I was listening to the “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy yesterday and got to thinking about twin-guitar harmonies. It seemed like every hard rockin’ arena band from the ’70s had them, and then, sometime in the early ’80s, they abruptly fell out of favor, possibly due to Boston’s egregious overuse of the technique.
What I’m looking for is the best example of the technique.
To be clear, I’m not looking for the longest solo employing guitar harmonies or the most intricate. I’m looking for the one that most captures the spirit ’70s arena rock in all its bloated glory. My determination as to who has the belt will be both arbitrary and capricious. In the event that I can’t decide if an entry is the current winner, the matter will be decided by the first two people to vote in favor of, or against, the entry.
Just to get things started, I’ll say the “Cowboy Song,” but know that I have an Ace up my sleeve.
Doesn’t “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” kind of kick off the whole practice in rock? I’m throwing that long, twin-guitar piece into the ring. May cdm be the judge of how it fares against “Cowboy Song.”
Yeah, I always thought the Allmans were the ur-twin-guitar band. My pick would have been that instrumental called Revival that’s on their second album. You’d know it if you heard it, even if you didn’t like it.
Performance and image. That’s what it’s all about.
E. Pluribus
Mod, Elizabeth Reed would count although I son’t think that it usurps the Cowboy Song in it’s rockatude.
BigSteve’s suggestion is an excellent example of the form closer but still falls short of seizing the belt. I had no idea that’s what that song was called, by the way.
Nope, I still have the belt.
Where’s HBV? He should have a sting of contributions (although none would ultimately trump the one I’m holding back).
“And Your Bird Can Sing” is responsible for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy and Boston.
“Peace of Mind” is the ultimate 70s twin-lead-guitar song.
Cdm, are you thinking of the guitars on Rock & Roll Animal, specifically on Sweet Jane? I’m not a fan myself, but then I finally got around to watching this Thin Lizzy clip, and I found it really bad, wretchedly, painfully bad. It was like a Spinal Tap outtake.
I saw John Doe and the Sadies a few months back. The two guitarists, brothers Travis and Dallas Good are both about 6’5″, 160 pounds, with arms that seem to reach to their knees. Anyway, they did this fist double lead instrumental and at the climactic moment, they both did the fretting of on each others guitar while picking of their own, sort of a double guitar reach around. The hot licks alone may not have quite measured up to the high level of “bloated glory” required for this crow, but the level of spectacle does. I tried searching Youtube, assuming that someone must have captured this trick on there but alas, no luck. If anyone comes across a video, PLEASE post a link.
Excellent call BigSteve. I wasn’t thinking that one but you now have the belt.
I was thinking of Detroit Rock City. Hand it over.
NO WAY “Detroit Rock City” tops the Rock ‘n Roll Animal version of “Sweet Jane!” I was sitting on that one myself, waiting for the right time to play it. Don’t give him the belt, BigSteve! Demand to have it TAKEN from you by the power of a twin-guitar assault.
Geo,
I’ve not seen that but check out these intra-band shenanigans at 2:20 and 4:20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H18aK9HhNSM&feature=related
FROM MY COLD DEAD HAND!
I don’t want the belt for Rock & Roll Animal. I hate that album. I love solo Lou but R&RA is the penultimate entry on my list of greatest solo Lou albums.
I have no clue what Detroit Rock City might sound like and no desire to find out.
But I think I have a winner (and remember we’re talking about a classic example of the technique, not something I endorse, condone, or approve of on any level) — the ending of Hotel California, where the guitarists first trade whole verses of solo wankery, then exchange shorter wanky licks back and forth for a bit, before uniting in one awesome harmonised and arpeggiated twin wank of cosmic 70s suck.
And I deserve the belt, because I actually listened to the fucking song to make sure I wasn’t misremembering it.
Eat me, all of youse.
You want double guitar killerosity? Where we start with the perfectly awesome Cowboy Song and we don’t IMMEDIATELY go to Wishbone Ash next?
I claim Warrior and I claim the belt and you can all blow me if you think you can wrest it from me. The Ash ruled the dual guitar Arena sound, even though they hardly ever headlined an Arean here in the USA.
Has to be something from “Marquee Moon”, maybe “Venus de Milo”…
As usual, my skimming the intro caused me to miss this: “
…that most captures the spirit ’70s arena rock in all its bloated glory.”
No that wouldn’t be Television!
I guess I will throw “Jessica” into the mix, although I am inclined to go with Mr. Mod on this one…
I was actually listening to Television last night, hoping to find something to bring into the discussion for contrast, but I actually could not find any real example of the classic twin guitar method there. The signature riffs on Venus, for example, sound doubled, but not harmonized, and you can hear the rhythm guitar in the other channel at the same time, so I think whoever played that guitar doubled it himself. Throughout the first two albums Lloyd and Verlaine seemed to be consciously staying out of each other’s way.
The only other later (i.e., non bloated 70s) example I could think of was the Meat Puppets, who have some nice twin guitar parts, but they’re double-tracked by a single guitarist too.
What, no Zeppelin songs? I have to be the one to list one?
I submit “Black Dog”
BTW – Happy B-day Mr Mod!
Wouldn’t the Boys Are Back In Town from Thin Lizzy be a winner?
Like “Hotel California” (BigSteve deserves props for digging through that turdpile in the service of the thread) and wrestling’s legendary tag team, the Executioners, “Freebird” couldn’t be satisfied with a twin-guitar attack. They brought in a third guitar harmony!
I think yous guys have covered the 70’s real well.
The only other later examples I could think of were Iron Maiden or Queensryche, who although I am not a fan of these groups, were defenitely influenced by Thin Lizzy’s use of guitar harmonies.
And there is actually some nice guitar harmony work going on on King Crimson’s last studio album, which correct me if I’m wrong is kind of new for the Fripp/Belew guitar duo.
Andyr, was the unreleased “Safe at Home” our only attempt at twin-guitar harmonies? Man, that song was a lot of fun to play. I’m not saying we would have competed in this Battle Royale, but it felt good to try that style just once in my life.
That said, our old bandmate, Mike Fingeroff, who cut his teeth on Southern Rock, arranged some mean harmony guitar parts with Chickenfrank, I believe, on our offshoot band The Dukes of Badass’ signature song, “(We Are) The Dukes of Badass.” I may throw that number into the ring if I can find an mp3 for consideration.
Ooh ooh, I got it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71RyZuJHpj0
I’m glad someone finally mentioned Wishbone Ash, although I think throw down the sword would probably be a better example. I’ll go ahead and suggest The Outlaws’ “Holiday” from the Hurry Sundown album.
I just noticed I’m a couple years late on this one…
That’s never a problem in these parts, metal man 86. We keep an extensive archive of threads for just the purpose of a new person wanting to jump in and make a claim. Welcome to the show!
I agree, it’s never too late to chime in. Welcome metal man.
Now that I’ve about two years to think this over, I’m going to award the belt to BigSteve for Hotel California. But I need to express my profound disappointment in hrrundivbakshi for not bringing up classic zz top.