Inspirational Songs

[Mark Seven]

So we've listed inspirational guitarists but what about inspirational songs? Not just favorite songs {we could all list dozens of those}, but songs that have inspired one's style of playing on our precious SGs. So I'll start with my admittedly eclectic selections:
Jade Idol {Brian Setzer}
Riviera Paradise {Stevie Ray Vaughn}
Bella {Carlos Santana}
The Pleasure Is Mine, I'm Sure {Terje Rypdal}
Blue Mist {Billy Bauer}
Wichita Lineman {Johnny A.}
Azure {Kenny Burrell}
Naima {Jack Wilkins}
Voodoo Child, Slight Return {Jimi Hendrix}
Diamond Dust {Jeff Beck}
Daydream {Robin Trower}
Obsession For Men {The Mermen}

 

[Mark Seven]

So we've listed inspirational guitarists but what about inspirational songs? Not just favorite songs {we could all list dozens of those}, but songs that have inspired one's style of playing on our precious SGs. So I'll start with my admittedly eclectic selections:
Jade Idol {Brian Setzer}
Riviera Paradise {Stevie Ray Vaughn}
Bella {Carlos Santana}
The Pleasure Is Mine, I'm Sure {Terje Rypdal}
Blue Mist {Billy Bauer}
Wichita Lineman {Johnny A.}
Azure {Kenny Burrell}
Naima {Jack Wilkins}
Voodoo Child, Slight Return {Jimi Hendrix}
Diamond Dust {Jeff Beck}
Daydream {Robin Trower}
Obsession For Men {The Mermen}

Two more: El Dorado by James Wilsey {Chris Issak's former guitarist} and Disappearing {War On Drugs}

 

[Maguchi]

Rock 'n' Roll Creation - Spinal Tap

 

[Mark Seven]

Nothing like a concocted rock band of comedians to stimulate musical creativity.

 

[Westernrider]

Spinal Tap - Oh Yes! Here is another tune, a cover of another Spinal Tap song band, and a couple of other songs usually beyond the scope of this board .....




and for some reason you might doubt this is a real band.....




Should you think the front man is actually your high school algebra teacher ....

 

[Mark Seven]

Enjoy your music.

 

[darren]

Nothing like a concocted rock band of comedians to stimulate musical creativity.

I saw This Is Spinal Tap dozens of times for 20+ years before someone mentioned the singer/guitarist was Lenny (as in Lenny and Squiggy) from Laverne and Shirley. I was like, whoa, it is!
Then when Better call Saul came around it took a minute for me to realize it was David St. Hubbins,

Michael McKean​

as Chuck.

Great musician!

Mind blown, again.

 

[Mark Seven]

Wow. I start a thread about what songs have inspired us SG players and the Spinal Tap lovers come out of the woodwork. Who knew?

 

[Earlvis]

So we've listed inspirational guitarists but what about inspirational songs? Not just favorite songs {we could all list dozens of those}, but songs that have inspired one's style of playing on our precious SGs. So I'll start with my admittedly eclectic selections:
Jade Idol {Brian Setzer}
Riviera Paradise {Stevie Ray Vaughn}
Bella {Carlos Santana}
The Pleasure Is Mine, I'm Sure {Terje Rypdal}
Blue Mist {Billy Bauer}
Wichita Lineman {Johnny A.}
Azure {Kenny Burrell}
Naima {Jack Wilkins}
Voodoo Child, Slight Return {Jimi Hendrix}
Diamond Dust {Jeff Beck}
Daydream {Robin Trower}
Obsession For Men {The Mermen}

Midnight in Harlem (Tedeschi-Trucks Band)

 

[darren]

Wow. I start a thread about what songs have inspired us SG players and the Spinal Tap lovers come out of the woodwork. Who knew?

Haha, I almost didn't click on this thread because I don't know many Gospel songs LOL.
That's where my mind went when I saw a thread named

Inspirational Songs.​

But now that I'm on the right track I'll throw out a couple tunes that learning them changed my playing for the better,

Blue Oyster Cult's overplayed radio classic Don't Fear The Reaper has a challenging picking pattern that after I learned it changed my playing style for life.
The cross picking on that song feels wonky until you get it and then I found myself using it all the time on other stuff.
I'm kinda sick of the song after all these decades but it's really fun to play.

Johnny Rivers version of Chuck Berry's Memhis Tennesse.

Johnny Rivers - Memphis, Tennessee [Stereo] - 1964

Recorded January, 1964 at the Whisky A-Go Go, Hollywood. Produced by Lou Adler and Engineered by Wally Heider. [LYRICS BELOW] Musicians: Johnny Rivers (vocal & guitar), Joe Osborne (bass), Eddie Rubin (drums) and Live Audience (handclap). MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Words and Music by Chuck Berry...

iv.melmac.space

This song is so much fun to play but even more fun is the reaction from people hearing it.
Even without a drummer or bass you can get a whole crowd clapping in time and singing along and just a single unaccompanied guitar can hold it together for the whole song.

Same with

Billy Swan I Can Help​

It's better with a band but you can totally pull it off solo and your Grandma even most young people know all 3 of these songs.
The best part is the little solo that sounds hard but it's not.

I Can Help by Billy Swan

iv.melmac.space

And anything From Spinal Tap... jk

 

[Decadent Dan]

 

[Les’s Nemisis]

For all you Spinal Tap lovers: there’s a sequel in the works with all the original actors and Rob Reiner directing.

Back on topic: for SG inspiration, Carlos Santana at Woodstock.

 

[Decadent Dan]

These tones are forever embedded in my head. But before recently seeing this video, I didn’t know what was used. The white SG in lead tones makes sense in my brain. It’s almost Duane-ish too.