ERIC JOHNSON

CARAVAN Wes Montgomery, Movin’ Wes GUITARIST: WES MONTGOMERY

“It’s classic Wes Montgomery — totally swinging and improvising over the changes. It’s part chords and a lot of single-note sections, and it’s all great. It’s hard to pick just one Wes solo, but this one is particularly smokin’.”

CROSSCUT SAW Albert King, Born Under a Bad Sign GUITARIST: ALBERT KING

“Albert King always knocks me out. He gets such a great tone in this solo, and his phrasing is extraordinary. I know Eric Clapton is a fan. He’s covered this song and plays the solo almost note for note.”

BOOGIE CHILLEN’ John Lee Hooker, Single GUITARIST: JOHN LEE HOOKER

“Check out the original 1948 version of this song. It’s incredible that this was recorded before rock and roll, because John pretty much set the foundation for everything that was to follow. The playing is flat-out extraordinary.”

TEXAS The Electric Flag, A Long Time Coming’ GUITARIST: MIKE BLOOMFIELD

“Mike Bloomfield is so fiery on this cut. He’s hitting on all cylinders. I was very influenced by Mike Bloomfield. I used to listen to him a lot.”

VALERIE The Monkees, The Birds, the Bees and the Monkees GUITARIST: LOUIS SHELTON

“He worked a lot during the Wrecking Crew days, and this is one of his best solos. Here in the middle of a pop song that got on the radio, he slipped in this blazing, fleet-fingered solo that just shines.”