Dumbest rock songs with the coolest guitar solos

[bull]

What dumb rock songs would you typically shut of but feel compelled to listen to just because the guitar solo is THAT good?

For me I think the main one is "My Sharona" by The Knack. Yea, I know it was a hit song but I have to wonder if the goofy lyrics had one thing to do with that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1T71PGd-J0&feature=related (Berton Averre's killer solo starts at 2:40).

This kid really nails it too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FawuxMp6EyI

[69bronzeT5]

The only one I can think of right now is 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson. Eddie Van Halen's solo is just amazing. The actual song isn't that bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk&feature=av2e

[bull]

The only one I can think of right now is 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson. Eddie Van Halen's solo is just amazing. The actual song isn't that bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk&feature=av2e

Yes, I had forgotten that EVH did that solo until I read your post. Good one.

[68X426]

Not for the guitars, but for all the great sounds: Radar Love by Golden Earring. The lyrics suck but I was (and am) addicted to that beat and drums.

It is compelling.

[Black Charger]

I would have to say anything by Yngwie Malmsteen would qualify as a dumb rock song with a great solo in it. Yngwie should have definitely left the songwriting to others and just stuck to his (amazing) guitar playing.

[Bob T]

Perhaps not so dumb but right up there for distorted fuzz solos
Queens of the StoneAge Little Sister

Damn, im light years away from that

[doctor4766]

Yeah well Keep yer hands to yerself by Georgia Satellites kinda has lame lyrics but the riffs are cool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Ur45vTtw0

[John_Kunkel]

Yea, I know it was a hit song but I have to wonder if the goofy lyrics had one thing to do with that.

Make it worse with even goofier lyrics and a squeeze box solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_G7HHJ0GE

[Ponch ®]

Freebird and Hotel California.

[moparstuart]

Freebird and Hotel California.

call me a classic rocker , but i like them both

[nh_mopar_fan]

Ice Cream Man by VH.

Truly stupid song with great guitar work.

[RTDaddy]

"Highway Patrol" - Junior Brown

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

[TruckDriver]

What dumb rock songs would you typically shut of but feel compelled to listen to just because the guitar solo is THAT good?

For me I think the main one is "My Sharona" by The Knack. Yea, I know it was a hit song but I have to wonder if the goofy lyrics had one thing to do with that.

Here is a remake of the song by one of my favorite hard rock bands, Pink Cream 69. It's a lot better then the original version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSSGIhjdR4Q&feature=search

Another good remake by Hammerfall. It's even better then Pink Cream 69's version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-SFWc0dGfE&feature=related

[68charger383]

One of favorites is Little Guitars by EVH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHHAyOoySDk&feature=related

This prince song has a pretty good solo IMO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WlPHp44Qys

[Brock Samson]

 Jimi Hendrix was good at letting his band mates have a song or two at his gigs on his records... two that come to mind are little miss strange and she's so fine by noel redding his bassest in the J.H.E...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4L_ZOXJeAQ  little miss strange...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiy7chSlKUg   she's so fine..

this second one has a particularly nice guitar solo and Mitch Mitchell's wicked drum frenetics. 

[Ponch ®]

Freebird and Hotel California.

call me a classic rocker , but i like them both

Classic Rocker (there, I called you one).

Really though, they're ok songs, but I think they're overrated. The lyrics on both are inane and cliched at best ("I'm as free as bird"  ). And not so much Skynyrd, but bands like the the Eagles, represent EVERYTHING that was wrong with mainstream rock in the 70's - watered down for the masses, overproduced, and self indulgent.

I don't remember who it was who said it- I think it was the late Robert Palmer (the rock writer/critic, not the "Addicted to Love" dude) - but he may have had a point when he said something like "a single power chord in a Ramones song had more true rock n roll spirit than the entire Eagles catalog"

[chargerboy69]

The only one I can think of right now is 'Beat It' by Michael Jackson. Eddie Van Halen's solo is just amazing. The actual song isn't that bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk&feature=av2e

Good one Cody,  I have another one.  Steve Stevens did some good guitar work in another Michael Jackson song. The song, Dirty Diana, is not all that good, but Steve jams throughout the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdjqcSCObuc&feature=search

I would have to say anything by Yngwie Malmsteen would qualify as a dumb rock song with a great solo in it. Yngwie should have definitely left the songwriting to others and just stuck to his (amazing) guitar playing.

He is the first name I thought of too.  Yngwie is a fantastic guitar player with some so so songs.  Someone else along those lines would be Vinnie Vincent, and I love Vinnie.  Here is a alright song, but he jams in this song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZsv9lTBPdY&feature=search

[Black Charger]

h

  Someone else along those lines would be Vinnie Vincent, and I love Vinnie.  Here is a alright song, but he jams in this song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZsv9lTBPdY&feature=search
[/quote]

I remember that video from Headbangers Ball! Vinnie was a fantastic guitarist, but he had a rep for being a bit of a tool. I think it's funny that Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum started out in that band. The stuff they did with Slaughter later on was so much better. I still like the kiss-off to Vinnie they did on their first album called "Burnin' Bridges."

[jb666]

My favorites are already listed here.. Anything EVH does is classic...

Prince can play the guitar like there's no tomorrow...

But Slash.. Well, he's my hero... Always has been, always will be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCplsXu1HRk

And...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs0C9M5ahvQ&feature=related

[maxwellwedge]

Slash played on a M. Jackson song as well.

[Bob T]

The lead guitarist just makes this look effortless
Drivers Seat from 1 hit wonders Sniff n the Tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me_DrMPZOJM

[devilgear]

I must be lame because I don't think any of these songs are dumb, I like them all....