Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (Jeff Beck ‘Blow By Blow’)

There’s nothing to say here! It’s better for Jeff to say it all!

Inca Roads (Frank Zappa ‘One Size Fits All’)

Possibly Frank’s most famous and best guitar solo, Inca Roads is an absolute cream-of-the-crop example of how to improvise. Frank is absolutely tip-top here. He used to consider his guitar solos as improvisational composition, rather than licks and tricks and his approach really pays off here. For the theoretically minded Inca Roads uses twelve tone technique. Twelve Tone

Ten Years Gone (Led Zeppelin ‘Physical Graffiti’)

Wow! What an album this is!! This album has changed my life totally. I think it was maybe the fifth I ever owned and it’s been very rarely bettered. There are so many incredible guitar moments on this album, it’s Page at his most creative and is crammed full of truly inspiring stuff. Ten Years Gone is a fantastic example of the way Zep were trying to stretch themselves into new sonic territory. It’s got some pretty interesting chord changes that could arguably be derived through pitch-axis and the guitar layering is absolutely staggering. Sadly Zep were never the same again. Do yourself a favour and get this if somehow you don’t have this album!!

Snake Charmer (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow)

I love this album! This is one of my all time faves. It is chocked full of character! After seeing Deep Purple steer it’s way towards being too bluesy and funky for Ritchie he took Dio’s Elf and put this project together. Boy am I glad he did! Another record which totally changed my life. Ritchie’s playing on this album is sooo tasty and Snake Charmer is arguably the talking point. The press talked about Ritchie’s “Snake Charmer” scale for years!! Pure brilliant Blackmore!

Hole in the Sky (Black Sabbath ‘Sabotage’)

This is Sabbath’s pinnacle to me! I adore this album. Again, like Zep and Rainbow this album is chocked full of unique character. Sabotage hits like a sledgehammer, starting with the phenomenal electric Hole in the Sky. I love this riff. In fact, this album is brimming with tremendous riffs!!

Wow, 1975 rocked! It really was difficult to narrow it down to only 5 guitar tracks that personally inspire me, there honestly could have been 50!!

I say this every week… but seriously … if you haven’t heard these tracks you seriously need to start living!!

Have a good weekend folks,
Pauly.