Lead guitarists get all the glory but the rhythm guitar players deserve their due. In no particular order here are some of the greats.
Jimmy Page – Along with his titanic riffs and explosive lead guitar, Led Zeppelin’s leader was an incredible rhythm guitarist. In the live setting Page’s rhythm playing was as compelling as his lead breaks. Later studio albums showcase this skill in songs like “Kashmir”, “The Rain Song” and “Achilles Last Stand” as Page layers tracks of luscious chords.
David Crosby – Crosby doesn’t always turn up on the lists of great rhythm guitarists but Cros’ has game. Known for his intricate acoustic songs he is also rock solid with the electric guitar. Listen to live versions of “Long Time Gone” and “Southern Man” on the CSNY “4 Way Street” album and studio version of “Almost Cut My Hair” on “Déjà Vu” for examples of his rhythm guitar chops. Crosby’s guitar rings like a bell and resonates with harmonics.
Pete Townshend – Townshend was holding down the center with his windmill power chords while The Who’s supposed rhythm section (drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle) were constantly soloing. Examples of Pete’s groundbreaking rhythm playing include “Won’t Get Fooled Again” from “Who’s Next” and “The Real Me” on “Quadrophenia”. And let’s not forget the acoustic strumfest of “Pinball Wizard” on “Tommy”.
Keith Richards – Keith has done his share of lead guitar playing throughout the Stones career but it was his iconic riffs and his signature open tunings that was the sound of the Stones golden age in the 70’s. The list is too long but my faves include the live “Midnight Rambler” on “Get Your Ya Ya’s Out” and just about anything on “Sticky Fingers”.
Peter Buck – Buck’s tirelessly creative chording and riffs were a big part of the R.E.M. sound. This can be heard on tunes like the riff-driven “Driver 8” (“Fables of the Reconstruction“), the orchestral jangle of “Harborcoat” (“Reckoning“) and the quasi-heavy metal of “Begin The Begin” (“Lifes Rich Pageant“[1]),. R.E.M. was a much heavier, rocking outfit live than they were on record, mostly due to Buck’s electric guitar playing.
The Edge – I’m not sure what the Edge is playing but it certainly isn’t lead guitar. Another lone guitarist but unlike Townshend he is creating a sonic landscape around U2’s locked in rhythm section of Larry Mullins Jr. (drums) and Adam Clayton (bass). The Edge’s unique approach to chord structure and his use of space (less is more) can be heard on songs like “Where The Streets Have No Name” (ringing high position chording) and “With Or Without You” (dramatic mid-song entrance).
ARTS ROUNDUP
Watching: “Little Drummer Girl” (AMC) – This three part television series is based on the 1983 novel by John Le Carre. Martin Kurtz (Michael Shannon) is the head of a group of Israeli intelligence operatives (spies) including Gadi Becker (Alexander Skarsgård). They come up with an elaborate scheme involving an amateur English actress named Charmian “Charlie” Ross (Florence Pugh) infiltrating a Palestinian terrorist cell in Europe. It’s a very complex and slowly unfolding story. Typical Le Carre.[2]
Reading: “Easy Riders, Raging Bulls” by Peter Biskind – My brother-in-law Bill strongly recommended this book. What stood out for me in this very detailed tale of the new cinema of the 1970’s was the directors’ ruthless obsession with their craft. The subtitle of the book is “How the Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Generation Saved Hollywood”. I don’t know about rock and roll but there’s plenty of the former, but that was the 70’s. I also made a list of all the great movies from that era that I never saw like “The Last Picture Show” and “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”.
Listening: Rickie Lee Jones, “The Magazine” – I kind of lost touch with RLJ between her 1983 EP “Girl At Her Volcano” and 1989’s “Flying Cowboys”. The one album between those two was “The Magazine” released in 1984. Standout songs include “It Must Be Love”, “The Real End” and “Runaround”. Put it all together and Jones put out a solid body of work in the first ten years of her career.
[1]One of my all time favorite albums.
[2]Also recommended is “The Night Manager” (Amazon), the 2016’s six-part series based on another Le Carre novel.