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In this Discussion
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Any pop songs with great solos?
On the back of the other guitar solos thread, anyone have any favourites from, I guess, pop or mainstream tunes? This is rather than the expected stuff from guitar based rock bands where a solo is always par for the course, more interested in when a cracking bit of guitar pops up somewhere unexpected. The 'pop guitar solo' which is a term I've just made up for the sake of the thread (don't shoot!) and tends to more melodic, often following the changes rather than a bunch of licks sewn together.
For example, The One and Only was on the radio in the shop yesterday and is a great piece of writing with a great solo (I know Nik Kershaw wrote it... think he played it too?). Some cracking stuff in "You and I" by Lady Gaga who got Brian May in by all accounts. I might even give a pass to some Bryan Adam's tracks as Keith Scott is such a great player who comes up with something that fits the song so well, rather than your usual cut and paste rock+pentatonics. I feel like Beat It shouldn't qualify because, whilst it's incredible, is just Van Halen doing Van Halen things over a MJ tune... but I have absolutely no conviction in my position here.
@duotone has very kindly created a Spotify playlist of these - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0TJVxQxHaBgqsAENbHiCGb?si=e400a1a55cab40a2 for your pleasure!
For example, The One and Only was on the radio in the shop yesterday and is a great piece of writing with a great solo (I know Nik Kershaw wrote it... think he played it too?). Some cracking stuff in "You and I" by Lady Gaga who got Brian May in by all accounts. I might even give a pass to some Bryan Adam's tracks as Keith Scott is such a great player who comes up with something that fits the song so well, rather than your usual cut and paste rock+pentatonics. I feel like Beat It shouldn't qualify because, whilst it's incredible, is just Van Halen doing Van Halen things over a MJ tune... but I have absolutely no conviction in my position here.
@duotone has very kindly created a Spotify playlist of these - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0TJVxQxHaBgqsAENbHiCGb?si=e400a1a55cab40a2 for your pleasure!
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Hugh Burns' solo on Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.
Ian Bairnson on Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights.
And of course there was the late Alan Murphy, who famously played with Go West but probably also loads of other stuff I'm not aware of.
Oh, and somebody's going to mention Tony Peluso on Goodbye to Love by the Carpenters. It might as well be me.
Hot Stuff by Donna Summer has a ripping little solo that sort of comes out of nowhere as well.
The full version of "My Sharona" has a great solo.
I don't know if it's "pop" but rock dickheads hate it and it sold a bajillion copies so I guess it is maybe. Anyway, it's brilliant and everyone who says otherwise is a closed minded idiot
Together In Electric Dreams - didn't know who plays it but it's a.funky melodic solo
As does Chris Spedding's short but melodic part on Joan Armatrading's Me Myself I.
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Off the top of my head I'd choose the solo from Jane Wiedlin's Rush Hour - short, precise, melodic with some unconventional note choices followed shortly after by that rage of feedback which is just ... chef's kiss.
I believe it's the incredible Neil Taylor - who also did the Tears For Fears Everybody Wants To Rule the World solo (and possibly Shout - or was that Orzabal?) and that slide solo on Robbie's Angels (though I'll happily be corrected on that one).
Anyway 2:11 - just superb...
Jane Wiedlin - Rush Hour (promo video)
Would also throw Duane Eddy Play me like you play that old guitar into the pile as it’s just stand out good from guitar players prospective.
As an aside saw Toyah just befor Christmas and she introduced her guitarist Jay Stapley who was amazing as nicked from Bucks Fizz!
Played by Lukather?
Many have been mentioned already but here goes and in the 80s and 90s, a guitar solo was no stranger to a pop song:-
Michael Sembello on 'Maniac'
'Stay with me tonight' by Jeffrey Osborne and supposedly, that's Brian May on that
Andy Taylor on Robert Palmer's 'Addicted to Love' and The Power Station's 'Some like it hot'
And while I'm embarrassing myself by admitting to liking bed-wetter pop music, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.
Similar rhythms to the accompaniment in both songs actually