Session Players' Greatest Solos: The Hired Guns Behind the Hits · #1 of 20
#1

Reelin' in the Years

Steely Dan · 1972 · solo by Elliott Randall
Everything about this song →
Gear, tickets & merch
Guests & session players · 20 solos

Session Players' Greatest Solos: The Hired Guns Behind the Hits

Many of the greatest solos on the radio were played by musicians most listeners could not name: studio aces booked by the hour who played on hundreds of records. Elliott Randall on Reelin' in the Years, Larry Carlton on Kid Charlemagne, Jay Graydon on Peg, James Burton on Ricky Nelson's hits, Steve Lukather all over the early-80s charts. This is their highlight reel, each video cued to the solo.

  1. 1
    Reelin' in the Years
    Steely Dan · solo by Elliott Randall · 1972
  2. 2
    Kid Charlemagne
    Steely Dan · solo by Larry Carlton · 1976
  3. 3
    Peg
    Steely Dan · solo by Jay Graydon · 1977
  4. 4
    My Old School
    Steely Dan · solo by Jeff Baxter · 1973
  5. 5
    Show Biz Kids
    Steely Dan · solo by Rick Derringer · 1973
  6. 6
    Coyote
    Joni Mitchell · solo by Larry Carlton · 1976
  7. 7
    Put It Where You Want It
    The Crusaders · solo by Larry Carlton · 1972
  8. 8
    Hello Mary Lou
    Ricky Nelson · solo by James Burton · 1961
  9. 9
    Believe What You Say
    Ricky Nelson · solo by James Burton · 1958
  10. 10
    Susie-Q
    Dale Hawkins · solo by James Burton · 1957
  11. 11
    Guitar Man
    Elvis Presley · solo by Jerry Reed · 1968
  12. 12
    Breakdown Dead Ahead
    Boz Scaggs · solo by Steve Lukather · 1980
  13. 13
    Nothin' You Can Do About It
    Richard Marx · solo by Steve Lukather · 1989
  14. 14
    Talk to Ya Later
    The Tubes · solo by Steve Lukather · 1981
  15. 15
    Have Mercy
    Richard Marx · solo by Michael Landau · 1987
  16. 16
    Runaway
    Bon Jovi · solo by Tim Pierce · 1984
  17. 17
    Loan Me a Dime
    Boz Scaggs · solo by Duane Allman · 1969
  18. 18
    Strawberry Letter 23
    The Brothers Johnson · solo by Lee Ritenour · 1977
  19. 19
    Luxury Liner
    Emmylou Harris · solo by Albert Lee · 1977
  20. 20
    Physical
    Olivia Newton-John · solo by Steve Lukather · 1981

Quick answers

Who played the guitar solo on Reelin' in the Years?

Elliott Randall played the solo on Steely Dan's Reelin' in the Years (1972). It is #41 in our Consensus Top 100.

Who played the guitar solo on Kid Charlemagne?

Larry Carlton played the solo on Steely Dan's Kid Charlemagne (1976), #54 in our Consensus Top 100. Carlton also played on Joni Mitchell's Help Me, Coyote, Amelia and Black Crow.

Which session guitarist appears most often in the catalog?

Steve Lukather has 11 solos on other artists' records in our catalog (plus his Toto work), including Physical, Dirty Laundry and Running with the Night. Larry Carlton has 9, including Kid Charlemagne and four Joni Mitchell songs. Michael Landau has 7 and James Burton 6.