One of the many wonderful things about Cortez the Killer by Neil Young and Crazy Horse is that they just start with over 3 minutes of guitar solo. It’s also there in reduced form for the coda. If it’s this good then why not. So other songs (must have vocals) in which they decide to go with the solo first (if it’s flugelhorn or harp even better) and make the vocalist sit on their stool for a bit.
Put the solo first? You talked me into it.
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Thin Lizzy – Whiskey in the Jar comes to mind.
Borderline. Half solo half intro methinks. Any lengthier initial plankspanking from the Lizzy?
I think that though this is in 9 parts, it should qualify as there’s a lengthy solo in part 2 before any vocals.
Not the solo, but a solo:
Also Do It Again, Bodhisattva
Pretty sure Ian McNabb has form for this but I’m cooking tea. Sausage Ragu since you ask and very nice it is too.
Cue McNabb….cue Sharrock….
I love his drumming @uncle-mick
He’s amazing isn’t he…subsequent bands that Sharrock was in didn’t really allow him the chance to shine in quite the same way as the Icicle Works.
Currently in Noel Gallagher’s band?
I believe so. Also played with Robbie Williams…😬
Fire Inside My Soul starts with (and continues with, at length) the solo. But you would if Crazy Horse were your backing band, wouldn’t you? What a great way to start an album. I still think he’s a twunt, mind.
@fentonsteve
He is a twunt. On Social Media at least.
This must be the best example… 10 minutes of the greatest bit of guitar playing recorded.
Isaac Hayes doing Walk On By on Hot Buttered Soul fits the bill and, even though its not a solo as such, I do like Roxy Music’s long intro to Manifesto.
How about a bit of Genesis, with an opening piano solo from Tony Banks (and a guitar solo later from Steve Hackett)…..
Until Damo chips in 2.30, it seems like an instrumental.
Perhaps this counts?
Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones starts with what is pretty much a guitar solo, but then there is another, more stratospheric, one later in the song too. John Perry is a fantastic player but particularly on this song.
I would say that that is an intro, rather than a solo. A fantastic one but the solo is where you say it is. One of my top three solos of all time. Cortez would also be nudging maybe the top five.
Yes that’s a very fair point… of course, you’ve got the muted guitar stabs first and then the intro bit kicks in.
Gene Clark by Teenage Fanclub starts with a solo – it’s about 3 minutes or so before the chorus comes in, and is very Cortezesque in vibe (man)
Do you mean Neil Jung?
Perhaps not, but ‘Jung’ is also very Youngian.
This was the first that sprang to mind. I’ve often thought I’d like it played at my funeral.
More Steely Dan. Larry Carlton whips it out –
Is it an intro or an upfront solo?
It has been used as a Captain Sensible solo spot at live shows, so I’m going for the solo up-front.
The Damned – Smash It Up.
Split into 2 parts (the second part being the single version) – Part 1 is a slow-building, jangling, a bit proggy, a bit jazzy exercise – quite un-Damned-like. And then after a couple of minutes, it all goes a bit crazy bat-shit.
Parts 3 and 4 also exist (latterly released on Machine Gun Ettiquette 25th Anniversary edition) for more proggy madness
Perhaps this idea of the singer getting started fairly early in the song is a modern tendency?
In this classic Al Bowlly hit, a minute passes before he makes an appearance. The song last just over three minutes.
Come to think of it, Carlos Santana treats us to 90 seconds of glorious guitar in The Healer before Mr Hooker really gets going What a glorious track!
From the man who insisted there be no soloing in The Teardrop Explodes
To be honest, it finishes as it starts. It’s not so much a song, as a prolonged wig out with a small amount of words in the middle.
That is a very good call and should have got that one in at the start.
Gimme Shelter anyone ?
Why, does it look like rain?
I’ll get me kaftan
The ever-dependable Joe Jackson opens with a solo here…