Waylon Jennings' 'Rainy Day Woman' Recognized as One of the Best Steel Guitar Solos Ever

When music enthusiasts look back at the definitive sonic explosion of the 1970s, their minds instantly drift to the massive arena-rock guitar solos and heavy drum beats that dominated the airwaves. The classic rock landscape of that era is incredibly well-documented, with endless ranked lists dissecting every single distorted riff and stadium anthem.

But if you turn your attention away from the rock clubs and focus on the gritty, smoke-filled venues of the Texas outlaw country movement, you will find a musical revolution that was just as fierce, aggressive, and groundbreaking.

The music historians over at American Songwriter dove into the history of the genre, publishing a definitive look at the tracks that defined the steel guitar. Ranking among the greatest steel guitar solos of all time is a track that didn't just define the "Outlaw" era, but completely rewired what a traditional country instrument was capable of achieving.

According to their evaluation, Waylon Jennings' landmark 1974 single, "Rainy Day Woman," features an untouchable pedal steel performance that officially ranks among the absolute greatest ever recorded.

The Track That Tore Up the Country Rules

In the early 1970s, mainstream country music was highly formulaic, relying on smooth, heavily produced orchestral backgrounds designed for mass radio appeal.

Jennings fought bitterly for total creative control, assembling a tight-knit group of renegade musicians who wanted to inject a raw, unfiltered edge back into the studio.

The crown jewel of that signature outlaw sound was legendary steel guitar player Ralph Mooney. On Jennings' 1974 staple, Mooney completely controls the sticks, charging the tempo of the entire song with an unmistakable, fast-paced country music twang that instantly commands the listener's attention.

What makes Mooney's performance on "Rainy Day Woman" a masterpiece is how it completely defies traditional instrumental expectations. On most conventional occasions, the pedal steel guitar is utilized in country music to evoke a strict, slow sense of melancholic emotionality, mimicking the sound of weeping or heartbreak.

While Mooney's solo retains that distinct country soul, it boldly mimics the roaring presence of a heavily distorted electric guitar on a classic rock track.

The resulting solo is sprawling, biting, and aggressive in all the right ways, seamlessly bridging the gap between traditional honky-tonk roots and the rebellious energy of rock and roll. Mooney's ability to manipulate the pitch with such ferocious speed gave Jennings the perfect sonic backdrop to cement his reputation as a genre-defying renegade.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 2:00 AM.