| # | Artist | Song (click to play) | Album | Year | CD label |
| 1 | Eric Johnson | Western Flyer | Guitar Speak - Volume 1 | 1988 | IRS |
| Here is an Eric Johnson song that I do not think is available anywhere else. Luckily I picked this CD when it came out, because I have not seen it since. The CD is a collection of all-instrumental songs by guitarist such as Steve, Ronnie Montrose, Randy California, ... This is a hard-hitting tune that is probably my favorite Eric Johnson song. | |||||
| 2 | Billy Cobham | Stratus | Spectrum | 1973 | Atlantic |
| After leaving the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham recorded this, his first solo album. It is an absolute classic of fusion. He is joined by Jan Hammer, Lee Sklar, Ron Carter, Joe Farrell, and Tommy Bolin. Bolin turns in some wicked guitar leads with some very unusual sound effect that makes it sound like he's underwater. | |||||
| 3 | Steve Vai | The Attitude Song | Flex-able | 1984 | Akashic Records |
| After several years of playing "stunt guitar" with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai released his first solo album. At the time that this album came out, I was very excited that this new guitarist was doing this incredible instrumental music. But, unfortunately for the next few years he played bullshit music with David Lee Roth, Alcatraz and other commercial rock bands. | |||||
| 4 | Khan | Mixed Up Man of the Mountains | Space Shanty | 1973 | Deram |
| This is perhaps Steve Hillage's finest hour on guitar. The songs are loaded with amazing guitar chops. Not only that, but you also get Dave Stewart the consummate Canterbury keyboardist. One of my all-time favorite albums. | |||||
| 5 | Steely Dan | Your Gold Teeth II | Katy Lied | 1974 | MCA Records |
| Steely Dan is an extremely artful band. They are basically Donald Fagen and Walter Becker with various other musicians who come and go. So many of their songs are just pure perfection of composition and execution. One of my favorite things about this song is the playful guitar leads of Larry Carlton. | |||||
| 6 | Man | Kerosene | Rhinos, Whinos and Lunatics | 1974 | Beat Goes On Records |
| Man has been kicking around Wales since the late 60's. Much of their music consists of long instrumentals in a style non unlike Quicksilver Messenger Service or the Grateful Dead. Very nice stuff. | |||||