Forgive me if this has been discussed before. Maybe defined less as underrated and more as under heard or not in the public consciousness like a Clapton, Page or Beck.

Here's my five:

1. Tommy Bolin: Played as the replacement to two great guitar players in Joe Walsh and Ritchie Blackmore, Bolin was a wildly talented player and songwriter. Favorite tunes include Comin' Home from Purple's "Come Taste The Band" Album and his entire "Private Eyes" album. Gone WAY too soon.

2. Robin Trower: Tone for days. Some would say a Hendrix clone but he produced a lot of rich and varied music over the years. Fav tunes include "Long Misty Day's", "Victims of the Fury" and many, many others.

3. Eddie Hazel: Small catalog but hugely influential funk rock guitarist who with one tune (Maggot Brain) set up a legacy that, had it been the only tune he ever played on, would have influenced a generation of guitar slingers. Thankfully, his solo album "Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs" is chock full of tasty licks and solo's.

4. Mick Taylor: The most consistent guitar player I've ever heard with the sweetest, most melodic tone ever achieved. The fact that he was left out of Rolling Stone's "Top 100 Guitar Players" stung me more than it should have. His playing is so smooth and his touch and feel is really, to my ears, unmatched in popular music. Fav tunes: All of em...but...if I had to choose one from the Stones it would be "Sway". My solo pick would be: "Spanish/A Minor". Jazz/Rock fusion heaven. Interesting how the Stones release their best tune in 30 years and suddenly sound like the Stones when he plays on "Plundered My Soul. I love Ronnie too, but I'm just saying.

5. Rory Gallagher: Super versatile and consistent. To me, he defines the Strat tone. Not just a guitar slinger, Rory could really write also. Love his "Irish Tour" live record and his "Tatoo" studio album. Sure would have been interesting if he joined the Stones in '74.

Thanks for taking the time to read the post and look forward to your opinions and criticisms.

TD75

-Vini Reilly
-Bert Jansch
-Willie Johnson
-Reggie Young
-Jerry Donahue

Probably some of them are well-known for music fans, but for the general public not so much.

Will Kimbrough

Willie Johnson ---- Pat Hare..........



ROCKMAN

Billy Duffy
Jason Isbell
John Mooney
Barry Chance
Patterson Hood

Jerry Garcia

leslie west

Long thought that Tony Hicks of The Hollies deserved more attention and praise.

Really good, tasteful player, great singer too!

alvin lee
dean ween
adrian belew
brian setzer
bruce cockburn
domenic troiano
leon redbone



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011-04-19 05:22 by ineedadrink.

Dave Davies, Gary Moore RIP, Sonny Landreth, Charlie Baty and Mike Campbell

Steve Winwood

Prince

Paul McCartney

Glen Campbell

and most definitely....Blondie Chaplin

#1 -- Buck Dharma aka Donald Roeser of the amazing Blue Oyster Cult. Able to blend melody, fluidity, technique and inspiration -- never any wasted notes even on extended jams. "Criminally" (as they say) overlooked. Check out the live "Astronomy" for how to build a solo.

#2 -- Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies (the #1 underrated band). The Sire era and particularly the classic LP "Shake Some Action" contain guitar interplay on the level of classic Stones, and Cyril's leads are often perfect. The solo for "I Can't Hide" (2 notes!) is an example.

#3 -- Sterling Morrison and Lou Reed (Velvet Underground). Rhythm as important as Keith's. Lou is renowned as an artist but his guitar chops were an important part of this most important band -- as were Sterling's.

#4-- Albert King. Not not super underrated I suppose, but his name is rarely first in listing great blues players -- and it should be. Can say with one note more than a career's worth of the speedsters.

#5 -- Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine (Television). Like VU and the Stones, it's the interplay (yeah, I know, "weaving"). These guys were unbelievable. Like jazz players in theory, but listenable!

Bayless Rose ---- Jamestown Exhibition .....


Beautiful stuff ----------- Man that cat can work those strings ...........



ROCKMAN

Dave Davies

Paul McCartney

Mike Campbell

Ron Asheton

Robin Trower

Quote
No Expectations
Jerry Garcia

Garcia is underrated by who, exactly? Seems like he is "God Jerry" to many GD fans.

great topic:

robin trower
mick taylor
billy duffy
michael schenker
will sargeant

John Frusciante - he has the audiences when he is w/ the band, but he is never in the magazines lists

Richard Lloyd ( I see Cooter beat me to it; but another vote from me)

James Blood Ulmer - a monster; his latter albums have been more Blues oriented, but his Ornette collaboration and his Black Rock stuff

Kevin Shields - wtf

Willie Nelson - I have always thought he playes awesome solos

Steve Jones - ironfist

I wanted to mention Mick Taylor and Ron Wood too; Ron for his work with the Faces and Rod. The topic is 'underrated' and I have never seen either of them in a Best list.

i second John Frusciante. phenomenal.

ROBERT WARD-Very asian sounding,Bo Diddleyesque, gospel quartet,blues style guitar!

REGGIE YOUNG-country southern soul master

BOBBY WOMACK-Listen to "That's Where It's At" by Sam Cooke & his live version of California Dreamin",Ron Wood studied this guy!

ROY GAINES-just listen to "Gainesville" & "Skippy is a Sissy"!

JOHNNY THUNDERS-intoxicated Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley riffs, unbelievable tone!

I play rhythm guitar for this fellow

Dave Davies
Johnny Marr
Brian Setzer
John Fogerty
Peter Buck

Ronnie Earl

Paul Westerberg

Mick Taylor

John Lennon

Richard Thompson



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-04-19 06:25 by 71Tele.

Wilko Johnson and Dan Baird are overlooked by the non-rhythm crowd.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-04-19 06:35 by Carnaby.

Ronnie Wood

Brian Jones' rhythm playing. (And I still think he played the solo on 'Time Is On My Side').

Jeremy Spencer - Fleetwood Mac

Mick Jones

Earl Hooker

Cliff Gallup



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011-04-19 08:09 by 24FPS.

This is a favorite discussion for me so let's go with:

John Lennon
John Fogerty
Johnny Thunders
Hound Dog Taylor
Gus Cannon

Without Lennons back-up playing on every Beatles-tune George wouldn't have played one decsent solo, Fogerty have been written at least 50 own songs where he shows his abilties, try 'Pipeline' with the kind of stuff in your body that Johnny merely had, Hound Dog AAAHHHH Roughest sound in business, Gus Cannon/Banjo-Joe is Hendrix teacher all the way...

John George Paul Ringo

2 1 2 0

Quote
Come On
This is a favorite discussion for me so let's go with:

John Lennon
John Fogerty
Johnny Thunders
Hound Dog Taylor
Gus Cannon

Without Lennons back-up playing on every Beatles-tune George wouldn't have played one decsent solo, Fogerty have been written at least 50 own songs where he shows his abilties, try 'Pipeline' with the kind of stuff in your body that Johnny merely had, Hound Dog AAAHHHH Roughest sound in business, Gus Cannon/Banjo-Joe is Hendrix teacher all the way...

John George Paul Ringo

Fogerty! Great one.

And Lennon's guitar on "Happiness Is A Warm Gun", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "Yer Blues", "Cold Turkey" and others is gritty and nasty. He uses the instrument like a weapon on those songs.

Yes, Lennon was a vastly underrated guitarist. Also he shines on Oh Well, I Found Out, and Revolution.

Lonnie Mack
Mike Bloomfield
Roy Buchanan
Link Wray
Elvin Bishop