I am only considering songs here. Not solos from progressive rock, though I did include one from the prog-rockers, Yes.

1. The Knack – My Sharona
My first song on the list is a popular song but it is not known as a popular guitar-solo song. This is unfortunate considering the searing solo from guitarist, Berton Averre. The last time you heard it was on the soundtrack of the film “Reality Bites”.
Here are the guys, a little older, performing the number live.
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It is sad to note that the lead singer Doug Fieger, passed away on Valentine’s day this year, aged 57 battling both brain and liver cancer.

2. ZZ Top – “I need you tonite” from the album “Eliminator”. This was a break-through album for the band in the mid eighties spawning hits such as “Legs”, “Got my under pressure” and “Sharp Dressed Man” but there was a beauty in “I need you tonite”. The beauty is not in the sophistication or the complexity of the solo but the way the solo is presented. With drums and bass providing just the bare-bones accompaniment they let the lead guitarist Billy Gibbons do his thing. And he does it in smooth style not hurrying one bit. Worth every listen.

3. U2 – “The Fly”. The Edge, is not known for his solo because of his inability to play lead solos but this solo is certainly an exception. Even after Bono’s vocals comes back on The Edge doesn’t let go of his solo and it continues almost till the end of the song. If you can mute the vocals on your system towards the end, try it and listen to a brilliant solo.

4. U2 – “End of the world” – Another song from the Achtung Baby album, stylish and beautiful. “Achtung Baby” by the way is a great guitar album with many other lovely guitar songs. The uniqueness of this solo is that it plays throughout the song even when Bono’s vocals are on. Made in the same vein as “Ultra Violet” another song from the album I almost included the latter in the list too.

5. Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – “Anybody there?” is an instrumental 2.39 minutes long from the album “Bent out of Shape”. In 1983 it got a Grammy nomination. But even that doesn’t get the popularity of “Was Heim” another big hit for Ritchie while in the same band and from another album. At around 50 seconds just listen to Ritchie’s soulful notes that can make you cry.

6. Snowy White – “Bird of Paradise”. I remember listening to this song on a cassette tape of heavy metal ballads. But Snowy White has been supporting Pink Floyd and Roger Walters for a considerably long time and even invited to join the band. Snowy White had been a member of Thin Lizzy too. Howeve it is this 1983 hit that he is known for. A smooth ballad the guitar sparkles with the lovely singing. The solo is actually longer than what you see in the video below.

7. Yes – “I see you” from the Yes’s self-titled debut. One of the most beautiful solos from the late sixites you will love the way the guitar and the keyboarding play their parts together. It is Peter Banks who plays the solo, though Yes is known for their classically trained and ever so popular guitarist, Steve Howe.

8. Loudness – “Soldier of Fortune”. When heavy metal bands from the U.K and the U.S were ruling the metal charts one band from the Land of the Rising sun, Japan did gather interest and a serious fan following. They were “Loudness”. Forget the song, but the solo is impossible to ignore, reminiscent of Rithie Blackmore’s style of playing but this one goes another step further in virtuosity. Akira Takasaki guitarist and founder of Loudness still plays with the aging band.

9. Europe – “Aphasia” – Remember the 80′s band that gave us hits like “The Final Countdown”, “Dreamer” and “Superstitious”. Though I think it was strongly influenced by guitar solos from Iron Maiden’s “Alexander the Great”, I’ll give John Norum some credit for the playing. The sound of the drums truly sucked on this one.

10. Uriah Heep – Wake up (Set your sights) from Heep’s debut album “Very Heavy Very Humble” – Smallest solo of the list here but one of the most hauntingly melancholic. Just a few notes but very melodious. Wait for it to start at 3.00 minutes and goes on for about a minute then strings, bass and drums join in with the tunes. Vocals join and gradually fade away. At 4 min 38 seconds the notes come back again and they are so sublimally beautiful that you want to listen to over and over again. One of the original members, lead guitarist Mike Box still plays with the band.