During his career, the legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore created some of the most memorable and influential guitar solos of all time. The solo in Deep Purple‘s “Highway Star” is one of the greatest examples, and it was truly ahead of its time, having been released in 1972.
But when it comes to songs he didn’t compose, which solos does he consider to be among the best ever recorded? The Deep Purple and Rainbow guitarist once named two guitar solos by a British guitarist who had a major influence on him and that he believes are among the best ever made.
The 2 guitar solos Ritchie Blackmore said are among the best of all time
PJ Proby “Together”
Both guitar solos were recorded by the late Big Jim Sullivan, who is one of Blackmore’s guitar heroes. He was one of the most requested session guitarists in England and played in more than 750 charting hit singles during his career. Blackmore first met him in 1958 and had a few guitar lessons with the musician.
It was in an interview with Sounds Magazine in 1975, that the Deep Purple and Rainbow star mentioned the solo in the track “Together” by PJ Proby, released in 1964. “In my opinion, two of the best solos ever recorded were played by Big Jim Sullivan. (It was) for me was the beginning of the English electric guitar,” he said.
In that same year, talking with International Musician & Recording World, Blackmore said that Sullivan and Albert Lee were probably the greatest British guitar players at the time. “Big Jim Sullivan was a teacher of mine ’cause he used to live around the corner so I could go to him a lot, they’re probably the best two guitarists in England. Nobody knows it because they don’t have any novelty side-effects, they just play,” he said.
P.J. Proby was an American singer, songwriter and actor who started his career in 1957. Some of the most famous songs he recorded were “Hold Me”, “Somewhere” and “Maria”. He still writes and records on his own independent label called “Select Records.
Dave Berry “Crying Game”
The second guitar solo mentioned by Ritchie Blackmore was “Crying Game” by Dave Berry, which also had Big Jim Sullivan on guitar. It became a top-ten hit in the United Kingdom and was later covered by other famous artists like Boy George. To record the track, Sullivan experimented with the DeArmond wah-wah pedal to achieve a different sound and the song is remembered as the first UK hit to feature that effect.
Berry was a 60s teen idol in England and is known for other hits like “Memphis Tennessee” and Little Things. Besides being a musician, Dave runs two antique business these days where he sells furniture and Rock memorabilia. One of them is located in Sheffield and the other one in Derbyshire, both in England.
Big Jim Sullivan’s death
The influential guitarist passed away in 2012 at the age of 71 and Blackmore paid tribute to him at the time. “I first met Jim Sullivan in 1958. He was introduced to me by my sister in laws brother. We both lived in the same area: in Middlesex, Cranford. He was playing with Marty Wilde and the Wildcats.”
“(Big Jim) showed me another level of playing, he was probably the most advanced guitarist in the London area. I would listen to the radio every week there was a Marty Wilde show. Jim was often featured on the show so I was glued to the radio. He also made some great instrumentals, one being Trambone and one being Peak Hour. He was the 1st guitarist to play through a wah wah pedal.”
“It was a Deamond foot volume and tone control. I remember an instrumental called the bat, where he used the pedal. That would’ve been around 1959. Last time I saw Jim was in LA where he was playing with Tom Jones. He was one of England’s finest players, a mentor and a good friend for me. His playing will always be in my heart and live on. God bless you Jim,” he said in his Facebook page.
In addition to playing with PJ Proby and Dave Berry, Sullivan also collaborated with many other well-known artists who recorded in the United Kingdom. Notably, some of these artists include Gerry & The Pacemakers, Donovan, Johnny Hallyday, Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, and The Walker Brothers. Furthermore, his contributions to these collaborations helped shape the sound of British pop and rock music during that era.