92   "Memo from Turner"
Mick Jagger (1970)

Guitar virtuoso Ry Cooder, who played on the Stones' Let It Bleed, accused Keith Richards of stealing his open-G tuning technique on singles like "Jumping Jack Flash" and "Gimme Shelter." Cooder's jittery slide guitar defines Jagger's first solo recording, which was written for his film role as a decadent rock star in 1970's Performance.


"Memo from Turner" from The Very Best of Mick Jagger (Rhino)

93   "Only Shallow"
My Bloody Valentine (1991)

MBV's masterpiece, Loveless, influenced acts from Smashing Pumpkins to U2 with its gorgeously abrasive guitar textures, which defined shoegazer music. This opening track zooms between dreamy verses and storms of melodic noise — effects that guitarist Kevin Shields managed to achieve with no more than two or three layered tracks and a heavy use of his whammy bar.


"Only Shallow" from Loveless (Sire)


Music Video: "Only Shallow"

94   "Money for Nothing"
Dire Straits (1984)

In its early years, MTV wasn't known for great guitar moments. But that changed when Mark Knopfler traded his pristine, rootsy tone for a dry, overprocessed sound achieved by running a Les Paul through a wah-wah pedal on a track that became one of the network's earliest hits. Even without an actual solo, Knopfler's chunky rhythm guitar had the power of a lead.


"Money for Nothing" from Brothers in Arms (Warner Bros.)


Dire Sraits performing "Money for Nothing" live in 1985

See all of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All TIme