JOHN McLAUGHLIN's Ten Greatest Guitar Solos | RANKED

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[@ornleifs]

Here's a strange John McLaughlin story - in the mid of December 1973 John came to Iceland, not to play a concert (Which he never has unfortunately) but to teach High School Students to meditate !!! - He was invited by an Icelandic Psychologist who was also interested in Spiritual matter and Music like John and he was here for three days to teach them how to meditate. In the newspaper article he said that he was very interested in meditation and felt that Iceland was a good place to meditate and felt that the teenagers were very mature, he was pictured with his then wife on the airport while leaving Iceland and he said he wanted to come with his band the Mahavishnu and give a concert here - unfortunately that never happened. ( I tried to post the link to the article but youtube clearly deletes links to other sites).

[@FOXTROTSKYOMEGA]

⚛️☯️⚛️

[@lastdaysguitar]

I sure hope "New York On My Mind" is one of them, LOVE LOVE LOVE that song.

[@pauldove966]

Love that track too - one of my all time fave JM compositions - with some beautiful interplay from all the virtuoso musicians, but there's only a very restrained solo from John. It has great intensity but very spare and restrained, so maybe not an obvious contender for greatest solo... Edit: Not saying you're wrong though. Have just listened to the solo again and even though it's really only a handful of single notes the tone is amazing and it has incredible emotional power.

[@SwampEye1]

Nice selection Andy, but you missed out Miles Davis, Live Evil "What I Say "(Live at the Cellar Door, Washington, DC - December 1970) starting at 9:30 min. into the song and the following minute changed everything in terms of my guitar playing ... absolutely stellar

[@MrMaynardWR]

Lila's dance from Mahavishnu and Lotus Feet from Shakti

[@robbiej2749]

Yes, stellar stuff !

[@Oneness100]

One of his best solos is on the song Lady L on Handful of Beauty. The pitch bend at the end always makes my hair stand on end and I get chills EVERY time. Clearly one of his best recorded. Also, the into of Miles Out from inner Worlds is amazing. It sounds like he's using a Strat through a lot of effects.

[@mr.b4444]

I saw that Inner Worlds band at Brooklyn College NY back in around 1976 or so. John was playing on an Gibson L5-S with a wall of synthesizers behind him. Those guys were loud as hell. I just loved it. Also on the ticket the same night was Herbie Hancock's band with Bennie Maupin. I love just about everything Mahavishnu recorded. My favorite solo is from Between Nothingness and Eternity, the first solo on Trinity.

[@zootallures6470]

My favorite McLaughlin solo is in _The Life Divine_ from his album with Carlos Santana, Love Devotion Surrender. Santana plays the first solo. McLaughlin is building up the second one and it culminates at 6:50 when he “moans” a short *a.* Larry Young plays a killer organ.

[@FOXTROTSKYOMEGA]

Agreed

[@zootallures6470]

@@FOXTROTSKYOMEGA 👍 There is even a live version from Montreux which is... nice. Cindy Blackman and Dennis Chambers are having a great time.

[@virgilrobertsjr7870]

The Life Divine solo was... #SUPREME! ☆☆☆☆☆ 😎

[@attichatchsound-bobkowal5328]

Got chills listening to Andy describe "Birds" of Fire" . On that one, I've always envisioned John being beaten about in some gauntlet as he grabs his notes for dear life! #1 for me is the start of "Noonward Race" Not his most technical or musical - BUT it's a magic moment - him kicking down the door and stomping his mark on history with reckless abandon!

[@mononoaware1960]

For me it will always be Meeting of the Spirits. IMF was the album that single-handedly got me into jazz. After that I got into all the jazz rock players, from there got into the straight ahead stuff and just about every other style of jazz. John is solely responsible for me becoming a jazz guitarist. Him and Jim Hall, I got into straight jazz after hearing Jim Hall with Bill Evans. I’ll never forget that moment of hearing Meeting of the Spirits for the first time, it completely melted my face off and rewired my brain. It had the intensity and passion of Hendrix but at the same time had scary precision, accuracy, and deep harmonic knowledge. A truly life changing moment. His playing on Miles’ Silent Way and Bitches Brew is transcendental and I’m partial to Extrapolation as well.

[@Oenloveslife]

Also, I love his solo on "Dawn". There is something so perfect about that solo: compact, fluid, wild, crystalline.

[@lamecasuelas2]

Man imagine listening to that when It first came out

[@thewestfaceofdhaulagiri6697]

Yep. Totally. That would probably would have been my #1 choice.

[@onsenkuma1979]

Andy, I'm guessing you maybe kind of sort of like John McLaughlin's guitar work. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I absolutely loved that 'Electric Guitarist' album back in the day. I know your focus here is on the jazz-rock fusion end of things, but let's not forget the superb acoustic solos McLaughlin played on the three Shakti records during the mid to late '70s.

[@trippknotic]

Love it! 😂 I saw JMc and the One Truth Band back in 1979 or 80, the curtain rose, the band were playing building up the tension, John had his back to the audience, building more tension, suddenly turning to the crowd, leaning back and unleashing an incendiary burst of driven guitar that pushed everyone back in their seats and blew a few wigs off, incredible! Andy I can listen to you rave on about John McLaughlin all day Cheers

[@shirleymental4189]

Maybe this doesn't count because it's not from an official release. But John's solo on Taurian Matador from the Love Devotion and Surrender tour, Chicago recording. First though we have to wade through Mr Santana's cacophonous wailing and when he runs out of ideas, does his lets run up the fretboard like a 747 taking off routine. Then it's just John, Billy and I think, Doug Rauch. He takes this simple vamp, examines it, play's with it, turns it inside out, let's it rest occasionally, play's a diminished run that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and then takes you into the stratosphere. Oh, and I'll mention his work on Katia, from Miles' You're under arrest.

[@johnr3587]

One of your best videos!

[@TheCatNipGardener]

Great video Andy

[@jurgenkoslowski2097]

Great list and a good motivation to complete my Mahavishnu/McLaughlin collection. I got a tape recorder (mono :-((() for Christmas in 1969 and started recording stuff off the radio. Pretty soon I got hooked on Voodoo Child, but initially didn't know the performer. Eventually I figured that out and after hearing "Who Knows" by the Band of Gypsys on the radio, I bought that album from the money I earned during the Easter vacation. When Jimi died in September, I was devastated. Then in 1971 some tracks from the "Inner Mounting Flame" started to appear on the radio (we used to have some pretty good radio programs in northern Germany, not anymore). My math teacher in school had the album and agreed to lend me his copy, so I could listen to the whole thing. Obviously, I bought it myself soon after ;-) I was a bit disappointed when the first incarnation of the band broke up by 1973 and only later got into the successor. I was a huge Jean-Luc Ponty fan, though, electric violin in general. [There is a great sampler "New Violin Summit" from the Berlin Jazz Days 1971 on MPS with Jean-Luc Ponty, Michal Urbaniak, Don "Sugar Cane" Harris and Nipso Brandtner all on violin; also Don "Sugar Cane" Harris' "Sugar Cane's Got The Blues" was recorded during that festival; there's about 20 minutes of video available from that concert as well.] Speaking about video, there are some clips of the (original) Mahavishnu Orchestra floating around the net. I'm still trying to get the one from Munich 1972 in decent quality, probably part of the cultural program for the Olympics. The number of bootlegs of live appearances is quite astonishing as well. Some are even of quite decent quality. I wonder what modern AI-tools would be able to extract from those tapes!

[@royjones3099]

What I say on live/evil Miles Davis John solo is ..no words that track is so sick... I'm gonna listen to it right now...

[@angusorvid8840]

John's been one of my favorite players since I was a child when I first saw Mahavishnu on public television in Los Angeles back in the mid 70s. He was playing the double neck SG and I was just hypnotized. I didn't understand what was going on but it was amazing, the whole band. The tradeoff between Jerry Goodman's violin and John and Jan Hammer. Amazing. And how his guitar was in dialogue with Cobham's drumming. Incredible. And Rick Laird on bass, of course.

[@seabud6408]

Snap .. but in the U.K. at the same time. 😀

[@markparee99]

You had me in tears of laughter when you tried to recreate 'Birds of Fire'. Such good energy. Thank you for a very well done review of JM solos. Have been a huge fan of JM for over 50 years now, from the moment I heard Inner Mounting Flame on my clock radio listening to WNEW in NYC as a teen. JM such a gift to the world.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I'm so glad!

[@StratsRUs]

Thank you for this.

[@metalrock111]

Holy shiii Andy Edwards! I was biting my nails until you got to number 1 and when you did and stated Lila’s Dance I wasn’t just astounded but also so relieved because I could not agree with you more (well actually I can cause you gave Dance of Maya a passing nod as well…sad it didn’t make the list, but I’ll count it in the 1.5 spot). Anyway finding someone more passionate about this then even I and explaining with such vigor is refreshing. Thank You!

[@MrMaynardWR]

Nailed it

[@stevensheffield2059]

Thanks for the education!

[@scottbookman]

The Derek Bailey bit at the end was spot on !

[@laprofeciacj]

John McLaughlin one of the greatest guitar players of all times. He does some great solos on birds of fire. He does cool solo on dragon song. Lila's dance totally agree it's a masterpiece. One of the greatest guitar solos I ever heard.

[@tonypeake467]

Love "Devotion',Dragon Song etc. Cheers from Australia

[@markreynolds4176]

Nicely done!! love the way you explained Lila's Dance. I have the vinyl on my mantle. JM, my favorite musician of all time. Right on brother.

[@tonypeake467]

Epic choice. Cheers from Australia

[@erikleenhouts834]

Awesome. ❤

[@DarkSideOfTheMoule]

When are you going to interview him on the channel?

[@maxschultz3956]

I totally agree with your choises ! 🙏🏻

[@Tomlinsky]

In stitches here at the Birds of Fire intro recreation at the end.

[@LateNightNotes]

Great impromptu performance at the end! Love your willingness to go for it: It's like John McLaughlin meets Derek Bailey.

[@davidstafford9921]

Andy, I was prepared to throw you out the window if you failed to include John's solo on Sister Andrea. THAT is my favorite guitar solo of all time, by anybody. It is the most climactic solo I have heard, and the power of that solo does not diminish with time.

[@EllisGordon33]

100% agree, not only favorite solo but favorite song!!

[@nkkado]

And written by Jan hammer!

[@PerryPapanier]

Winging the infinite. Great list

[@andrewwilson711]

Superb

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@freespiritsguitar2871]

"Sister Andrea" and "Lilac Dance" are also among John's best solos for me, there are so many more to come, "Dawn" from "Inner mountain flame" and all the solos from "The Electric Guitarists", every song has a fantastic solo, just like Shakti or" My Goals Beyond". "The unkown dissident" is one of my favorite solos and maybe John had reached an absolute peak with Shakti and the One truth Band.

[@Oneness100]

Lady L on Handful of Beauty. The interplay with Jan Hammer in the beginning of Trilogy. I could listen to that interplay for an hour and never get tired of it.

[@BarbarraBay]

I used to love Dawn for so many years but recently my mind turned off it

[@jimburchett]

way of the pilgrim starting at 2 min, 56 sec. honorable mention to right off - it isn't a solo - one chord for 27 minutes

[@christophercheney1006]

Andy, I freakin' love you!!

[@troyjones2358]

The live version of Dream on the Album “From Nothing to Eternity “.

[@adnilrummut105]

thx for the hendrix cover I didn't know so far. 😇

[@antonyyul]

Earth Ship, from Visions... one of my favorite songs ever and one of my favorite solos ever. Hypnotic, lirical, intense, transcendent, beautiful... My first live concert was this Mahavishnu, Jan 1975, I was 15 and I haven´t recovered yet

[@BarbarraBay]

Earth Ship. Beautiful tune.

[@PaulMcEvoyGuitars]

Man we have totally different fav McLaughlin but the listening was cool. My fav is Shringar with Remember Shakti, so structured and amazing. All of Electric Guitar Player is amazing.

[@brianpatterson7332]

That would be my choice also, without a doubt. After that I could pick multiple favourites but not rank them.

[@Steeyuv]

Liked and I haven’t even listened yet…and I met the Man himself a couple of weeks ago!!! MEET YOUR HEROES, I can recommend it.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

So many fantastic solos.

[@syn707]

Interesting list. But a great list it is. How could not be?

[@clivehirst3855]

I'd like to see Hymn to Him fitted in there somehow. Soulful introduction with beautiful orchestration and John's signature arpeggios played by the LSO. That's the line up I saw at Knebworth in 74 and the reason I went - Van Morrison and the Allman Brothers were a bonus. One of George Martin's favourite records and surely one of John's best compositions.

[@BarbarraBay]

I ranked Hymn to Him at #5

[@geoffccrow2333]

Great choices and descriptions. If you haven't seen watch the live MO video filmed from behind cobhams drums where he hits the gong then runs quickly around and hits the shit out of the drums. So powerful. One of my fav moments to watch

[@geoffccrow2333]

Unfortunately someone died and i discovered a great john mac guitar solo. The tune is called RAWALPINDI BLUES & END OF RAWALPIND

[@hertor8803]

Great choices and beautifully described but you missed out my favourite which is Dawn from The Inner Mounting Flame. A collection of memorable motifs over a sublime chord progression. Good luck with the acoustic top 10, I wouldnt even know where to start.

[@seabud6408]

John is what a great drummer sounds like .. with incredible guitar skills and the passion of a cutting edge scientist 👨‍🔬 ⚡️😀 He’s quite good. I’m a JMcL nut 🌰 so am grateful for the heads up on 4 or 5 solos I hadn’t heard. I was obsessed with the track Sister Andrea for a long time .. that cadenza! Agree with your take on his electric work. Looking forward to the acoustic solo list. John is one of the few players who is a master of both. “Face to face” by Shakti takes some beating. I’ve literally spent my whole adult life, trying to play all the guitar parts on that track. An example in life in so many ways. Still killin’ it in his eighties.

[@hertor8803]

Face to Face has to be Top 3 for me too. It is also a fantastic showcase for an under appreciated aspect of John's playing which is his masterful rhythm work. For my money one of the best rhythm guitarists of all time too.

[@robbiej2749]

Birds of Fire opened my eyes (ears!) to something so different, so far-out from what I had been listening to up to then. Absolutely stunning! I was hooked 😅 The whole band rocked!

[@racketlauncher]

This is a great list, Andy! Couple others to consider is The Noonward Race from the Mar Y Sol live record in Puerto Rico 1972. That solo is absolutely insane! In fact, I believe they had to cut a section out of that solo because the performance wouldn't fit on the record! Also, any bootleg of MO from 1973, the boys were at their highest level! Another is Johnny's opening solo on Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord from Love Devotion Surrender, as he channels Coltrane...There's a little slop in there compared to his playing elsewhere, but that doesn't matter, as the vibe and heart are overwhelming...It truly defines what it means to just go for it! (Most definitely Santana's best playing throughout the whole record).

[@renodavid]

Tremendous. Your knowledge of John’s vast discography is amazing. I’m also a huge McLaughlin fan, but, compared to you, I’m a complete piker. I’ve always focused on his late 60’s/early and mid-70’s period. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of some cool later stuff. I was totally thinking of “Dance of the Maya” before you got to your #1. Fun to hear that you almost went there. And yes, a huge part of the magic of the early Mahavishnu stuff was their lack of precision. So many later fusion bands were too perfect. Yuck. By the way, have you ever talked about Larry Coryell’s Barefoot Boy album? Such a spiritual masterpiece, but also very raw.

[@candenizman7980]

I agree with Andy's selections and even the ranking, but I would include two more solos there: Lady L with Shakti, and Hymn to Him from Apocalypse.

[@leonardoleo6304]

Great vídeo Andy. Love John. Sugestions of top 10: top solos of Zappa and top solos of Jeff beck

[@davidmitchell461]

Pretty much anything on Between Nothingness and Eternity (the unreleased album, available only on the Mahavishnu Orchestra Columbia Box Set). Especially the interplay between McLaughlin and Billy Cobham creating an unbelievable fire and intensity between the 2 instruments!

[@mr.b4444]

Yep, that album is raw power. I can feel the heat emanating from it just holding it in my hands.

[@fossilmatic]

Perhaps it’s the ones you hear earliest and connect with. For me it’s Dragon Song and Marbles from Devotion. That led me to Jack Johnson, Bitches Brew, and MH. But it all started at that point where he takes off on Dragon Song.

[@scottmcfadyen293]

I thought for sure you wouldn't have on your list was John's solo in Lilia's Dance .. and it was your number one ! That solo speaks to me in a very prfound way .. i go to the next world with ya ! his full on notes of pure intensity sound to me like the triumph of a horse in full motion as it picks up speed and drive to reach it's beautiful home ! celestial traveller on that journey to enter the eternal order ! I Am At The Seat Before My Lord ! All Is Bliss ! All Is Bliss ! Bessings to you Andy !!!

[@VinceWaldon]

10 points shall be awarded to Gryffindor for the attempt to recreate the opening of Birds Of Fire. Well done you!

[@tookmyjob]

I’d like to throw in Allah Be Praised from Turn It Over, What I’d Say from Live Evil, The Life Divine from Love, Devotion and Surrender, Right Off from Jack Johnson, and Dance of Maya from The Inner Mounting Flame.

[@lesnyk255]

Great list, with honest from-the-heart commentary - a lot of overlap with my own faves. JM's solo in "Sister Andrea" is an aching cry from the heart - the lost Trident version is almost as intense as the live Nothingness version. Almost. LOVE "Lila's Dance", but my ex-wife couldn't stand it - called it "garbage-y". One reason she's an ex. My favorite solo from Inner Mounting Flame is still "The Noonward Race", though, for its breakneck ferocity - I was playing it one day in the laboratory I worked, and it blew away the younger techs I was sharing bench space with - they'd never heard of it, or him, before. I've got the "Heart of Things" CD with "Acid Jazz", but I've never heard the live version - I'll have to look it up. Not crazy about what Teo did to his solo in Big Fun's "Go Ahead John", but I've got the unprocessed version on the Jack Johnson boxed set. His solos in "Siren" from Devotion & "It's Funny" on Extrapolation are worth a listen, too. Maybe not top 10, but I like 'em.

[@bakeone4406]

Will go back and spin these selections (and ignore the bait thrown out by the ridiculous claim at 12:20). The first solo that came to mind when seeing the title of this video was from The Purpose Of When, on the Devotion album. Several reissues of this album switch the track titles, so you may be steered wrong when trying to isolate it. His sound on this album is unique in his discography, far more more raw, distorted and psychedelic than his others. It cements him as an evolutionary next step from Hendrix. The Purpose Of When solo builds and pierces through layers of slower sounds and tumultuously settles back down, maybe a bit like watching the movement of lava surrounding an explosion.

[@adnilrummut105]

*the noonward race* of *the inner mountain flame* should be part of the best 10 solos ranked though.

[@MattCarter67]

I say Dawn (also my favourite Mahavishni track) and Mind Ecology.

[@evertvanderhik5774]

His solo on the live version of dream is a highlight for me, He has some live bootleg records that are obscure but in which he plays very great solos. The unreleased tracks of Between Nothingness and Eternity also contain some supernatural playing. Check out the end solo at Awakening

[@chrishill6915]

ha! i was like where is lila? the BEST solo of all time! then there it was . good call ,great vid!

[@HowlinWilf]

whatever you do... don't miss the finale!

[@dbmusic67]

Lila's Dance, Dawn and Face to Face would be my top 3.

[@darengraves1717]

All perfect examples of why John should be in the top 5 of rolling stone’s list!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Of course he should...

[@arnaudb.7669]

The ending of the video is priceless LMAO By the way great ranking of the greatest guitar player alive.

[@BarbarraBay]

lol

[@geoffccrow2333]

PURPOSE OF WHEN PURPOSE OF WHEN PURPOSE OF WHEN

[@robinjonesguitar]

More importantly your enthusiasm is like mine, agree on everything, got to your no 1 paused and thought what would it be, went through a few but I knew you would choose that, i think the mar y sol solo blew me away when I was younger, but the dark prince is the fastest articulate solo ever, love your videos, and may I say your gonna have to like Dream Theater now🤣🥰

[@andrewstone841]

Andy, Andy, Andy as a highly accomplished and knowledgeable musician you should know there is nothing a mere creative individual can do to survive against the overwhelming power of 96 toilet rolls for 5.99

[@stringrip]

Perhaps also the live version of Noonward Race at Mar Y Sol festival for that free form guitar solo just with the drums.

[@hybrydsanity5857]

New York on my mind has always been one of my favorite John's solos and maybe one of the most soulful solos to me period. it's cool you went to that Record first. Then I would go to the first 3 Mahavishnu albums , especially first song first Mahavishnu 1 wow for that time Lol ! ,then it's al over the place what a career ! Shakti ,Friday night live , so much goes on and on ,There a song and solo I really dig that he used a Guitar synth ! Nostalgia . My uncle played with Narada (Warriors) theres a live record you can stream ,a little tricky to find because of the name Warriors try Joaquin Lievano . Unreleased by a record company, you have Randy Jackson on bass and others you'll love it. he told me that Narada told him John made him cry after a early shows to get him in shape he was very young indeed haha , Billy was a tough act to fallow , but it worked out quite well .

[@FOXTROTSKYOMEGA]

FRUZZUN! 🎉🍭☯️☢️ Send it to my pleasure centers Andy!

[@singsang9460]

After more than 40 years of playing guitar and listening to John i agree with your ranking. But i would remove "acid jazz" from the list and replace it by John's solo of dream from the live album !

[@piktormusic2538]

Inner Worlds - effect was a Bode frequency shfter

[@sjbang5764]

Nothing or no one went beyond Jimi Hendrix! Of course, I was fortunate to see Mr. Hendrix twice, the last time a month before he died. So, maybe those Experience(s) colour my opinion.

[@FOXTROTSKYOMEGA]

SURPRISED🎉 Tasty great pics Andy, but nothing from DEVOTION?/ LIFETIME?/ LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER? Hmmmm

[@tonypeake467]

Agreed, but still great choices with some nice surprises. Cheers from Australia

[@ivanhenriqueroberto1970]

I TOTALLY agree with you about the first position. OMG, how can a human being play like that!

[@jjsixstring]

Exactly

[@brianmiller2075]

Oh akso I saw the visions, tour with Jeff beck and Gentle Giant

[@jayumble8390]

Andy, man....your videos are so wonderful but you need to hip us up to some sound tracks that should accompany your rankings. We got to hear some music too!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

i wish I could. I tried it and they get blocked or demonetised.

[@jayumble8390]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I hear you on that Andy. It's a shame because your content is so good!! I'm staying subscribed brother!

[@collekg]

Nice job Andy! What's your take on Duran solo? That track changed my life; Miles' rock/punk masterpiece. Love to hear your analysis.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Its amazing, his second best solo with Miles

[@CMI2017]

Birds of Fire and Lila's Dance are astonishing solos. Have a look at JCM zeppelin stories as its has footage of your tour with Plant.

[@gregory3036]

This is a good list; some I hadn't actually heard before. That said I was hoping 'I Wonder' off the Lost Trident Sessions would be on here. It's definitely more straight-ahead (composed?) for a McLaughlin solo; also fewer notes so it deviates from his signature machine-gun freneticism. It has some extraordinary feel and intensity to it and every note is well-placed. I'm probably just a sucker for that mysterious and plaintive minor sound the song evokes. Also if you haven't heard the solo from the live version @ Avery Fisher Hall (New York '73), I think it's even better than the studio version.

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Schenker esp with UFO always gives me this feeling. Atypical metal guitar player. In fact much too limiting to pigeon hole him with that label.

[@p0indexter624]

Stevie Ray Vaughan's studio version of voodoo chile you need to sample if you haven't yet. imho SRV captures that "primal" inspiration and realizes the composition in it's idealized form. the composition has a life of it's own, to be reincarnated again and again. if JH's version of voodoo chile' blew you away then SRV's version might just kill you.

[@edwardyazinski3858]

Yep! 1000%

[@PaulMcEvoyGuitars]

no offense to anyone but SRV is nothing whatsoever in the universe of John McLaughlin.

[@markcapofari8419]

> 50 year fan at Central Patk concert Suggest for list Etnernity Breath Park 2 / Mar y Sol Noonward Race Intrigued to forthcoming acoustic list

[@markanderson1313]

Great stuff Andy, but talking about guitar solos is like dancing about architecture; I wish you could have played snippets from each solo to illustrate your own enthusiasm.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

But it will be demonetised or even worse I could get a copyright strike. Too many of those and your KZbin has gone

[@finarollerz]

My personal favorite is “friendship”.

[@danielschaeffer1294]

It’s understandable that you connected with “Voodoo Child.” That guitar hook is stolen from “Death Letter Blues” by Son House. I heard this tune even before Hendrix got recorded. It was the darkest music I’d ever heard. There’s a KZbin video of this, with Canned Heat’s Al Wilson on second guitar. Check this out, guys, and see if you don’t agree. And you’re right to separate the electric stuff from the acoustic.

[@guillaumechabason3165]

His banjo solo is my favourite but may be it's not electric banjo !

[@cancercentral9997]

My only experience with John McLaughlin is his work with Miles Davis. From these, I'd say that I'm not the biggest fan, as it's too clean and standard for my tastes, though I'm sure it uses wild tunings and keys/scales/modes. He is undoubtedly highly skilled in his instrument and is among the most technically skilled guitarists in [relative] popular music. By far my favourite is On the Corner, which features an exceptionally awesome wah tone that sounds like he's actually choking his guitar - It sounds like it's gagging and spluttering. He only really solos on New York Girl, (apart of the On the Corner suite) but the usage of wah and the syncopated style is really awesome. I'm a big fan of jazz fusion, but I prefer the guitarists who take after Jimi Hendrix, which McLaughlin didn't really. It's just the style of guitar I prefer. However, I'll definitely get around to listen to some of his other work. EDIT: I kinda forgot about Big Fun. I haven't listened to that album in ages. But I checked out Go Ahead John and if that's McLaughlin soloing about 7 minutes in, then that'll definitely top New York Girl. It sounds more like Pete Cosy. (the replacement lead guitarist, who was more like Hendrix and used loads of wah and flanging)

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Try some of this kzbin.info/www/bejne/gH6cgJ2jYql-asksi=AAmbFkDcHiE9wC1T

[@brianmiller2075]

How about his banjo solo?

[@BarbarraBay]

My reply to & critique of Andy's top 10: 10. Are You The One? Reasonable flange solo but the drumming, vocals & bass playing are better. The solo should be the highlight. 9. Wind Cries Mary - I used to listen to this. The 1st solo is very good but the 2nd solo sometimes sounds good. Not life changing. 8. Acid Jazz - never heard it before. Not hearing much here. Foxey Lady is more compelling. Dennis Chambers killing it and blowing John off. It cannot be a greatest solo when the drummer is blowing the guitarist off & dominating the vibe. 7. On The Way Home To Earth - a bunch of noises. 6. Miles Out - more noises 5. Sister Andrea - my #1. 4. Go Ahead John - never heard it before. Just guitar within the constraints of the other music. I actually play like this and i can't even play properly. It all arises from playing a freaky rhythm. 3. The Dark Prince - never heard it before. Wow! Straight jazz. Great pick! Reminds me of Do You Hear The Voices You Left Behind? I forgot to consider. 2. Birds Of Fire - i considered this but chose Miles Behind and Meeting Of The Spirits 1. Lila's Dance - I suppose this was my #7 but its not that great compared to other parts of the tune

[@dimitrioskarastamatis4919]

Bello Horizonte album was his best guitar playing and he used a nylon string with an electric band, my humble opinion.

[@ddorantes2934]

Do the same with Holdsworth

[@flame-sky7148]

Face to Face, The Life Divine, The other perhaps is Flame Sky.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I love JM, and those solos are amazing but on Life Divine Carlos sort of out plays him

[@flame-sky7148]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Yea you right, Carlos rose up to that challenge..Then I'll go with Face to Face.

[@jbognap]

The solo on "Friendship" is 👌. Both "Electric Guitarist" and "Electric Dreams" are my favorites. JM even plays a banjo solo on the latter.

[@BarbarraBay]

Flame Sky is simply such a great rhythm that its hard to separate John's solo part from the totality of the song.

[@geoffccrow2333]

The tune called birds of fire should be renamed wring that neck! Ie. When john plays it on the record

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I think thatbwas already a Deep Purple tune

[@geoffccrow2333]

Ok wring that turkeys neck