THE FIVE GREATEST GUITARISTS EVER In no order......
Mick Ronson Rock guitarist exrordinaire,1946-1993
Known mainly for his work with David Bowie, Mick Ronson was a spectacular guitarist and his depth as a musician goes even deeper than his work with Bowie! Much more than a guitarist, Mick was a first rate singer/songwriter,arranger,producer,and multi-instrumentalist. The Mick Ronson solo album I would recommend to anyone is the spectacular "Heaven and Hull",his swansong he made shortly before his extremely untimely death from liver cancer. His other solo albums are: "Slaughter On 10th Avenue"('73) , "Play Don't Worry"('74), and THE 2 CD compilation "Only After Dark"('94). His great guitar work is also found on many Ian Hunter(of Mott the Hoople fame) albums,the best of which are "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic"('79)and the live album "Welcome To the Club"('80).
Mick Box King of 70's metal guitar
Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box is most certainly the best rock guitarist around. He can shock on his electric and wow on his acustic like no one else. Probably his most stunning guitar work is found on the song 'Circle Of Hands'(Demons & Wizards,Mercury records,1972)-awe inspiring!!!!!!!!. But more about Heep later.
Robert Johnson Simply the
best,1911-1938
Blues great Robert Johnson is the greatest guitarist ever. Period. Listen to any of his songs,they are all out of this world. He's so fast and can play so many impossible chords and progressions,it was like he had 4 hands. All of his amazing released work (Less than 40 songs were recorded by Johnson,but there are many rumors of other existing recordings) can be fond on the two CD set "The Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson" (Columbia, '94)
Jimi Hendrix The greatest guitar innovator of
our time,1942-1970
Robert Johnson incarnate,only with the electric guitar. Every note he ever put out is worthwhile,and that is an UNDERstatement. Fortunately for us, a lot of his concerts were bootlegged as well, so his body of work is extensive . It is very hard to pick out one best performance, but Woodstock,Band Of Gypsys, and Live At Winterland all are unbelievable.
Stevie Ray Vaughan The last great Blues
guitarist of the century, !954-1990
What the world needs now is someone with the raw blues innovations of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He single-handedly brought the blues back in to the mainstream, and got many pop to blues converts in the process. All of his unbelievable work has been re-issued with deluxe liner notes and bonus tracks. My personal recommendation is his only true blues album,the posthumous 'The Sky Is Crying'.