Did Keith play lead guitar on "Gimme Shelter"? That's a good one.

I like Mick Taylor's guitar solo on the Ya-Ya's version of "Love in Vain." Also, I think the solos on Exile are economical but effective and memorable, but I don't see Mr. Moderator agreeing with that sentiment anytime soon!

Everything on Exile is perfect, down to and including the smell of the glue that holds the sleeves together.

That is indeed Keith on the solo in Sympathy for the Devil. I think that's like the coolest solo ever because it just fits in so perfectly, and I love how it stings and hangs. The live version on Ya Ya's has mucho edits and has both Mick T and Keith taking a solo.

Gimme Shelter is all Keith on guitar. So are Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want, Let It Bleed and Midnight Rambler on Let It Bleed. He did some other songs like that around the Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed sessions, but I'd have to look them up.

He may be wrinkly and old now, but he was a God once.

Hey, before you guys start knocking me for my well-reasoned objections to Exile can you point to a solo from that album that I might be able to hum? I love an ep's worth of songs from that album, but no memorable solos come to mind. Of course, I'm still behind on my coffee intake and here at work I'm about to hop from the frying pan to the fire. Thanks.

Is there a solo on "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and many of the other songs you mention, 2K? A spotlight solo, not just a cool guitar fill, which is all that's coming to mind for "Monkey Man" - oh, there's that call-and-response part involving guitar at the end, but I don't consider that a Spotlight Solo.

Finally, PLEASE don't read this thread the wrong way and think that I'm suggesting that the Stones would have been a better band had they more often carved out shining moments for guitar solos. PLEASE! We're just talking here.

I think the solo on "Shine a Light" is pretty memorable. Bear in mind, like many rock nerds, I've listened to this album many, many times over the years, so even the unmemorable bits are pretty memorable at this point. I suspect 2000 man and other Townspersons agree with me.

I can't say I recall the solo in "Shine a Light", but I'll definitely take your word for it. Thanks.

Looking forward to more of Keef's Most Memorable Guitar Solos!

i know it's not really a "solo" in the "yanky my wanky" sense we think of when we hear that word, but i always thought that one of keef's most memorable guitar moments was in "2000 light years": before the last round of choruses, he plays that subdued, and very rhythmic part on the lower strings. great guitar sound! but the part itself is very musical without being a wank. it's very tasteful. it's just the right part for that spot in the song.

i bring this one up because it embodies keith's role, in the larger piecture, as a sort of anti-soloist.

hell, even that thing he does on "sympathy", which is a solo in the proper sense, seems to say "I could play regular old guitar solos like the rest of you all the time, but normally I choose to serve the song instead." and he's more in it for the impact of how it sounds, rather than playing his scales. very few of his contemporaries would have ended it with that vicious "chomp!" it's alot like the 2000 light years moment in that way.

Apropos of that second video, has RTH ever conducted an analysis and cataloging of mic holding techniques? What would we call Mick's method here with the pointer, middle, and ring fingers over the mic and the pinky underneath?

Saturnismine, could you have possibly restated anything else that I did not already acknowledge and practically beg you guys not to spit back at me? Please answer the question: After "Sympathy..." what are Keef's next-most memorable solos?

Oats, your so-far-lone, on-topic answers mean more than you could imagine.

Townsman Al, are YOU the one to catalog mic holding techniques for the Halls of Rock - and posterity? I don't think we've ever done this before. I had similar thoughts while watching the guy from The Jesus and Mary Chain - the way he leans on his mic in the video Berlyant posted. Think about it. We can talk offlist if you'd like. I think it's a great - and necessary - topic for further exploration. Thanks.

OK, now I'm really hopeful for more memorable Keef solos, you know, the kind that will make me think, "Why didn't I think of that one?"

"Saturnismine, could you have possibly restated anything else that I did not already acknowledge and practically beg you guys not to spit back at me? Please answer the question: After "Sympathy..." what are Keef's next-most memorable solos?"

i'll admit i didn't really read the parameters you set thoroughly, but sheesh...sorry, dude...

nowhere in your posing of the question do you specify that you want examples *after* "sympathy".

But you *do* ask about ""The Last Time"? "Time Is On My Side"? One of those clunky Chuck Berry covers, like "Carol"".

I thought "2K light years" was fair game.

and pardon me for expanding on some of your comments.

they're not restatements.

i thought we were "just talkin'" here, right?

what's up your ass?

Sat,

Let's be clear: I loves ya, man. We're so often on the same page, and even when we're not, we RESPECT each other's page. Let's not let that slip away, OK?

Now, which part of the following statement from my original post did not suggest "examples *after* 'sympathy'" - and by "after" I trust we agree that I meant "after what I (Mr. Mod) consider Richards' most memorable solo."

Driving in this morning, however, I heard "Sympathy for the Devil". I'm pretty sure that's Keef on lead guitar, right? I would think that's by far his most memorable guitar solo. What are his next most memorable guitar solos?

I love the solo in "The Last Time". I sincerely apologize if I was not clear about that. For me, that is a highly memorable solo. How 'bout that classic old performance of it, when Keith's got the guitar up high and his mouth is hanging open real cool?

The part you refer to in "2K Light Years", if it's what I think you mean, is one of the things I cautioned against suggesting, that is, a cool riff/passing notes part. To put it in perspective, how would you feel if you wanted help in remembering George Harrison's most memorable guitar solos, and then I suggested the little lick that kicks off the coda in "Strawberry Fields Forever"? You know which lick I'm talking about? That's not a solo, is it? How would you feel if I did that to you and then asked you "what's up your ass?"

You know the answer: a variation of the same shit that's always up there!

Anybody ever notice that when Mr. Mod is particularly pissy about a bad day at work, that's when he becomes combative about the Stones and inevitably mentions "Exile on Main Street"?

"'Exile on Main Street" would have been better an an EP.'"

"Bad day at work, huh?"

You know the answer.

I think the Sympathy solo is one of the greatest ever. By anybody. My guess is that Keith was truly kissed by the gods that day and surprised even himself, since he's never played anything like it since. I disagree that he was making a statement that he could play like that but chooses not to. I don't think her can, and the live solos on that song are pale reflections of its glory.

I don't have credits handy, but I'm pretty sure, based on sound, that the otherwordly Shine a Light solo is Mick Taylor. The solo on Happy is pretty good. Who plays that? If I had Mick Taylor in my band, I don't think I'd solo much.

This game gets impossible after Ron Wood joins the band, because his style is virtually indistinguishable from Keith's. But what about the solo over those weird chord changes in the middle of Shattered.

Sorry I'm late to the game. Today was moving day, and I spent the day driving to West Memphis AR, the area where a lot of the rockabillies came from. I'm in a motel and I'll probably be stuck here all day tomorrow, because of a winter storm, so I promise to answer Mr. Mod's objections to my suggestions before continuing on the Kansas City.

I'd have to go with "The Last Time" or "Heart of Stone". It may be memorable in a bad way but that about the solo in "Hang Fire"

With regards to mic holding - The reason I think John Edwards didn't do crap in the Primaries is that he holds the mic like a wimp. No one wants a commander in chief to be a wuss.

http://deepblade.net/journal/Edwframe1.jpg

What's your position on a Presidential candidate who uses a boom stand, Andyr?

BTW, Andyr and BigSteve, thanks for answering the questions. I'm not planning on objecting to every suggestion you throw my way; I sense some of you, like Mwall, who dodged the question, are intimidated by the perceived challenge behind what is sincerely an open, honest question - one from my heart, if you will. The last thing I want to do on this, The Turning Point of my heretofore crappy week, is get into the whole Exile thing. I promise, one day, to take that argument to the next level.

Good luck on your move, BigSteve!

Sorry I'm late to the game. Today was moving day, and I spent the day driving to West Memphis AR, the area where a lot of the rockabillies came from. I'm in a motel and I'll probably be stuck here all day tomorrow, because of a winter storm, so I promise to answer Mr. Mod's objections to my suggestions before continuing on the Kansas City.

Good luck with your move, Big Steve!

Don't get me started on boom stands, or mic stands w/o lead bottoms

How about the slide solo in "Let It Bleed"?

Dr. John,

You mean when he plays the same sluggish Chuck Berry licks he plays on songs like "Carol"? If that's what memories are made of, who am I to argue? Thanks for throwing another memory into the hat. Who else is holding onto a memory?

I read somewhere that Rory Gallagher was one of the dudes they auditioned for Mick Taylor's job in '75 or whenever that was. Talk about a deep philosophical mismatch!

One of these days I'll get around to posting my thoughts on the patron saint of Rock Bloke-ism, Rory Gallagher.

That's great, HVB. I know I'm not alone in looking forward to your thoughts on Gallagher. You're a man of wealth and taste, regarding this thread, what Richards solos stick out in your mind?

Uh, I'm not hearing any sluggish Chuck Berry riffs in the solo to "Let It Bleed." In fact, it's rather fluid and acts as a call and response to Jagger's improvised vocals at the end of the song.

I'm starting to worry a bit about the growing disconnect between the imaginary Stones
you're hearing in your head and the Stones EVERYONE ELSE hears.

Or to put it another way, listen without prejudice.

mod, i hear ya. and the love goes right back to ya, man. (and btw, we have to talk baseball, soon...you know what i'm talkin' about...seriously...).

but i *do* think that moment in "2k light years" is a spotlight moment. it may be abbreviated, but it's not a wank in the fade of the song, not comparable to the "strawberry fields" example you mention. it's a very inventive response to an opening in the tune that most guitarists would have solo'd over in a much more traditional way. in this way, it supports some of the views you have about.

i'm still not sure what you mean by "after sympathy", either. do you mean the next best one, or chronologically speaking?

since we keep talking about "the last time", you can't mean chronologically, so it must be the other.

you said *memorable*, and by my way of hearing, when presented with an opportunity to play a solo in "2k light years", keith did something that has worked its way FAR deeper into my musical memory than any of the other examples that have been posted here.

he may not be playing pentatonic scales, or single notes, but that doesn't mean it's not a solo spot.

...and at any rate, as outside the parameters as you may think my suggestion is (which it really isn't), i still don't think it warranted the jump down my throat you executed. thus, my "what's up your ass" question.

but discussions of *how* to have discussions are another fish to fry altogether.

mod, i hear ya. and the love goes right back to ya, man. (and btw, we have to talk baseball, soon...you know what i'm talkin' about...seriously...).

Please don't allow 2 Santana threads in
this short amount of time!

"Please don't allow 2 Santana threads in this short amount of time!"

i hadn't checked the other threads. is there discussion about Carlos or Johan? now if there were only a rock band named Feliz...the whacky RTH hijinks would surely ensue.

Townspeople, I greatly appreciate the love, and the love that's comin' back at me is goin' right back at you.

Dr. John, I am taking your thoughts under consideration. I will have an appropriate - and loving, it goes without saying - response later today.

I wish I could remember the little thing Allen Iverson used to say to his Crew. I think there was a hand gesture involved too. It was a very loving, reassuring phrase and hand gesture. Anyhow, that's what I'd like to send all your way.

I dunno about wealth, but you're right about my *impeccable* taste in just about everything. Insofar as Keef leads are concerned, I'd go to the mat for his solo in "Star, Star." Also, his "lead bass" work on the underrated "Fingerprint File." I suspect that's him on "Honky Tonk Woman," but I could be wrong there.

Great call on his lead bass work, HVB. Thanks. Keef's bass playing makes for a strong case for the benefits of switching a guitarist over to bass now and then.

Mr. Mod, I'll let you speak your mind about Exile on Main St., but remember that if there was an Exile Mafia and I was a high ranking member of an organization that may or may not exist, it's entirely possible that I'd know of some stories about people missing the point about Exile and having their bad ear cut off with a postcard from the first pressing of that album, leaving them with just the one good ear to hear the call. But let's not speak of the Exile Mafia here.

Since you picked one of the greatest solo's in rock history with your first choice, I've been thinking since yesterday where I'd want to go with some picks. None of his solo's are as good or memorable as that one, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some great ones.

I've got to go with the solo in Monkey Man as one of them. Granted, it's not a fiddly, noodly solo. It's Keith's usual chunky riffing, but it's a solo. That riffing right speaker guitar steps up and takes center stage around 1:48, then Jimmy Miller turns up Charlie's drums around 2:06 and while the solo riffing keeps chugging, Keith starts dropping those slide parts right on top of everything. I don't think Jeff Beck would like his spotlight moment being so obscured, but Keith doesn't seem to care too much.

My other choice will be the studio version of Bitch. I know it got a bit maligned the other day as "not going anywhere," but the studio version is swell and points to where the band was going better than any other song on Sticky Fingers. And Keith's solo is really cool.

Considering how much of a guitar band the Stones are, it's weird how often the guitar players give the spotlight to a harp, horn, mandolin or something. Weirder yet is why I'd like that. A therapist might learn something about me if they knew that.

Thanks for the opportunity to get reacquainted with some of my classics. It's been awhile since I listened to something old, even The Stones. Two things I noticed that I've wondered about. Does anyone else hear a phone off the hook in Sympathy for the Devil at about 2:50? In Monkey Man at about :49 something just kind of rings or overloads for a second and they just leave it there. What is it? Actually the SACD version of that song should have convinced the planet that everything should be in SACD. Oh well.

Oh yeah. Shine A Light is all Mick Taylor. No Keith on that track at all. At least on Sway Keith gets to sing backup!

HVB, that's Mick Taylor's bass on Fingerprint File. Keith does bass on Live With Me. That Starfucker solo may be the best thing on that album.

Thanks, 2K, for accepting the spirit of my humble exploration. "Monkey Man" is a great little solo. "Bitch" is one of the better lead parts too.

I don't have it at hand, and I'm trying to hear it in my head. The solo on Bitch is Richards and not Taylor? Really?