Running with the Night

Lionel Richie, 1983, from Can't Slow Down. Solo by Steve Lukather.

A soaring, singable Lukather solo lifts Richie's upbeat single into rock territory without losing its polish.

Running with the Night already has an upbeat, driving feel, and Steve Lukather's solo lifts it into full rock territory. His playing is soaring and singable, with long, sustained notes and melodic phrases that are easy to hum after one listen. He brings a bright, polished distortion tone that fits Richie's glossy production while giving the song more muscle. It is a textbook example of the 1980s session-guitar solo designed to thrill without losing melody. Listen for how Lukather climbs gradually through the solo, saving his highest and most intense phrases for the end, and how the guitar tone blends into the keyboards and backing vocals instead of fighting them.

Running with the Night by Lionel Richie is featured in our Pop (#9) list. The solo is played by Steve Lukather and the song was released in 1983.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Pop Guitar Solos — #9
• Guest Solos — #25
• The Best Steve Lukather Guitar Solos — #3

Sources

• MusicRadar / Total Guitar: 30 killer pop guitar solos (2011)
• Far Out Magazine: 10 pop songs with outrageously good guitar solos