15 Greatest Classic Rock Guitar Solos

Revolving around the decaying London jazz scene of the late 1970's, "Sultans Of Swing'' was the first single from Dire Straits' eponymous debut album that originally launched the band into recognition upon it's release in 1978.

Inspired by an actual jazz band that Mark Knopfler saw perform, the song acts a sort of lament towards a dying genre. Featuring engaging lyrics and a unique blues feeling overall, "Sultans Of Swing" is still one of the band's most popular and instantly recognisable songs.

Not only does the song have two fully-fledged guitar solos, but the main riff and intervening guitar fills act as a true testament to the guitar playing of both Mark and David Knopfler. The guitar work throughout this song never fails to be interesting or captivating, with each successive fill being different that the last.

The way the guitar fills weave in and out of Mark Knopfler's vocals acts as a call and response that lasts throughout the majority of the song, and makes it even more dynamic and memorable as a result. Through the use of many intricate, creative solos, as well as a powerful rhythm section, "Sultans Of Swing" sounds like no other song in the Dire Straits discography.