Don’t worry, it’s not another of those copy-and-paste lists of the exact same tracks you’ve seen a million times before. Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California, Eruption, Comfortably Numb and Bohemian Rhapsody are all banned. Because we can do better.
So, in no particular order:
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Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – ‘California’, from Watch (1978)
This utterly jaw-dropping solo from Dave Flett comes in at 1:50. When was the last time you heard a guitar scream like that?
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UFO – ‘Only You Can Rock Me’, from Obsession (1978)
A long-time favourite of mine at 2:10, this is Michael Schenker at his most beautifully melodic. Not a note out of place, and the fact it was most likely delivered on a white Flying V only makes it cooler.
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Patto – ‘See You at the Dance Tonight’ from Hold Your Fire (1971)
Ollie Halsall, ripping shit up in a genuinely unprecedented manner, from 1:40. He’s such an interesting and little-discussed player, there’ll be a whole article devoted to him on here at some point. For now, have your jaw dropped by this:
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Queen – ‘Somebody to Love’, from A Day at the Races (1976)
Well, there had to be some Brian May on here somewhere – this, two minutes in, is undoubtedly some of his finest work. Again, never a note out of place and just perfectly phrased.
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Meat Loaf – ‘Bat Out of Hell’, from Bat Out of Hell (1976)
Todd Rundgren did this bloody thing in one take. It’s about six minutes into the original track but I think it’s best if you watch Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman’s recollections of how he did it. It’s absolutely staggering, and yet another reason to love Todd Rundgren.
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Honourable mentions – there are so many I wish I could fit in, even beyond these extra five:
Eddie Money – ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’, played by Jimmy Lyon (1977)
Boston – ‘Foreplay/Long Time’, played by Barry Goodreau (1976)
Mahogany Rush – ‘Tryin’ Anyway’, played by Frank Marino (1975)
Thin Lizzy – ‘Waiting For an Alibi’, played by Gary Moore and Scott Gorham (1978)
Toto – ‘Hold the Line’, played by Steve Lukather (1978)