In February, Jimmy Page came out of hiding and appeared at the grand opening of the Gibson Garage in London alongside Brian May and Tony Iommi. A huge stir followed, and the news that Gibson would be releasing a faithful Collector’s Edition replica of Page’s 1969 EDS-1275 double-neck guitar.
Mind you, that was after Page had appeared the previous November with a Les Paul to perform a rendition of Rumble for Link Wray’s long overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
So he’s been busy lately – at least by 21st century standards – and his reemergence has got us thinking about some of his most outstanding solos. outside by Led Zeppelin, also known as the stuff that gets overlooked because radio stations and Apple Music playlists are too busy dealing with Stairway to heaven And The Ocean.
But don’t get me wrong; these songs are great, as are a lot of Page’s productions after (and before) Led Zeppelin, including Page & Plant, Coverdale/Page and The Firm. And so, Guitar World takes a trip back through Page’s days with the likes of the Yardbirds, Roy Harper and more to select 10 of his best non-Led Zeppelin guitar solos. Are any of these your favorites?
10. Elizabeth – Roy Harper & Jimmy Page (Whatever Happened to Jugula?, 1985)
Elizabeth – Roy Harper and Jimmy Page – YouTube
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How many What happened to Jugula?Elizabeth is full of 80s-inflected electro-acoustic folk from Jimmy Page. Also present are the sweet but quirky vocals that characterized Roy Harper long before he teamed up with Page.
Overall, there are not many “typical” Page solos on this record, except perhaps Elizabethin which the guitarist breaks away from the album’s gentle mood and delivers a slightly unconventional solo that sounds a bit like modern art – or at least modern art from the mid-80s.
It’s slow, a little nasal, and has just the right amount of raw, bluesy backbone.
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9. Liquid Mercury – Jimmy Page (Outrider, 1988)
Page seemed to rely heavily on his worn-out, B-bender-equipped Tele in the ’80s, and his only real solo record, 1988’s Pioneer – whose cover happens to feature a Gibson Les Paul – is no exception.
The slightly sloppy riffs that are a Page trademark are present throughout this complex instrumental. (Speaking of complexity, we happen to know that Page & Co. used a click track when recording this song; he told us so in 1988.)
What really stands out, however, is the splashy Tele ecstasy that Page unleashes on the listener about halfway through; after soloing to his heart’s content, Page reinforces the riff with additional crunchy elements until this almost forgotten gem fades away.
8. Tear Down the Walls – The Firm (Mean Business, 1986)
Company – Tear Down the Walls (1986) – YouTube
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If you like Page, you’ve probably heard of The Firm. But what if you stopped after Zeppelin, or aren’t interested in ’80s supergroups? In which case, Page’s outstanding two-year experiment with Paul Rodgers (vocals), Chris Slade (drums) and Tony Franklin (bass) is probably more of a case of “when you know, you know.”
So if you don’t know, a good place to start would be Tear down the wallsin which Page, Tele in hand, delivers a singing solo that is more reminiscent of his attacks in the ’60s than his much harder heroics in the ’70s.
7. A Hit (to the Body) – The Rolling Stones (Dirty Work, 1986)
The Rolling Stones – One Hit (To The Body) – OFFICIAL PROMO – YouTube
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Interesting, A blow (to the body) was the first Rolling Stones single to feature Ronnie Wood as co-writer, along with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards – but it didn’t matter, as Page was brought in to add some momentum.
And he provided some momentum by delivering choice Tele licks throughout before breaking into a quick (and very spontaneous-sounding) B-bender solo mid-song. And if you just can’t get enough of “Rolling Zeppelin” (Stones + Page), be sure to listen to the onion-like scarlet out of Goat head soup 2020.
6. Take Me With You for a Little While – Coverdale/Page (Coverdale/Page, 1993)
Most Page historians would say that Page’s work on the 1993 Zeppelin/Whitesnake-sounding record Coverdale/Pagewas his most inspired since Zeppelin. And yes, that has its value, especially when you listen to a track like Take me for a while.
Not surprisingly, David Coverdale’s vocals set the tone, while Page’s is softer and more underscoring, lulling the listener into a false sense of security.
It’s a trick Page did well with Robert Plant in the ’70s, and it works here too. It works so well that when Page appears in the frame, with a Les Paul no doubt plugged into a Marshall, the solo hits you in the face like a splash of molten lava, and it burns in the best way possible.
5. Prison Blues – Jimmy Page (Outrider, 1988)
If you have witnessed Page’s wild journey since the late 60s, then Prison Bluesthe penultimate track from 1988 Pioneeryou will feel at home.
For this reason, Page, along with Chris Farlowe on vocals, is not breaking new ground here, nor is he holding his Tele as he did for most of the ’80s.
Instead, Page grabs his Les Paul, delivers tried and tested blues riffs and lets go for an extended solo that would easily fit on any Zeppelin album from the early to mid 70s.
4. Blue Train – Page & Plant (A Walk Through Clarksdale, 1998)
After years of watching Plant run away from Zeppelin’s legacy as fast as possible, the duo reformed in the mid-90s for Unguided and a subsequent tour. It went so well that Page and Plant decided to record an album, 1998 Walking to Clarksdale.
With his Les Paul in hand, Page syncs with Plant on one of the best pieces on the album, Blue Traina dark cut with brooding chords, subtle riffs, and perhaps Page’s last big guitar solo – especially since he’s done so little since.
And when you come back Walking to Clarksdalebe sure to check out Please read the letter – not so much for Page’s guitar heroism, but simply to compare it to the better-known version by Plant and Alison Krauss from 2007. Let us know if you have a preference!
3. Mean Business (1986)
As mentioned, The Firm is underrated. And even if some of the productions are a bit dated, The Firm’s underrated status is not due to their musicianship or songwriting skills.
You want proof? Check out Live in peacea sometimes synthetic-sounding but mostly quasi-power ballad-like track in which Page once again grabs his Tele and unleashes one of his more clean solos of the 80s. There aren’t too many solos after Zeppelin where Page really let his guitar scream, but during Live in peacethat’s exactly what he did.
2. Don’t leave me like this – Coverdale/Page (Coverdale/Page, 1993)
When Zeppelin Since I love you is one of your favorites, we are willing to bet that Don’t leave me like thisanother monster from Coverdale/Pageit will be too.
It starts with a devilishly subtle prelude before the power chords and signature Page riffs kick in, all the while Page adding flourishes with sonically perfect leads before breaking into a solo that may be his best of the ’90s.
It’s a perfect example of why, despite his forays into other genres, Page was and is at his best when playing powerful, slightly crazy blues-rock.
1. Smile at me – The Yardbirds (Little Games, 1967)
Smile at me (Original Mono) – YouTube
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For what was considered Page’s wildest solo outside of Led Zeppelin, we are at the guitar-heavy yet incredibly catchy Smile at me.
For the uninitiated: Smile at me is track two from 1967 Small gamesPage’s first Yardbirds recording without Jeff Beck in the lineup, his only full album with the band, and his last studio album (as an artist), period, before the advent of Led Zeppelin.
As for the solo, it’s a speaker-ripping tour de force with the trusty Tele that Jeff Beck had gifted Page. Moreover, it’s a perfect example of what Page had in mind before Zeppelin – and extremely insightful in understanding where he was going. If you’re looking for a Page solo that you can find outside of Zeppelin, Smile at me is it.
