Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 10:01:58 GMT
I expect this has been done on the old forum, but just for fun, what are your Top 5 Brian guitar solos? Can be from Queen or solo work.
1. Somebody To Love - it's structured perfectly for the song and I love that 'room' sound.
2. It's Late - innovative (at the time) use of hammer-ons, and again, a perfect fit for the song.
3. Save Me - short but sweet screamer. Perhaps better sounding on the 7" mix?
4. Good Company - the whole thing is a compositional masterpiece.
5. Too Much Love Will Kill You (Live version from Palace Theater) - another shortish screamer, but the way he just catches that pinched harmonic at the end, gets me every time.
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Post by mkstewartesq on Oct 15, 2021 18:40:58 GMT
(edited to add reasoning, in the spirit of the thread)
1. Don’t Stop Me Now - to me, just perfect for the song, every bit as exuberant as the vocals and piano; also, I just love the guitar tone
2. The Millionaire Waltz - (the piano/ guitar part following the loud “come back to me” section”) - a great little mini-composition (even if it might have been lifted from a "Winnie the Pooh" song)
3. You Take My Breath Away - very subtle and almost "not a guitar solo" because (a) it doesn't draw attention to itself and (b) sounds more like an orchestral stringed instrument
4. I Was Born To Love You - as with "Don't Stop Me Now", it matches the joyful tone of the song but lifts the song even higher; also, the tapping work is pure flash
5. You and I - like many of his other solos, just a terrifically-composed little piece that slots into the song but also takes the song elsewhere with some new ideas
(This is today”s list. Tomorrow’s will be different. For example, I forgot the screaming bit in "Save Me", which, while lasting only ten seconds or so, probably knocks 2 or 3 of my choices above farther down on my list.) ____
Bonus round - least favorite (for me) - almost any of his (blessedly-rare) "bluesy" solos, like "Tie Your Mother Down". I fell in love with Brian's playing because of the way his solos often seem influenced by other instruments in phrasing and composition, if not actual tone. As such, his "bluesy" solos just seem uncharacteristically rote and boring to me.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 18:56:51 GMT
1. Don’t Stop Me Now. 2. Millionaire Waltz (the piano/ guitar part following the loud “come back to me” section”) 3. You Take My Breath Away 4. I Was Born To Love You 5. You and I (This is today”s list. Tomorrow’s will be different.) Yes, I expect mine will be as well.
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Post by macduff77 on Oct 15, 2021 19:02:47 GMT
Oh, good question.
1. You Don’t Fool Me 2. Somebody To Love 3. Good Company 4. Bohemian Rhapsody 5. Bijou
This will change in a matter of minutes when I remember more.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 19:28:27 GMT
Bonus round - least favorite (for me) - almost any of his (blessedly-rare) "bluesy" solos, like "Tie Your Mother Down". I fell in love with Brian's playing because of the way his solos often seem influenced by other instruments in phrasing and composition, if not actual tone. As such, his "bluesy" solos just seem uncharacteristically rote and boring to me. From that I assume you're not keen on Sleeping On The Sidewalk either? I love that track, but have to admit, the guitar solo doesn't really stand out. Millionaire Waltz is just gorgeous. I'd love to hear the stems / multitracks of that, just to isolate all those twiddly little guitar parts. I think an honourable mention also has to go to Dragon Attack. That first 10 second burst of the solo really cuts through, and sounds like he's in the room!
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Post by mkstewartesq on Oct 15, 2021 19:46:38 GMT
Bonus round - least favorite (for me) - almost any of his (blessedly-rare) "bluesy" solos, like "Tie Your Mother Down". I fell in love with Brian's playing because of the way his solos often seem influenced by other instruments in phrasing and composition, if not actual tone. As such, his "bluesy" solos just seem uncharacteristically rote and boring to me. From that I assume you're not keen on Sleeping On The Sidewalk either? I love that track, but have to admit, the guitar solo doesn't really stand out. Millionaire Waltz is just gorgeous. I'd love to hear the stems / multitracks of that, just to isolate all those twiddly little guitar parts. I think an honourable mention also has to go to Dragon Attack. That first 10 second burst of the solo really cuts through, and sounds like he's in the room! 1. It's really funny you mention "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" - when I was composing my post and made the "Tie Your Mother Down" comment, I thought "you know, I should probably mention that I actually don't mind 'Sleeping On The Sidewalk', oddly enough" - but I was already getting a bit long-winded. (If I had to another example of a boring (to me) "bluesy" solo, it would be something like "Fat-Bottomed Girls". It just doesn't go anywhere. And I think I am probably using "bluesy" more inaccurately as a catch-all to describe solos that sound like the same old-pentatonic licks every other guitarist uses.) 2. Yes, that bit in "Dragon Attack" (especially the screaming first D note) is stellar, along with various other solos where he throws in what sounds like a pinched harmonic or maybe its just the out-of-phase pickup combination - e.g., Ride the Wild Wind, Put Out the Fire, album version of Hammer to Fall. All of these have a bit where the screaming sound and his vibrato makes the note jump out of the speakers and almost become 3-D. I said my list would change tomorrow. So far, it has changed in my mind at least twice since my first post above. M
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 15, 2021 20:25:45 GMT
My favourite BM solo must be Brighton Rock. Why, you ask? The solo in BR represents the birthplace of thrash (metal). Ted
EDIT: Sorry, I went by the thread title when I posted my comment above, before I read Lord Fickle's 1st post. I'll decide on 4 other solos and add my choices here (White Man, White Queen (As it began) and We Will Rock You will be 3 of them; Father To Son might be a choice as well).
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 21:01:11 GMT
From that I assume you're not keen on Sleeping On The Sidewalk either? I love that track, but have to admit, the guitar solo doesn't really stand out. Millionaire Waltz is just gorgeous. I'd love to hear the stems / multitracks of that, just to isolate all those twiddly little guitar parts. I think an honourable mention also has to go to Dragon Attack. That first 10 second burst of the solo really cuts through, and sounds like he's in the room! 1. It's really funny you mention "Sleeping On The Sidewalk" - when I was composing my post and made the "Tie Your Mother Down" comment, I thought "you know, I should probably mention that I actually don't mind 'Sleeping On The Sidewalk', oddly enough" - but I was already getting a bit long-winded. (If I had to another example of a boring (to me) "bluesy" solo, it would be something like "Fat-Bottomed Girls". It just doesn't go anywhere. And I think I am probably using "bluesy" more inaccurately as a catch-all to describe solos that sound like the same old-pentatonic licks every other guitarist uses.) 2. Yes, that bit in "Dragon Attack" (especially the screaming first D note) is stellar, along with various other solos where he throws in what sounds like a pinched harmonic or maybe its just the out-of-phase pickup combination - e.g., Ride the Wild Wind, Put Out the Fire, album version of Hammer to Fall. All of these have a bit where the screaming sound and his vibrato makes the note jump out of the speakers and almost become 3-D. I said my list would change tomorrow. So far, it has changed in my mind at least twice since my first post above. M Yeah, have to admit, I'm not sure if it's a pinched harmonic slicing through or just his pickups, or a combination of both? Sometimes he plays several notes in a run with that 'screaming' effect, like on HTF (I prefer the extended 12" mix), but however he does it, I love it!
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 15, 2021 21:02:32 GMT
My favourite BM solo must be Brighton Rock. Why, you ask? The solo in BR represents the birthplace of thrash (metal). Ted
EDIT: Sorry, I went by the thread title when I posted my comment above, before I read Lord Fickle's 1st post. I'll decide on 4 other solos and add my choices here (White Man, White Queen (As it began) and We Will Rock You will be 3 of them; Father To Son might be a choice as well).
I've changed the thread title - sorry it wasn't clear.
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georg
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Post by georg on Oct 15, 2021 23:00:34 GMT
All of mine have been taken but I’d like to mention Small – what a tastefully lovely solo, soaring away into the cosmos. Beautiful.
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Post by macduff77 on Oct 15, 2021 23:58:25 GMT
Yes! Totally forgot that. And I rate Small up there with the best of Queen’s catalogue. All of mine have been taken but I’d like to mention Small – what a tastefully lovely solo, soaring away into the cosmos. Beautiful.
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vh
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Post by vh on Oct 16, 2021 2:07:49 GMT
I actually agree with all those mentioned so far, but would add.
These are the Days Of Our Lives, just a beautifully reflective solo that echoes the sentiments of the song.
And the live version of White Queen, the interplay between the piano and guitar works really well. Even so it's not a style they ever did in the studio,
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Oct 16, 2021 6:43:20 GMT
Oh, good question. 1. You Don’t Fool Me 2. Somebody To Love 3. Good Company 4. Bohemian Rhapsody 5. Bijou This will change in a matter of minutes when I remember more. Definitely agree with YDFM. An amazing solo.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2021 16:58:17 GMT
Play The Game hits that short, melodic sweet-spot pretty well too I'd say.
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ted
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Post by ted on Oct 16, 2021 17:10:18 GMT
Thanks for changing the thread title, LF. Here are my 5 choices; BR is my favourite but I can't decide the order of the other 4.
Brighton Rock. Why, you ask? The solo in BR represents the birthplace of thrash (metal). White Man. I also quite like the Earl's Court (1977) footage of this song, incl. Brian's solo. White Queen (As it began). The live video rendition of this song on Live at The Rainbow '74 is nothing short of spectacular. We Will Rock You. I couldn't help but include it. Father To Son. A brutal and crushing solo at times, with great 'echo effects' within.
Ted
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Post by sms1970 on Oct 16, 2021 22:44:30 GMT
There are so many. Hard to pick just 5. One of my faves of recent is Made in Heaven - simply loveleh.... I love Queen.
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Raf
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Post by Raf on Oct 17, 2021 1:20:27 GMT
Maybe this is slightly off-topic, but anyway, one thing that gets me thinking sometimes is how Brian's hardly ever (maybe never?) featured on those "top riffs" lists that usually feature pretty much every guitar legend we've ever heard from - and maybe they have a point, it's hard to think of Queen songs with remarkable riffs like Iron Man or Heartbreaker.
However, I think the tables are turned when we talk about solos. While many excellent rock/metal guitarists just play the most generic solos, almost as if they're doing it just because they have to (whether they're just pentatonic runs on bluesy old school rock songs or a bunch of fast notes over exotic scales or modes on metal), in Brian's case most solos do add something to the music. I guess anyone here could mention pretty much any Queen song with a solo on it and we'd understand their choices, even if they weren't our own top choices. It's amazing how good he was at making enjoyable melodies, and his great ear for tone sure helps a lot too.
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georg
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Post by georg on Oct 17, 2021 2:12:57 GMT
As far as Brian’s riffs go, nothing for me beats The Hero / Battle Theme.
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Steve
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Post by Steve on Oct 17, 2021 7:14:23 GMT
Play The Game hits that short, melodic sweet-spot pretty well too I'd say. Yep, another cracker of a solo!
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flyaway
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Post by flyaway on Oct 19, 2021 3:37:12 GMT
All good suggestions. I would add Driven By You.
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scotttmax
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Post by scotttmax on Oct 19, 2021 10:05:56 GMT
Resurrection Headlong (Brixton Academy Version) Great King Rat Show Must Go On (Bejart Ballet Version) 2nd solo especially Who Wants To Live Forever
As per everyone else, it’ll be a different list tomorrow
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oreno
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Post by oreno on Oct 19, 2021 10:42:17 GMT
Bohemian Rhapsody and Killer Queen and We Will Rock You.. all seem to go without saying but I think they are possibly his greatest solos, absolutely vital. You really can't imagine the songs without them.
Those aside, here's my five (today!) -
You Don't Fool Me It's a Hard Life The Show Must Go On
All solos that move the songs into new, dramatic territory
Backchat Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
Both very much emphasize the vibe of the song, but give it a big boost - making GOFLB more playful, Backchat more spiky..
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Post by sheerheartattack84 on Oct 20, 2021 20:55:34 GMT
Good evening everyone, it's very difficult to choose, but I try....
1. Brighton Rock 2. You Don't Fool Me 3. Don't Stop Me Now 4. Bohemian Rhapsody 5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
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Dimitris
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Post by Dimitris on Oct 21, 2021 10:59:27 GMT
1) Bohemian Rhapsody great solo never bored this one.
2) I want it all guitar intro solo, very aggressive and dangerous. Great feel!
3) We are the champions genius almost a duet with the vocals.
4) Dragon Attack no words just excellent
5) Was all worth it, on this song Brian plays one of his best guitar. Not only in the solo
Worth metioning
Killer Queen Liar great tribute to Jimmy Hendrix Brighton rock the whole song was ahead of its time Hammer to fall beutiful melodic White Queen studio and live magical melody a d atmosphere
Queen music is melody and Brian's solo is not exception.
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mike71
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Post by mike71 on Oct 22, 2021 15:30:50 GMT
White Queen live and studio, and I like the guitar work on Flick Of The Wrist.
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mike71
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Post by mike71 on Oct 23, 2021 21:55:40 GMT
So many great ones, early days, Father To Son, Great King Rat, Good Company, Brighton Rock, Millionaire Waltz, Tie Your Mother Down... Later days, The Miracle, Made In Heaven, You Don't Fool Me, A Winters Tale, Innuendo, Slightly Mad, Invisible Man.
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Post by queenlizzyfan1973 on Oct 28, 2021 9:42:01 GMT
mines are a bit more than 5
1. Liar 2. Bohrap
3. Spread Your Wings
4.Modern Times Rock N Roll 5. Seven Seas Of Rhye 6. Killer Queen 7. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
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Post by Mack Mantilla on Oct 28, 2021 14:39:27 GMT
Good Company It's Late Gimme The Prize I Was Born To Love You You Don't Fool Me
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Post by ActionThisDay on Oct 30, 2021 17:45:32 GMT
Some solos I like that haven't been mentioned yet:
All Dead, All Dead - one of Brian's multi-part extravaganzas that's often overlooked Bicycle Race - simple scale runs conjuring up the idea of a race Put Out The Fire - the idea of Brian recording this whilst drunk amuses me
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Oct 30, 2021 19:13:33 GMT
Bicycle Race - simple scale runs conjuring up the idea of a race And virtually impossible to play live, which, unless I'm mistaken, is probably why he never did. Someone will no doubt be along soon to prove me wrong... 😁
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