Soul or Funk Records With Lead Guitar Solos

[Jerry Oz]

Electric guitar solos are a staple in rock songs. It's almost taken for granted most rock songs, whether they are top 40 or hard rock or punk, will include a lead guitar. With that said, ever so often we heard great lead guitars played on funk or soul records. I wish they were more prevalent because I think they add a lot to some songs.

This one by Con Funk Shun is a great example. It's got three solos and they get progressively better as it goes on. I believe it was Michael Vernon Cooper who chopped it up so well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODKeI2ieA4Y

[Jerry Oz]

Stephen Shockley was the guitarist for Lakeside. He was so underrated and that's a shame. Here's a record that was put on an album that included songs that were left off other albums. The lead guitar performance is the best that he did for the band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qs93GGgdCA

[Jerry Oz]

Here's another great solo by Shockley. It's too short but still packs punch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RzQlpAM5rU

[Jerry Oz]

The great Ernie Isley delivered on Voyage to Atlantis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh6lGI1bOkw

[Jerry Oz]

Slave had a great lead guitarist, Mark Hicks [[aka Drac) who broke out with several great guitar solos. Gone too soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZYvj2XuBko

[Jerry Oz]

Funkadelic. No strangers to guitars. The solo on the 12" version of One Nation Under A Groove stands out. Pretty sure it's Gary Shider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjbVmX1_wh8

[Jerry Oz]

Of course I have to include Maggot Brain with Eddie Hazel changing R&B/funk/soul forever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3bleXWaCk

[Jerry Oz]

Jesse Johnson absolutely rocked 777-9311. This might be the best guitar from Minneapolis that wasn't performed by Prince. This is so tight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zioEaqjPAGI

[Jerry Oz]

This one went under the radar. It's not electrified but it's one of my favorite guitar solos. Eric Johns was a wonderful guitarist for Heatwave.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuIRY-8VNh4

[Jerry Oz]

Ernie Isley again. This is bluesy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4YklqpJaUQ

[Jerry Oz]

Beat It might be closer to rock than R&B but I'll include Eddie Van Halen's epic solo for the general principle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0

[Jerry Oz]

The great Steve Cropper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpS-cOBK6Q

[sansradio]

His Royal Badness absolutely shreds this solo from the 2:49 mark until the end. A mere sign of the greatness to come.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQvPk0L6gGI

[arr&bee]

Who's that lady-isley bros....mind over matter-the temptations.

[Jerry Oz]

His Royal Badness absolutely shreds this solo from the 2:49 mark until the end. A mere sign of the greatness to come.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQvPk0L6gGII was going to put Let's Go Crazy and When Doves Cry on here but I wondered if they weren't true rock songs. But Prince's prowess with an axe was unmatched among popular non-rock and non-jazz artists.

[Motown Eddie]

Here we go: Mandrill's "Fencewalk" with Omar Mesa's guitar solo.

https://youtu.be/aTsw3u6g5YI

And Stevie Wonder's "Looking For Another Pure Love" with Jeff Beck's guitar solo.

https://youtu.be/NUn34tinbQk

And Isaac Hayes' "Walk On By" with Michael Toles' guitar solo.

https://youtu.be/iqR4CZj0mJQ

[marv2]

Machine Gun by the Commodores:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-sLIX95ka4

[marv2]

At 4:06 here in Brick's "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb6lomFxpig

[Jerry Oz]

At 4:06 here in Brick's "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb6lomFxpigYou know, I didn't recall the solo in this one. Good catch.

[sansradio]

How could we forget this one? Pass me my codpiece:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8KYD1Vco0

[Jerry Oz]

How could we forget this one? Pass me my codpiece:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn8KYD1Vco0Wow. How did I forget that one? I'm a big Cameo fan.

[sansradio]

Wow. How did I forget that one? I'm a big Cameo fan.

Larry Blackmon was my style icon in high school. I had the sky-high flat-top fade and everything. My jersey for one of my high school groups even said "AAOWW." ;)

[splanky]

It's kind of a shame how many folks who came to funk via George Clinton's bands
overlook the strength of the material from other acts, especially Cameo and Slave. The
latter's guitarist Mark Hicks and bassist Mark Adams could give P-Funk's boys a run for
their money. And the Rolling Stone folks idiotic comparing of Larry Blackmon to GC
was criminal. Cameo navigated their time quite well, from the earlier big group stuff
like It's Serious through the loss of Wayne Why Have I Lost You Cooper and into the
80's with big hit Word Up and other tracks on Single Life and She's Strange. I still listen
to a lot of both bands....