Go Aqualung.
Posted on 08/28/2006 4:17:31 AM PDT by InvisibleChurch
PINK Floyd's Comfortably Numb has the best guitar solo of all time, according to a new poll.
It was chosen ahead of the opening riff from Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses.
Third was Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, while Eruption by Van Halen was fourth and Guns N' Roses' November Rain fifth.
Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven was in sixth place.
British radio station Planet Rock asked listeners to come up with a top 40.
The rest of the top 10 featured Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits, Aqualung by Jethro Tull, Hotel California by The Eagles and Child In Time by Deep Purple.
Top 20
1 Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
2 Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
3 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird
4 Van Halen - Eruption
5 Guns N' Roses - November Rain
6 Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
7 Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
8 Jethro Tull - Aqualung
9 The Eagles - Hotel California
10 Deep Purple - Child In Time
11 Queen - Brighton Rock
12 Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower
13 Deep Purple - Highway Star
14 Wishbone Ash - Throw Down The Sword
15 Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears
16 Cream - Crossroads
17 Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
18 Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You
19 Ten Years After - I'm Going Home (Woodstock)
20 Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile
Go Aqualung.
That's not a solo; that's a riff. The best riffs/hooks of all time is another matter entirely, and arguably a more interesting one.
As a huge Zakk Wylde fan, No More Tears would be my favorite on that list. Ross Childress' solo in Collective Soul's Shine is a great one as well. Anything by Stevie Ray Vaughn girds my loins. I could go on and on...
While this is a good solo, its not Knopfler's best. "Telegraph Road" is far better and is in the top 5 of all time.
A whole list of some fantastic riffs.
Clapton seems to have been under-represented (16) and Slash from GNR waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over-represented.
Randy Rhodes didn't make the list either!
Wow. A British radio audience put "Free Bird" at #3. I wouldn't argue with that, but it does surprise me.
Personally, I would have "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson at #1.
(sarcasm) How about Michael J Fox's rendition of Johnny B Goode from Back to the Future? (sarcasm/)
I don't know if it's an extended riff or a solo, but any list that doesn't have Crazy Train in its top 5 (in my opinion #1) isn't worth a second's consideration
Not a shock to see "Eruption" up there, but for solos ins a song, check out "I'm The One" and "Feel Your Love Tonight" from the same album.
Jay Graydon, "Peg".
IMO, Crazy Train qualifies for both lists - both the opening hook and solo are great.
The person who composed this list obviously never heard of Robben Ford.
I didn't see drum soloists touted, and I am a former percussionist. In-a-gadda-davida is my fave... but for Geetars, Clapton and Hendrix are wearing my crowns, with a tiara for a whole host of others! Pink floyd presents an experience, not just a concert!
How can the list not include Layla, something by Carlos Santana and Roy Buchanan? I also agree that Sultans of Swing is hardly Knophler's best and Crossroads is far from Cream/Clapton's best.
I kinda liked Air Supply. Who could forget, "I'm all outta love"?
I would say that listening to a few of Metallica's songs, I am surprised that Kurt Hammett isn't even listed. Listen to "One" or "Fade to Black" to name just two. He's an amazing guitarist.
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