Ok, I’ll take you up on it.
Completely disagree with your no. 1. That’s just a showboating piece of work.
I’d replace it with “Ice Cream Man” from the same album, if you’re insisting on Van Halen.
But a better choice would be Hendrix, Hear my train a comin’ from Woodstock - an absolutely brilliant piece of work.
I’d put Brian May (Queen) at no. 2 with Liar from their 1st album.
No. 3 would be Doc Watson - Tennessee stud.
No. 4 would be Rory Gallagher - Going to my hometown.
And the original Voodoo Chile from Hendrix - Live at Berkeley beats all other versions.
One other player whose skills demand a mention is Danny Gatton. No particular song. Any of them. He used to be called ‘The Humbler’ for good reason.
‘Pod.
Danny Gatton was second to none.
Some good Danny Gatton tunes are his covers of Sleepwalk and the Perry Mason theme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Odief0dc1s
“But a better choice would be Hendrix, Hear my train a comin’ from Woodstock - an absolutely brilliant piece of work.”
Stellar pick and probably best vehicle for his solos. Bootlegs including LA Forum 1970 also provide insight into the emotion he poured out when playing that one. Too bad there were not more studio recordings of it.
Voodoo Child slight return is also a great one. It is take 2 of a studio recording. Jimi’s stuff was pretty raw and needed proper recording to make it listenable. Can’t listen to much of the bootlegs.