Soulshine

The Allman Brothers Band, 1994, from Where It All Begins. Solo by Warren Haynes.

Haynes' gospel-inflected solo matches the warmth of the song he wrote for the band's revival era.

Warren Haynes wrote Soulshine, and his guitar solo on the Allman Brothers Band recording carries the same warmth as the lyric. Drawing on gospel and soul phrasing, he plays with a big, rounded tone and lets bends rise slowly, as if each note were being sung. The solo is not about speed; it builds gradually, with longer and more emphatic phrases as the band lifts beneath it. The song became a staple of the band's revival era and a signature for Haynes himself. Listen for how closely his opening guitar phrases echo the shape of the vocal melody, and how he pushes a sustained bend just a little sharp before easing it into place, an effect that sounds almost like a sigh.

Soulshine by The Allman Brothers Band is featured in our Jam (#24) list. The solo is played by Warren Haynes and the song was released in 1994.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Jam Band Guitar Solos — #24
• The Best The Allman Brothers Band Guitar Solos — #19
• The Best Warren Haynes Guitar Solos — #1

Sources