British Blues-Rock · #1 of 20
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Crossroads

Cream · 1968 · solo by Eric Clapton
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Spotlights · 20 solos

The Greatest British Blues-Rock Guitar Solos

In the 1960s, young British players learned from imported Chicago blues records and played the music back louder. This list follows that boom: Clapton in the Bluesbreakers and Cream, Peter Green in Fleetwood Mac, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page from the Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin, Mick Taylor with the Stones, Paul Kossoff in Free, Alvin Lee at full speed, and Robin Trower's Hendrix-inspired tone. Every video starts at the solo.

  1. 1
    Crossroads
    Cream · solo by Eric Clapton · 1968
  2. 2
    Since I've Been Loving You
    Led Zeppelin · solo by Jimmy Page · 1970
  3. 3
    All Right Now
    Free · solo by Paul Kossoff · 1970
  4. 4
    Hideaway
    John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers · solo by Eric Clapton · 1966
  5. 5
    Need Your Love So Bad
    Fleetwood Mac · solo by Peter Green · 1968
  6. 6
    The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)
    Fleetwood Mac · solo by Peter Green · 1970
  7. 7
    The Super-Natural
    John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers · solo by Peter Green · 1967
  8. 8
    Bridge of Sighs
    Robin Trower · solo by Robin Trower · 1974
  9. 9
    Sunshine of Your Love
    Cream · solo by Eric Clapton · 1967
  10. 10
    Going Down
    The Jeff Beck Group · solo by Jeff Beck · 1972
  11. 11
    You Shook Me
    Jeff Beck · solo by Jeff Beck · 1968
  12. 12
    I'm a Man
    The Yardbirds · solo by Jeff Beck · 1965
  13. 13
    I'm Going Home
    Ten Years After · solo by Alvin Lee · 1968
  14. 14
    Love in Vain
    The Rolling Stones · solo by Mick Taylor · 1970
  15. 15
    Mr. Big
    Free · solo by Paul Kossoff · 1970
  16. 16
    I Don't Need No Doctor
    Humble Pie · solo by Peter Frampton · 1971
  17. 17
    Old Love
    Eric Clapton · solo by Eric Clapton · 1989
  18. 18
    Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
    Whitesnake · solo by Micky Moody · 1978
  19. 19
    Day of the Eagle
    Robin Trower · solo by Robin Trower · 1974
  20. 20
    Tea for One
    Led Zeppelin · solo by Jimmy Page · 1976

Quick answers

Who were the key guitarists of the British blues boom?

The core names are Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor (all of whom played in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers), Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page (Yardbirds), Paul Kossoff (Free), Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) and Robin Trower (Procol Harum, then solo). All of them are on this list.

What is the best British blues-rock guitar solo?

Of these songs, Cream's live 'Crossroads' ranks highest in the site's combined ranking of published lists, followed by Led Zeppelin's 'Since I've Been Loving You' and Free's 'All Right Now'.

Why is 'Layla' not on this list?

Derek and the Dominos was mostly an American band, and Duane Allman shares the lead guitar on 'Layla'. To keep the list strictly British, we left out songs where a non-British guitarist plays a large share of the lead.