Working Man
Rush, 1974, from Rush. Solo by Alex Lifeson.
Alex Lifeson's playing on 'Working Man' is heavy, bluesy and energetic, rooted in the influence of Cream and Led Zeppelin. After the pounding main riff, the song opens into a long instrumental section where he lets loose with fast, fiery runs and bends. It's an early showcase for his lead playing, before Rush moved into more complex progressive territory. The song became a turning point for the band, catching on with rock radio in the American Midwest. Listen for how Lifeson shifts between rhythm and lead roles in the instrumental section, keeping the energy high while locking tightly with the rhythm section.
Working Man by Rush is ranked #139 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Alex Lifeson and the song was released in 1974. It appears on 6 lists, placing as high as #20 (DigitalDreamDoor).
In our lists
- See Them Live — #50
- Most Divisive — #25
- The Best Alex Lifeson Guitar Solos — #5
- The Best Rush Guitar Solos — #4
Sources
- DigitalDreamDoor: 200 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #20
- Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #65
- Radio Beat: 88 kytarových sól na Beatu — #84
- Bombay Lives (Substack): 100 Greatest Guitar Solos — #94
- Topito (now 10h26.com): Top 100 des plus grands solos de guitare de l'histoire (Benoit Floyd) — #94
- Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #99
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #192
Who played the guitar solo on Working Man?
Alex Lifeson played the solo on Rush's Working Man (1974).
What guitar was used on the Working Man solo?
A gibson es-335, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Working Man rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#139 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 6 of them.