Must-Know Strat Tunes

[fdesalvo]

You guys are tops!  Thank you all so much.  Better start stretching the ol digits.

 

[fdesalvo]

Landed on Hendrix's "Red House" and haven't looked back.  Learning to blend major into the minor blues licks I knew is really helping me to overcome this plateau I've been stuck on.  This is the perfect song to teach one that - almost have the intro down, but hot d@mn it's a whole new world.  I could (and will) spend the next few months dissecting this song.

 

[Cagey]

I can't wait to hear your treatment of the tune. It's an excellent piece, and you're an excellent player.

 

[fdesalvo]

Thank you. The blues is so big on phrasing, whereas rock can be less about the conversation. Makes me feel nekkid!

 

[Vulpez]

Europe - On the Loose
Steve Vai - The Boy From Seattle
Gary Moore - Murder in the Skies
Muse - Hyper Music (probably not recorded on a Strat, but with enough dirt it'll do)

 

[DangerousR6]

[youtube]i5sqJNFFwqc[/youtube]
.

Anything SRV or Pink Floyd...
And one of my all time favs of Pearl Jam, Yellow Ledbetter...

 

[bagman67]

Dunno how, but I managed to forget to mention THE Strat tune of the '90's:  Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game".  When the world turned away from hair metal, most of it went grunge, but somehow this kid from Stockton, CA (and his guitarist, the recently departed James Calvin Wilsey) managed to land the world's attention with a mournful, atmospheric vibe.  The guitar parts are sublime.  A real workout if you want to learn something about self-control with the twang bar.

[youtube]dlJew-Dw87I[/youtube]

 

[stratamania]

Wcked Game, was in the list I posted earlier. Agreed its a great tune. I did not know James Calvin Wilsey had passed away.

Here is another version worth a listen.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOjTweUPt3Q
[/youtube]

 

[bagman67]

Ah, so you did, Stratamania.  Apologies for not reading carefully. That is a nice version in the video  you posted.


Edit:


I only learned this morning of his passing.  Here's an obit in Rolling Stone:


https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/king-of-slow-guitarist-james-calvin-wilsey-784335/

 

[spe111]

I didn't know he died either. He wasn't very old. He had a solo album about ten years ago that was pretty good.

 

[stratamania]

Ah, so you did, Stratamania.  Apologies for not reading carefully. That is a nice version in the video  you posted.


Edit:


I only learned this morning of his passing.  Here's an obit in Rolling Stone:


https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/king-of-slow-guitarist-james-calvin-wilsey-784335/

Thanks, it says he was only 61 which is about 2 1/2 years older than me. Just goes to show we need to look after ourselves and make the most of life.

 

[MikeW]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned one of my favorite Strat players. Kenny Wayne Shepard. He's got it all under his fingers and has got all the Strat tone you can handle.

Just for examples: check out Born With a Broken Heart, Deja Voodoo and While We Cry from his Ledbetter Heights album.

[youtube]3apdXnMZpoA[/youtube]

 

[Kostas]

...The more I listen to Hendrix, the more I realize Mayer listened to Hendrix.

It's not just Mayer, pretty much every rock guitarist owns to Hendrix.

Check the electro phase of Jeff Beck, another monster player. Who Else & You had it Coming are excellent albums. He's 74 year old and instead of playing the same old blues he has redefined his playing and sound. Not the classic crystal clean strat sound but equally inspiring.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/Y4LUH2kB9RY[/youtube]

 

[DangerousR6]

I can't believe that no one has mentioned one of my favorite Strat players. Kenny Wayne Shepard. He's got it all under his fingers and has got all the Strat tone you can handle.

Just for examples: check out Born With a Broken Heart, Deja Voodoo and While We Cry from his Ledbetter Heights album.

[youtube]3apdXnMZpoA[/youtube]

Hell ya, don't know how I forgot about KWS, that was such a phenomenal album. Especially for a 17 year old, saw him many times when he was touring with VH. Can't forget Blue on Black and Last Goodbye..

 

[DangerousR6]

Wcked Game, was in the list I posted earlier. Agreed its a great tune. I did not know James Calvin Wilsey had passed away.

Here is another version worth a listen.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOjTweUPt3Q
[/youtube]

That was such a monumental song from the 90's, his tv show was quite entertaining too...I stumbled upon a killer remake of Wicked Game from H.I.M.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeSpXku0iW8[/youtube]

 

[stratamania]

@DangerousR6, that is not a bad rework of the song.

 

[DangerousR6]

@DangerousR6, that is not a bad rework of the song.

I know right, it kinda grows on ya...

 

[stratamania]

@DangerousR6, that is not a bad rework of the song.

I know right, it kinda grows on ya...

I only listened once, but I could see it doing that.

Just in case Frank has got through all of the songs so far. Here are a couple more.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh)

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuFI5KSPAt4
[/youtube]


And another unlikely cover on a Strat...Yngwie doing Abba...

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XsERirJLZU
[/youtube]

 

[spe111]

I'm a fan of this Wicked Game cover:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGHRiTJReAk[/youtube]

 

[bagman67]

That's a very cool cover.  The bass player's tone during the guitar solo break is pretty nice, rather aggro in particulary when one considers the languid, dreamy vibe of the original recording.