The Best Air Guitar Album in the World… Ever!

~ Release by Various Artists (see all versions of this release, 4 available)

Annotation

Label: Virgin TV
Is part of the series The Best... Album in the World...Ever!

Annotation last modified on 2011-07-15 00:13 UTC.

Tracklist

1CD
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1Tie Your Mother Down (air guitar edit)
recording of:
Tie Your Mother Down
lyricist and composer:
Brian May (Queen guitarist)
publisher:
Beechwood Music Corp., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated) and Queen Music Ltd.
Queen4:01
2Smoke on the Water
recorded in:
Montreux, Vaud (Canton of Vaud), Switzerland (in 1971-12)
drums (drum set):
Ian Paice (in 1971-12)
electric bass guitar:
Roger Glover (in 1971-12)
electric guitar:
Ritchie Blackmore (in 1971-12)
Hammond organ:
Jon Lord (in 1971-12)
lead vocals:
Ian Gillan (in 1971-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records (EMI Records, or EMI Music only if there is no other imprint) (from 1972 to present)
recorded at:
Rolling Stones Mobile Studio in United Kingdom (in 1971-12)
recording of:
Smoke on the Water (in 1971-12)
writer:
Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice
publisher:
B. Feldman & Co. Ltd. (publisher est. 1946), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), Glenwood Music Corp., HEC Music and Henrees Music co.
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France, EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia AB, EMI Music Publishing Japan C.F. division (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
Deep Purple5:20
3Song 2
engineer:
John Smith (UK producer/engineer)
producer:
Stephen Street (famous producer, songwriter)
acoustic guitar:
Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon
bass guitar:
Alex James (UK bassist for Blur/Fat Les)
drums (drum set):
Graham Coxon and Dave Rowntree
electric guitar, theremin and background vocals:
Graham Coxon
Hammond organ, keyboard, piano and lead vocals:
Damon Albarn
percussion:
Dave Rowntree
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
EMI Records Ltd (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 1997)
music videos:
Song 2 (music video) by Blur (UK alternative rock band)
part of:
NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 8), NME: Greatest “Indie” Anthems Ever: 2007 (number: 15), Indie 88: Top 500 Indie Rock Songs (number: 57) and BILLIONS CLUB
recording of:
Song 2
lyricist:
Damon Albarn
composer:
Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James (UK bassist for Blur/Fat Les) and Dave Rowntree
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (UK), Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label), Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd., Warner–Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (publisher; do NOT use as release label), Warner/Chappell Music Ltd. (1996–2019), Wixen Music UK Ltd., ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division), ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works), ヤマハミュージックEH(CM) (Yamaha Music EH(CM)), ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Hong Kong (division of EMI Music Publishing Group Hong Kong Ltd. that existed as early as 2000), FujiPacific Music (S.E. Asia) Ltd., 香港商百代音樂股份有限公司台灣分公司 (EMI Music Publishing (S.E.Asia) Ltd., Taiwan Branch) and 香港商華納音樂出版有限公司台灣分公司 (Warner Chappell Music, Hong Kong Limited Taiwan Branch)
Blur4.252:01
4Walk This Way
producer:
Rick Rubin (US record producer, former co‐president of Columbia Records) and Russell Simmons
guest guitar:
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith)
guest vocals:
Steven Tyler
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Profile Records, Inc. (distributor / holding / manufacturer) (in 1986) and RCA Records (not for release label use! for the imprint, please use “RCA” instead) (in 1986)
recording of:
Walk This Way
writer:
Joe Perry (guitarist for Aerosmith) and Steven Tyler
publisher:
Daksel LLC, Daksel Music Corp., Music of Stage Three, Music of Stage Three Aerosmith Account, Song and Dance Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd., Stage Three Music Ltd., Stage Three Music Publishing Limited and Vindaloo Productions, Inc.
Run‐D.M.C. feat. Aerosmith3.653:38
5Layla
recording of:
Layla
writer:
Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon (US drummer with Derek and the Dominos)
publisher:
Casserole Music Corp., E.C. Music (UK work publisher for Eric Clapton), Throat Music, Warner Chappell Music Ltd. (no slash; used 1988–1996) and ワーナー・チャペル音楽出版 Synch事業部 (Warner/Chappell Music Japan K.K., Synch Division)
Derek and the Dominos2:44
6You Really Got Me
producer:
Shel Talmy (in 1964-07)
additional piano:
Perry Ford (English pop singer) (in 1964-07)
bass guitar:
Pete Quaife (Kinks' bass guitarist) (in 1964-07)
drums (drum set):
Bobby Graham (UK pop/rock session drummer and producer, 1940–2009) (in 1964-07)
guitar:
Harry Fryer (in 1964-07)
guitar [lead guitar]:
Dave Davies (lead guitarist, backing (and occasional lead) singer for The Kinks) (in 1964-07)
guitar [rhythm guitar], harmonica, keyboard and lead vocals:
Ray Davies (UK singer/songwriter, member of The Kinks) (in 1964-07)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. (not for release label use, for copyrights use only) (in 1964)
miscellaneous support:
PRT Records (PRT (Precision Records & Tapes) was formerly Pye Records) (task: Courtesy of / c/o Celebrity Licensing, Inc.)
recorded at:
IBC Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1964-07)
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1964 (recordings) (number: 13), NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 20), Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 36), VH1: 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (2008-12-29) (number: 57), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 82), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 162) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 176)
recording of:
You Really Got Me (in 1964-07)
lyricist and composer:
Ray Davies (UK singer/songwriter, member of The Kinks)
publisher:
Copyright Control (not for release label use! this is only for copyrights and publishing relationships), Edward Kassner Music Co. Ltd. and Jay Boy
The Kinks4.252:13
7Since You’ve Been Gone
recording engineer:
Leigh Mantle (in 1979-04) and Dr. Michael Palmer (engineer) (in 1979-04)
engineer:
Gary Edwards (producer, engineer)
producer:
Roger Glover
bass guitar:
Roger Glover (in 1979-04)
drums (drum set):
Cozy Powell (in 1979-04)
guitar:
Ritchie Blackmore (in 1979-04)
keyboard:
Don Airey (in 1979-04)
lead vocals:
Graham Bonnet (British rock vocalist) (in 1979-04)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Polydor Incorporated (manufacturer & distribution company, US subsidiary of Polydor International) (in 1979), Polydor Records Inc. (in 1979), PolyGram Records, Inc. (not for release label use! US division of PolyGram) (in 1979), UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1979) and Universal Records Inc. (not for release label use! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1979)
recorded at:
Château de Pelly in Desingy, Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (in 1979-04) and Maison Rouge Mobile Studio (in 1979-04)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (2008-12-29) (number: 82)
cover recording of:
Since You Been Gone (in 1979-04)
lyricist and composer:
Russ Ballard
publisher:
BMG Gold Songs, BMG Rights Management GmbH (not for release label use! file releases under its imprint “BMG” (2008–present)), Complete Music Ltd., EMI Virgin Music Ltd. (do not use this as a release label!), Island Music (Island Music Ltd.), Island Music Ltd., Russell Ballard Ltd, Union Square Music Songs Ltd. and Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.
Rainbow43:15
8Photograph
keyboard programming:
John Kongos
assistant engineer:
Bryan “Chuck” New and Craig “Too Loud for Boys” Thomson
engineer:
Mike Shipley (audio engineer, mixer, producer)
producer and mixer:
Robert John “Mutt” Lange (Robert John Lange)
additional keyboard:
Booker T. Boffin
drums (drum set):
Rick Allen (UK drummer for Def Leppard)
electric bass guitar [bass]:
Rick Savage
guitar:
Phil Collen (of Def Leppard), Steve “Steamin” Clark (Def Leppard guitarist) and Pete Willis
background vocals:
The Leppardettes
lead vocals:
Joe Elliott (lead singer of Def Leppard)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1983), Bludgeon Riffola Ltd. (in 2004) and Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 2009)
recorded at:
Battery Studios (London, owned by Zomba group) in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom, Parkgate Studios in Battle, East Sussex, England, United Kingdom and Tapestry Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (keyboard)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (2008-12-29) (number: 13), Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time (number: 54) and Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 329)
recording of:
Photograph
writer:
Steve Clark (Def Leppard guitarist), Joe Elliott (lead singer of Def Leppard), Robert John “Mutt” Lange (Robert John Lange), Rick Savage and Pete Willis
publisher:
Def-Lepp-Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd. (UK), Out of Pocket Publishing Co., Out-of-Pocket Productions Ltd., Primary Wave Elliott, Primary Wave Music Publishing, Primary Wave Savage, Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP), Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group), Universal Music–Z Tunes LLC and Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (existed only since ca. 1998)
sub-publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label), シンコーミュージック・エンタテイメント (Shinko Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.), ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング A事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., A Division) and ユニバーサル・ミュージック・パブリッシング Synch事業部 (Universal Music Publishing, Synch Division)
Def Leppard4.24:06
9Wild Thing
producer:
Colin Frechter (British pianist, arranger, music director, producer, vocalist)
drums (drum set):
Ronnie Bond (The Troggs) (in 1966)
electric guitar:
Chris Britton (The Troggs) (in 1966)
ocarina and lead vocals:
Reg Presley (in 1966)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1966)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 257)
cover recording of:
Wild Thing (in 1966)
lyricist and composer:
Chip Taylor (US singer/songwriter)
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc., EMI Songs, EMI Songs Australia Pty. Ltd., EMI Songs Musikverlag GmbH and April Music (in 1981)
The Troggs4.42:35
10Rebel Rebel
engineer:
Keith Harwood
producer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter)
mixer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) and Keith Harwood
bass:
Herbie Flowers (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
drums (drum set):
Aynsley Dunbar (from 1973-10 until 1974-02) and Tony Newman (rock drummer for Jeff Beck Group/May Blitz) (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
guitar:
Alan Parker (guitarist & composer) (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
guitar, keyboard and saxophone and lead vocals:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter) (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
harpsichord, mellotron, Moog and piano:
Mike Garson (American pianist) (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
arranger:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Jones/Tintoretto Entertainment Co. LLC. (in 1976) and EMI Records Ltd. (not for release label use! UK parent of EMI‐owned labels until Sept 2012) (in 2004)
recorded at:
Island Studios (fka Island Studios till 1975, became Sarm West Studios in 1982) in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1973-10 until 1974-02) and Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
part of:
NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 9)
recording of:
Rebel Rebel (from 1973-10 until 1974-02)
lyricist and composer:
David Bowie (English singer‐songwriter)
publisher:
Chrysalis Music (music publisher, ASCAP-affiliated), Chrysalis Music Ltd. (music publisher, affiliated with PRS), Colgems-EMI Music Inc., EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing (do not use as a release label!), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jones Music America (, from 1974 to present), MainMan, RZO Music Ltd and Tintoretto Music (from 1997 to present)
David Bowie3.94:30
11Where Were You
recording of:
Where Were You
composer:
Jeff Beck (English rock guitarist), Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas
Jeff Beck with Terry Bozzio & Tony Hymas3.353:16
12Rocky Mountain Way
producer:
Bill Szymczyk and Joe Walsh (Eagles/James Gang)
bass guitar and guitar:
Kenny Passarelli (Bass, piano) (from 1972 until 1973) and Joe Walsh (Eagles/James Gang) (from 1972 until 1973)
drums (drum set), electric piano, percussion and piano:
Joe Vitale (from 1972 until 1973)
keyboard:
Rocke Grace (from 1972 until 1973), Joe Vitale (from 1972 until 1973) and Joe Walsh (Eagles/James Gang) (from 1972 until 1973)
synthesizer and lead vocals:
Joe Walsh (Eagles/James Gang) (from 1972 until 1973)
background vocals:
Rocke Grace (from 1972 until 1973) and Kenny Passarelli (Bass, piano) (from 1972 until 1973)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Geffen Records (in 1973)
recording of:
Rocky Mountain Way (from 1972 until 1973)
writer:
Rocke Grace, Kenny Passarelli (Bass, piano), Joe Vitale and Joe Walsh (Eagles/James Gang)
publisher:
Songs of Universal, Inc. (BMI)
Joe Walsh3.75:14
13Sultans of Swing
engineer:
Rhett Davies
producer:
Muff Winwood (bass player, songwriter, producer)
bass guitar:
John Illsley (in 1978-02)
drums (drum set):
Pick Withers (in 1978-02)
guitar:
David Knopfler (in 1978-02) and Mark Knopfler (in 1978-02)
lead vocals:
Mark Knopfler (in 1978-02)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Phonogram Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1978), Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1978, in 1988), Warner Records Inc. (not for release label use; fka Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) (in 1988, in 2022) and Mercury Records Ltd. (London) (for copyrights use only) (in 1996)
recorded at:
Basing Street Studios (fka Island Studios till 1975, became Sarm West Studios in 1982) in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1978-02)
part of:
Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time (2026-05-04) (number: 33) and Cachitos Nochevieja 2022 (number: 156)
recording of:
Sultans of Swing (in 1978-02)
lyricist and composer:
Mark Knopfler
publisher:
Almo Music Corp. (USA, affiliated with ASCAP), Rondor Music and Straitjacket Songs
Dire Straits4.25:45
14Wipe Out
producer:
Charles Bud Dant
bass guitar:
Pat Connolly
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Ron Wilson (drummer of The Surfaris)
guitar [lead guitar]:
Jim Fuller (surf rock guitarist)
guitar [rhythm guitar]:
Bob Berryhill
spoken vocals:
Dale Smallin
recorded at:
Pal Recording Studio in Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
part of:
Dave Marsh: The Best of the Top 40 Singles: 1963 (number: 38)
recording of:
Wipe Out
composer:
Bob Berryhill, Patrick Connolly, Jim Fuller (surf rock guitarist) and Ron Wilson (drummer of The Surfaris)
publisher:
Miraleste Music and Robin Hood Music Co.
The Surfaris42:38
15Monkey Wrench
assistant recording engineer:
Ryan Boesch, Todd Burke, Don Farwell and Ryan Hadlock (engineer, producer)
recording engineer and engineer:
Bradley Cook (engineer) and Geoff Turner
assistant engineer:
Ryan Boesch, Todd Burke, Don Farwell, Ryan Hadlock (engineer, producer) and Jason Mauza
producer:
Gil Norton (British record producer)
assistant mixer:
Jason Mauza
mixer:
Chris Sheldon (mixer, producer)
bass guitar:
Nate Mendel
drums (drum set) and lead vocals:
Dave Grohl
guitar:
Dave Grohl and Pat Smear
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Roswell Records, Inc. (in 1997)
recorded at:
Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
mixed at:
Skip Saylor Recording in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Monkey Wrench
writer:
Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel and Pat Smear
publisher:
Flying Earform Music (Foo Fighter Nate Mendel’s publishing company), Living Under a Rock Music (Foo Fighter Taylor Hawkins’s publishing company) and MJ Twelve Music (in 1996)
Foo Fighters4.153:52
16The Boys Are Back in Town
assistant recording engineer:
Neil Hornby
engineer:
Will Reid-Dick
producer:
John Alcock (producer)
acoustic guitar and bass guitar and lead vocals:
Phil Lynott
drums (drum set):
Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy drummer)
guitar:
Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy guitarist) and Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy & Motörhead)
vocals:
Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy & Motörhead)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Limited (not for release label use!) (in 1976), Union Square Music Ltd. (for copyright use only, holding company of Union Square Music) (in 2018) and Universal Music Operations Limited (not for release label use! UK&IE subsidiary of UMG, legal name of Universal Music UK) (in 2018)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 272) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 499)
recording of:
The Boys Are Back in Town
lyricist and composer:
Phil Lynott
publisher:
Pippin the Friendly Ranger Music Co. Ltd., PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. (renamed Universal PolyGram International Publishing, Inc. circa 1998), Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd. (not for release label use! formerly Polygram Pty Ltd. until 1999-03-22), Universal Music Publishing Ltd. (UK subsidiary of Universal Music Publishing Group) and PolyGram Music Publishing (in 1989)
Thin Lizzy4.24:24
17Paranoid
engineer:
Tom Allom and Brian Humphries
producer:
Rodger Bain (from 1970-06 until 1970-07)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Bill Ward (from 1970-06-16 until 1970-06-21)
electric bass guitar:
Geezer Butler (from 1970-06-16 until 1970-06-21)
electric guitar:
Tony Iommi (from 1970-06-16 until 1970-06-21)
lead vocals:
Ozzy Osbourne (in 1970)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Gimcastle Ltd., Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. (not for release label use, for copyrights use only), Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint), Castle Copyrights Ltd. (in 1970), Interworld Communications (in 1970), Sanctuary Copyrights Ltd. (in 1970), NEMS (UK label, 1976–1983) (in 1976) and Icarus Music (Argentinian metal label and distributor) (in 2006)
recorded at:
Island Studios (fka Island Studios till 1975, became Sarm West Studios in 1982) in Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (in 1970) and Regent Sound Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1970-06-16 until 1970-06-21)
part of:
VH1: 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (2008-12-29) (number: 4), NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Riffs of All Time (2012-10-25) (number: 6), Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time (number: 13), TV Cream: Real 100 Best Singles Ever (number: 27), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock, BILLIONS CLUB, Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 250) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 338)
recording of:
Paranoid (from 1970-06-16 until 1970-07-08)
lyricist:
Geezer Butler
composer:
Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward
publisher:
Essex Music International Ltd., Essex Music International, Inc., TRO Essex Japan, A-Division, TRO Essex Music International, Inc., Tro-Andover Music, Inc. and Westminster Music Ltd. (in 1970)
Black Sabbath4.552:47
18Surfing With the AlienJoe Satriani4.754:22
19Whatever You Want
producer:
Pip Williams (producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Mercury Records Ltd. (not for release label use!) (in 1979), Mercury Records Ltd. (London) (for copyrights use only) (in 1979), Mercury Records Ltd. (UK) (in 1979) and Phonogram Ltd. (London) (company name, NOT a label!) (in 1979)
recording of:
Whatever You Want
written in:
Jersey
writer:
Andy Bown and Rick Parfitt (UK guitarist for Status Quo)
publisher:
Birchwood Music Ltd., Eaton Music Limited, EMI Music (do not use as release label! this is a music publisher), EMI Music Publishing Co. Ltd., EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), S.Q. Publishing Eaton and Shawbury Music Ltd. (publisher)
Status Quo43:49
20Free BirdLynyrd Skynyrd4:20
2CD