Greetings, all.
Just wanted to surface briefly to ask for a list of songs you only listen to because of the song-redeeming quality of the instrumental solo they feature. There are a good number of these in my book, but perhaps the most striking example for me is the guitar solo in “Easy” by The Commodores.
This song is basically a cheesefest from treacly beginning to bathetic end, but — man, oh, man, did the dude who plays the guitar in that band get things right! I absoluitely adore that solo, and I will gladly lilsten to the entire steamer just for the chance to hear it played. Without the solo — uh-uh, buddy; no way I’m listening to that crap!
Check out the video above. You can tell watching guitar player dude that he knows he’s the best thing about that song. It’s his moment in The Commodores’ sun. Try as Lionel might, he simply cannot wrest control of the tune from Guitar Player Guy’s Six-String Moment. Play on, Commodores Guitar Player Guy, play on!
HVB
A little over 2:10 in for those of you with less patience…
I used to only tolerate “Free Bird” for that blazing three-guitar attack that closes out the song, but damned if, over time, I didn’t learn to forgive the song for being overplayed and appreciate the melody of the verses and chorus, too.
I can’t recall all the song titles at the moment, but the beauty of seeing Richard Thompson electric in the late-80s was the knowledge that even the really boring songs would likely be sparked up with a TASTY solo!
Heard this mashup using that Commodore’s tune?
http://www.danielbarassi.com/mp3/mashups/brat_easyheaven_brat_mashup.mp3
Anyway… for me, there is an Aztec Camera tune called “Notting Hill Blues” that I find to be pretty dull. But a few minutes in, a guitar solo comes in that elevates the song and carries it all to a good finish. I often start listening about two minutes into the song.
I’ll sit through Stairway to Heaven to hear Page’s incredible solo. It’s so inspiring, as if it were a first take, and it perfectly captures the song’s overall moodiness.
Dr. John: We REACH!
When I was rediscovering Be Bop Deluxe a few years ago (http://overlookedgems.blogspot.com/search?q=be+bop+deluxe) I frequently relied on my bag of weird rationalizations for all the turd-encrusted bits I had to get through for seconds of pleasure. The live version of their song “Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape” had all the trappings of a turd-encrusted turd, beginning with the song title and electric piano at the intro, but I somehow made it to the solo, and that made it worthwhile for repeated spins:
http://www.groovedisques.com/mp3/Overlooked%20Gems/Adventures%20in%20a%20Yorkshire%20Landscape.mp3
I don’t think Lionel’s trying to “wrest control” from anyone in this clip. They’re not competing for attention at the same time. I think he’s too coked up to notice much besides how good he feels. He comes off like a team player, to me.
But the solo’s status as the feature moment of the song is not contingent on that, anyway.
and, yeah, hvb, i agree with your general point: that solo the only reason i’d ever leave that song on in the car while driving.
Similarly, the guitar solo in Lionel’s “Hello” saves a total turd of a song.
Peripherally, remember that video? Doesn’t it feature a blind girl sculpting a portrait bust of Lionel?
By the way, notice the contrived sing along moment that doesn’t work (1.20)
Maybe it’s just the angle at which the clip is filmed, but that stage the Commodores are on looks friggin’ huge. When Lionel makes physical contact to hand the song off to his guitarist, I think he’s actually leaning on him to catch his breath for a moment, being so worn out from having to patrol that stage the whole time.
On the topic itself, I think Lenny Kravitz managed to hang around like he did early on because he had that guy with the Noel Redding haircut (Craig Ross?) on whom he could count to bail him out on guitar every now and again. “Are You Gonna Go My Way?” and “Is There Any Love In Your Heart?” were probably his two most effective songs, and both work pretty much exclusively because of what that guy was doing on the records.
I meant to say earlier that that is a tasty little solo, Hrrundi. You’ve gotta like how generous Lionel is with his props.
Sax solo in Maneater by Hall and Oats.
There’s a Dwight Yokum song called Inside the Pocket of a Clown that is really lame but it has an amazing Pete Anderson guitar solo.
I’m sure many on here will disagree, but I never cared for the Steely Dan song “My Old School.” The solos, however, are the only reasons I would ever listen to it.
sat, I think plenty of Steely Dan’s second tier songs are saved by some kind of solo. That’s probably the advantage of having incredibly talented musicians. If the song is lacking in one area, then the playing can redeem it in another. I really love My Old School, but I probably feel the same way about Your Gold Teeth that you do about My Old School. I never skip it, though. The instrumental break just blows me away and it’s worth waiting for.
Yeah, Mod and Sat: I didn’t mean to suggest that Lionel was heartless and selfish. He eventually hands things off fairly gracefully to Guitar Player Guy. But early on, it’s clear he wants this to be *his* song. That was my point. Those of us in the know realize that was a fool’s errand.
Sat, good call on the Lionel “Hello” video. Yes, one of the unintentionally most hilarious moments in pop video-dom. Lionel croons, “hello… is it me you’re looking for?” while a blind girl runs her hands across his face. Guffaw!
hvb, you’re right about Lionel’s jacked-up-edness. it does border on over compensating for a lack rather than merely conveying how psyched (or high) he is.
regarding our mutual juvenile sniggering over that “hello” video, as my mother would say, while making the sign of the cross: “shhh! you are going straight to hell for that.”
2k, you make a good point. what about Black Friday?
I love Black Friday. I like the way Fagen spits out the lyrics, in particular:
Gonna strike all the big red words
From my little black book
and:
When Black Friday comes
I’m gonna dig myself a hole
Gonna lay down in it ’til
I satisfy my soul
Gonna let the world pass by me
The Archbishop’s gonna sanctify me
And if he don’t come across
I’m gonna let it roll
I really like Katy Lied, especially the first side. That’s just pure goodness in my book.
Steely Dan seems like a good candidate for having several of these compositions in their catolog.
Here’s where I loose my Hipster-Cred: I’ve always ejoyed Steve Stevens guitar stun-gun effect in the Michael Jackson song “Dirty Diana.” Is that song about Diana Ross? I’d like to imagine so.
Ohh, and howsabout any song featuring Gary Moore?????
So, Mod. I clicked on the Gems Be Bop link, and then on the “Extended 0 fer” link. Did you check out that guy’s kookaboo thing about rebuilding the World Trade Center? It’s like page after page about how all of America is chanting in the streets that those terrorists can’t change our skyline! … For long… probably. It’s nuts. But it sent me on a whole tangent of thought on what this psychosis says about his fandom of BeBop Deluxe. I mean, I have totally been digging the tune you posted, but so much of their stuff is just unapproachable. Weird. Anyhow, just wanted to share.
General, I’ll have to revisit the “Extended o’fer” link. I don’t recall that rant. Be Bop Deluxe DOES seem geared toward a certain psychological profile. From what I’ve read about Bill Nelson, he seems to fit that profile himself. Whenever I get out to your place, I may have to bring some of their stuff for us to listen to and muse over. I’m sure it will generate some free-flowing conversation. Maybe this could be the first episode in our long-ago planned podcast?
2k: i think ‘Katy Lied’ is the best Dan album. and i like your description of ‘black friday’s’ vocals as being “spat out” by fagen. the solo on ‘chain lightening’ is a meisterwerk.
I’ve always really dug that Commodores solo, too. Super tone to the guitar, and his solo has a sense of humor. That little yelp slide is gold.
Any guitar solo that my wife sings along to (she does not realize she does this) becomes one of my favorites. Most of them are from Mike Cambell. I had the XM49 on while I was doing yard work and she sang the solos from Boston and The Cars which made me sotra like those bands (for the day)
I agree on that Easy solo. Righteous!
Welcome aboard, Ron! Now where’s John Joy?