Top 10 Best Keyboard Solos in Rock
#10: “Frankenstein” (1972)
The Edgar Winter Group It takes a special sort of rock instrumental to capture the minds of music fans on popular radio. Then again, The Edgar Winter Group’s “Frankenstein” isn’t your average shred-fest, either. It’s a tour-de-force of synthesized power, thanks in part to Winter as the group’s leader. There are moments for the entire band to solo here on “Frankenstein”. But Winter gets a most righteous tone out of his keyboard, that’s for sure. The synth solo is punctuated by spacey stabs of weirdness that collaborate with the pounding drums. At the same time, “Frankenstein’s” main riff burrows into your brain and lives there forever: rent-free. Rock on!
#9: “Evil Ways” (1969)
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Santana Carlos Santana has recorded a number of covers throughout his career. But we have to shout out this salsa-infused jam. Originally recorded by Willie Bobo in 1967, Santana’s version is much more steeped in psychedelic jazz-rock. It features an outstanding Hammond organ solo from former vocalist Gregg Rolie. While the solo is laid back, Rolie is no wallflower, allowing the Hammond to work alongside the band’s funky groove. The end result still retains a bit of that Latin American fire from Bobo’s original. But it ultimately went on to become one of Santana’s most well-known musical calling cards.
#8: “One With Everything” (2003)
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Styx The “Cyclorama” album from Styx served as a turning point for the band back in 2003. It was their first with new lead singer, Lawrence Gowan. Yet songs like “One With Everything” proved that the old Styx fire was still very much intact. Gowan’s keyboard prowess shines on the song. He created an excellent melodic counterplay to the track’s surprisingly heavy riffs. Additionally, slight echoes of Canadian heroes Rush can be heard here on “One With Everything.” Gowan’s standout talent on both vocals and synth proved that Styx was very much still a vital band for the present day.
#7: “Catherine Parr” (1973)
Rick Wakeman Is there any image more indicative of prog rock’s conceptual decadence than Rick Wakeman’s stage capes and tours that featured ice capade antics? We’re not sure, but at the same time, prog has also delivered some outstanding musical masterpieces. Wakeman was already a legend with the band Yes prior to releasing his first solo album in 1973. That LP, “The Six Wives of Henry VIII,” featured wall-to-wall keyboard sorcery. BUT“Catherine Parr,” was definitely a standout. The whole thing is an exercise in excess, as Wakeman’s seemingly endless solos take direct, compositional inspiration from classical music. This is unfettered and unrestrained, balancing atmospheric passages with fiery runs that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Henry VIII’s grand, palatial court.
#6: “Smokin’” (1976)
Boston Boston were, perhaps, the ultimate arena rock band. Their songs were big and loud, impeccably produced…but also weren’t bereft of interesting musical ideas. “Foreplay/Longtime” features an outstanding clavinet and organ solo from bandleader Tom Scholz. [xref] Meanwhile, “Smokin’” features a middle-section with another appearance from both of those instruments. Here, the clavinet and organ take on an almost gothic sense of grandeur. It’s a stark contrast to the otherwise upbeat melodic choices of “Smokin’.” It also makes a nice counterpoint to the song’s lightweight, party-time vibes. Scholz’s solo almost sounds cut from the Deep Purple cloth, and this is definitely a compliment.
#5: “Highway Star” (1972)
Deep Purple Speaking of Deep Purple, is there any rock keyboardist as celebrated as Jon Lord? He’s one of the absolute masters of the instrument. It’s his fiery playing that often helps define Purple’s early, heavy metal sound. “Highway Star” is an absolute blazer, too, featuring breakneck soloing from both Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Both men wear their classical music influences on their sleeves. It’s this technical prowess that allows the soloing to not only stand out, but become legendary. Lord’s organ solo sounds like it’s going to break away from the song at any moment. The arpeggiated notes practically catch fire beneath Lord’s frantic fingers. But don’t take our word for it: check out Purple’s “Machine Head” LP and prepare to be amazed.
#4: “Karn Evil 9” (1973)
Emerson, Lake & Palmer Keith Emerson is another one of those rock keyboard players that’s always in the conversation when it comes to absolute legends. The man cut his teeth playing with proto-prog heavyweights like The Nice before founding the supergroup, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, in 1970. “Karn Evil 9” is probably one of Emerson’s best known pieces. Like another keyboard-laden jam, “Hoedown” [xref] is a classic slice of ELP prog. The song runs nearly thirty minutes in length, and it features a stellar solo from Emerson on a Minimoog that almost possesses a Caribbean feel at times. This is intentional on Emerson’s part, as he shifts the settings on the Moog to mimic that traditional, Trinidadian steel drum. It then moves into full-on classical moves to end in style.
#3: “The House of the Rising Sun” (1964)
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The Animals We’ve been centering a lot of our keyboard solo talk in the 1970s thus far, but it’s time to go back even further. “The House of the Rising Sun '' was already a folk standard prior to The Animals covering it in 1964. Their version, however, was an entirely different animal. This was proto-psychedelia that was steeped in the blues. It hammered a fresh new sound into the collective heads of a shaggy-haired youth culture. This “House of the Rising Sun '' is still mournful and melancholic, but anchored by Alan Price’s spooky organ sound. Price solos behind nearly the entire song, but never crowds singer Eric Burdon or his bandmates. Instead, the solo adds that all-important atmosphere, taking a cover that was already good and making it great.
#2: “Light My Fire” (1967)
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The Doors Question: why didn’t The Doors have a bass player? Answer: because they had Ray Mothertruckin’ Manzarek. The man’s extraordinarily talented hands were able to lay down both rhythm tracks and keyboard lines. This made Manzarek something of a secret weapon within The Doors’ musical arsenal. Nowhere is that best exemplified than by the iconic opening lines of the band’s “Light My Fire.” Manzarek took inspiration from classical music (Bach, to be specific) for the intro run, while his solo echoes jazz greats like Dave Brubeck and John Coltrane. Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger are a superb team throughout this instrumental section, with both solos pushing and pulling against each other with sheer, melodic brilliance.
#1: “Jump” (1983)
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Van Halen Eddie Van Halen is a rock icon thanks to his groundbreaking guitar technique and style. He was also generally the all-around complete musical package. To prove it, just look at his synthesizer playing on the band’s 1983 MEGA-hit, “Jump.” Oh Eddie plays a guitar solo on the track, sure, but it’s his solo on an Oberheim OB-Xa synth that’s probably better known by fans. It’s poppy and melodic, taking Eddie’s classical influences and letting them shine. The solo is intricate and involved, but not too busy. Dare we say, it’s even hummable? Said simply: Eddie Van Halen was The Man, and “Jump” will eternally live on as a Van Halen classic.
