No Matter What
Badfinger, 1970, from No Dice. Solo by Pete Ham.
A concise, singing solo over one of the first great power pop riffs.
No Matter What is built on one of the first great power pop riffs, and Pete Ham's solo matches it for clarity and punch. The break is concise and singing, with bright, sustained notes and phrases that stay close to the song's melody. Ham avoids excess, making every note count in a short space. The combination of melodic songwriting and loud, confident guitar helped define power pop's blueprint. Listen for how the solo follows the riff's rhythm and shape, feeling like a natural extension of it, and for the way the tone rings clearly over the drums and bass, giving the song a lift before the final chorus.
No Matter What by Badfinger is featured in our Power Pop (#12) list. The solo is played by Pete Ham and the song was released in 1970.
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Who played the guitar solo on No Matter What?
Pete Ham played the solo on Badfinger's No Matter What (1970).