The Best Solo You Never Heard

One of the best solos I've ever heard, from one of the most unique English session players ever to live: the late, great Alan Murphy.
Alan worked with Go West, Kate Bush, Scritti Politti, Mike and the Mechanics and Level 42 throughout the 1980's; a phenomenally interesting and criminally underrated guitar player.
P A T R E O N
If you’re enjoying these videos and would like to support me in making more of them; you can do so via the Session Heroes Patreon!
/ sessionheroes
You’ll get exclusive access to the tablature, backing tracks and video breakdowns of the songs featured on this channel, as well as two “Top Drawer Licks” a month.
K E M P E R P A C K
If you’re a Kemper user and like the guitar tones you hear on this channel, I have released a Collection of 30 Mix Ready Profiles Compromising of 7 Boutique and Vintage Amplifiers including a Mesa Boogie Mark III, Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive, Suhr Badger 30, Divided by 13 FTR37, Peavey Classic 50, Marshall JCM800 and Peavey 5150.
sessionheroes.store
B U Y M E A C O F F E E
Alternatively, you can support Session Heroes with a one-off contribution via Buy Me A Coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/richardw...
To provide a better experience for you, I disable adverts on all of my videos (except those that KZbin monetises for copyright reasons). This is to cultivate an environment that’s free of distractions and intrusions. As a result, I don’t earn a penny from KZbin but, for me, it’s worth the trade off.
You can support me in continuing to create ad-free, high-value content through the above channels!
Thank you, folks!
S O C I A L S
Session Heroes Instagram: / sessionheroes
My Instagram: / deadwoodmusic
V I D E O C H A P T E R S
00:00 - "S.O.S" Solo
00:20 - Go West
01:13 - Alan Murphy
02:18 - Alan's Style
02:30 - Alan's Gear
03:32 - Recommended Listening

[@jayboy6895]

At last. Alan Murphy along with Dann Huff absolutely melt my face. Richard. I can honestly say your solo could easily stand in for Alan’s sad sad loss. Outstanding mate. Outstanding.

[@RichardWatson]

That's very kind of you, man- thank you!

[@ExplosionDestroyer]

Great video. Alan Murphy is another one of my favorite session guitarists along with Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, Michael Thompson, Dann Huff, Paul Jackson Jr, Jay Graydon, Dean Parks, Steve Farris, and Tim Pierce just to name a few. These guys always manage to impress me everytime whenever I hear their playing.

[@RichardWatson]

Me too, man! Best of the best!

[@fallingmanuk]

Thank you for a great video about the late great Alan Murphy - one of my all-time fave guitarists. I saw Go West in Ipswich a couple of weeks ago with Wet Wet Wet and both bands were very good, and GW's current guitarist certainly plays very well considering what big shoes he has to fill on the first two albums' material!

[@deluxairhead]

Well said Richard, firstly love your work, secondly great call on Alan Murphy, his tone is so 80-90's but how's the phrasing incredible player, more break downs please, have a great 2024......

[@RichardWatson]

Absolutely! Alan's phrasing is just nuts! Thank you for the kind words!

[@eficer04]

This is so awesome to see. I was just thinking about how under appreciated Alan Murphy is in the context of modern electric guitar, I love his work in almost every context. Thanks for sharing a bit of his legacy!!!

[@RichardWatson]

My pleasure! Thanks so much!

[@bcpics]

Thank you for honouring …. In my opinion … one of the best guitarists going around. Saw Go West at Newcastle City Hall touring their first album and Alan just blew me away…

[@RichardWatson]

He was such an amazing and unique player!

[@ChrisMuellerMusic]

Did know Alan until now. Mission accomplished, Richard! And very well that is! Thank you!

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks Chris!

[@warwickgb]

Great video Richard. I saw them live at what was I think the last live gig at the Birmingham Odeon in 85/86, a sad day for what had been one of the main Birmingham live music venues for years. Always loved Alan’s playing- Warning Sign by Nick Heyward is another great solo.

[@RichardWatson]

Ah man! I'm envious- I bet that was a killer show!

[@kevinbarnett1960]

Great playing Richard - Alan was one my heroes too - sorely missed

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks Kevin. I know, it's such a great loss.

[@danielbrockmann2370]

Just rediscovered Don't Look Down with very Dann Huff like jangle parts and two awesome solos by Alan 😍, thanks for the reminder Richard!

[@RichardWatson]

My pleasure, man! That's such a great song!

[@Phoebedumplings]

Great call Richard, as soon as I hear the 1st note , I recognised the solo, that was pretty much as the record? Fabulous player

[@RichardWatson]

The Hammersmith version (this one) is pretty close to the version on the record (a little flashier) but I've seen him do it a bunch of different ways- he was so good!

[@johnmcevoy3598]

The solo in "Silent Running" has a great notchy tone and buttery legato phrasing. A tutorial on the proper use of the vibrato bar. One of my favorites. RIP, Alan.

[@Stu047]

Huge fan of both Go West and Level 42; I have all of their stuff. Awesome that somebody out there on internetland is giving Alan some love; he's another underrated gem that most fans of the eighties and nineties probably have heard without registering who it was they were actually listening to... as is often the case for session players sadly.

[@krameree1969]

Alan Murphy was an amazing guitarist...I saw Alan with Go West on The Tube around 85 and even bought an Aria guitar because of that show. Ive seen Go West a number of times and the only guitarist to come close to AM was Deeral. He played the AM parts pretty much note for note and had great tone, other Ive seen just dont have that vibe and play variations of the solos etc..Richard W great to see AM getting some recognition !

[@RichardWatson]

Ah man! Super envious that you saw him live! I can only imagine how influential that must have been at the time.

[@krameree1969]

@@RichardWatson that was a time when there were so many amazing guitarists, changed my playing from mostly rock to clean funk. It also opened my eyes to the session players of the world and appreciate what they added to a song...Dann Huff etc are all amazing but I also went out of my way to see people like Jeff Golub, Carlos Alamar, Hiram Bullock (with David Sanborn) and many more as love what they add....mind you my hearing has suffered as low noise sound stages and modelling were unknown

[@atquinn1975]

Great video. I have enjoyed Alan Murphy's playing in the past, but I didn't actually know who it was. He was a monster!

[@RichardWatson]

An absolute monster, indeed!

[@craig_ingram]

I loved the Go West singles back in the day but never knew the players. Thank you for highlighting this remarkable talent.

[@RichardWatson]

My pleasure!

[@SamBellGuitar]

Thank you! So cool. Go West are awesome. Alan Murphy is a Legend. Hope you're well.

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks Sam! All good here, man- hope you are too!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Sounds incredible!

[@RichardWatson]

Thank you, brother!

[@BigHairyGuitars]

GREAT! I have to do some homework!

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks Michael! Alan's playing is right up your street!

[@Johnsormani]

The go west album was one of my favorite pop albums of my youth. Alan was such a great guitarist and was the inspiration for my use of the tremolo. I also had a first generation squier strat with a locking trem on it. Such a shame we lost him so soon

[@RichardWatson]

I know, man- it's a massive loss!

[@jfatta]

Epic playing!!! Go West was one of my faves back in the early 80’s along Tears For Fears and Simple Minds ✌️🔥

[@RichardWatson]

You have excellent taste!

[@jfatta]

Ditto, bro!!😄✌️🔥

[@MartinKstedt]

Very well played, and a very interesting story. Great video.

[@RichardWatson]

Thank you, Martin!

[@tonykennedy8483]

About time you got to Alan Murphy! One of my favourite guitarists of all time The Bangs and Crashes version of SOS has one of the best guitar solos by anyone!!! That album has extra guitar on compared to the debut album I think that that live Go West stuff from Hammersmith he was running the Aria Esprit through Rockman modules

[@RichardWatson]

I thought you might appreciate this one, Tony! Thank you for turning me on to Alan and Mr Farris!

[@tonykennedy8483]

@@RichardWatson You're welcome!, and great performance of that solo btw Looking forward to more Al Murphy content Did I send you the Jon Sloman album that AL played on?, If not then let me know, as there's some ferocious solo's on there from Al

[@gratefulape12]

Incredible player, great band. I think the only British rock/pop player who could touch him was Francis Dunnery of It Bites.

[@RichardWatson]

Absolutely!

[@fatshartspunhouse2403]

Thanks. Hadn’t heard of him but he sounds great

[@RichardWatson]

He's was a KILLER player- well worth checking out!

[@kenhafermann8284]

Goal achieved, I'm very turned on. But seriously that solo is super tasty. Speaking of underrated, this channel deserves more subs. Cheers

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks man- I appreciate that!

[@mlx1639]

Wonderful video, sound and playing - great stuff.👏

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks so much!

[@DeadMansPartyFilms]

Thank you for posting this!

[@RichardWatson]

My pleasure- thank you!

[@daverichardson6490]

....oh, and an Alan Murphy tone rundown!!

[@RichardWatson]

This video was a Mesa Boogie Mark III (Kemper profile) with a lexicon style rack delay and plate reverb added in post. I'm dying to get ahold of an old Super Champ at some point!

[@daverichardson6490]

The great Mr Murphy! More Go West solos!!! 🙂

[@RichardWatson]

Happily, Dave! I'll get on it!

[@jonhale1329]

Excellent! - can you do a deep dive on some of Alan's solos - I totally agree his trem style was very Steve Farris but would usually end on a legato run or similar. I had a Squier strat in the late 80s with a Kahler (fulchrum) trem on as was the rage!.. Great vid as always! - cheers. Need a longer session heroes vid on this!

[@RichardWatson]

Absolutely man! That is definitely the plan! Super cool that you had a Murphy-caster!

[@jonhale1329]

Not googled this as yet but didnt he do an Aria Pro II white superstrat of somesort with the kahler 'Wunderbar' ?@@RichardWatson

[@RichardWatson]

@@jonhale1329 I believe it was an Aria RS Esprit! He uses it on the Hammersmith concert. He also used Roger Giffin Strat and a Yamaha MSG Image Deluxe, which was developed with him in mind.

[@bwm5150]

Ah so good Richard! Style, tone and the whammy scoops nailed! 😁

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks Ben!

[@peterjepps1229]

Superb Rich , dont forget to check out the fusion album , SFX, he did with his fender demo friends, breathtaking live,

[@RichardWatson]

Thank you, Peter! I'll absolutely check it out!

[@danle3181]

Great job.

[@RichardWatson]

Thank you, man!

[@chrislestermusic]

Yay! I can say that I HAVE heard that solo. Well done. We love all the same players. I have that Go West concert on VHS still. I think I taped it off of Mtv.

[@RichardWatson]

I knew you would, Chris! We do indeed!

[@tommyburnhamsmusic]

Massive Alan Murphy Fan. super proud hes english as well. such an amazing unique player. love your channel bro. newly subscribed. I have a valley arts aswell. its not an OG like yours but still a killer instrument.

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks so much, man- I appreciate it! Nice! Do you have an M-series or one of the later US models?

[@tommyburnhamsmusic]

@@RichardWatson it’s one of the early 2000’s Gibson ones man, it’s not the most desirable but I put a vega trem on it and some EMGs and it’s pretty great man. Keep up the good work pal. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🎸

[@andyhawes5866]

Phenomenal player! That debut Go West album is perfect 80s pop with a killer combination of synths and guitars. Their current guitarist (Ben Lochrie I think) does a very good job of trying to replicate Alan Murphy’s guitar parts.

[@RichardWatson]

Yes, Ben does a fabulous job! Killer songwriting and super clever arrangements on that debut!

[@winstonsmith8236]

woah, king of wishful thinking is definitely a long lost childhood fave you just helped me rediscover. that is quite a video for it. cocaine jokes aside, so much effort and passion is evident in music from this era- so different than nowadays

[@RichardWatson]

Absolutely, man! So much care and thought goes into these arrangements!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Nice! And thanks for the album recommendations! I was in college in the late eighties. A scary time all-around while our leaders were committing criminal negligence. I'm probably most familiar with Alan's work on Kate Bush's albums. Music wasn't as easy to come by then. Best, Daniel

[@Mordred478]

You look much younger than your age. Now a compliment that really means something. Just before I paused to watch this new video from you, I was listening to the *incredible* Lyle Workman, a man whose abilities as a composer and guitarist leave me dumbfounded. As soon as I heard the solo you were playing at the start of the video, the first though in my head was how much you sounded like Lyle. You must be doing something right. 😁

[@RichardWatson]

That's extremely kind of you, man! I'm a massive fan of Lyle's playing - dude is an absolute monster guitar player!

[@Bambooo666]

Hi Richard, commenting on behalf of my dad Simon who’s new to youtube and wants to say thanks for talking about Alan Murphy! He wonders if you’ve covered the solos for…Shakedown (Bob Seger), Senza Una Donna (Paul Young / Zucchero), Repression (Trust), end solo of Give it all to me (Mike Slammer), Nobody’s Fool (Kenny Loggins), Is it Love? (Mister Mister) Thanks :)

[@RichardWatson]

Ah that's so kind! My pleasure! Not yet but some of those will appear in future videos for sure!

[@larsarnelana]

Thanks for the tip. Love his (and your) playing. Not so keen on the "SOS" basslines though. :)

[@RichardWatson]

Thanks so much!

[@paulbradshawguitar]

Alan's playing was incredible, i have a feeling i discovered him thanks to you on a much older video, so thanks for shining a light , it's important work i'd heartily recommend the Go West live in 1987 at the Hammersmith with Alan on youtube to check out the playing and a killer live performance here, (the other 3 parts are on the same channel) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3bCc4V9q8ynfLs

[@RichardWatson]

Absolutely Paul! That's an incredible concert!