felt that the music critics who didn't like Alvin over some others never gave him credit for not being a guy to "pedal" as opposed to play, bend, slide, sustain. I appreciate the players who give it to me from their fingers rather than their feet. I'm not snobby about it I just prefer one more than the other. "Lost In Love" is pretty good as well.

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LuckyCharms

(22,787 posts)
3. Ween (Mickey Melchiondo). Johnny on The Spot. Starts at 1:10.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 03:40 PM
Sunday
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Ferrets are Cool

(23,016 posts)
5. Well, this will certain fall into the catagory of "lesser known", but is one of the best guitar solo's ever...
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 03:40 PM
Sunday

the solo is by Guthrie Govan, a guitar god, and on the song Drive Home, by Steven Wilson.



OR, if ya just want the solo...

darkstar

(5,812 posts)
8. That is really to my tastes.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 03:53 PM
Sunday

So thanks. I have a buddy really into Wilson, so I might have heard it before while we were jibber-jabbering, but it really is special, ain’t it?

Ferrets are Cool

(23,016 posts)
60. Steven Wilson's catalog is immense. You will not be disappointed going down that rabbit hole.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 11:06 PM
Sunday

ProfessorGAC

(77,062 posts)
25. Guthrie Is Lesser Known To The Masses
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 06:17 PM
Sunday

But, in guitar circles he's godlike. Like he's Thor & the guitar is his hammer.
He is amazing!

Eko

(10,035 posts)
35. Man I'm so jaded when it comes to guitar solos.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 07:11 PM
Sunday

I spent the last 38 years playing music, went to school for it, worked in the industry for about 35 years still do, 5 days a week I hear people playing,taught music, had some of the best teachers there are and that solo effing rocked. It really starts at 5:06 and the video below the first one misses a lot of the beginning which is some of the best playing on that solo. His use of bends is perfect, he pre-bends and swallows notes to make it sound like a slide guitar. I cant remember the last time I heard a solo and thought, yup, that's a 9.7 let alone anything past a 8. Ive listened to him before but I must have missed the good stuff somehow. I've got one for you, he even mentions Guthrie as a inspiration and you can hear it with his work to make it sound like a slide guitar.
5 min is when it gets really good but give the whole thing a watch if you can, the keyboardist goes awesome at about 4min.

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Hey Joe

(733 posts)
9. The Tubes
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 03:58 PM
Sunday

Talk to ya later- two guitar solos
One in the middle and the ending solo.
Just awesome!

darkstar

(5,812 posts)
10. Looked it up and it sounds like it's
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 04:06 PM
Sunday

Lukether on guitar. Always liked it myself, but never knew who played it.

ProfessorGAC

(77,062 posts)
26. Steve Lukather!
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 06:23 PM
Sunday

This was the song I was going to post. Now I don't have to.
Bill Spooner does a great job of miming it in the video but Lukather played nearly all the guitar parts on that song.
Since you didn't post the video, I'll add it so others can hear what you're talking about.
The first solo starts at 3:29; the outri solo begins at 4:04.

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ms liberty

(11,308 posts)
33. From the Completion Backward Principle. Produced by David Foster, with
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 06:54 PM
Sunday

His favorite session musicians sitting in. History knows them as Toto. They also played on The Tubes next album, their 2nd David Foster produced album, Outside Inside. That's the one "She's a Beauty " is on.
Foster was able to rein in their campiness and gave them some structure, and it turned Completion Backward Principle into what I think is their best album. I love it. It's in my top 10 best albums ever.

LA Blue Bengal

(64 posts)
11. Uli Jon Roth in Scorpions' "Sails of Charon"
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 04:18 PM
Sunday

I’ve been digging into 70s era Scorpions lately. Roth was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, so it’s an entirely different vibe:

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darkstar

(5,812 posts)
15. Agreed regarding MT!
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 04:33 PM
Sunday

Can’t You Hear Me Knocking is on that album, right? Beyond the Stones, one of my favorite solos of all time. This one is tasty too!

hermetic

(9,266 posts)
18. I have long been fascinated
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 05:02 PM
Sunday

by the guitar solo at the end of this song. Such nimble fingers. It's hard to find a video that goes all the way to the end but this should work:

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Midnight Writer

(25,597 posts)
20. Ice - Camel Andy Latimer puts it all together for this one.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 05:11 PM
Sunday

Crying To the Sky - Bebop Deluxe Bill Nelson cranks it to 11

Lights Out - UFO Micheal Schenker shreds.

What Is a Woman's Role - Trapeze Mel Galley plays the lead on this one

Summer Elegy - Richard Wright Snowy White does the honors

Solid Ice - Jimmy Thackery Jimmy digs into his bag of techniques and displays them all in a 10-minute instrumental

Lotus Feet - Mahavishnu Orchestra John McLaughlin nails this whimsical solo on a synth-axe





darkstar

(5,812 posts)
21. That's a lot to get through
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 05:21 PM
Sunday

but I know I dig me some Camel, and after checking Lotus Feet, yeah that is sweet and, as you say, whimsical.

Thanks!


Midnight Writer

(25,597 posts)
22. What can I say? I am a big fan of guitar music. I could list dozens of amazing performances.
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 05:26 PM
Sunday

Leghorn21

(14,101 posts)
55. One of the best of all excellent jams of the 20th century, hands down, I can air guitar the shit out of this one!!!!
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 09:57 PM
Sunday

A+++++, hermetic!!

John1956PA

(5,063 posts)
58. I posted below a reference to a mashup of that number with . . .
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 10:28 PM
Sunday

. . . a Native American themed Jazz number by Jim Pepper. The artist who did the mashing was the incredibly talented Michael Stanley.

darkstar

(5,812 posts)
43. I see...
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 07:54 PM
Sunday

Just ran off to listen to it and it a medley of two TP songs. Sweet picking throughout.

bbernardini

(10,021 posts)
34. Frank Zappa - Any Kind Of Pain
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 07:06 PM
Sunday

While slightly edited, I believe the solo is from one performance. The improvisation so good Mike Keneally played it note-for-note like a composed part for the "Zappa's Universe" tribute concerts 5 years later.

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D. Spaulding

(515 posts)
64. Yes!
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 12:34 AM
Yesterday

I was at the Chicago show that was recorded for the UFO "Strangers in the Night" album. One of the best solos of all time in my view.

Buckeye_Democrat

(15,530 posts)
67. My (deceased) father's two favorite guitarists!
Mon Apr 27, 2026, 04:36 AM
Yesterday

I was a teenager in the early 80's who didn't like country music, and who knew.almost nothing about Chet Atkins. But I liked rock groups like Dire Straits.

One day, I was playing a Dire Straits album on my stereo. Dad stopped to listen as he was walking by, and he asked me who was playing the guitar? "He's really talented!" He could also tell, just from listening for a minute or so, that Knopfler was a "finger picker" (like how my Dad played guitar).

My father was in his 40's when I was born in the late-60's, so he always seemed old and out of touch with modern culture when I was a teenager. But to my surprise, Dad soon thereafter had Dire Straits cassette tapes in his car! He bought them on his own. I just happened to come across them in his car months later.

In the mid-50's, long before I came along, Dad sang and played guitar on a local radio station when they had weekend talent contests. Mom eventually put an end to it because she heard teenage girls screaming in the background after Dad started to perform. Hearing that story REALLY blew my mind! Dad would smile and say (I think jokingly) that he was Elvis "before there was an Elvis", at least until Mom put an end to it.

Brother Buzz

(40,178 posts)
48. John McFee Playing Chicken Butt with Clover
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 08:56 PM
Sunday

Note the new harp player, Huey Lewis laying down some serious licks.

moniss

(9,119 posts)
50. Al Kooper "As The Years Go Passing By"
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 09:22 PM
Sunday

Al on the Hammond, Fender guitar and piano. Those pops and ticks let you know it's a real deal from the LP.

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moniss

(9,119 posts)
52. Jim Krueger with Dave Mason "All Along The Watchtower"
Sun Apr 26, 2026, 09:51 PM
Sunday

We lost Dave on April 19th. RIP.

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Tikki

(15,186 posts)
69. "Louie, Louie". 1963 Paul Revere and the Raiders..
Tue Apr 28, 2026, 02:29 AM
12 hrs ago

Guitar break by then PR&TR'S Guitarist Steven West.

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Tikki
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