Hello to my fellow guitar fans! If this is not you, maybe skip it? Or maybe not, as you might enjoy something you find here? I don’t know.

As you probably do know if you’ve been around a while, I grew up in a very music focused home. We weren’t instrument players, just incredibly devoted listeners, especially my Dad. Thanks to him, I often wax poetic about knowing lyrics from The Doors in utero and going on to being a great fan. Their music rocks! It wasn’t just The Doors I heard as a whippersnapper, but every manner and style of music. Jazz, Standards, Country, much, much Rock and a little Folk, too. There is always something new, however long it’s been in the universe, to discover and enjoy. These just so happen to be my favorite guitar songs. Also, aside from the first, not in any particular order. Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Cream – Tales of Brave Ulysses: This is the first song, aside from anything by The Doors, I remember really liking, as a very, very young child. It is all the things: voice, drums, not just a great guitar sound. Plus Disraeli Gears has one of the best album covers, ever. It is neon my friends, neon.

The Doors – Roadhouse Blues AND Spanish Caravan: Come on Robby, do it…

Scorpions – Sails of Charon: My initiation to 70s Scorpions. Yowza!

ZZ Top – Brown Sugar: Wait for it…

The Rolling Stones – Can’t You Hear Me Knocking: It never gets old. I grew up with the Sticky Fingers album version with a genuine zipper, but was never allowed to zip it, wah! Also, to my friend Keith in heaven, much love.

Led Zeppelin – Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You: Nah, just keep playing.

Tool – Jambi: What happens when I’m open. Just go…

Audioslave – Cochise: It slays.

Alice in Chains – Bleed the Freak AND I Stay Away: Damn, just damn. ALL of it!!

Big Head Todd and the Monsters – The Leaving Song: They were the first band Greg and I ever saw live together, at Herman’s Hideaway on South Broadway in Denver. 1992, maybe? Probably.

Judas Priest – You’ve Got Another Thing Coming: My first introduction to spiked garments. I bought a pair of black leather flats ringed in them soon after and felt pretty badass.

The James Gang – Walk Away: I could listen to that opening riff on a loop, but then I’d miss the rest of the fine wizardry that is Joe Walsh.

Black Sabbath – War Pigs: Greg and I thought we were excessively late to this band’s party when we finally bought albums a few years ago. Then, upon listening, I already knew the songs. Turns out, my Dad had their albums way back in the day and played them enough for me to know them without knowing it was Sabbath. Ha!

Van Halen – Runnin’ with the Devil: It’s a Volvo, a Mercedes, an Opel, and a Volkswagen.

Fleetwood Mac – The Green Manalishi: Z O I K S ! ! ! For a second, fantastic, Kirk Hammett version, also on THE Greenie, here you GO.

The Allman Brothers – One Way Out: Another opening riff worthy of an endless loop, then Duane breaks on in and it levels up and up and up. Goll-ee.

Queens of the Stone Age – Song for the Dead: This is my all-time favorite bedtime song. I kid you not.

Primus – Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver: Stay weird, Les Claypool.

Dio – Don’t Talk to Strangers: W O R D .

The Black Angels – Young Men Dead: Don’t you waste no time.

Cake – Nugget: Shut the F*CK up…

Billy Strings – Planet Caravan: It’s Black Sabbath AND some mighty fine picking.

U2 – Wire: This is The Edge!

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood: Man, oh man, could he P L A Y !

Metallica – For Whom the Bell Tolls: I mean, right?!

AC/DC – Hell’s Bells: I won’t take no prisoners…

Yes! – I’ve Seen All Good People: A heart warmer for all time.