Let’s talk The Carpenters for a second. Yes, those Carpenters, but bear with me, please. Now, I’m the first one to admit that I was never much of a fan, but, believe it or not, one of the first rock concerts I ever attended was back in 1972 when I took then-girlfriend Kathy Edgecomb to see them at the old Music Hall in Boston. It was one of those early teenage dates every guy dreams of: because you didn’t yet have your license you needed your parents to pick up your date at her house, take you both to the train station for the trip into Boston, then pick you up again so she could be dropped back off at her house. Ah, young love. Not.

But even though I never cared much for their music – it was way too sappy and saccharin for me – there was one song they did that not only caught my attention, but became a favorite of mine: Goodbye To Love. It wasn’t the melody or the arrangement that grabbed me, although both were decent enough, it was the fuzz guitar solo at both the break and the fadeout that made it for me. Very un-Carpenter-like, to say the least. I’m guessing it’s probably the most listenable song for non-Carpenter fans out there for that very reason.

Richard Carpenter still talks about the guitar part to this day; it was unique in combining some nice melodic runs with bone-crushing chords to make a true axe-man’s tour de force. By the end of the decade, groups like Journey and Styxx would perfect the power ballad, but it’s interesting that the genre got its start from such an unlikely source. I’ve always been a sucker for songs that do something interesting with their codas (also called tags), and this is a great example: big fat harmonies to match a big and unusual (for them) guitar outro.

So it came as a surprise one night while aimlessly checking out YouTube videos to find a bunch of folks showing off their musical chops as they attempt to replicate the guitar solos from that song. I thought they were a riot, check them out for yourself – especially the way the guitar players play those yummy chords with a flourish:

This one’s not bad, but it gets better from here on out.

This guy makes a pretty good job of it. Would have liked to hear him on the fadeout, though…

Richie teaches you how to play it all by yourself!

This one’s played too slow (go to the 2:50 minute mark), doesn’t do much for me.

Yes, you can even play it left-handed!

The bird cages in the back crack me up, but this guy does a slow-hand version that’s not too bad at all. Gets a tad sloppy towards the end. Watch for the kitty cat passing through.

Watch these kids play it note-for note-perfect: here (fast-forwarding to the good part!) – he even loses his place and picks it back up again – and here. God, I wish I had that talent!

This version done on the keyboard doesn’t do much for me.

This guy’s playing is very laid-back, but it’s technically pure and the feeling he brings to it (love the facial expressions!) and the pipe in his mouth while he’s playing makes it for me.

OK, you’ve heard the rest, now hear the best. Even though he only plays the fadeout, This guy is awesome. Watch the determination on his face and how he effortlessly rolls into the chords, it’s like watching waves on the sea. Technically beautiful and breathtaking to watch, and a gorgeous Fender to match.

What’s fascinating in all of these are the different sounds created by the different guitars used.