Red Hot
Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men, 1957. Solo by Roland Janes.
Sun session guitarist Roland Janes plays a raucous, reckless break on this Riley rave-up.
Red Hot is a wild, shouting rave-up, and Roland Janes' guitar break fits right in. He plays with a raucous, slightly out-of-control feel, hammering at the strings and throwing in bluesy licks and bends without worrying about polish. The tone is raw and biting, typical of the rougher side of the Sun studio, and the break feels like it could fall apart at any moment, which is part of its thrill. Janes was a key session player at Sun, and this track shows why his fearless style suited the label's wilder artists. Listen for the choppy rhythm of his phrases and the way he leans on repeated notes to build excitement, giving the solo a party atmosphere.
Red Hot by Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men is featured in our Rockabilly (#19) list. The solo is played by Roland Janes and the song was released in 1957.
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Who played the guitar solo on Red Hot?
Roland Janes played the solo on Billy Lee Riley and His Little Green Men's Red Hot (1957).