By the numbers · 25 solos

Rolling Stone vs. Everyone: Solos Rolling Stone Ranked Higher

Solos Rolling Stone's 2026 list ranked far higher than the rest of the field did. The gap is our consensus rank minus Rolling Stone's rank.

1
Mayonaise
The Smashing Pumpkins · solo by Billy Corgan · 1993
2
Easy
Commodores · solo by Thomas McClary · 1977
3
Just What I Needed
The Cars · solo by Elliot Easton · 1978
4
Susie-Q
Dale Hawkins · solo by James Burton · 1957
5
Heart-Shaped Box
Nirvana · solo by Kurt Cobain · 1993
6
Afrique Victime
Mdou Moctar · solo by Mdou Moctar · 2021
7
Freeway Jam
Jeff Beck · solo by Jeff Beck · 1975
8
I Heard Her Call My Name
The Velvet Underground · solo by Lou Reed · 1968
9
Morning Dew (Cornell, 5/8/77)
Grateful Dead · solo by Jerry Garcia · 1977
10
Statesboro Blues
The Allman Brothers Band · solo by Duane Allman · 1971
11
Strange Things Happening Every Day
Sister Rosetta Tharpe · solo by Sister Rosetta Tharpe · 1944
12
Stone Crazy
Buddy Guy · solo by Buddy Guy · 1962
13
Rattlesnake
St. Vincent · solo by Annie Clark · 2014
14
Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Talking Heads · solo by Adrian Belew · 1980
15
Rumble
Link Wray · solo by Link Wray · 1958
16
Freak Scene
Dinosaur Jr. · solo by J Mascis · 1988
17
East-West
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band · solo by Mike Bloomfield · 1966
18
That's All Right
Elvis Presley · solo by Scotty Moore · 1954
19
The Diamond Sea
Sonic Youth · solo by Lee Ranaldo & Thurston Moore · 1995
20
Tattooed Love Boys
Pretenders · solo by James Honeyman-Scott · 1980
21
Let's Call It Love
Sleater-Kinney · solo by Carrie Brownstein · 2005
22
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
The Rolling Stones · solo by Mick Taylor · 1971
23
Crosscut Saw
Albert King · solo by Albert King · 1967
24
That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2
The Isley Brothers · solo by Ernie Isley · 1973
25
The Trooper
Iron Maiden · solo by Adrian Smith & Dave Murray · 1983