Sometimes, guitar solos are so attention-grabbing and skillful that they completely overshadow the classic rock jams that they’re a part of. I’m certainly not complaining. Who doesn’t love a killer guitar solo, anyway? Let’s look at a few examples of songs that were made so much better by at least one iconic guitar solo.
“My Love” by Paul McCartney and Wings from ‘Red Rose Speedway’ (1973)
This is a gorgeous little love song, don’t get me wrong. But Henry McCullough’s guitar solo is the one thing I remember from this tune above all else. “My Love” by Paul McCartney and Wings is a good song, but like much of McCartney’s post-Beatles work, it neared the edge of romantic ballad territory. There’s nothing wrong with that, but one can’t deny that it got cheesy at times. That killer guitar solo is positively delicious and gives “My Love” a completely fresh vibe. “My Love” was a hit, partly because of that solo, and it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Videos by American Songwriter
“The End” by The Beatles from ‘Abbey Road’ (1969)
McCartney makes it to this list again, this time for a song he wrote for The Beatles’ legendary album Abbey Road. Not only does this anthemic hard rock song feature the only drum solo Ringo Starr ever recorded with the band, but it also features a rotating sequence of guitar solos between George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon. It sounds absolutely amazing, and it was a smart creative decision on Harrison’s part.
“Do It Again” by Steely Dan from ‘Can’t Buy A Thrill’ (1972)
“Do It Again” by Steely Dan, like many of the songs on Can’t Buy A Thrill, is a fine piece of work. But that guitar solo is really what makes the song. This entry on our list of classic rock guitar solos is actually performed on an electric sitar, but it’s played similarly to a guitar. Denny Dias really stole the show here. Just try to fight that stank face once it kicks in about halfway through the song.
“Do It Again” peaked at No. 6 on the Hot 100 chart and did similarly well internationally.
(Photo by Jack Kay/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
More The List
-
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Don Barnes of .38 Special is shown performing on stage during a "live" concert appearance on June 26, 1994. (Photo by John Atashian/Getty Images) -
American country and western singer and musician Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) performs on stage at the Painters Mill Music Far in Owing Mills, Maryland, September 29, 1977. He is strumming a guitar and standing in front of a microphone. Bassist Marshall Grant (1928 – 2011) of Cashs backing band The Tennessee Three plays behind him on the right. (Photo by Leffler/Library of Congress/Interim Archives/Getty Images) -
Seminal American rock group The Byrds consisted originally of Jim (Roger) McGuinn, born 1942, David Crosby, born 1941, Michael Clark, born 1944, Chris Hillman, born 1944 and Gene Clark, born 1941. Their folk and pyschedelic tinged music was popular and influential during the late 1960s and early 1970s. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
From left, Paul McCartney (playing a Hofner 500/1 violin bass guitar) and John Lennon (playing a Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar) of English rock and pop group The Beatles perform on stage for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) music television show 'Shindig!' at Granville Studios in Fulham, London on 3rd October 1964. The band would play three songs on the show, Kansas City/hey-Hey-Hey!, I'm a Loser and Boys. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) -
Portrait taken on September 13, 1982 shows British singer and drummer Phil Collins. Phil Collins combined his career as a drummer and singer with the band Genesis and a successful solo career. (Photo by Johan HULTENHEIM / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Sweden OUT -
Three Dog Night 1971 Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron and Cory Wells (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** -
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA – Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn) during 28th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at California Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
