My ten favourite ALLAN HOLDSWORTH albums

Andy is a drummer, producer and educator. He has toured the world with rock legend Robert Plant and played on classic prog albums by Frost and IQ.
As a drum clinician he has played with Terry Bozzio, Kenny Aronoff, Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman and Mike Portnoy.
He also teaches drums privately and at Kidderminster College

[@Poeme340]

As a young drummer in the 70’s, I came to know Allan through “Believe It”. I was a Mahavishnu devotee but was blown away by Allan’s “fluid” sound and still have the chills whenever I hear any of his brilliant solos.

[@mohammednazam4644]

It hurts me - hurts me - when people don't recognise how beautiful Allans playing was. So lyrical, so emotional, so deep and so profound. I'm glad you mentioned this. All his technique would mean NOTHING without his depth and vision of what music can be, and how music can be expressed on the most amazing instrument ever created

[@zZAPp-fi]

How could you get past the 4.15 bradford executive? An outstanding piece with a solo full of poetic beauty... possibly my favourite AH solo of all time

[@rembeadgc]

I commend you for hitting the nail on the head! Every analysis of Holdsworth I've heard, and I've heard a lot over many decades, misses the most important aspect of Allan's playing. Holdsworth even drew attention to it often when interviewed when asked basically how is it that he sounds the way he did. People tend to focus on the obvious technical aspects: legato technique, scales, chordal development, speed, fluidity, vibrato., etc. but they all tend to miss the most important and powerful things that contributed to his music making, which leads me to wonder whether many of his "so called" fans really even "heard" him at all. That is... his emotion, his heart, the concepts behind his narrative melodicism... the heart of the little boy who grew up in Yorkshire, his relationship with his father, his outlook on life, humanity and the future. All of these things must go heavily into why and how he played the kind of music he played (it obviously had a focused direction), why he composed the kind of songs he composed and why he expressed himself the way he did within them. These things are the motor (motivation) behind the technical, as it seems obvious to me. The technical is always only a tool to facilitate the expression of the human soul. It is that expression which dictates the development of the particular technique. Otherwise it just seems like we get a multitude of clones who focus on only the aspects of his playing that don't facilitate their own vulnerability. That''s what you hear in Holdworth's playing. A sense of expressive adventure which explored his vulnerabilities and was rewarded by the opening of new expressive doors. He said something to this effect... it being the expressive idea first which leads to the technique to communicate it. It has to come from a place of genuine, vulnerable and spontaneous honesty. This is why he couldn't play the same note for note solos "night after night" (pun intended). Oh, how you didn't mention...by name...Bruford's "One of a Kind", is beyond me. Allan's sound on that album hasn't been repeated, even by him. All of Allan's solo releases are pivotal and contain the sublime, for me. Thanks for a great video.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Great comment...I can't add much more

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

When i hear fools say Allan was an emotionless shredder, I think "drink a few strong drinks and listen again". So much emotion in each note.

[@xyz-md2mv]

Absolutely!!!

[@earache8326]

​@@ElrondHubbard_1make that a spliff.

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

@@earache8326 I don't disagree with you, in general. However, the alcohol "lowering inhibitions" thing is real, and these people are obviously musically frigid... Also, some non-professional zone rangers might be even more "overwhelmed" (poor things) with Allan under the spliffage. Cheers 🍻 (couldn't resist)

[@mountainman8775]

Thank you Andy. Concerning your very profound closing statement, I was reminded of this quote: “A real artist may create his picture in a lonely desert. He does not worry about who will look at his picture or whether anybody at all will look at it, for he creates within a divine-spiritual community. Gods look over his shoulder; he creates in their company. What does he care whether or not anybody admires his picture?” - Rudolf Steiner

[@stuffupthecracks]

Allan had a purity of vision that he was not prepared to compromise for anyone. Not even Miles! He effortlessly combined classical harmony, jazz improvisation & rock rhythms. The first time I heard him was a a young guitar player in the early 80s. The recordings were Buford's Feels Good to Me & his own Road Games. Yes he was possessed of phenomenal technique but it was his exquisite tone that really captivated me. At the time I was just beginning to explore jazz & had a copy of John Coltrane's Live at Birdland. Allan immediately struck me as a guitarist who most closely resembled Trane. My opinion has never changed. Favourite Allan music? Anything that he played on Synth Axe, an instrument that he turned into his own & which allowed him to shape the notes making his playing closer to the human voice. Spokes & Sand would be excellent examples of this. Non Brewed Condiment is simply astonishing. The Sixteen Men of Tain is a masterpiece. Quite frankly though I could listen to Allan all day long. I love all his work. An aspect of Allan that is greatly overlooked was his love of cycling. Anyone who loves music & cycles understands Allan's music. He also had a northern aesthetic that lends his music a certain melancholy that affects the soul.

[@vbassone]

Well said Phil!

[@flame-sky7148]

hAllan Holdsworth and Coltrane are only a handful of musicians that you can't figure or find out where their style or approach came from. You cannot find the source or the linage. What I like about Miles, Holdsworth and even Metheny is the use of the wah wah pedal on the trumpet (Miles) or Holdsworth & Metheny using the Synth Axe or Synclavier. They wanted to bring a new sound on their instrument. Whether people liked it or not, it's art.

[@themaelstromnotebook5418]

Great end message, and lots of good stuff for people starting to listen closely to Holdsworth. Thank you

[@kevinogracia1615]

I saw an old interview (all interviews are old, huh) from the seventies that asked Zappa "Who's your favorite guitarist?" "Well," he answered, "there's this new guy... Allan Holdsworth." Respect.

[@tamasmaksza6450]

Lucky enough to see him twice in a very small venue..... absolutely mesmerizing, the level of fluidity was staggering.

[@pobinr]

I saw him 7 times 🤪

[@IsothermeMusic]

Oh, the end of this video. I came for the Holdsworth, but ended up hearing Andy’s words that resonated so deeply with me, and were exactly what I needed to hear. I’m 52, I have a small home studio, I’m not on a label, I have skills, inspiration, and drive. It’s OK that virtually no one out there knows who the hell I am as a musician. However, I can consider myself successful in that I can create what I want, when I want, how I want it and it’s all mine. Thank you Andy. I needed to hear that.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

They come here for the top tens but there is usually an ulterior motive behind my videos.....

[@billphelps5611]

You said it. I got the same thing but you worded it better than I did. Andy is great teacher!

[@Luke-db9fc]

I saw Allan Holdsworth in concert about 4 times. I was astonished each time.

[@Fontsman]

Sand contains 'The 4.15 Bradford Executive,' one of his finest guitar compositions.

[@snowfiresunwind]

Definitely!

[@snowfiresunwind]

Great video. One unique thing about Holdsworth that rarely gets mentioned is that his albums never have any fillers on them. Each tune/composition is there for a purpose. Sure sometimes the albums are short (timewise) compared to what we may expect from a CD but that's because the statement has been made - and no need to bump it out with substandard fillers. My favourite album of his has to be 16 Men of Tain - an absolute masterpiece of technical and emotional playing imho.

[@guillaumechabason3165]

The final chords sequence of Material real is one the most fascinating and beautiful piece of music I ever heard The Adagio second movement of Bartok piano concerto n°2 is very Holdsworthian

[@ronmazurkiewicz3331]

Thank's so much for this am a massive Holdsworth fan totally agree with you Allan was technically and harmonically on a whole other level than any other guitarist and so tasteful, was lucky enough to meet him the first time I saw him I had a pile of album covers he called me over and signed them all such a humble beautiful person ,saw him about another 10 times always had time to talk to you and totally blew me away every time.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

The greater the musician, the humbler in my opinion. He was a one off

[@pjjmsn]

Great video!

[@fredhuybens2783]

Great tribute to Allan’s artistry. I’m surprised though not find ‘One of a kind’ on the list. Such a fantastic album on which Allan really shines and for me his very best.

[@joshuagidneymusic]

Excellent overview of Allan and his music!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Joshua

[@3moons29]

Hear hear. I liked the fact that it’s a long video about Mr Holdsworth. There are genres and then Zappa and Holdsworth in their own right. I prefer AH solo albums but his contribution with Bruford and Ponty is just superb. My heart grew on prog and metal however this quality of fusion cannot go unnoticed. ‘Secrets’ (my favourite) completely destroyed my senses for the first few times I heard it and then I understood it without words, it’s staggering the amount of perfection and performance throughout the album by all musicians. Music is the best

[@biorythmicshifter]

A labor of love, good work. I also find Holdsworth to be the greatest musician of my lifetime. It literally took me a couple years of listening to finally recognize something I could grasp. Once I got a hold of whatever I had I couldn’t let go. At first I was mesmerized by the otherworldly musicianship but once the harmonic language was revealed I was emotionally captivated in ways no other musician has been able to touch. My primary taste in music is Iron Maiden and some extremely proficient death metal bands, Allan’s music pierced through the intensity of all that to reach me. Oddly, of all the extreme music I listen to Allan is the most extreme of all…

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

There is that journey from metal to Allan...then perhaps onto Keith Jarrett or Pat Metheny perhaps...

[@georgelamie7001]

Nice job, Andy! I enjoyed it. Hopefully you liked the one we did on Sea of Tranquility as well. The more coverage of this man, the better.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Yes I saw it...enjoyed it very much. I agree, I hope I did him justice

[@awrogers3013]

The first solo record is the greatest because it landed from outer space. The impact on my crew was earth shattering..including the rhythm interplay ..I had never heard anybody play against each other like Gary and Allan….incredible impact on everyone

[@henryboyle4295]

SO wondeful to hear you just come right out about Allan in a way that REALLY makes people think again concerning his work. Allans technique and solos are like nothing else...but his chord harmony is for the ages. His work in this regard places directly among BACH, CHOPIN, and any one else we can think of as his compositions are pored over for the movement and depth of his voicings...I eagerly await the time when Orchestras get a grip on "SAND", "HOME", "FUNNELS"...

[@flame-sky7148]

That's the one thing I was waiting for in Allan's career, for him to get his guitar and sound in front of an orchestra and his compositions to be played with a symphony or orchestra. It would have been the greatest thing ever. Zawinul did it with the Stories of the Danube, Mclaughlin did it with the Mediterranean concerto, and Chick Corea did it with the: Corea Concerto

[@bolinoid]

The first time I heard Allan Holdsworth was on the track Beezlebub on The Bruford album Feels Good To Me back in 1982 - it literally melted my brain!

[@mattf9076]

Holdsworth to me brings other musicians around him to new levels. Jeff Berlin's bass solo on Water on The Brain is my current favorite of all time. Chad Wackerman's drumming on the 415 Bradford Executive is my favorite drum track, cymbal work on that song just gets me. Gordon Beck's piano playing on the album None Too Soon really grabs me. Walt Fowler's trumpet playing on 0274 is great, he doesn't shred, but his playing fits the song so fucking well that I can't imagine any other note being played. Gary Husband on Letters of Marque. I could go on and on, I mean really every song of his includes musicians that are on their A game. Those are the songs that just hit me the most.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I agree...more recently I have been listening to the many accompanying keyboard solos on his albums. They are all quite incredible. On any other albums they would shine out but they have to try and compete with Allan's solos. But so many of them are jaw dropping when listed to in isolation.

[@mattf9076]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer playing on stage with Allan is really a no win situation because I'll take a solo first and maybe it is good, but then Allan solos and just obliterates you or the other scenario, he takes the solo first and then I've gotta follow that - Steve Hunt interview with Rick B

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

Yes, i often wonder how people like Chad Wackerman are able to cope without being able to play with the absolute master any more.

[@ronmazurkiewicz3331]

Andy thank's so much for putting out to the world in great detail the greatness of Allan Holdsworth this really needed to be done , you said it all so perfectly in my 53 years as a musician this is the best review I've ever heard .

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Ron...thats greatly appreciated

[@coolguitarchannel]

This is some real inspiring stuff you’ve said towards the end of this video. And a great honor to Holdsworth as well.

[@ValThor-g2c]

Allan jammed on a level few could even understand. I saw him several times. Believe It was huge for me as a kid. Tony and Allan just on fire. It is up there with Inner Mounting Flame.

[@jefffloyd9671]

You're like the Al Holdsworth of progressive music YT. You are an excellent addition everywhere I've seen you, but I think your solo channel is underappreciated.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Ha ha...thanks....

[@vvblues]

I’m a huge fan. Enigmatic Oceans was my gateway drug. I saw him in 83 in Chicago and at a bunch of NAMM shows. I was supposed to interview him for an issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine and he didn’t show up. That’s the day he died. It was crushing.

[@robertmcdougall3166]

Well done Andy you presented this with a great passion, Allan was just a sublime guitarist. I often equate him with John Coltrane, both used complex scales and pushed the boundaries of music and their instruments. I can’t fault your choices. We all have our favourite Holdsworth track, mine is one called Endomorph (from Secrets) in which he pours so much emotion. Just to say that Enigmatic Ocean is a superb album, even the weaker numbers like Mirage and Nostalgic Lady are just pure class. The album is worth buying for the incredible playing of Ralphe Armstrong on base alone.

[@NeilRaouf]

is it rude to say that allan was way past coltrane? i mean...

[@robertmcdougall3166]

@@NeilRaouf Not sure what you mean, both were absolute gaints, we should be grateful that both of them provided music of the highest quality.

[@TractorCountdown]

Hi Andy, your 'philosophical rant' at the end is something I'll be returning to again and again. You've put into words my own feelings on artistic success. It's a simple idea but it can easily get lost or forgotten. Thank you! Cheers, Ian

[@billphelps5611]

Really enjoyed hearing the last bits in this video and you are so right. Take the inspiration from those you admire and make your own way. Absolutely love the Gong record Allan is on. Have a few of his solo albums and they are great too.

[@archiestj]

Thank you so much for this great contribution ! We guitarists will miss Alan Holdsworth for as long as we live. 😐

[@michaelslahetka8371]

( BELIEVE IT ) !!*****!! TOTAL MASTERPIECE! Along With... Pat Martino (Joyus Lake ) From The 70's ALLAN IS THE TOP OF ALL MOUNTIANS

[@perromanchado]

My favourite guitarist of all time!

[@graemeyetts3465]

Great video and a very helpful into to a genius player Dont comply, Don't compromise 🎉

[@shanebullock5005]

Thanks for this video ,discovered that "New Tony Williams Album" and some great early Holdsworth playing so that album pops into my 1970 albums at No. 17

[@mountainman8775]

It‘s very rare I listen to someone talk for 40 minutes - not that it‘s important to always agree - and find myself agreeing with every single thing said. During lockdown 2020 I had the most satisfying musical experience I have ever had and I know it‘s changed me: I heard Allan Holdsworth for the first time. I had never gotten into jazz or prog before; I only heard the prog band U.K. you mentioned for the first time literally last night. I liked it a lot. So you’ve reached someone really new to AH with this video and I want to say thanks because it‘s going to be such a useful guide for me going forward with Allan‘s discography. You made some points that are too rarely said, such as how much feeling he really does show in all of his playing, and ones that are never said, like about the importance of going your own way and how different players create different worlds. I‘d like to add a thought that I never hear being said either, after straight away jumping to listen to Bill Connors Assembler after you pointed it out. AH‘s harmonies always strike me as spiritual in nature; in my own head I call it ˋgravity jazz‘, because his melodies remind me of orbiting celestial rocks with their trajectories. If different artists create different worlds, and AH copiers only skim the surface but their scales and chords lack the realistic ˋmusical physics‘ of AH‘s playing, is it possible AH‘s harmonies have such a profound effect because his musical physics most closely resemble the real physics of the world? That‘s how it sounds to my ears. If that sounds weird or just huge fanboy, it‘s worth considering that if you can build a world with music then you can build one that corresponds with the real world and cosmos, hence the spirituality connection to Holdsworthian harmony.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for your comments. Harmony of course is physics and western harmony is rooted in Pythagoras and his Music of the Spheres. This was an explanation of the structure of the universe. There are also parallels with Gurdjieff's law of the octave.

[@mountainman8775]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer wow that‘s just really helpful

[@scoop1178]

after the 45min it is a honour to subscripe. Thank You Very Much

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks scoop...I hope there is a lot more content to come to your liking :)

[@Shivabraxus108]

Great inspiring talk at the end about reframing success and making the music YOU want to hear! :-)

[@croydonmassive]

I saw Allan at the Jazz Cafe in the late 90's, met him after the gig and he signed a couple of CDs I had with me, one being Road Games. He told me, to my surprise that even he didn't have a copy of the vinyl as it was so rare. He never got the full exposure he so richly deserved. Genius. It was a mental gig.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I have it on vinyl too...

[@vbassone]

Andy, the Bill Connors record where he turned into a Holdsworth clone were in the 1980's not the 90's as you state here. The first was "Step It'" in 1985 with Weckl on drums and Steve Khan producing. Those three records, Step It, Double Up, and Assembler were released in 1985, 86, and 87 respectively.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Sorry about that, it was a slip of the tongue

[@flame-sky7148]

A Pedal 🎶

[@mrg1968]

Great speaking! Commercial success is not Artistic success, I love artists that think differently… Allan Holdsworth was one of the most important! Thanks for your kind words on him

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I agree and try and get across to my students. Many artists get these two concepts confused possibly

[@mrg1968]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Tried without success to let my daughter listen to some music instead of the commercial one … really difficult to separate the concept of followers and quality … they have different meanings

[@hermancharlesserrano1489]

I got into Allan via Nucleus...great to see them mentioned! Love your depth of knowledge

[@supmet2]

i agree with you about the Husband-Holdsworth connection. Gary Husband always struck me as the most connected to Holdsworth. Of course we all know he had some of the greatest drummers/musicians ever, but Husband still "fits" the music better than anyone else to my ear. I.O.U. - Hard Hat Area are equally amazing and show how much the two of them evolved.

[@SuperQdaddy]

Iou is great.its Down to earth.. ..and Sand is a trip into another world

[@tonysauer8784]

Loving the Jean Luc Ponty album, thanks for the heads up Andy. Getting to really like Holdsworth, it starts to make sense if you give it a fair go.

[@car-or-ock616]

Back 20 years ago, when they broke into my apartment and took 100 CDs I decided not to buy the Eagles Hotel California for a third time. So I got the Pinguin Guide to Jazz (UK) and bought all the titles that had 5 stars. That was my introduction to jazz. I'm going to be in NYC in March and on Sunday night, I will be at the Village Vanguard for the 10 pm show. Bill Evans Waltz for Debt and Live at the Village Vanguard impressed me that much. But there is something about jazz that demands 'knowing music' that Rock 'n' Roll dropped by the wayside. Everyone can listen to a rock record. You don't need a trained ear. As a visual artist my brain in wired to the eyes. I love listening to music. But I often wonder how much I can hear. Don't ask me to hum a tune. The scales are just not there. So, while I appreciate jazz, we have to keep in mind a big chunk of the audience that is only along for the ride when we dig deep into musicality. I think that's why The Beatles in Liverpool were told to 'Mach Show'. So many of us need some visual distraction, the story telling of the lyrics, to capture our attention. Yeah... I took guitar lessons, what a disaster. Played bagpipes in the high school band-that instrument is classed as a weapon of war in the British Army manuals. Love the channel. The architect/designer in me can't wait til you get your records into a proper rack!

[@zootallures6470]

I have seen Allan three times. Last time with Dave Carpenter and Gary Novak. They started the set with _5 to 10_ and at the end I was tempted to shout in: What you guys playin’… I hate jazz. But I didn’t. So it’s intermission time, Dave and Gary are going backstage. Allan goes to the bar, orders a beer and he sits down there and starts drinking his beer. What?? So I went to him and started talking. The usual stuff, how much I admire him and like his music. After 5-7 minutes 10 more people arrived and he had to divide his attention between all of us. But I’ve had my 5 minutes with the man! His death came as a shock to me - and in some way not. There are some videos on YT where he is talking about the Kiesel guitar. Somehow, he doesn’t sound like his old self… About one year after his death I went to work one morning and I was the first to arrive. So I was still listening to music in my phone as I was unlocking and turning on the lights because I was alone in the building. Phone played a Holdsworth song [I don’t remember which] and I noticed that I had some tears in my eyes. Not a flood, but wet… During the years I have mourned all “my” musicians who passed away but that was mostly in my mind and my soul. Never tears…

[@docbobster]

A great example of a musician creating their own world is Steve Tibbetts. No one makes music like him. I can't even describe it; I just love it.

[@mattf9076]

Speechless about the quality of this video. Whenever I talk about Holdsworth, I always feel like I am not discussing him properly, but I guess music is everything outside of words. You sir, have done a tremendous service and especially at the end of the video about carving your own path. That is my takeaway from Holdsworth as well, he said these 4 words to someone when asked about achieving his sound "Go Your Own Way". When he said that after having his music burnt into my skull, it was easy for me to decide to go down this path. Again this is easily the best Holdsworth tribute video as well as musical education video I have seen.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for your kind comments. They are really appreciated

[@Oenloveslife]

I thank you I thank you for GETTING that AH is utterly unique -- THE master of the guitar. His influence is growing everywhere and almost all of the brilliant young guitarists coming out now (excluding blues guitarists) are either learning Holdsworth or learning folks who learned Holdsworth. Matteo Mancuso is also a unique guitarist, but he's got a million miles to go in creating original music. Holdsworth is the Everest of guitar AND composition.

[@zarg05]

Thx for your passionate stream on Allan. I'm not a musician but have always sought out things that are unique sound worlds from monk, ligeti, David torn to Mr holdsworth. I find it incomprehensible that some say he is not an emotive player. Totally agree that he will be studied and listened to centuries ahead.

[@paulmartinson875]

Another excellent conversation

[@CharlesAustin]

Your videos are Ever engaging, inspirational, and so relevant and necessary to give a vision and take on the fabulous wealth of music over the last 60 years !! Very enjoyable !!

[@yannick2047]

Wardenclyffe Tower might not be his most talked-about album, but there is such great stuff on there. Apart from the track you mentioned, I would like to name „5 to 10“, „Sphere of Innocence“ and the re-recording of „Tokyo Dream“ as recommendations. And Allan lays down a particularly badass solo on the perhaps lesser known track „Questions“, which many people maybe don‘t have on their radar. One of my favorite solos of his. Overall, great and rewarding album, especially on repeated listenings.

[@arunsabherwal6256]

Thanks Andy for this presentation as well The Gong and The Gong with Allan Holdsworth trilogy episodes. By the end of this episode I feel as if I've done a pilgrimage.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Fontsman]

When Allan left us, I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. His music was that important to me. He set the bar so high yet was almost skint when he died. The world is also that much poorer too.

[@earache8326]

Nice tribute.

[@jhep1]

Andy love to hear what you got to say sm so with you every single word!

[@Darrylizer1]

Allan Holdsworth was an amazing musician. I have many of his albums and have watched a lot of KZbin vids of him, amazing. Just his work with Soft Machine alone is incredible. Zappa's favorite guitarist too. As for trumpeters go, don't forget Lee Morgan!

[@virtual_graphics]

Great video...I 1000% agree with you. As someone who workedc30 years in a related creative field, those philosophical questions need to be asked and resolved, otherwise you will chase the proverbial carrot for your entire career. Great job, Andy...btw I love your work on Frost and IQ.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks for that

[@virtual_graphics]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer thank you for making great videos...keep it up

[@PeffDada]

I am surprised that you didn't put Bundles in your top ten. Hazard Profile pt 1 and the whole suite on side two where Holdsworth not only plays brilliant but the framework of Bundles (the piece) and Land of the bag snake where he plays his solos on are among the best things I ever heard in jazzrock.

[@jefferysimpkins366]

Great tribute!!

[@jefferysimpkins366]

Have you thought of doing a list for Gary Husband? It kills me that he has played with top shelf musicians as a drummer and a pianist! I caught him here in the states with Mclaughlin's 4th Dimension.

[@fredhuybens2783]

Great video. Just a small remark at 24:10 : Road Games doesn't follow Metal Fatigue, it precedes it. Also I really miss 'One of a Kind' in this list.

[@wagstaff6135]

Allan is definitely top tier. I am more of an opinion like you were saying about trumpeters. I can't say "greatest" at guitar, like there's a real monolith there. Wes, Django, Jimi, Beck, McLaughlin, Breau, Greene, Gatton, Frisell.... a dozen more I'm sure.... I couldn't choose a ranking. Different things going on. But I totally get why Holdsworth could be anyone's favorite. Thought on Velvet Darkness -- Allan is amazing, he was disappointed that there weren't enough rehearsals, the rest of the band didn't know the tunes well enough. HE is astounding. I'm not sure if he hated his own playing on that one, but I believe his main problem was with the other guys not really having time. Of course he's famous for denigrating his own playing, even while leaving audiences slack-jawed.

[@moontan91]

there's Alan, and then there's all the other guitarists. great video, thanks!

[@user-sm2yp2qp3x]

Hi Andy. I'm a huge fan of your channel as it is very thought-provoking and discuss concepts/albums/players that are so essential to the enjoyment that I find in life. Holdsworth is definitely one of the greatest geniuses of any century, in my humble opinion. Thank you for turning me onto that Gong album! What a hidden gem that totally slipped under my radar!

[@quaveda1983]

Thanks for this inspired commentary and recommendations !

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lorenzomcnally6629]

Crank the bass eq on your amp. Pay attention in the beginning to sus 4 and minor 11 chords and modal scales. Practice forever. Alan Holdsworth wide intervals Chords and notes. Crank the bass eq on your amp

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

I have 3 , ...Zappa , Django , and Allan !

[@Darrylizer1]

Enigmatic Ocean by Jean Luc Ponty was the album where I discovered Holdsworth. Great album along with U.K.s first.

[@preservedmoose]

Another great video. Yeah, he was just unbelievable. I'm a huge fan and the more I listen to what he played the more amazed I am. There is a section on an album by K2 (K squared) called Infinite Voyage where he has a long stretch and there is not much going on harmonically. He plays outside (a little) and inside creating tension and release...it is really interesting and just shows his amazing melodic sense. My favourite album of his, oddly enough, is probably Atavachron. But that's because I got over the Synthaxe thing and listened to the music. IOU was a shock when I first heard it after hearing the Gong, Bruford and Ponty stuff and I did not like it at first. Now, it is probably battling for first place. A bit "gnarly", as he would say, but phenomenal and SO different harmonically. Lastly, Gazeuse! My favourite of his guests appearances. Pierre Moerlon is really firing on all cylinders too. Great stuff thank you Andy!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thanks Stephen. Of his solo albums Atavachron and Sand are the ones I'm least familiar with. When they came I didn't buy them because of the album artwork. To this day I can remember holding them in my hands and wondering whether to buy them. Even Tony Williams didn't lure me in!

[@musterionsurly]

Haha look at Bill in the background checking you out on Holdsworth. Thanks for showing Allan the love He so richly deserves.

[@FundamentalsUK]

Thanks Andy , love Allan , esp metal fatigue and the U.K album.

[@piktormusic2538]

Good commentary Andy, especially the end bit about artistry and personal vision. Thank you.

[@henryboyle4295]

At work one day in '81 I heard we were going to be builing guitars for him..but Id never heard him (I thought at the time) at lunch we went to grovers apt and he put on FRED from Believe It...I and I just fell sideways off of my f#$%ng seat! Also Tony does the most stunning polyrhythmic turnaround on that tune..!

[@GeeDee803]

Thank you Mate, I am a Holdsworth Fan too. When i heard him the first Time, it blew me away! I am a Guitar and Bass Player.

[@kzustang]

Great video. I love your approach and your rationale about creativity. Great stuff, man. Really.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@davidjaggs]

Love it!

[@mikebassy]

Great videos mate , thanks to you I had my cassette tape of Freedom by Santana on today . Good lp

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Cheers Mike

[@buddystewart2020]

I always liked Floppy Hat from Velvet Darkness. One of the few times I can remember him on acoustic, I'm sure people that are more familiar with everything he recorded may cite other instances.

[@patcaploe7250]

I enjoyed hearing your perspective! There isn't much air traffic at the altitude where Allan flew. I will aspire to bring my unique offerings to the level of intensity which Allan reached. He didn't expect others to play like him, but rather to play like how the music moves us. There's a great video where guitarist Jamie Glasier has that conversation with Allan.

[@Truthinshredding1]

Just check the solo in Endomorph from Secrets. This to me shows the emotion in his playing, far more thsn any blues solos.

[@yannick2047]

Yup. Nice and underrated solo. Or equivalently the „prelude“ on hard hat area …

[@AlmostEthical]

I have never been able to get into AH's solo albums but his playing with the likes of UK, Gong, Soft Machine and JL Ponty is sublime. One of my favourite solos on any instrument is Allan's baritone guitar solo on Andrea Marcelli's Moon.

[@Dutchman536]

Love this piece of let Alan shine , love the rest of mentioned gitarists , love "Frost" for it's maximal very smart Sym/rock , apart from their not so good latest , do miss one person/band ..............Guthrie Govan , his/their playing is for sure on a outer world playing ..... May Alan give lots of wakeup calls , for every gitarist , ............ Thankx anyway Andy

[@martinbravey6444]

Thanks for this Andy. I feel newly motivated to listen to Allan's work again. I've always loved his solo on 'Hector's House' on Belladonna (why didn't he get to do more solos on that album?) but have never really latched on to his solo albums. I did hear somewhere that there exists an unreleased album in some vault of Tony William's Lifetime with Allan on guitar and Jack Bruce on bass. Maybe that was just dream?

[@martinbravey6444]

Maybe this was it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIG4q5idbKdpl5Y

[@cliffordsalmon6342]

Its the Lost Wildlife Sessions recorded in 1974, Holdsworth, Tony Williams, Jack Bruce, Webster Lewis and Tony William's girl friend on vocals. There is a 14 minute song with amazing guitar solos.

[@garywillcox1]

Surprised you don’t rate Sand & Atavachron. I love them personally. Enjoyed the video 🎶👏🎷🪕✅😃

[@gitaaa7740]

I agree with you about Allan being the greatest guitarist 😊. Your thoughts at the end of the video made me think about my own guitar playing. Trying to be unique is probably the hardest to achieve musically. I just play for my own well being. The guitar I enjoy playing the most is my classical guitar. I just take it out of the case and play. No amps to deal with, cords, pedals etc. And I can take it anywhere 😊

[@ganazby]

For me, ‘Sixteen Men of Tain’ is the one. The compositions are perfect, and the improvisations are sensational. Definitely one of his jazzier albums. Saw him in the Iridium in New York shortly after it was released, where he played most of the album. Think Chad was on drums. My girlfriend of the time absolutely detested it. I, of course, was mesmerised.

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

I'm not, but one could certainly make an argument that Sixteen Men could be his masterpiece.

[@ganazby]

@@ElrondHubbard_1 I’ve come to that conclusion. Gonna listen to it tonight.

[@ganazby]

@@ElrondHubbard_1 👍

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

Indeed he' was the greatest guitarist ever walked this planet !

[@croydonmassive]

Two best guitarists of all time. Holdsworth and McLaughin. From the Leeds area. How can that be?

[@drj602]

To me it was always John. He was the greatest. Then along came Allan and half the time he’s playing lines you would be more likely to here coming from a clarinet. Two true giants.

[@Elgnomastico]

The New Tony Williams Lifetime - Believe It Pierre Moerlen's Gong - Gazeuse Jean Luc Ponty - Enigmatic Ocean UK - UK Solo - I.O.U Solo - Metal Fatigue Solo - Secrets Solo - None Too Soon Solo - The Sixteen Men Of Tain Solo - All night wrong

[@glennmccudden8574]

there was a time Dennis chambers and John I forgot Last name. The guitarist. Went to see Allan holdworth. And couldn't believe how Good he was. John went down To the bar. Having a beer. Now John don't. Drink at all. That's How new and original Allan HOLDWORTH guitarist he was Like supernatural. In his playing. A true genius in his own right.

[@bobgordon236]

My 26 favorite Jim Laventhal albums include: On the Roadie Again and Jump on This.

[@thorvelizelos]

I don't believe in "THE GREATEST" guitarist but he is certainly up there among the best!

[@philbuckle]

Great message. I share your sentiments.

[@flame-sky7148]

Most older people enjoy Sixteen Men of Tain the most. I feel Allan was the greatest electric guitar player ever and the greatest improvisor on electric guitar. The Guitarist of the Decade 1980's. The only knock I would mention is that since he was the best and had his own sound and style, I don't think the vocalist, Paul Williams was necessary on his earlier albums. I just wanted to hear Allan's voice not anybody else. That leads to the live album "Then" one of my favorite live albums at one of his favorite places. Some of the tunes that used to have vocals aren't there which is good like "White Line". Still love those albums, but my favorites are Atavachron and Wardenclyffe Tower with the keyboardist (Hunt or Pasqua). I think Jimmy Johnson was just the perfect bassist for Allan.