I started mentally composing this post on a very long drive back from France, listening to various play lists on the iPod. 20 albums with great guitar playing which made a big impact on me at the time and still do (in no particular order). They are all old (I can hear wails from the List Hate fraternity about the absence of anything after 1979 or similar) but in truth this is more likely because I’ve always been more interested in the song than the guitar player, though as a nipper, learning guitar, a well applied plectrum always caught my ear more than it does now. It’s not comprehensive – no Zep, no RT, none of the later generation of ace players (the first Van Halen album and “Surfing with the alien” by Joe Satriani would be in the top 30 as representatives of later rock stylings), no Dave Gilmore who I consider one of the finest…no Jeff Beck who probably IS the finest. The first 20 I thought of in a stream of consciousness. I could finesse for ever and there are albums I probably like as much of any of them which don’t feature great picking. Take it as you find it! What did I miss?
20 great guitar albums
by 241 Comments
Johnny Winter – And Live
Probably the greatest live album ever, barely 40 minutes of JW and Rick Derringer both writing and closing the book on blazing rock n roll and blues guitar playing – always complementary (I generally find more than one guitar is too many) and charmingly lo fi. Clearly refreshed, they whip up the audience into a frenzy in a rock n roll medley which sets the standard for a live album actually being, like, actually exciting.
John Mayall -World Of
Bit of a cheat this as it could easily have been the Beano album, but this World Of, bought for 20p in a Macclesfield (JM’s home town as it happens) charity shop, features highlights from that album plus following albums with Peter Green and Mick Taylor. Positively a reference work for what home counties white boys did with the blues. Worthy fret wank to some, but you can’t please everyone, eh
Rory Gallagher – Irish Tour 74
Rory was a terrific blues player but from the off he was more blues flavoured Celtic rock than a simple BB/Freddie copyist. Here his astounding energy, invention and flair burns from the speakers. Employing the whole range of lead guitar effects which don’t need a 9v battery, from pinched harmonics, violining, palm muting and extended legato, it’s really no surprise Jimi Hendrix considered him the best player in the world.
Nic Jones – Penguin Eggs
Nic was all about dynamics. Carthy had groove, Bert had atmosphere, John had twiddle but Nic, IMHO, was the equal of all of them with his deeply rhythmic playing, snapping strings against the neck and slapping the guitar body whilst maintaining highly inventive and melodic accompaniment to his definitely British singing (even when he does Dylan he has an English accent…). Over time his playing grew more spare, more considered, less notes, more vibe, until the car crash which ended his career. Any rocker who thinks acoustic players are in some way fey or a bit limp should have a go at playing “Canadee-i-o” a la Nic and see how they get on.
John Martyn – Bless the weather
Not “Solid Air”, which is of course a masterpiece, but the range of bonkers tunings JM introduced here mark it out for me as a stand out album. Beyond the well known DADGAD he ventured into DGDDAE which is the most fun you can have sitting down once you get beyond the “this makes no sense whatsoever” moment. Great songs too, and he’s never sung better.
Simon and Garfunkel – Sounds of Silence
It contains a brilliant version of Davy Graham’s “Anji”, though Paul Simon’s obviously learned it listening to Bert as it includes the interpolation to “Work Song” which he added when he recorded it. Beyond that this is where you learn to finger pick in a way which is always tuneful and interesting, always supporting the song and not being a smarty boots (till you play “Anji” of course).
Fleetwood Mac -Greatest Hits
Ahh, Peter Green again, at his best. You get all the greats. You know them all. His touch and taste needs no explanation here. But beyond St. Pete I love Jeremy Spencer’s Elmore James bottleneck playing, quite the opposite to PG, all thrash and burn, booting songs along and arguably more authentically bluesy. Whoops, I used the A word. I don’t care.
Albert Lee – Hiding
Albert is a bit of a one trick pony IMHO. But what a trick. “Country Boy” is a classic and whilst I’ve never been to a gig where I didn’t get bored with all the widdly widdly he can also play super melodically, and it’s in fact a great song album too with Emmylou Harris on BVs no less.
Al Di Meola – Elegant Gypsy
Al, or Adly as we call him, is also pretty widdly but I never get bored with him. “Elegant Gypsy” is stuffed with brilliant playing – fiery, melodic, dynamic, scarily virtuosic – but with variety, from an ear boggling duet with Paco De Lucia to the Steve Gadd driven final track, Al burns. He’s often bracketed with jazzers but I don’t hear it – he’s more like a turbo charged Santana than a competitor for a real deal jazzer such as John Schofield.
Santana – Abraxus
Speaking of which….another classic, with actual hits on it plus a band to dream of. Sadly pillaged by wretched covers bands for decades, going back to the source always reminds me of when I first heard this album. “Surely”, we said to each other, “this has to be the greatest album which has ever or will ever be made?”.
Django Reinhart – Vinyl collection
Not sure the title of this. A double album from the library, taped and details forgotten – but if you know Django you know what it sounds like. Perversely I always preferred him with the clarinet rather than Stefan Grapelli’s violin, but I’m in a minority. How anyone can produce such brilliance with only two fingers remains a complete mystery.
Steely Dan -The Royal Scam
Well, this had to be here just for the amazing playing from Larry Carlton on “Kid Charlemagne”, but the standard of playing from other featured soloists like Elliot Randell, Dean Parks and Becker himself hold their own. There’s nothing much to say about the Dan which hasn’t been said, but my iPod “Dan Guitars” playlist is a cracker, trust me.
JJ Cale -Naturally
JJ was the complete opposite to many mentioned above – quiet, shy, understated. JJ doesn’t burn with a fire…but he beams atmosphere and vibe and mood with every note. Possibly one of the most influential guitarists who never gets recognition for being so.
Jimi Hendrix – Hendrix in the West
Of course any Jimi album is stuffed with invention, but rather than the textures of the studio albums I first heard him live, with stunning versions of “Red House”, “Little Wing” “Johnny B Goode” etc. No longer available but the recent Atlanta festival double CD set is a good compromise. And he was even better when Noel Redding buggered off to moan for the rest of his career and Billy Cox arrived, bringing da funk with him.
Free – The Free Story
I always think now Free are somewhat overlooked, almost a cult band, after massive success at the time. The lyrics are a bit painful now, with their “love guns” and “woman” moans…but “The Free Story” (ideally an original vinyl copy in numbered sleeve) is a testament to their range and breadth from acoustic introspection to balls out rocking via a healthy batch of hit singles. And through it all, Paul Kossoff, unmistakable and from nobody to legend in about 6 months, dead within 10 years.
Little Feat – Feats don’t fail me now
Or, “the end of the guitar hero”, for me at least. The Feat were all about ensemble playing, songs which tickled head and feet, vibe and groove. One bloke at the front, head back, widdling, was no longer enough. It’s no surprise pretty much all of the small number of people who liked them at the time still do. Once in, you’re a lifer. Of course the guitar playing is fabulous – no one played slide like Lowell, and Paul Barrere found a funky asymmetrical lead style which perfectly offset Lowell’s lyricism. But you can’t pick one bit out of the Feat – it just doesn’t make sense, rather like picking one bit out of a mosaic. All or nothing.
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
**The Afterword rolls it’s collective eyes.** He’s on about the Mighty fucking Tull again. Yes, he is. This album contains Ian’s Roy Harper inspired acoustic playing juxtaposed with Martin Barre’s great ensemble playing and rightly acknowledged classic soloing (the solo on “Aqualung” was recorded with a curious Jimmy Page watching through the control room window. No presh, Martin). Apart from the great songs, it’s a model of sparse recording – virtually no reverb, very few overdubs – lots of space and time in the arrangements…I venture there are very few bands who could actually make a record like this these days never mind write the bugger.
Barney Kessell – Live at Montreux
A cheapo vinyl knockoff, and the first time I really “got” jazz beyond my Dad’s Dixieland and Sinatra. Barney swings like a bastard and takes great long soulful solo guitar intros before the band kicks in, more grooving than Joe Pass, more swinging than Django – check out the version of “Laura”.
The Byrds – Best of
We all know what they sound like, yes? Jangly, harmonies, sunny summery…fab. They might have started with the Beatles but they went far beyond les Fabs and an electric 12 string never sounded so good. Can we blame them for twee indy? I think we can, but much can be forgiven for “Chestnut Mare” or “The Ballad of Easy Rider” in all honesty.
Marquee Moon – Lloyd’s lyricism vs. Verlaine’s angularity.
Exactly the one I thought of first.
Well Twang lives up to his name there. Brilliant list!
Off the wall one – Modern Times by Al Stewart. Tim Renwick at his finest.
You need some Mick Ronson. Ziggy will do ya.
Garcia. Hmmn. Cornell 8th May 1977. Bootleg. Any early live stuff really – Live Dead mebbe?
Artery Absolutely spot on with Modern Times AlStewart and the guitar of Tim Renwick. The closing notes of the track Modern Times are fantastic
Garcia: one of these, maybe…
Road Trips: Vol 2, Number 2: February 14, 1968, Carousel Ballroom
Dick’s Picks, Vol. 8, Binghamton, 2 May 1970
Road Trips: Vol 3, Number 3: Fillmore East, May 15, 1970
Ladies And Gentleman … The Grateful Dead, April 25, 27, 28 and 29, 1971 at the Fillmore East
Steppin’ Out with the Grateful Dead: England ’72,
Dick’s Picks, Vol. 36, Philadelphia 21 Sept 1972
Dave’s Picks Vol. 16: Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA, March 28, 1973
You need some Neil Young in there – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere maybe, with the double whammy of Cowgirl In The Sand and Down By The River (or the contemporaneous Live At Fillmore East, which has a lot of the EKTIN material and is excellent)
some Grant Green – Idle Moments for the straight ahead jazz, and Alive!* for the later funkier stuff?
*includes the mighty Sookie Sookie
The Live at Filmore East is one of my favourite live albums. **Hangs head with shame**.
And mine!
I’d got for Live Rust if we wanted shakey’s guitar showcased.
Powderfinger
Couldn’t agree more.
EKITN is the obvious choice for Neil, but I’d also nominate Zuma, mainly for the variety of styles contained within. Languorous on Cortez, attacking on Don’t Cry, spiky on Danger Bird, tasteful acoustic on Pardon my Heart.
The answer is of course Decade, which covers all the bases for Neil and includes the primal awesomeness that is Hurricane, the song dedicated to the Don’t Let It Die hitmaker (surely not? Ed.)
In my opinion, Stills is really the more naturally gifted and better player when you really get down to it.
Seconded….
Yep.
Stills is a fabulous player – his solo show at Shep Bush a few years ago was astounding. That being said, I do find Neil a more exciting player and, of course, he has much better choons.
I’m not sure I agree about better tunes/exciting. Those live jams with NY on 4 way street were’re narrowly but clearly stolen by Stills. Also is first two solo albums, let alone the tunes he came up with in BF/CSN(Y)/Manassas. His tragedy was blowing it because of coke. A real ‘what might have been’ and musical loss.
Zuma is a good shout, alright. There’s a couple of late Neil albums that are worth noting as well. There’s nothing subtle about Ragged Glory, but it does have the thrillingly sloppy amps-up-to-ten-and-fuck-the-bum-notes vibe that all good rock’n’roll should possess. Sleeps With Angels is a lot more nuanced, and to be fair is led by piano as much as guitar, but when Neil does bring out Old Black on the the title track and the epic Change Your Mind it’s a doozy.
And I reckon I’d take Weld as a live album over Live Rust.
Agree with these choices and, HP is correct, Decade is the obvious choice, not least because the fiery Hurricane (his greatest guitar piece) is on it.
Among my many Neil boots is an absolutely terrific 3 cd set from Santa Cruz in 1990. He’s in storming form and the sound quality is superb. Highly recommended.
I’d like to say Dinosaur Jr, as J Mascis is one of the finest guitar players out there, but I’m not sure they ever made an album that was great all the way through. Try the songs “The Wagon” or “Freak Scene” for a taste of their sound and some brilliant solos.
Sonic Youth have to be represented as well. Daydream Nation fits the bill, a sprawling gatefold epic.
I’d go for Caravanserai over Abraxas – the interplay between Schon and Santana – Song of the Wind an all time classic
I’d make an honourable mention for Love Devotion and Surrender – McLaughlin and Santana going at it
Live in Europe over Irish Tour just for the slide on I Could Have Had Religion
The first album that came to mind was Rock N Roll Animal : Hunter and Wagner on the extended intro to Sweet Jane worth the price of the ticket alone
And Live an excellent first cab off the rank. Derringer and Winter
Another vote for Caravanserai here. LDS is strong stuff, but when you’re in the mood, nothing else does what it does.
I’m going to have to listen to it more closely. It’s never grabbed me like “Abraxus” did.
How about Moonflower?
I love the playing on that.
As soon as I read Abraxas, I thought No, it has to be Caravanserai.
One thing that I’ve never understood with the Columbia Legacy reissues is that Caravanserai was released as it first came out with no bonus material. I’d have thought there must be reels and reels of tape from those sessions that could be edited to form a second album.
Out in the bit-torrent universe there is very little. There is one album that claims to be Caravanserai session outtakes, but isn’t and there is another fairly short album which does have genuine outtakes but isn’t particulalrly interesting.
Paging @hp-Saucecraft
I give up HP’s has gotta be the hardest nom de plume to get the whatever you call it right to show up as a “your name has been mentioned” thing
Allow me: @h-p-saucecraft.
Carl is right. The tapes must be somewhere, and if ever an album was worthy of an “Immersion”-style edition, maybe with a few joss-sticks and a satin tie-dye bomber jacket thrown in, it’s Caravanserai. It’s a mystewy!
Nice work Twang. All great choices, especially the Johnny Winter, John Mayall, John Martyn, Fleetwood Mac, Free and Nic Jones.
I would have gone for Rory Gallagher’s Live In Europe over Irish Tour, if only for Messin’ With The Kid.
A couple of other worthy inclusions:
Allman Brothers – Live At The Fillmore
Frank Zappa – Hot Rats
Mmmm with Rory it is always a close call. On Europe you also get “Bullfrog Blues” which was the first thing I ever heard by the great man (on a Sounds flexi disk for “The Guitar Album”) which I think is brilliant. But on Irish Tour you get “I wonder who”, “Out on the western plain”, “Tatoo’d Lady” and most of all “Walk on hot coals”. Unstoppable.
Good call on the Allmans. Deffo a top 25. My favourite Zappa guitar album, oddly enough, is “Chunga’s Revenge” though “Zoot Allures” is a close second. “Rats” is magnificent of course.
*preens*
Oh and “A million miles away”…
I actually prefer Chunga’s over HR when it comes to guitaring, and more of a rock album. Then of course there is Zoot Allures
Tha answer is of course, Shut Up N’ Play Yer Guitar.
Not really an album though is it? Just a collection of guitar wig outs. not that there is anything wrong with that.
“Not really an album”? This probably the most incomprehensible thing you’ve ever said. It was a box set of three albums, and the CD edition added some more cuts. It was played and produced and sequenced verrrrrry carefully by Mr Zappa, using multiple edits and overdubs.
FFS. Really.
I think I’ve done much better/ worse in terms of incomprehension but your comment prompted me to revisit.
I only had the album on cassette and referenced All Music and it is as you say, while at the heart a collection of solos, he has shaped them into new music and it ain’t just a compilation.
Perhaps the definitive guitar freak out of all those listed here.
Some good playing on the not well known ‘Sleep Dirt’ album, namely Filthy Habits, and the title track where FZ plays an acoustic.
This just in….. Here’s an odd choice, but my recent discovery of the Bevis Frond has revealed wondrously lyrical guitar, as in the stylisations of Neil Young, but minus the boxing gloves Shakey wears, so the unflashy tunes get a little less jagged nearly notes (which is much of his appeal, to be fair) Example 22 is just out and is a corker of late 60s heavy rockisms a la Pink Fairies, a touch of Barretty/Hitchcocky whimsy and more of a hint of Stipe in the vocals, after a gargle and cough/hawk of his trademark debris. Basically a good guitar band, especially when dual leads weave.
Twang bemoans RT’s absence. I would suggest Guitar, Vocal as the best example, mainly for the 2 live workouts of Calvary Cross and Night Comes in, with his stellar line up of Kirkpatrick, Nicol, Pegg, Mattacks, never bettered. (Could also feature in lists of best Drums and best Bass records, IMHO.)
Another vote for guitar, vocal….those two live tracks levitate…
Richard Thompson ? Everything, but I will single out Live In Austin as well. Just SUPERB.
Superb choice, Mr Retropath. My favourite Frond is New River Head. The man is a legend. This from a recent interview:
“It’s wonderful. You don’t hear me complaining at all. When I was a kid the three things I would have liked to have done is been in a successful rock band, played football for Queens Park Rangers and had my own record shop. Two out of three; got my own record shop, play in a mildly successful band and I’m still playing football and watching Queens Park Rangers. I’ll take it.”
Unsung hero.
This being the Afterword you can’t have a guitar albums list without Richard Thompson. I would go with Semi-Detached Mock Tudor, the ‘official bootleg’ (that is, available from RTs website but not in shops) from the Mock Tudor tour. He may have been a bit looser in his 80s bands but there is something deliriously unhinged in the guitar workouts here which puts it at the top of the pile for me.
Good choice! That or Ducknapped.
I played Ducknapped for the first time in a while last week, and although I enjoyed it very much the fact that it was a tour for a largely song-based album (The Old Kit Bag) means it loses out in the guitar wig-out stakes. More Guitar would probably take second place for me, but part of the reason is because it dates from the late 80s which is where I came in with Thommo.
*ahem*
Bank Vault In Heaven 🙂
Have to agree, what was I thinking. He’s always so good pretty much any RT will have brilliant guitar playing. I’m going for “Guitar/Vocal”.
Would love another instrumental album, a la Strict Tempo.
You heard the soundtrack to the film “Grizzly Bear”? Superb.
The Bones of All Men, the instrumental album he made with (now jailed and disgraced) medieval specialist Philip Pickett is superb.
Got those two too sorry forgot.
Would still like another instrumental though.
Can I put in a shout for Kenny Burrell’s Midnight Blue? Taste, economy – and soul.
What a great track. Just listening to the album on Spotty. I feel a purchase coming on. Didn’t know it at all (other than by reputation).
If you enjoyed this then three of my favourite jazz guitar records are worth a listen:
– Charlie Byrd’s “Blues for Night People”
– Byrd with Herb Ellis on “Guitar / Guitar”
– Jim Hall on Jimmy Giuffre’s “The Train and The River”
They are all on Spotify.
And, if only there was a full album of this lineup . . . . Martin Carthy, James Burton and the mighty David Lindley:
We can hardly argue over your choice, Twang – all well-argued but more importantly, it’s YOUR list. Who are we to suggest anything else?
Still, as you ask… surely you must have a soft spot for ‘Focus III’?
Of course! I should have done a top 25! On a different day it could have been a different list…
Indeed – there’s nothing that SHOULD be on your list, merely reminders of/suggestions of things to put on the next list!
Quite. 🙂
ooooh I did think of that one, forget the yodelling, this is Jan Akkerman at his best.
Colin, are you ill? Something you are not telling us?
I only ask, your qualification about merely suggesting duly noted, because of the obvious omission of anything from he who can play 1,000 notes per second.
I thought I’d give everyone a bit of a break!
McLaughlin, is it? Great man, get a load of this
https://youtu.be/heK9yMimOTA
And a mention for Terry Kath, listen to his demon snippet at 4.00
Any love for Alan Holdsworth, Twang? Unique. Love your list.
https://youtu.be/-eirykuoehA
Yes really like AH, also John Etheridge. “Bundles” is a brilliant guitar album!
Another omission is perhaps Made In Japan ft a Mr R Blackmore. Like Hendrix In The West it made one hell of an impression on me in those early, carefree days.
Oh!
I do like the new edti/ledete box.
Oh! This was meant to appear at the bottom of the thread. Apols for jumping in Colin.
Should an Attack Dog really be apologising?
Well trained and mannered attack dogs are always happy to apologise.
Just don’t mention that Mavha ……., Mavish …, you know the one. They can become very aggressive.
Matthew Sweet’s “Girlfriend”, utilising the services of both Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd.
Also Humble Pie’s “Performance: Rockin’ the Filmore”, to see what tan excellent guitarist Peter Frampton was before solo superstardom beckoned.
Spot on with Girlfriend….Quine & Lloyd both massively under-rated…
My usual answers to every musical question here; High Land Hard Rain for the magical acoustic playing of the teenage Roddy Frame ( see also his Surf album) and the Adrian Belew sides of the name of this band is Talking Heads album for inventive and inspired playing for the team (contrast with the inferior versions on Stop Making Sense).
I’ve always regarded Rattlesnakes by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions as a great guitar album without any particular off the charts virtuosity. Maybe it’s the sound/production but I just love the guitars on this album.
Dead right on Roddy Frame. Sadly I am allergic to David Byrne so the pleasures of the Heads are denied to me. By “Rattlesnakes” is a great call – as you say, great guitar album but not because there is a widdler involved.
I’ve always loved the guitar on Lloyd Cole and the Commotions’ Lost Weekend (as a non guitarist myself).
Should have known you’d get here before me with HLHR, I give it a mention down there a bit. Good shout on Rattlesnakes too
I like a number of your choices, but some more slightly different stuff:
The Bends – Radiohead
White Light White Heat – Velvet Underground
Darkness on the Edge of Town – Bruce Springsteen
The Holy Bible – Manic Street Preachers
Ragged Glory – Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Not all contain guitar virtuosos but they are certainly great guitar albums.
Nooooooooooo, NOT the Bends. OK, I am a neophyte to the Radiohead, and sought advice elsewhere as to where to start, this being the concensus. At the risk of offending the faithful, the guitar on this otherwise not unpleasant LP absolutely ruins it, being clumsy and obtrusive to the otherwise ambience. Horrible din, which is how his colleagues presumably see it, as their new one, which cranked up my curiosity and bought, is delightful, with scarcely a guitar in sight for other than textural tones. The one track he is allowed to escape on it also very restrained, with the solo almost sneaking out from under the eye of the rest of the band, being all subtle spikes and shimmer. Middle track, maybe just more toward the end, if anyone can prompt me.
Listen to Just a few times …
Good choices Twang.
Glad you put The Dan in there, whose appreciation of guitar-ing was amongst their greatest attributes. Think of how many of their songs actually start with the guitar solo (Reelin in the years, Parker’s Band and Don’t Take Me Alive are just three off the very top of my head).
Agree about Bless The Weather too, though I’ve just bought the half-speed mastered Solid Air so I hope I’m going to fall in love with that all over again.
And while Abraxas is a great guitar album, Caravanserai is the ultimate for me.
LF?, yes I suppose Feats Don’t… hits the spot but I still prefer to listen to Electrif Lycanthrope (on vinly, oh yes) as those versions just have more fizz.
Hendrix In The West – good choice, especially for that lovely version of Little Wing, but I’d still plump for Electric Ladyland if I had to choose the ultimate Hendrix guitar album
I will probably be banging on about this for years to come (god willing), but Chris Whitley’s “Living with The Law” is a seriously classy guitar album. All National steel guitar, blues and pain.
And more ups for Matthew Sweet and Robert Quine, but I’d throw in their work with Lloyd Cole on the “Lloyd Cole” album where you’ve got at least 5 stone classic songs *with* their fantastic guitar playing.
Just realised that I don’t have the eponymous Lloyd Cole album. I love Robert Quine’s contribution to the Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe album. Half of Everything is especially good – the solo reminds me of Stevie Ray Vaughan on Let’s Dance by Bowie (or is it China Girl)
I shake my head at most of the dross mentioned here but Living with the Law contains guitar playing of the highest, highest quality (before the heroin habit got in the way somewhat)
“Dross”. Hmmm.
Do you know anything about the Dust Radio bio-pic ? I’ve been uselessly visiting the web site etc for a few years…I want to see this.
If you like “Don’t get weird…” IMHO the eponymous is waaaaayyyy better. At least hear it.
Mercy//Killing – twang central, if you will. I melt at about 3.15 in…
and Undressed…just because I love the lyrics.
Thanks @HaroldHolt I listened to it today on Spotify. Great stuff and cut from the same cloth as Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe. I also listened to the Del Amitri album @DaveAmitri was plugging elsewhere on this site. Better than I expected. I’ll give it at least another listen.
Bert Jansch – Rosemary Lane
John Renbourn – The Lady & The Unicorn
Davy Graham – Folk, Blues & Beyond
John Fahey – The Legend Of Blind Joe Death
John McLaughlin/Shakti – Natural Elements
Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills
Pat Metheny – Off Ramp
if we are going Fahey then Kottke’s 6 and 12 string guitar could be in the mix too.
Very good Rob…for Metheny my first love was “Bright Size Life” which still sounds amazing.
Not heard that Twang. Will check out.
On the Santana theme, it’s Caravanserai for me, and also the beautiful Illuminations album with Alice Coltrane.
I love “Off Ramp”, but BSL is less keyboardy, plus you get Jaco.
I think I got the Metheny bug from hearing Works II while dealing with a spectacular hangover. It was “Sueño con México” off “New Chatauqua” that soothed a fevered brow. And knowledge of which started a very fiery little relationship 15 years later…which is weird now I think about it. Challenged somewhat by “Secret Story” from slightly later stuff.
The Church: first album.
ZZ Top: Tres Hombres
Harvey Mandell: Cristo Redentor
Phil Upchurch: Darkness Darkness
Belles Will Ring: Crystal Theatre
Bert Jansch: Rosemary Lane
Billy Cobham: Spectrum
Quicksilver Messenger Service: Happy Trails
Richard Lloyd: Alchemy
Ry Cooder: Paradise & Lunch (eg)
Wishbone Ash: Argus
Blue Oyster Cult: Imaginos
(etc)
(If only we had an edit function – I wouldn’t have had to add a sub-comment)
Oops – John McLaughlin – My Goal’s Beyond
Richard Betts – Highway Call
Howard Roberts – Antelope Freeway and/or Equinox Express Elevator
“Argus” was in the mentally composed in car list, then I forgot. Doh. All good, especially “Happy Trails” and maybe something from their Welsh cousins Man – “Live at the Padgett Rooms” probably. Any Ry – agggh my head. I’d have “Bop till you drop” to sneak in some David Lindley.
Great list and, yes, I’d have Argus and Live At The Padgett Rooms too. Both albums have two players who are seemingly telepathic. Both bands were excellent live, too.
Interestingly (well for me anyway) my parents had their wedding reception at the Padgett Rooms…
?
Happy Trails – hurrah!
http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p773/minibreakfast/DSCN0395_zpsqikhivgd.jpg
Worth a million pounds of anyone’s money. Especially Roy’s. That’s Roy to me, Sir Strong to you.
Larry Coryell: Spaces
Joe Beck: Nature Boy
Grant Green: Idle Moments
Mini legs on that horse too. Was it a Shetland?
“The White Album,” courtesy, in no small measure, of the great Don.
Some from me which haven’t been mentioned and would be high on my list
Layla Derek and the Dominos – the interplay between Clapton and Allman
Pour Down Like SIlver – Richard and Linda Thompson; especially Night Comes In and Dimming of the Day/Dargai
Bop Til You Drop – Ry Cooder because it was the first of his I bought – pretty much any album by him will have something superb on it guitar-wise
Late for the Sky – Jackson Browne – David Lindley’s fluid understated playing is the perfect complement to Browne’s voice and songs.
There’s been a couple of mentions for David Lindley as contributor to other people’s albums but Win This Record and El Rayo-X are superb showcases for his talents.
Great list. If you’d like to add something really new try Dying Surfer Meets His Maker by All Them Witches. A wonderful swampy, bluesy racket from one of the least Nashville of Nashville bands.
The double Mannassas album….
…and Sailin’ Shoes by the mighty Feat…not as full-on as Feats don’t fail me – but Lowell is soooo sweet….add China White & Strawberry Flats and that’s one sublime slide playlist…
…and Sub Capt Hillside….Fish Rising, probably….
I’d have Jack Rose’s “Kensington Blues”. Blows my mind every time.
Have you never heard Jack? Give yourself a treat…
It’s pretty enough, but if we’re accepting this, then Gordon Giltrap and Robbie Basho and virtually any fingerpicker who’s cut an album should get in first.
I was baffled by your mind being blown by something so tame, so I’ve listened to the album and don’t think that first title track is the most interesting, but even the ten-minute Calais to Dover doesn’t so much blow my mind as lull it to sleep. He’s a good player, but he’s no John Fahey (who gets namechecked a lot in Jack Rose texts).
I was going to suggest Robbie Basho and John Fahey myself, actually. I’d probably go for “Visions of the Country” and “Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes” respectively.
Or how about Leo Kottke’s “6- and 12-String Guitar” (aka “the Armadillo album”)? That’s a gracking good record as well, including the showpiece “Vaseline Machine Gun”. I like me some fingerpicking!
As for JackRose, well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to differ on him, H.P.
I just don’t see how he can blow your (or anybody’s!) mind! Technically he’s ok, a little too clean and precise, but he takes no chances and goes nowhere new at all. But if that’s not what you want, fine!
PS You may like that Brasil Guitar Duo album I mentioned below …
At this moment because this is what I’m listening to right now I’ll chuck Tauromagia by Manolo Sanlucar into the pot.
Ole.
Did he play on Can’s Tago Mago?
Everybody is sooo busy with their obscure suggestions but how about the obvious?
The Beatles – Revolver
The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
Both overflow with fantastic guitar.
(Love the Dan and Feat picks, Twang)
Good man. Has to be said.
“Everybody is sooo busy with their obscure suggestions …”
Not obscure to us, Tig. We just know a bit about music. There’ll be a reggae thread along soon you can add Ob-La-Di-La-Da to.
As a ’60s bore, can I also add Disraeli Gears to the list.
Great variety in Eric’s playing.
Sorry, Ian – blacked out there for a moment – you were saying?
I’d hoped fellow bore JC would give some support.
He must be having his afternoon nap.
He can’t find anything that’s not flagged for him these days. Poor old geezer. Sitting in his sun room with his rug over his knees.
Wassat?
Did someone mention Disraeli Gears? I bought it on the day it came out, you know.
Have I had me dinner yet?
http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/mojoworking01/Afterword/Gears02.jpg
If you knew so much about music, Sticky Fingers and Revolver would near the top of your guitar album list.
?
Still seeing Batman in your avatar, Tig?
No. All back to normal now. Thank you to whomever fixed it!
That was Mister Happy Pill, Tig!
Thank you, Mister Happy Pill!
Best guitar album of all time? Pixies – Doolittle. No contest.
Yes yes yessity yes
Isn’t it just all thrashy? What I’ve heard had no subtly at all, just bashing. Which is fine, but limited. Maybe i have this wrong (probably ).
I don’t imagine it’s technically difficult, but, by God, it’s a tremendous racket!
Already downloaded from Spotty for hols consumption. The Tigmark is gold standard chez Twang.
CSNY – Four Way Street (deluxe)… Stephen and Neil swordfighting, Croz’s purring twelve string..
Who – Live At Leeds (deluxe) – Pete and John take both rhythm-lead guitar action to a level of greatness never matched in a rock band.
Good call on Live At Leeds.
The deluxe full gig version is simply the greatest live Rock album ever, from, at their peak, the greatest Rock band of them all. To paraphrase Townshend, a unique machine. No one sounded like them. Ferocious, subtle. So many textures and then BANG ! In your face. THE WHO.
@Rob C Hi man – good call on Four Way Street…always good to hear Stills live around that period. Would you recommend the deluxe version? I’m still listening to my tatty ’70s LPs…..
Oh yes and with huge knobs on Fitterbro’. The remastered/expanded version is far superior. Far more representative of all 4, the jams are a blast, and it has a wonderful loose feel that the ’74 set noticeably lacks, but there’s coked up stadium rock for you. Go for it. Trust me on this.
Cheers, Rob – ordered this evening….
I got it last year on Rob’s rec and it is indeed terrific. Awesome version of “Southern Man”.
Awesome is the word 🙂
What ‘deluxe’ version of 4 Way Street is this, rob?
It was re-released a few years back, expanded/remastered Ian. Easy to Google on Amazon. It’s essential for the CSN(Y) lover.
As far back as ’92 apparently. Here you go Ian:
Thanks. I have it – thought it may have been another update.
Agree with you about Stills burning out his talent. Had the great pleasure of a day trip to Leeds with him about 20 years ago to watch Test cricket. He’s a sports nut. Must have averaged 4 loo trips per hour. He was delighted not to be hassled, but even more pleased to be recognised. He and Graeme Hick (a very sweet guy) got on famously over drinks after the match. Very enjoyable company that day, though I’m led to believe that’s not always the case. Think he’s mellowed somewhat.
I always think it’s great that Stills is a cricket fan. He got into it around 1970 when he lived in England while making his first solo album I believe.
There was a great photo of him in the commentary box at (I think) Lord’s in one of the dad rock mags some years ago.
Nice one Fitterbro’ !
My metal youth is calling to me, and insisting on some 80s heavy in the mix. Live albums always worked particularly well, for the aspiring air guitarist so let’s have MSG’s One Night in Budokan and AC/DC’s If You Want Blood for starters.
As the Chuck Prophet correspondent to these here parts I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention at least one of his so I’m going to suggest Chuck’s album Age Of Miracles.
I’d also suggest Magazine’s first album Real Life featuring John McGeoch.
Vis a vis Free, rather than the cherry picking Free Story (which you can’t fail with) I’d suggest ooooh… Highway – if only because of Be My Friend.
Talking of Magazine (sort of), some of those punks were pretty smart on the old electric six string. PiL are mentioned below, but how about John McKay on The Scream, Steve Jones on Never Mind The Bollocks and Mick Jones on Give ‘Em Enough Rope?
Were The Only Ones punks? If so I’d add John Perry on “Peter and the Pets”, “The Beast”, etc.
The Jones boys, particularly Steve, are often overlooked.
For the Punks, I do love the sound of Brian James on Damned Damned Damned, and Captain Sensible (another under rated player) on The Black Album
My Chuck Prophet choice would be Balinese Dancer.
Johnny Marr, Keith Levine (for Poptones alone intertwined with Wobble’s bass). Wizz Jones, John Renbourn, Hubert Sumlin, Wilco Johnson and of course Bill Frisell
I’d love to contribute something worthwhile to a thread like this but I struggle with my small sphere of reference Hendrix would be too obvious, The Smiths? Some of Marrs playing is extraordinary but they are not guitar albums. Wellers thrash? Nope, not even close. Foos or Biffy Clyro are just followers, nothing to write home about there. But I can offer Aztec Cameras “High Land Hard Rain” some of Roddy Frames playing is exquisite especially when you remember he was 16 at the time. Not a guitar album per se but something different to consider from an outsider trying to peep into the big boys tent…..
Great respect for Johnny Marr but I cannot get through an album due to the singing!
Well put. Up!
The Shadows were my first aspiration when learning the guitar.
I would cite 20 Golden Greats as just as influential for aspiring guitar players.
For me (An unashamed lover of Glam rock), it can only be
“The rise & fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from mars”,
It is currently on my car CD player & I am loving driving round giving it big potatoes to
Moonage daydream. Love that song so much.
I’m an alligator…
We’re well past twenty now, so I have no qualms about getting a bit obscure, with two amazing British psych-rock albums from the last decade or so.
First up is the self titled debut (and only) record from Voice Of The Seven Thunders. There is every chance playing this track loudly will cause you to spontaneously levitate.
(VOTST main man Rick Tomlinson also had a more pastoral, acoustic based project called Voice Of The Seven Woods which is also well worth a listen. He seems to have disappeared in recent years though)
Next we have The Yellow Moon Band. Again just one album and that was it, but it’s such a prime slice of acid fried electric freakout you won’t even care that there’s a bloke from Dodgy involved.
It occurs to me we have no Funkadelic. “One nation under a groove” was my intro, with included free 45 of “Maggotbrain” live which is one of the most stupendous pieces of guitar playing I’ve ever heard.
Another vote here for Caravanserai.
Boston – a tremendous guitar album. Came up on my mobile device last night. Never tire of hearing it
Was reminded only recently that Tom Scholz played and recorded the whole thing in his basement
(vocals added) then got a band to play it live when it was a hit.
Well there’s a band on the record but you’re right, he probably demo’d the entire album, Townshend-style and presented it to the players
Bit of both it seems. From Wiki…
n 1973 Scholz formed the band Mother’s Milk with Delp, Goudreau, and Masdea.[4] That group disbanded by 1974, but Scholz subsequently worked with Masdea and Delp to produce six new demos, including “More Than a Feeling”, “Peace of Mind”, “Rock and Roll Band”, “Something About You” (then entitled “Life Isn’t Easy”), “Hitch a Ride” (then entitled “San Francisco Day”), and “Don’t Be Afraid”. Scholz stated they finished four of the six by the end of 1974, and they finished “More Than a Feeling” and “Something About You” in 1975.[7][8] Scholz played all the instruments on the demos, except for the drums, which were played by Masdea, and used self-designed pedals to create the desired guitar sound.[4] The violin-like sound of the guitars was created in the early 1970s by Scholz,[9] and it was a truly distinctive innovation[according to whom?] in American music.
This final demo tape attracted the attention of promoters Paul Ahern and Charlie McKenzie. Masdea left the band around this time. According to Scholz, the managers insisted that Masdea had to be replaced before the band could get a recording deal.[4] Years later, Delp told journalist Chuck Miller: “[Jim] actually told me he was losing interest in playing drums. I know Tom felt very bad when the whole thing happened. And then, of course, we started getting some interest.”[10][11] Scholz and Delp signed a deal with Epic Records after Masdea’s departure, thanks to Ahern and McKenzie. Before the deal could be finalized, the band had to do a live audition for the record company executives. The duo quickly recruited Goudreau on guitar, bassist Fran Sheehan and drummer Sib Hashian to create a performing unit which could replicate Scholz’s richly layered recordings on stage.
It’s a great album, but suffers from Side Two Drop-Off.
Yes Boston is an album where a Best Of is what you need. “Don’t look back” proudly opens my Stadium Rock playlist.
agreed
In the remastered version booklet it says the record company insisted the album was rerecorded by the band, so what they did was the band pretended to to record it whilst TS did it on his own again in his basement. There are apparently a couple of tracks on the album featuring the band but mostly it’s Tom plus the odd member chipping in.
Certainly Barry Goudreau contributes the (more complicated, to my ears) lead solos, for example on Long Time.
Marouane Fellaini must have played drums on some of the songs, otherwise why would Rock N Roll Band be credited to Jim Masdea (like, why make that distinction?).
Anyway, I like the album just as it is. Hate ‘Best Ofs’
I found their Greatest Hits at the eel market just now, and it’s horrible.
Brasil Guitar Duo: Leo Brouwer – Music For Two Guitars
Two (well, it is a duo) nylon-string guitars play contemporary compositions. Larvely. You’ll like it.
From the taxdodgers:
Review
Classics Today: Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
“The Brasil Guitar Duo offers vivacious, sensitive, clear, carefully balanced, and splendidly engineered performances that are technically impeccable and stylistically right on the money. A most enjoyable and stimulating release, and not just for guitar fans.”
–Jed Distler, Classicstoday.com, February 21, 2016
“…those who admire fine guitar playing will definitely be impressed with the way the Brasil Guitar Duo handles this material: João Luiz and Douglas Lora throw themselves into these very different works with enthusiasm throughout, and their high level of skill and fine instrumental interplay are evident in all five of these pieces.”
–Infodad.com, March 10, 2016
“The album concludes with the “Sonata de Los Viajeros” taking the listener on a musical sojourn from frozen terrains, to European vistas, and culminating with a tropical flavored calypso. “Leo Brouwer Music for Two Guitars” is an adventurous collection of inventive compositions played at an extraordinary level, and is highly recommended for discerning listeners of contemporary music.” –Minor7th.com, July/August 2016
Going back to Nic Jones, as mentioned in the OP. I don’t think I could ever get tired of this track Seven Yellow Gypsies.
Really great percussive guitar in the style of John Martyn and wonderful singing.
Well, we’ve had a couple of mentions of vintage John Martyn so far, and I’d just like to add my own favourite: “Live at Leeds” (not the Who album) from 1975, featuring Danny ‘the Snake’ Thompson on the contrabass.
…and John “Spontaneous Music Ensemble ” Stevens on drums…..
Great song. This is one of my favourites.
Interestingly the blues albums have been overlooked apart from blues rock.
You’d have to add albums by assorted Kings, Buddy Guy and SRV too.
The Beano Album got a passing mention in the OP
In the mentally drafted list in the car I had the BB King live at the Regal, Hide Away by Freddie King and the Chess Masters by Howlin’ Wolf, to which I would happily add Hard Again by Muddy Waters. Trouble is 20 is too small a number!
And whose fault is that?
😉
**holds hands up**
😀
Reduced sentence for guilty plea.
A few albums I enjoy for the guitar sounds
Ian McNabb Truth and Beauty
Ted Nugent Live Gonzo
The La’s
Another vote for Real Life/ Magazine
Wishbone Ash – Argus
Ted Nugent. RESPECT!
I have never listened to this guy, simply because I misread his surname on this album as ‘Nugget’.
‘Nugget’. Not vey rock star.
He fucks squirrels, before shooting them in the head (allegedly). Best avoided.
Yer man is an ejit. Squirrels are much easier to get to know in a biblical fashion after you shoot them not before.
Yes, but only if you take them on a romantic boating holiday, or brass rubbing in Dorset, otherwise the squirrel’s arse in terms of actual squirrel body ratio re. rigor mortis timewise eg dead squirrel arse v Nugent cock(size included regardless) rather negates your hypothesis dear heart.
Ahem. He only hunts with a bow!
Regardless, Stranglehold and Stormtroopers ate one of the great one-two shots of rock n roll
Regardless, Stranglehold and Stormtroopers are one of the great one-two shots of rock n roll
A couple of more
The first Pretenders record. Of course the vocals, but that machine gun guitar on those riffs, instantly recognisable
Similar era- first Only Ones album – really distinctive guitar too
Phil Upchurch’s relaxed, jazzy soul/funk album from 1972 “Darkness Darkness” has some well tasty guitarin’ on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXw__yDtzLM
I’ll grab it off Spot for the hols
A very astute move, Mr Twang, if I may say so, sir.
Oy! I listed this awready!
Oops, sorry. Didn’t see that, Saucey.
Still, two recommendations are better than one for such a splendid record.
I’m not a big King Crimson fan, but Discipline is wonderful.
Two guitarists at the top of their game, trading licks in a brand new way.
Which reminds me.
First side of “Heroes”. Brilliant, filthy, dirty guitar from Mr Fripp.
Discipline is a spectacularly guitarry album. Seeing Elephant Talk on Whistle Test was a revelation to me in terms of what could be done with guitars. Listening to it now, it sounds compromised by the technology of the time, especially The Sheltering Sky but I still love it as an album, without feeling the need to invest in the latest multi-disc resurrection.
The opener, Elephant Talk could so easily be a horrific song, instead it’s tremendous. Twas only recently I paid attention to the lyrics, enchanting! And the Elephant Pedal (trademark needed) my goodness… with most other acts it’d have been an own goal, but with KC it’s a triumph.
Got a car boot Rory Gallagher LP at the weekend, and giving it its first spin right now. Good guitarer, innee?
Ho yus. Which one?
The Return of the Hellecasters is nothing if not a guitar album. A lot of top widdling upthread, but this speaks to me on a much more direct level.
https://youtu.be/UO2MtiMryAg
Jerry Donahue sadly hospitalised with a stroke only a couple of weeks ago.
Sad indeed, didn’t know that. Hope he’s ok.
Terrible to think he may never play again
Shit I didn’t know . I love that Hellecasters album – i have then all actually, the third one pre release signed by the boys from a guitar show. Saw JD last year with Fotheringhay.
Same here – awful news…..
From Jerry’s Facebook page on the 16th
He has already improved with his cognitive communications and is well on his way to the therapy he needs to recover..Thank you for all the cards and gifts you are sending. Jerry is oh so very moved by the love and care you all have sent to him..he is quite over whelmed by how many people love him…
Saw him last year with Fotheringay, had already booked to see them in November, the tour is still going ahead without Jerry.
Obscure bit of triv (though being the Afterword you already know this I’m sure) – the band scene in Lewis Collins’ SAS movie “Who dares wins” is Jerry with his brother, Peggy and Gerry Conway.
That’s great – and instantly nicked for the Facebook Fairporters page.
The show must etc, but, already minus Sandy, (and Trevor), surely Jerry absent removes any point whatsoever. Bit peed off as I had hoped to catch them, for the songs and his playing. I remember a fabulous night 20 odd years ago when his ad hoc band, the Backroom Boys played the Red Lion Folk club in Brum. Folk it wasn’t.Terrific it was.
Jings, that’s rough. Hope it’s not an irretrievable bit of cortex he’e blown. Mind you, Danny Thompson had his first stroke about 15 years ago and made a near full recovery. But then there’s Edwyn Collins.
Haemorrhage rather than blockage, and they didn’t reach him until several hours later, so not great. Happily he is alive and apparently responding, so the chances of a full recovery look remote but fingers crossed for him. He is, of course, a wonderful guitar player and always comes across as a thoroughly decent chap.
Yes I’ve chatted to him a few times. Very modest & just loves talking guitars.
What about Yes – Close To The Edge? The only thing that kind of overshadows the guitar playing is that every other instrument is being played at a virtuoso level as well.
I’d say Beatle-wise, Abbey Road is the one. The ensemble rhythm playing is just sublime, all three guitarists contributing fantastic and subtle parts (just ignore that they ripped off Albatross). And that three-way guitar duel on The End could be my contender for best guitar solo ever (apart from the fact that, er, it’s not a ‘solo’ because it’s three people…).
any album, Gillian Welch or otherwise that has the great Dave Rawlings on it. superb playing
ps. no love for Mike Campbell?
Two good points. And in my personal great guitar albums list I’d have to have “Damn the torpedoes”!
If we’re allowing greatest hits albums, then The Dust Blows Forward by Captain Beefheart has to go in., though probably stretching the definition of hit.
You’ve then got the great Zoot Horn Rollo, Ry Cooder and assorted others blazing away.
We are indeed, or “Best of” as bands without hits call them.
Today’s choice because it’s what the paint is flowing along to right now is….
https://youtu.be/Fyo99nklOsA
Now, that’s properly good! Thank you.
216 comments , ok 217 now and 1470 views
Go Twang, fretwank lives !!
Yes and no “I hate guitars” haters popping up, happily. I would have been surprised to get 20 responses TBH. Fair call on ACCADACCA, I remember first seeing them on telly in the 70s and being faintly offended by their obvious bad attitude but swiftly came to love them, especially Angus’s playing which is always terrific. I could have seen them in a big pub in Oxford on that first tour but couldn’t be arsed to go into town. Idiot!
@Colin-H should like this one.
I’d like to nominate Tribute to Jack Johnson by Miles Davis featuring John McLaughlin on guitar. Of course all the playing is fantastic but it is the ripping short staccato bursts of McLaughlin that give this album the energy and the bite. It’s the album rock fans have when they feel they should have some jazz in the collection.
A mate said JMcL was always better when in the harness and you can feel him just straining at the leash, then off he goes only to be reined in again as the groove rolls on.It starts just a few seconds into the album.
I have the complete Jack Johnson sessions which is splendid – lots of the out takes are terrific loose funky jams.
Re: Tribute to Jack Johnson
I think Sonny Sharrock plays guitar on that album too, but for some reason is uncredited on the sleeve.
My understanding is that John played on side one and Sonny on side two.
Starts with John and then there’s a section with Sonny from about 13 min onward, taken from the various versions of “Willie Nelson” from a later session.
With a whole different set of uncredited players, in fact.
Correct, Mike. Those lineups in full:
The first track and about half of the second track were recorded on April 7, 1970 by this sextet:
Miles Davis – trumpet
Steve Grossman – soprano saxophone
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Herbie Hancock – organ
Michael Henderson – electric bass
Billy Cobham – drums
The “Willie Nelson” section of the second track (starting at about 13:55) was recorded on February 18, 1970 by a different and uncredited lineup:
Miles Davis – trumpet
Bennie Maupin – bass clarinet
John McLaughlin – electric guitar
Sonny Sharrock – electric guitar
Chick Corea – electric piano
Dave Holland – electric bass
Jack DeJohnette – drums
And another thing. No Aussie bands – ACDC pick and album any album up to Back In Black but let me highlight another album ,one from the great Ed Kuepper, one of the twin towers in the Saints with Chris Bailey, he of the massive solo catalogue and a brief stand in tour with the Bad Seeds.
Honey Steel’s Gold is a rolled gold classic, swirling, more strumming than picking, build ups to crescendos and some quieter stuff too – a lovely version of Everything I Got Belongs Too .
All Music Guide liked it too
http://www.allmusic.com/album/honey-steels-gold-mw0000644760
@junior-wells
No Aussie bands?
HP Saucey mentioned The Church’s debut but I’d go for the hit album…Starfish. Marty Wilson Piper vs Peter Koppes. Riffs and Spangle. What do you reck?
@Freddy-Stready
I did put a pitch in for Ed Kuepper Honey Steel’s Gold and ACDC are somewhat Australian.
An obscure record worthy of mention is Obsecration by Lobby Lloyde of the Purple Hearts, Aztecs, Coloured Balls.
Possibly Australia’s grratest ever guitarist it was an expanded psych, prog blues wig out. Worth a listen on YouTube
great guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUYrxlxCoGw
No Africans?
The late Ali Farka Touré’s “Savane” is lovely stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFanq3QdgV0
His duet album with Ry Cooder “Talking Timbuktu” is excellent too.
Nobody from the far east?
Nguyen Lê (from Vietnam, via Paris) is pretty good.
I like his playing on “Tales From Viêt-Nam” with vocalist Huong Thanh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XlnhY4aNpg
Diblo Dibala from Zaire is a wonderful guitarist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_LQ5MmSUsg
Another vote for Diblo. Wonderfully exciting, uplifting stuff.
And now a gem of an album from Jamaican maestro, Ernest Ranglin: Below the Baseline.
All instrumentals, it’s music that I just drift away to.
To anyone just discovering Huang Thanh, I can recommend her 1999 album “Moon and Wind”. NIce record.
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. Excellent blues/jazz/cajun guitarist and a bloody good fiddle player too.
“The Original Peacock Recordings” is an excellent compilation of his late ’40s and ’50s singles and EPs
“Pressure Cooker” is a good mid-career album recorded in 1973 (but not released till ’85).
Live-in-the-studio sound with a pretty hot band. Here’s “She Winked Her Eye”, an update of an old single of his from 1951.
Here’s a chap who never gets a mention: Scott Henderson