3 Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Completely Overshadow the Songs They’re In
This lighthearted feature from American Songwriter picks out three classic rock tracks in which the guitar solo, the writer argues, eclipses the song itself. It's part of the outlet's recurring "The List" series celebrating memorable guitar moments in rock history, aimed at fans revisiting well-known hits from the 1960s and 1970s.
The three songs highlighted are Paul McCartney and Wings' "My Love" (1973), praised for Henry McCullough's solo despite the song's occasionally sentimental tone and its No. 1 US chart peak; The Beatles' "The End" from Abbey Road (1969), noted for its rotating solos by George Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon alongside Ringo Starr's only recorded drum solo with the band; and Steely Dan's "Do It Again" (1972), whose standout solo, performed by Denny Dias on electric sitar, helped the track reach No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Article lists three classic rock songs with standout guitar solos.
- Features Wings' "My Love", The Beatles' "The End" and Steely Dan's "Do It Again".
- Highlights guitarists Henry McCullough, Harrison/McCartney/Lennon, and Denny Dias.
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Guitar solos have long been treated as a highlight of classic rock, often discussed and ranked independently of the songs that contain them. American Songwriter, a music magazine that regularly publishes list-based features on rock history, is one outlet that revisits these moments for fans of the genre.
This particular piece looks back at three well-known tracks from the late 1960s and early 1970s: Paul McCartney and Wings' "My Love", The Beatles' "The End", and Steely Dan's "Do It Again". Each features a solo attributed to specific musicians, including Henry McCullough, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Denny Dias, and all three songs were commercially successful at the time of release.
The article sits within a recurring series the magazine runs celebrating notable guitar work in rock music, rather than being tied to any recent news event. It reflects an ongoing interest among music fans and critics in revisiting and re-evaluating classic recordings from this era.