Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 3 - Madonna "Dress You Up"

It's 1985,and Madonna's star is on the ascendant. "Dress You Up" is the 5th single from the pop princess's 2nd solo album, and it peaks at No. 5 in the US Billboard chart, and No. 3 in the US Dance Chart. Because it's nothing more nor less than a smooth, seductive dance track, drum machine, funky guitar licks and all.

But what's this? 2:01 minutes in, producer Nile Rodgers steps up and delivers a 27 second long tight little tremolo-driven rock guitar solo. Unexpected, shorter than it should be, but very welcome.

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 19 - Christopher Cross "Ride Like the Wind"

From Christopher Cross's eponymous 1979 debut album "Ride Like the Wind" was the first of 4 singles from the album, and reached no. 2 in the US billboard charts. It's got a wonderfully "Manhattan" sound to it, echoed on his later hit single "Arthur's Theme".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur8ftRFb2Ac

However there's a very understated guitar solo that fades in from about 3:25 until the end of the song, and once you've noticed it, you never forget it on subsequent plays.

It complements the song perfectly, riding in and out of the melody, and like the song it fades out at 4:35. Sadly the album version and the single version are identical, so you don't get a longer version by buying the album. Although there are quite a few guitarists credited on the album, this solo is from Chris himself, as you can tell from youtube videos of him doing it live.

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 47 - Andrew Gold "Lonely Boy"

2 minutes into the song and guitarist Waddy Wachtel gives us a delicious solo that honestly sounds like it could go on forever. Unfortunately it only lasts about a half minute, but those 30 seconds raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

http://www.youtube.com/?watch?v=6eZsPj9yXqw&feature=rel?ated

Gold sadly died in his sleep in June 2011 just months shy of his 60th birthday.

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 104 - Underground Zero - "Canes Venatici"

http://www.youtube.com/?watch?v=k_X-XpzyL24

Bit of a cheat this one because it isn't a single, and because you've probably never even heard of them. Underground Zero are an "alternative" rock band from Norwich, very much in the mould of Hawkwind. This is their most famous track, a nice cheerful ditty about the Earth's ozone layer disappearing.

However, if you skip forward to about 3:30 you're ten seconds away from one of the best Space Rock guitar solos I've heard in years. Guitarist Karl Dawson is the man, and 30 years later he's still with the band.

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 114 - Al Stewart "Year of the Cat" (album version)

The title track from Al Stewart's 1976 album of the same name. The song is simply dripping with instrumental breaks, including piano, strings, and sax. The solo starts at 3:21...acoustic, then kicks into electric at 3:54.

You can play this track again and again and it never gets boring.

http://www.youtube.com/​watch?v=cqZc7ZQURMs

Incidentally did you know according to the Chinese horoscope 2011 was the Year of the Rabbit? Also known as the Year of the Cat...

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 98 - Carly Simon "You're So Vain" (1972)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48emaMVhnBU

2:02-2:30 - A very brittle but pleasing solo from guitarist Jimmy Ryan, momentarily lifting the song out of its pop groove and giving it a little bit of shine.

Ryan cut his teeth with '60s American pop group "The Critters" before recording and touring with Carly Simon. Finally worked as a studio session musician with such names as Cat Stevens, John Entwistle and Dean Friedman, although can still be found on Carly Simon albums in the mid-80s.

Forgotten Guitar Solos No. 231. The Isley Brothers - "Summer Breeze" (Album Version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T88fbHOmvRk

If you thought this was just a soft-rock seventies summer anthem, then think again.

Ernie Isley's lead guitar has been simmering away from the start of the song, but at 4:04 he suddenly lets rip with a blistering solo that doesn't stop until the fade-out at 6:17.

Awesome!