Touch and Go guitar solo

The Cars, 1980, from Panorama. Solo by Elliot Easton.

Easton's fluid, melodic solo contrasts with the song's odd, stop-start rhythm.

Touch and Go sets up a lopsided, stop-start groove, with the verses feeling slightly out of step with the beat. Elliot Easton's solo is the release valve: smooth, fluid and melodic, it glides over the rhythm with a clean, singing tone and neatly shaped phrases. He was one of new wave's most tasteful lead players, drawing on rockabilly and country as much as rock, and this is a fine showcase of his economy. The contrast between the jerky backing and the flowing lead is the whole point. Listen for how Easton builds his lines like a vocal melody, with clear beginnings and endings, and how the solo seems to straighten the song out for a moment before the odd rhythm returns.

Touch and Go by The Cars is featured in our New Wave (#20) list. The solo is played by Elliot Easton and the song was released in 1980.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest New Wave Guitar Solos — #20
• The Best The Cars Guitar Solos — #4
• Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1980 — #19

Sources