September Gurls
Big Star, 1974, from Radio City. Solo by Alex Chilton.
Chilton's chiming, slightly off-kilter lead lines are as hooky as the chorus of power pop's most revered song.
September Gurls is often called the perfect power pop song, and Alex Chilton's guitar is part of why. His lead lines chime brightly but always sound slightly off-kilter, as if he is enjoying bending the rules of the genre. They are as melodic and catchy as the chorus itself, weaving around the vocal instead of stopping for a traditional solo. That combination of jangle, melody and quiet strangeness influenced countless indie and alternative bands. Listen for the ringing, layered guitar textures in the intro and how the lead phrases sometimes land on unexpected notes, adding a touch of tension to an otherwise sweet, bittersweet song about lost love and longing.
September Gurls by Big Star is featured in our Power Pop (#2) list. The solo is played by Alex Chilton and the song was released in 1974.
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Who played the guitar solo on September Gurls?
Alex Chilton played the solo on Big Star's September Gurls (1974).