If you are a guitarist (especially a rock guitarist), or even if you just dig good guitar playing, you should pretty much RUN to the nearest music store and buy ALL of these CD’s if you don’t have them already. Many of these are rock and roll albums, but I included a few others that are well worth checking out because I think it’s important for all rock players to listen to stuff that’s outside of their comfort zone.
As with my other lists, I didn’t want to attempt a ranking of these albums, so instead I just listed them alphabetically by artist name. I also included an “honorable mention” with many of these because sometimes it’s REALLY hard to pick a “best” album by some of these artists. Albums marked with an asterisk (*) are particularly important albums that no collection should be without.
*The Allman Brothers, Fillmore East 1970
A live show that is a staple in most classic music collections. An absolute clinic in Southern blues-rock guitar, as well as slide guitar (played by Duane Allman). Features many compositions that are still staples in Allman Brothers concerts to this day, such as “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Whippin’ Post.” Honorable mention: The Allman Brothers, Eat A Peach
The Beatles, Rubber Soul and Revolver (1965-66)
While not exactly known for blistering guitar solos, George Harrison had a knack for playing the perfect guitar lick at the perfect time. These two albums came out at about the same time, and reflected the new directions that the Beatles were taking that would end up changing rock music forever. No music collection is complete without them.
*Jeff Beck, Blow By Blow and Wired (1974/1976)
These two albums helped pioneer the sound of jazz-rock fusion and for me provided my first glimpse of the world of jazz. He plays some of the craziest, quirkiest guitar solos I’ve ever heard and uses many unorthodox techniques to extract sounds from the guitar that you won’t hear anywhere else.
Cream, Wheels of Fire (1968)
Eric Clapton did some of his best work with Cream, almost singlehandedly inspiring a whole generation of guitar players to explore the 20-minute guitar solo.
*Derek and the Dominos, Layla (and other assorted love songs) (1970)
This band started out as Eric Clapton’s side project, under a pseudonym so that he could get back into playing smaller clubs (it didn’t work, by the way–people caught on quickly). Their first and only studio release is a rock classic if there ever was one, and features the slide guitar playing of Duane Allman. It is almost universally considered to be some of the most inspired music Clapton ever played.
The Grateful Dead, Europe ’72
It is difficult to pick out one single favorite GD album, especially because their albums don’t really capture what the band was all about. But this is a particularly good one–featres great performances of many of their classic songs. Jerry Garcia’s guitar work is in peak form throughout.
*Michael Hedges, Breakfast in the Field and Aerial Boundaries (1981/1984)
It is not at all an exaggeration to say that these albums revolutionized the world of acoustic guitar. Hedges introduced a style of playing that included all kinds of unorthodox techniques–very percussive and flashy, but also beautiful and melodic.
*Jimi Hendrix, Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
Not easy to pick a favorite Hendrix album–you should really just have them all. But this one is probably my favorite of Hendrix’s studio recordings, if I had to pick one.
Honorable mention: Jimi Hendrix, Electric Ladyland
*Jimi Hendrix, Band of Gypsies (1970)
Jimi Hendrix was a genius in the studio as well as on stage, which are two entirely different things. So while you’re out picking up Hendrix albums, you should probably grab a live one too. This one is a great one–his solo on “Machine Gun” is one of the most influential rock guitar solos EVER.
John McLaughlin Trio, Live At Royal Festival Hall (1990)
While McLaughlin has produced a HUGE variety of work, this one is hands-down my favorite. He is probably better-known for his avant-garde work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, as well as Shakti, but this one is my personal favorite. He plays a nylon string acoustic guitar on it, and it is some of the most beautiful and powerful music I’ve ever heard. Features Trilok Gurtu on drums and Kai Eckhardt (currently playing with Garaj Mahal) on bass. Honorable mention: Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire
Pat Metheny, Bright Size Life (1976)
This is Metheny’s first album, recorded with the late great Jaco Pastorius on bass. I think Pat was all of about 20 when they recorded it. There are quite a few great Metheny albums, but this one is probably my fave, and is historically important. Honorable mention: Pat Metheny, Question and Answer.
Phish, A Picture of Nectar (1992)
Not necessarily everyone’s favorite Phish album, but a good intro to the band if you need one because it covers a lot of stylistic territory and contains a few outstanding guitar solos by guitarist Trey Anastasio.
Honorable mention: Phish, Lawn Boy, also Phish, Rift.
*The Tony Rice Unit, Manzanita (1979)
This album is one of the milestones of the style that people would eventually start calling “newgrass.” A bluegrassy band playing jazzy music, with some burning guitar work by Tony Rice.
*The Rolling Stones, Exile on Main St (1972)
While the Stones are not technical wizards like some of the others on this list, their guitar work is the basic bread-and-butter stuff that we should all be able to play. This album is an absolute pinnacle of rock and roll, in my opinion. Features Keith Richards and Mick Taylor on guitars.
Honorable mention: Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Texas Flood (1983)
SRV was one of the best later-generation blues guitarists, and this album, his first solo release, does a pretty good job of capturing his sound and style. Honorable mention: Stevie Ray Vaughan, Couldn’t Stand The Weather
John Scofield (with Medeski, Martin, and Wood), A-Go Go (1998)
This album will take you deep into some serious jazz-funk. Not a bad track on it. They just released a second album together in the summer of 2006. Honorable mention: John Scofield, Pick Hits Live
Wes Montgomery, The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960)
A jazz classic if there ever was one, features several famous solos that feature all of the things that made Wes great.