Here's what started this whole thing - Joe Walsh's guitar solo on Dirty Laundry from Don Henley's I Can't Stand Still album.  The echo; the flatted fifth run....some of the best bits ever recorded - all in 41 glorious seconds.

Tommy Bolin’s guitar solo on Quadrant 4 is easily my all-time favourite guitar solo ever and I think one of the best guitar solos ever recorded. He just comes out of nowhere and hits it all the way through. Magic. Stratus isn’t too shabby either.

Joe Walsh: You’re Gonna Need Me from James Gang Live In Concert. That first solo is so un-blue, it should be orange. It doesn’t get much better than that. He does it for me on the whole album, but this song, he just nails it perfect.

Ritchie Blackmore: Lazy. Deep Purple In Concert. I think this is one of the best recorded guitar solos by anyone. Too bad it wasn’t played as much as Made In Japan. Probably since Made In Japan had a 7 year head-start.

Les Paul: all songs.  This was the CD that pretty much changed my life the way the Billy Cobham album did.  I couldn't believe how good he was until I heard this.  All the Trio stuff is great, a lot better than the stuff with Mary Ford.

Django Reinhardt: all his solos are kinda alike. Really great and really hard and always fun to hear.

Danny Gatton: Sun Medley from Cruisin Deuces. He's missing link between Les Paul and Jeff Beck. This song is pretty much a guitar clinic.

Jeff Beck: You Never Know from There and Back.  That’s one of my favourites.  That made me get into plucking with my thumb and first finger, almost like a slap bass sound.  

Ronnie Wood: Gunface from Bridges To Babylon. Ronnie hits the notes on this one and I think it’s a little better than his solo on Out of Tears or Hey Negrita.  Fuzzy. Nice.

Robin Trower: Rock Me Baby from Live. Now that’s vibrato to strive for. And that guitar sound doesn’t hurt either.

George Harrison: Hey Bulldog from Yellow Submarine. The only reason to buy the album. What a great solo. I like it anyways.

Jimi Hendrix: House Burning Down from Electric Ladyland. I think this is the only actual “solo” on my list.  It's a lot of fun.

Tony Iommi: Zero The Hero from Born Again. Tony’s great. I used to stick up for him before they were considered “in” again.  Ever since Technical Ecstasy, he’s been more than just a mediocre player, and he’s one of the few that keeps getting better and better.  His solo, although a little shrill (an SG through a half-cocked wah will do that), is just great.  It’s all about phrasing, Kids.

Albert Lee: Rollin' Home from Arlen Roth’s Toolin’ Around. I don’t know about you, but if I was going to make an album and have guest musicians on it, I don’t think I’d pick anyone that would make me look like a beginner. Then again, Albert Lee makes most players look like beginners, so it’s not his fault.

Not really sure who played  on here, but whoever played the electric solo on I Was Only Joking from Rod Stewart’s Foot Loose and Fancy Free did a pretty great job.   Listening to Rod Stewart when I was first learning to play helped a whole lot. I always wanted to play like a studio musician – only with more character.  Still trying.

Kurt Winter: Road Food from Road Food. I don't know why all Canadian guitar players get fat.  Anyways, It’s just a great solo. Has to be an SG or a double cutaway Special. Always makes me stop whatever I’m doing to listen to it.

Peter Frampton's solo on I Wanna Go To The Sun is pretty good magic.  Nice tone and his licks are on.  Frampton's a little out there - his playing, that is.  He's a good jammer but not too many people think of him like that.

A lot of people mention Peter Green as being an economical player and not flashy, but he gives out a pretty big whoopin on the live version or Rattlesnake Shake from the Boston Tea Party on disc 2.  That big sound on that big jam and big playing galore.

What happens when you get two really great players and put them into a room?  Something pretty great.  I don't know why I had to answer that.  Anyways, every song is like a guitar clinic.

If you can find the video tape (the DVD is horrible), then you'll be in for a treat when Warren Haynes starts off his solo on Whipping Post.  Also, he's on fire for In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.