Jimmy Page's 'Stairway' Tops Guitar Solo Survey

[a1aara]

Jimmy Page's 'Stairway' Tops Guitar Solo Survey

His performance on "Stairway to Heaven" topped the survey by AboutGuitars.com.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Rocker Jimmy Page's guitar solo on the Led Zeppelin classic "Stairway to Heaven" has been voted the greatest of all time in a new online poll.

Page's performance on the 1971 track topped the survey by music website AboutGuitars.com, beating out competition from Eddie Van Halen's solo on the 1978 Van Halen track "Eruption."

In third place is the dual guitar solo by Allen Collins and Gary Rossington on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 epic "Freebird."

The Top 10 Greatest Guitar Solos are:

1. "Stairway to Heaven" - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)

2. "Eruption" - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)

3. "Freebird" - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

4. "Comfortably Numb" - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

5. "All Along The Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix

6. "November Rain" - Slash (Guns N' Roses)

7. "One" - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

8. "Hotel California" - Don Felder and Joe Walsh (The Eagles)

9. "Crazy Train" - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

10. "Crossroads" - Eric Clapton (Cream)


http://www.1057thefox.com/cc-common/mai ... cle=380405

[CaptainP]

That's an interesting list, but IMHO, the listings for Slash and Eric Clapton are not even their own best cuts!

[Jahfin]

I think one of Randy Rhodes' finest moments is "Over The Mountain". Then again, I thought the guitar solo went out with the 80s.

[CaptainP]

Then again, I thought the guitar solo went out with the 80s.

There are still good, even great, guitar solos to be heard, but they are getting harder to find...

[BuPHett]

Where's "Green Grass and High Tides"????

[LIPH]

In third place is the dual guitar solo by Allen Collins and Gary Rossington on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 epic "Freebird."

What's a "dual guitar solo"? Either it's a solo or it isn't.

No Duane Allman or Dickey Betts?

[Jahfin]

Then again, I thought the guitar solo went out with the 80s.

There are still good, even great, guitar solos to be heard, but they are getting harder to find...

Personally, I really don't consider that a problem. Some consider what's come to be known as "classic rock" (a misnomer if ever there was one) to be the standard bearer of all that can be great about rock n' roll. So, if there's a lack of guitar solos the music itself is considered to somehow be lacking. Speaking from personal experience, I sat through my fair share of way too long guitar solos (including Edward Van Halen) drum solos and bass solos back in the 70s. It may have been popular back then but looking back, most of it was only so much wanking. To my ears, the less excess the better. That's not to say there's no room for them at all but I think most of what's capable of being said in that area has been done. Not only done but in some cases, done to death.

[BuPHett]

Then again, I thought the guitar solo went out with the 80s.

There are still good, even great, guitar solos to be heard, but they are getting harder to find...

Personally, I really don't consider that a problem. Some consider what's come to be known as "classic rock" (a misnomer if ever there was one) to be the standard bearer of all that can be great about rock n' roll. So, if there's a lack of guitar solos the music itself is considered to somehow be lacking. Speaking from personal experience, I sat through my fair share of way too long guitar solos (including Edward Van Halen) drum solos and bass solos back in the 70s. It may have been popular back then but looking back, most of it was only so much wanking. To my ears, the less excess the better. That's not to say there's no room for them at all but I think most of what's capable of being said in that area has been done. Not only done but in some cases, done to death.

Agreed...the 70's had some of the most drawn out solos..they would start out so good..then you'd be like.."Is this ever gonna end???"

Normally the greater the length of the solo, the less amount of talent by the soloist..they would try to give you quantity and not quality...

I also agree on Allman and Betts...Elizabeth Reed is not considered a solo, but some great guitar work..

[Jahfin]

In third place is the dual guitar solo by Allen Collins and Gary Rossington on Lynyrd Skynyrd's 1973 epic "Freebird."

What's a "dual guitar solo"? Either it's a solo or it isn't.

No Duane Allman or Dickey Betts?

It either means they're playing the same lead at the same time or, in the case of the "'bird", they're both playing solos that interlock throughout the song. Skynyrd were famous for this. There are plenty other instances of this in the Skynyrd catalog but I another example would be the interplay towards the end of "You Got That Right" from Street Survivors.

[captainjoe]

For a good blues solo, listen to Clapton on the 24 Nights album. He does a kick ass solo on Have You Ever Loved A Woman. Although, it might be Buddy Guy since he performed with him that night. Either way, it kicks ass!

[sonofabeach]

What? Eddie Van Halen's solo on Jacko's "Beat It" did not make the list?

[DTinPA]

For a good blues solo, listen to Clapton on the 24 Nights album. He does a kick ass solo on Have You Ever Loved A Woman. Although, it might be Buddy Guy since he performed with him that night. Either way, it kicks ass!

I have to agree. The first note of EC's solo in "Old Love" is worth the price. And "Running on Faith" is much better electric than unplugged.

As far as the list goes, it's about the same as every guitar magazine survey in the last 10 or 15 years. "November Rain" has a decent solo, but it doesn't belong on this list. "Blue Sky" with Dickey and Duane should be in its place.

[Lightning Bolt]

"November Rain" has a decent solo, but it doesn't belong on this list.

Agreed.

Sweet Child o' Mine is the consummate G'n'R Slash guitar solo

[slimwis]

Where's "Green Grass and High Tides"????

I'm with you, bro. It's a 3 beer solo.