We've discussed Brian's best solos, but what are some of the others that deserve attention but just happen to be forgotten?
For example, All Dead, All Dead, Back Chat, Life Is Real, If You Can't Beat Them, Rain Must Fall, etc. Any others?
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I can't play a guitar, I can't read music but I know that the Don't Stop Me Now solo is good. Next is Dragon Attack. Some say DA is like a jam session only, but I think it's pretty darn good. Another one is Bijou, so soulful and serene. Invisible Man for its high technicality (correct me if I'm wrong), It's a Hard Life is so emotional for me, hits the right spot every time. Anybody else?
You & I has a fantastic solo, but my favorite underrated one is You Don't Fool Me...Brian Harold May totally takes the song to a new level.
I think his emotive solo on Who Wants to Live Forever is often overlooked in the grand sweep of the song, but it is quite an ace solo.
I think his emotive solo on Who Wants to Live Forever is often overlooked in the grand sweep of the song, but it is quite an ace solo.
I always thought the one on Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon was really great. I think it's overlooked/underrated because the song is so "un-serious", not done live, and so short, it almost seems more like an interlude... a really jolly, glue-sniffing interlude... ;-)
But that song's solo also reminds me of the famous and well-recongnized Killer Queen solo, and I love that one, too (though I'm not saying Killer Queen is underrated, by any stretch). I only mention it because those two always make me wonder how much or which elements of the resultant finished solo was of Freddie's design and how much was Brian's.
And I like Sweet Lady, even though I know I'll suffer a thousand daggers for saying so on this board! Underrated because practically no one likes the song, and I kind of like that busy, polyrhythmic, all-out jam style solo with the "yelping dog" effect he gets in the fade out. Think I'll put it on now & wake my neighbor!
But that song's solo also reminds me of the famous and well-recongnized Killer Queen solo, and I love that one, too (though I'm not saying Killer Queen is underrated, by any stretch). I only mention it because those two always make me wonder how much or which elements of the resultant finished solo was of Freddie's design and how much was Brian's.
And I like Sweet Lady, even though I know I'll suffer a thousand daggers for saying so on this board! Underrated because practically no one likes the song, and I kind of like that busy, polyrhythmic, all-out jam style solo with the "yelping dog" effect he gets in the fade out. Think I'll put it on now & wake my neighbor!
Do you guys remember the Rolling Stones 100 greatest guitarists list? Dr. May came out as 39, bested by Kurt Cobain (wtf?!?), Johnny Ramone, among others. Anyway when I read the article, each guitarist had a 'best solo' work, or something and Dr. May had the 'We Will Rock You' and 'Killer Queen'. Does this mean that WWRY and KQ are the overrated ones, especially coming from Queen's 'fascist' friend, Rolling Stone?
BTW, Tony Iommi came at 86, Eddie Van Halen at 70, guest guitarist at Innuendo Steve Howe at 69, Keith Richards at 10. FYI only.
Hi!
IMO the well-orchestrated solos (or call it soli?) are mostly underrated. For example Good Company, which features a whole brass and woodwind ensemble, or Millionaire Waltz of course, as well as Sunday Afternoon, YTMBA, MOTBQ etc etc. Most of his solos (or soli?) are done with a lot of fantasy and inventing new melodies to the lead vocal melody on the verses, which is really a hard job (Killer Queen, Hard Life, BoRhap, Play the Game, Save Me, Days of Our Lives etc.)
IMO the well-orchestrated solos (or call it soli?) are mostly underrated. For example Good Company, which features a whole brass and woodwind ensemble, or Millionaire Waltz of course, as well as Sunday Afternoon, YTMBA, MOTBQ etc etc. Most of his solos (or soli?) are done with a lot of fantasy and inventing new melodies to the lead vocal melody on the verses, which is really a hard job (Killer Queen, Hard Life, BoRhap, Play the Game, Save Me, Days of Our Lives etc.)
"Someone to die for" guitar parts are well done according to me...its' the song from the spiderman soundtrack played by brian of course ;) the harmoninized sounds on the red special sound great!
Hi!
IMO the well-orchestrated solos (or call it soli?) are mostly underrated. For example Good Company, which features a whole brass and woodwind ensemble, or Millionaire Waltz of course, as well as Sunday Afternoon, YTMBA, MOTBQ etc etc. Most of his solos (or soli?) are done with a lot of fantasy and inventing new melodies to the lead vocal melody on the verses, which is really a hard job (Killer Queen, Hard Life, BoRhap, Play the Game, Save Me, Days of Our Lives etc.)
I think you've hit the nail on the head here. This is why Brian is such a good guitarist, or Queen is such a good group if the solos aren't purely Brian's invention. Often I think the solos compliment the song more than other guitarist's work. That's what puts the icing on the cake!
And I like Sweet Lady, even though I know I'll suffer a thousand daggers for saying so on this board! Underrated because practically no one likes the song, and I kind of like that busy, polyrhythmic, all-out jam style solo with the "yelping dog" effect he gets in the fade out. Think I'll put it on now & wake my neighbor!
I love Sweet Lady and don't understand why people slate it either! I like it even more after reading the analysis of the lyrics here that suggested it was a "conversation" between lovers etc. That seems a correct analysis to me.
Made In Heaven
i think one of my favourite - and least talked about:
these are the days of our lives
he actually makes the guitar sing out complete and utter sadness and despair in that solo in a way that they then matched perfectly with the somberly tearful goodbye of the video
these are the days of our lives
he actually makes the guitar sing out complete and utter sadness and despair in that solo in a way that they then matched perfectly with the somberly tearful goodbye of the video
That is also one of my favorite solos. :)
Sleeping on the Sidewalk. Delish!
I think some of their later stuff had good solos like I Want it All, Headlong, Breakthru, and The Invisible Man
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