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Greatest Guitar Band

I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????
shubertmaniac
shubertmaniac OP
348 posts
 
yo deadheads...The Dead cannot come close to the smoldering intensity of J Beck & crew.Have any of you deadheads every hear "Psycho Daisies" ?? Both JBeck and JPage were with the Yardbirds at the time(1967) as co-lead guitarists. Paul had left and Cris had taken over bass. If you want to see them rent the movie Blow Up where they do a rendition of "A train keeps a comin'." Both JPage and JBeck were in it.Awesome guitar work. The sounds JBeck could get out of his Stratocaster nobody can touch.
garfish
1,840 posts
 
My favorite "guitar music genre" is blues/rock. That said, I've only recently discovered Dave Hole, a blues/rock slide guitar player of the 1st order. He's from Australia, but found his way to Chicago and put out 5 CDs on the Alligator Label. Dave Hole doesn't just merely play slide guitar, he attacks it-- straffing (sp?) the guitar on attack after attack. FWIW, he plays with left hand over the top of the guitar, and to good effect. Ry Cooder has more finesse and gentleness to his "slide" than Dave Hole, but D. Hole has incredible NRG-- and he sings well too. Another I really like, and has been around a long time, is JJ Cale. He plays a more gentle type of blues/rock (and ballads) with a distinct, slower, softer, Southern delivery-- in contrast to the Hi-NRG Chicago blues. JJ Cale is also an excellent singer and story teller. Dave Hole and JJ Cale should have made it bigger, IMHO. Recommendations? Dave Hole CD, "Under the Spell", and JJ Cale CD, "Guitar Man", or CD, "Anthology". As I'm an old coot, CCR has to be the best "guitar band" in my generation, or at least my favorite. I also really like Eric Clapton's "Blues" CD. Hope this post hasn't polluted your thread with "blues" considerations. PS; I think Dekay may like "Guitar Man" CD. Happy Holidays. Craig.
shubertmaniac OP
348 posts
 
OK I like JJ Cale, I really like his version of "Cocaine", of course he wrote it. But again he is a just a great guitarist without a really good backup band. Same goes with E Clapton. Besides having just session players his music has been lacking in intensity and drive but still an awesome guitar player. I will repeat it again, the Yardbird's rendition of "Smokestack Lightning" with the hard driving lead guitar of E Clapton and the almost mythical bass and rhthym guitar playing of the rest of the band still makes it the greatest song ever. It is raw and exciting. With JBeck at the helm of the group it is different more stylish/even more bluesy but just as exciting. I never heard JBeck/JPage Yardbirds do the song but god I would love to hear that one!! Speaking of blues bands that were electric try any album or cd with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann,and Willie Dixon. Saw Muddy in 1969 awesome guitar work all finesse and grace and the rhythm section was superb;those guys do not waste a note. If you like to try something different try "Fathers and Sons" with M Bloomfield. P Butterfield, with Muddy Waters, Otis Spann and crew. Jimi Hendrix was technically great but his band did not share the spotlight ;it all was shown on Jimi. That is why this thread was on Guitar Bands not Guitar Players
dekay's avatar
dekay
2,959 posts
 
Garfish: Yes, I used to like and listen to JJ Cale (Mr. Mellow), also liked Humble Pie although I thought they had more of a top 40 sound, but were good players. Quicksilver Messenger Service, The Tubes and early electric Neil Young come to mind as well. From the late 70's on I feel that David Byrne of the Talking Heads was/is a good, refined, guitarist, not nearly as simple as he appears to be from a musicians standpoint. The real problem is remembering what and who I listened to at that time in my life. LOL.
exley_9971b9
13 posts
 
While some great individual guitar players have been named, you did ask for guitar bands. I would ditto Fleetwood Mac and Wishbone Ash, give a hearty yes for the Allman Brothers, add Lynyrd Synyrd, and mention one of my favorites; Stephen Stills and Manassas. "The Treasure" is one great guitar work-out. Brian
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