Another Top 10 list

uwe · February 20, 2013, 05:39:53 AM

Rankings like that are silly. You cannot feasibly say that Duane is a better guitarist than, say, Al di Meola. It just doesn't translate (neither vice versa). In my book there is a place for Yngwie and one for Mark Knopfler. And one for Johnny Ramone, nobody bar-chorded like him, seriously. Anybody who is immediately recognizable, I like. Even Francis Rossi of Status Quo with the folkish major scales he always plays. I love Brian May's playful/tasteful art (so did FranZappa, himself no slouch on guitar) and adore Rory Gallagher's grittiness which always sounds to me like he was playing/fighting with an under-amped banjo rather than his downtrodden Strat.

Hendrix is of all people the deserved No 1 because - technique, sound and flamboyance aside - he was a threshold in his time, there was guitar playing before and after him. Tellingly, the three great Yardbirds (Clapton, Beck, Page) and even that upstart Blackmore (probably more Hendrix-influenced then the other three) seem to agree on this.

I would have rated EvH as equally pivotal too at one point (the man is an artist, no doubt), but his influence waned over the years except in sector music such as hard rock/heavy metal/prog. If today you see an alternative rock band with a fret tapping solo you think they are taking the piss and they probably are. Of course, Eddie can't be reduced to just his fretboard gyrations, but it is kind of sad that no one has attempted to take it further. Maybe he already went all the way.

Duane was an emotive slide player and had a style of his own, isn't that good enough? Does he have to be rankings?

nofi · February 20, 2013, 07:53:16 AM

i love miles, even bitches brew.

uwe · February 20, 2013, 12:29:15 PM

So do I. But Sketches of Spain is probably my favorite. His MOR album!

Highlander · February 20, 2013, 12:58:00 PM

My preferred "list" was the "solo you most wished you had played" (or something like that) in Guitar Player (again, or something like that) and Layla was in that list, as was Smoke and a whole bunch of others stuff...

"Hotel California" at was number two...

"Goodbye To Love" was number one...

Have a think about it...

westen44 · February 20, 2013, 03:01:00 PM

I don't know if Terry Kath's extended solo on "25 or 6 to 4" was on the list, but if it wasn't, it should have been.

Highlander · February 20, 2013, 03:09:14 PM

Did a basic search but not found it yet...

westen44 · February 20, 2013, 04:16:24 PM

Quote from: HERBIE on February 20, 2013, 03:09:14 PM
Did a basic search but not found it yet...

I think it may be one of those songs fading into the mists of history.

westen44 · February 20, 2013, 04:27:33 PM

Quote from: uwe on February 20, 2013, 05:39:53 AM
Rankings like that are silly. You cannot feasibly say that Duane is a better guitarist than, say, Al di Meola. It just doesn't translate (neither vice versa). In my book there is a place for Yngwie and one for Mark Knopfler. And one for Johnny Ramone, nobody bar-chorded like him, seriously. Anybody who is immediately recognizable, I like. Even Francis Rossi of Status Quo with the folkish major scales he always plays. I love Brian May's playful/tasteful art (so did FranZappa, himself no slouch on guitar) and adore Rory Gallagher's grittiness which always sounds to me like he was playing/fighting with an under-amped banjo rather than his downtrodden Strat.

Hendrix is of all people the deserved No 1 because - technique, sound and flamboyance aside - he was a threshold in his time, there was guitar playing before and after him. Tellingly, the three great Yardbirds (Clapton, Beck, Page) and even that upstart Blackmore (probably more Hendrix-influenced then the other three) seem to agree on this.

I would have rated EvH as equally pivotal too at one point (the man is an artist, no doubt), but his influence waned over the years except in sector music such as hard rock/heavy metal/prog. If today you see an alternative rock band with a fret tapping solo you think they are taking the piss and they probably are. Of course, Eddie can't be reduced to just his fretboard gyrations, but it is kind of sad that no one has attempted to take it further. Maybe he already went all the way.

Duane was an emotive slide player and had a style of his own, isn't that good enough? Does he have to be rankings?

I just feel that an appreciation of the Allman Brothers is beginning to wane, although some things like this are probably inevitable. I believe a lot of their reputation was based on their live performances (although I never got to see one.) But memories of such things from people may be fading. I've even been around some people from time to time who have never even heard of Berry Oakley.

Note:

I sent a PM going into a little more detail.

uwe · February 22, 2013, 04:15:28 AM

You have to be deaf not to hear the musicality of the Allmans even today. And while Duane and Betts will always be the iconic pair, calling Trucks and Haynes anything but a great team is tantamount to sacrilege.

The music of the Allmans was never that overly commercial, I think it's the jazzy thing (which I like) and which flows through their music except on the obvious stuff like Jessica and Rambling Man. But their place in the pantheon of Southern Rock is solid. Actually, they ARE the pantheon.

Dave W · February 22, 2013, 09:01:26 AM

Now we've gone from the top ten douchiest guitarists to arguing over Clapton vs. Duane Allman.

I choose Albert Lee.

uwe · February 22, 2013, 09:33:37 AM

Another commonality you have with Ritchie then, Dave.

Blackers was an Albert Lee fan long before he - Albert - made the move to the US.

There is no escaping him here and you know that, Dave.

westen44 · February 22, 2013, 10:49:16 AM

Quote from: uwe on February 22, 2013, 04:15:28 AM
You have to be deaf not to hear the musicality of the Allmans even today. And while Duane and Betts will always be the iconic pair, calling Trucks and Haynes anything but a great team is tantamount to sacrilege.

The music of the Allmans was never that overly commercial, I think it's the jazzy thing (which I like) and which flows through their music except on the obvious stuff like Jessica and Rambling Man. But their place in the pantheon of Southern Rock is solid. Actually, they ARE the pantheon.

I've also always felt the Allman Brothers were above everybody else, too, despite having more direct contact with other Southern rock bands. To me, their talent has always seemed pretty incredible.

westen44 · February 22, 2013, 10:59:48 AM

Quote from: Dave W on February 22, 2013, 09:01:26 AM
Now we've gone from the top ten douchiest guitarists to arguing over Clapton vs. Duane Allman.

I choose Albert Lee.

It could be worse. If we continued with the people on the list, we could end up talking about this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2281425/What-gent-John-Mayer-carries-Katy-Perrys-pink-handbag-pillow-head-home-weekend-away.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Highlander · February 22, 2013, 03:38:14 PM

Albert and Emmylou... nice mix...

Slide players that float my boat (excluding DA)... Cooder, Lindley, (old) Walsh, Trucks (one of my fave "gig" shirts is from a Beacon show), Ben Keith - there is (imo) an awesome bit of slide on this one; I only wish they did more in this style; so simple but effective...

I have never worked with a decent slide player...

westen44 · February 22, 2013, 03:58:45 PM

Quote from: HERBIE on February 22, 2013, 03:38:14 PM
Albert and Emmylou... nice mix...

Slide players that float my boat (excluding DA)... Cooder, Lindley, (old) Walsh, Trucks (one of my fave "gig" shirts is from a Beacon show), Ben Keith - there is (imo) an awesome bit of slide on this one; I only wish they did more in this style; so simple but effective...

I have never worked with a decent slide player...

I especially like the way he was sounding there toward the end. I wish there could be more slide like this, too.