A quick look at the solo from the 1982 classic by The Motels. One of my favorite 80's songs. The solo is simple, tasteful, and above all, musical. Hope you like it.
IMO this is quite possibly the most perfect solo ever written. It fits in the song like a silk lined velvet coat in front of a fireplace. This song is pure magic.
Hey thanks, enjoyed it. I realized before tuning into the lesson that the original player was down at the nut the whole time, and my cheapie guitar sounded great doubling him. But...very nice!
I put in an old cd b/c i was organizing in my basement. this song came up and I played it 3x wondering why I never learned it. Glad to find such a perfect lesson, thanks!
THANK YOU DAVE! (...almost 4 years later...!) One thing I noticed and became a staple in that song (I guess as far as I am concerned) is that Waddy Wachtel (the session guitar player on that track, legend has it) that during the chorus line when Davis sang the main lyric "Only The Lonely Can Play...!" Waddy actually follows right besides her on the MELODY LINE...on EVERY SINGLE RUN she does of that lyric! That's one thing I noticed RIGHT OFF THE BAT the very first time I heard that song! So, I feel that's what 'sublimely' makes that very, very brief guitar solo so special, is that throughout the balance of the piece, Wachtel is right along with her 'and never goes away'. So, even though the guitar SOLO is iconic for that genre & era, however, the guitar is a huge mainstay of the rhythm track, all together. Just my lousy 2 cents Dave...I hope it makes some legible meaning. BCRadio
I always Loved The Motels and this song. Martha Davis, The singer, reminds me of a Girl I had a serious Crush on in High School. Always Loved that Band. Great Solo Dave!
Dave thanks, this is an 80's masterwork for sure! after listening to the song most of my life i've come to the conclusion that the recording was slowed down, or like your demonstrating the guitar was tuned down, I was wondering if you could post a video of the cord structure, Thanks
Na na, the song IS in A flat! My cheap chromatic tuner got me there easily. There's a file on You Tube of 165 songs in the flat keys including great Van Halen songs. The chords are A ,F# with a added 6th note that the guitar player moves whole up to the A position. Then D flat, E flat, and back to A flat.
Yes. I spent some time researching it about a year ago. It is one of those songs where I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it first came out on the radio. I was trying to find an interview where he divulged the guitar/amp combo he used on the recording, but there was nothing precise. All I could come up with from interviews was that around this time he had his infamous 1960 Les Paul w/Bigsby, a 1957 (and possibly a 1963) Fender Strat, and a Music Man amp (no pedels). From the sound of it, I think it was the Les Paul. Maybe Waddy can chime in to correct me though.
To this day, it's still been so very unclear EXACTLY WHO has been playing that DANG solo that has been on You Tube discussion boards and many others alike, for over 40 years. Indeed, the remastered compact disc set revealed what we knew about that album for YEARS, that Capitol Records DEMANDED that producer/engineer Val Garay use ONLY seasoned, polished session studio musicians on the "ALL FOR ONE" project, which was basically a re-recording of the company rejected album "APOCALYPSO" final mixdown. The remaster CD of "ALL FOR ONE" in it's expanded liner notes, reveals the names of the session players as a whole, but doesn't really go into further detail on just what couple session guitar players played what song; who did the rhythm track & who did the solo. The notes also reveal that newly hired guitarist Guy Perry (aka, Adrian Peritorié) DID INDEED play guitar on "some" of the songs, during "some" of the sessions! So in reality, it very well could have been that Perry/Peritorié DID track that guitar solo on "ONLY THE LONELY". After watching the American Bandstand, Merv Griffin Show & SOLID GOLD "lip sync/playback" telecasts for years, where MANY bands who record their very own tracks for their album, for the life of them, are ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE in syncing with their own "playback"; here we can PLAINLY SEE Perry/Peritorié do an ABSOLUTE perfect playback performance. It very well could have been him that tracked that specific solo during the 24 track recording process...and believe it or not...not the great & legendary Waddy Wachtel. When you listen intently to MANY of Wachtel's rhythm & solo tracks on other mainstream hits & singles, the guitar solo vibe on "ONLY THE LONELY" is not totally, 100% in line & structured in the way Wachtel tracks out a solo. So, all in all, we may never know. I guess the only four souls that REALLY KNOW FOR SURE, is Garay, Davis, Wachtel & Peritorié, himself. Another one of my meaningless, but may have some merit to my thinking, two cents for you ya'll. BolsaChicaRadio
Hi Dave - thx for the good videos. not trying be negative, but I don't think the guitar is tuned down. Check out this video. He starts the solo in position III of Fm then moves down to 1st position later. I realize this video was in the days of "faking it" for TV, but I just learned this for a cover band and what you see him doing matches the recording. solo starts 2:38 Happy New Year - Paul ua-cam.com/video/ohzij-eZ4sE/v-deo.html
Watch the video I posted. Its from 1982. The guy is clearly tuned up a half step. I only know from my work in recording studios, and also the voicing of the chords he is playing using open strings, that you have to tune to a key that allows open strings etiher tune down a half step or tune up. Here he is tuned up. On the record it was probably up as well now that I gave this a better listen.
@@DavesGuitarChannel gotcha - i haven’t learned the song other than solo yet so haven’t hit the open chords yet. Clearly he is in standard for that solo there on tv 🤷♂️ interesting stuff
@@pjmoreau the one you showed he is faking it. The one i sent he is really playing. There is a reason why he did it. He may have been plugged in as a play along. Therefor he is miming the chords so it doesn't clash and his guitar was tuned standard.
IMO this is quite possibly the most perfect solo ever written. It fits in the song like a silk lined velvet coat in front of a fireplace. This song is pure magic.
Not a chance
pure economy. Short and sweet. Melodic and memorable. Elliot Easton is the same way: he can shred for days, but only plays for the song.
@@lomarsweed6604 Try some of EVH's solos or at least Stairway to Heaven.
I agree. I have always sung it in the car! The sax solo too.
Great sounding Strat!!
Nice job man, and spot on with that solo
Hey thanks, enjoyed it. I realized before tuning into the lesson that the original player was down at the nut the whole time, and my cheapie guitar sounded great doubling him. But...very nice!
Yay needed that
I put in an old cd b/c i was organizing in my basement. this song came up and I played it 3x wondering why I never learned it. Glad to find such a perfect lesson, thanks!
Thank you - one of my favourite guitar solo and song.
You were right there, Dave!!!!! I wanted the SAX solo!!!! Ya could a thrown that in the gift bag too!!!!
THANK YOU DAVE! (...almost 4 years later...!) One thing I noticed and became a staple in that song (I guess as far as I am concerned) is that Waddy Wachtel (the session guitar player on that track, legend has it) that during the chorus line when Davis sang the main lyric "Only The Lonely Can Play...!" Waddy actually follows right besides her on the MELODY LINE...on EVERY SINGLE RUN she does of that lyric! That's one thing I noticed RIGHT OFF THE BAT the very first time I heard that song! So, I feel that's what 'sublimely' makes that very, very brief guitar solo so special, is that throughout the balance of the piece, Wachtel is right along with her 'and never goes away'. So, even though the guitar SOLO is iconic for that genre & era, however, the guitar is a huge mainstay of the rhythm track, all together.
Just my lousy 2 cents Dave...I hope it makes some legible meaning.
BCRadio
The guitar has a classic, laid back feel to it.
god damned where were you in 1989!!!!!
Another one nailed. Love this song! Thanks for the shoutout to our boy @drummerboy135 and for the great entertainment yesterday!
I always Loved The Motels and this song. Martha Davis, The singer, reminds me of a Girl I had a serious Crush on in High School. Always Loved that Band. Great Solo Dave!
Great tutorial. Wicked Pissah!!!
Happy 4th Dave! Love this song, brings me right back, great vid!
Dave thanks, this is an 80's masterwork for sure! after listening to the song most of my life i've come to the conclusion that the recording was slowed down, or like your demonstrating the guitar was tuned down, I was wondering if you could post a video of the cord structure, Thanks
Na na, the song IS in A flat! My cheap chromatic tuner got me there easily. There's a file on You Tube of 165 songs in the flat keys including great Van Halen songs. The chords are A ,F# with a added 6th note that the guitar player moves whole up to the A position. Then D flat, E flat, and back to A flat.
Thanks Dave!!
Great job with this! I think the best of all the transcriptions to date. Any Chance to link it to a tab? Hard to see on my small screen.
Sorry no, I don't do tab.
Happy 4th!
What kind of pickups are those? They sound great.
DiMarzio Area 58 in the neck and middle position. DiMarzio 54 Pro in the bridge
Can the sax part be translated as well?
Anything can be
Did Waddy Wachtel play this solo?
I think so.
Yes. I spent some time researching it about a year ago. It is one of those songs where I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it first came out on the radio. I was trying to find an interview where he divulged the guitar/amp combo he used on the recording, but there was nothing precise. All I could come up with from interviews was that around this time he had his infamous 1960 Les Paul w/Bigsby, a 1957 (and possibly a 1963) Fender Strat, and a Music Man amp (no pedels). From the sound of it, I think it was the Les Paul. Maybe Waddy can chime in to correct me though.
To this day, it's still been so very unclear EXACTLY WHO has been playing that DANG solo that has been on You Tube discussion boards and many others alike, for over 40 years. Indeed, the remastered compact disc set revealed what we knew about that album for YEARS, that Capitol Records DEMANDED that producer/engineer Val Garay use ONLY seasoned, polished session studio musicians on the "ALL FOR ONE" project, which was basically a re-recording of the company rejected album "APOCALYPSO" final mixdown. The remaster CD of "ALL FOR ONE" in it's expanded liner notes, reveals the names of the session players as a whole, but doesn't really go into further detail on just what couple session guitar players played what song; who did the rhythm track & who did the solo. The notes also reveal that newly hired guitarist Guy Perry (aka, Adrian Peritorié) DID INDEED play guitar on "some" of the songs, during "some" of the sessions! So in reality, it very well could have been that Perry/Peritorié DID track that guitar solo on "ONLY THE LONELY". After watching the American Bandstand, Merv Griffin Show & SOLID GOLD "lip sync/playback" telecasts for years, where MANY bands who record their very own tracks for their album, for the life of them, are ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE in syncing with their own "playback"; here we can PLAINLY SEE Perry/Peritorié do an ABSOLUTE perfect playback performance. It very well could have been him that tracked that specific solo during the 24 track recording process...and believe it or not...not the great & legendary Waddy Wachtel. When you listen intently to MANY of Wachtel's rhythm & solo tracks on other mainstream hits & singles, the guitar solo vibe on "ONLY THE LONELY" is not totally, 100% in line & structured in the way Wachtel tracks out a solo. So, all in all, we may never know. I guess the only four souls that REALLY KNOW FOR SURE, is Garay, Davis, Wachtel & Peritorié, himself.
Another one of my meaningless, but may have some merit to my thinking, two cents for you ya'll.
BolsaChicaRadio
Hi Dave - thx for the good videos. not trying be negative, but I don't think the guitar is tuned down. Check out this video. He starts the solo in position III of Fm then moves down to 1st position later. I realize this video was in the days of "faking it" for TV, but I just learned this for a cover band and what you see him doing matches the recording. solo starts 2:38
Happy New Year - Paul
ua-cam.com/video/ohzij-eZ4sE/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/no8ZRIKm6UE/v-deo.html
Watch the video I posted. Its from 1982. The guy is clearly tuned up a half step. I only know from my work in recording studios, and also the voicing of the chords he is playing using open strings, that you have to tune to a key that allows open strings etiher tune down a half step or tune up. Here he is tuned up. On the record it was probably up as well now that I gave this a better listen.
@@DavesGuitarChannel gotcha - i haven’t learned the song other than solo yet so haven’t hit the open chords yet. Clearly he is in standard for that solo there on tv 🤷♂️ interesting stuff
@@pjmoreau the one you showed he is faking it. The one i sent he is really playing. There is a reason why he did it. He may have been plugged in as a play along. Therefor he is miming the chords so it doesn't clash and his guitar was tuned standard.
@@DavesGuitarChannel I started learning the chords I see what mean. Can hear the ringing chords starting after 1st chorus