Jerry Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 The Chicago Tribune's website has a poll/blog asking, "Which rock songs have the best openings?" As everyone on this website would expect, "Go All the Way" was often mentioned. The other titles most often mentioned are Born to Run, Layla, Revolution, Where the Streets Have No Name, Thunderstruck, Sweet Home Alabama, and Smoke on the Water. As far as bands go, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, The Who, U2, Springsteen, and Metallica rule the list. I was a little surprised how often Elton John, John Fogerty, Mellencamp, and the Monkees were mentioned. It is not just about hard opening rock cords. Some of the comments included- Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs: "Uno, dos, one, two, tres, cuatro!" Ronnie Van Zant's instruction to "Turn it up..." on Sweet Home Alabama. The rhythmic cash register with the funky bass line joining in on Pink Floyd's "Money." It is not a contest; there is no voting, just opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Posted April 10, 2006 Author Share Posted April 10, 2006 PS- The Rolling Stones were mentioned once or twice. Also, I was surprised how often "Thirty Days in the Hole" by Humble Pie shows up on the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VAB5 Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 In my opinion, the opening salvo:One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock rock...Everything after that is icing on the cake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulie Mississippi Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 For me the best intros are:Raspberries - Go All The Way (obviously)Eric (Solo) - SunriseNon EC/RASPBERRIES - Do You Feel Like I Do (Live) - Peter Frampton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich From PA Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 One of the best intros: Grand Funk - We're An American Band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 CHICAGO-"25 Or 6 To 4" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 It seems that most of the best intros happen to also be the riff or main part of the song(i.e. "Cat Scratch Fever", "Smoke on the Water", "25 or 6 to 4", "Last Train to Clarksville" etc.)But my favorite exceptions:Beatles-"Back in the USSR" (airplane noise) "Strawberry Fields"(Mellotron lick) "I am the Walrus"(that wierd orchestral thing)Kiss- acoustic intro to "Rock Bottom"Jimi Hendrix-the first four dissonant chords before main part of "Purple Haze"Prince- the mishmash in the beginning of "17 Days"Ramones- 1,2,3,4 count-offs on a lot of songs.Rubinoos- the talking before the intros to "Peek-a-Boo" and "Rock and Roll is Dead"Golden Earring--"Radar Love" need I say more?Grand Funk- the "whoo whee" in the beginning of "Black Licorice" and the drum/cowbell interplay on "American Band"Led Zeppelin- "In the Evening" opening chords before drums come in.Terry Jacks' guitar intros on "Where Evil Grows" and "Seasons in the Sun"(actually the same lick).The bells on AC/DC's "Hell's Bells"There are more good ones, but I'm tired, it's late at night and I can't think straight now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmichel Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP-"Gimme Some Lovin'" has a hot intro...You know the song is gonna kick a** with an intro like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 How 'bout "I Wanna Be With You" for a perfect intro?So many Beatles songs could get mention here.... There's the buzz-saw effect of "Revolution" (followed by that piercing scream---Paul, if memory serves, although it's a John song.... Correct me if I'm wrong). And I love hearing the intros to "Ticket to Ride," "A Hard Day's Night," and "Something." Then there's Lennon's "Instant Karma" and McCartney's "Band on the Run" and (for an obscurity) "Smile Away," from Ram.I haven't looked at the link yet, but I'd guess the two Stones intros would be "Satisfaction" and "Start Me Up." And how about ELO's "Turn to Stone"? Or "Roll Over Beethoven" (with the Beethoven "sample")....For me, those are the ones that come to mind right off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 I had "Mississippi Queen" and "Magic Carpet Ride" back to back opening a tape I made in the early 70's- there's a couple of good intros! Kirk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Heres a rock intro pet peeve. I always completely loved the studio version beginning to Jumpin Jack Flash and always wondered why the Stones dropped it for live performances. It was so, so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early Wynn Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Romantics - What I like About YouKinks - You Really Got MeGATWStones - Brown SugarWipeout!!!The Figgs - Simon Simoneand the best:Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Early Wynn Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Oh, I forgot a few more:Buddy Holly - Rave OnTommy Keene - Places That Are GoneThe A's - Do the DanceThis list could get really long if you add some Raspberries songs, like Play On, Tonight, Ecstacy, Party's Over, I Don't Know What I Want, etc.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim From Wisconsin Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Lot's of good ones mentioned so far, but for me one of the best is "Crazy Train" by Ozzy! Another one that has turned into a sports anthum would be the intro to "We Will Rock You" by Queen.Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAM Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 For me, hands down, Raspberries "Tonight". A rockin' little number! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannoman Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 About 20 years ago there was a metal band named "Lillian Axe." They had no less than five superb intros on the same CD. At one time I had all five intros segued much like Bernie's Berry Mash. The intros were better than the complete arrangements. That same CD had a very respectable cover of Badfinger's "No Matter What." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Don't Forget, "Hey Deanie". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 "Take On Me" - Aha"Billie Jean" - Freakshow Jackson"Beat It" - The Noseless Wonder"Wild Wild West" - Escape Club?"Indie Queen" - Butch Walker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 "Round-a-Bout" - Yes"Welcome To The Jungle" - Guns and Shimmy Dances"Born To Run" - Marvin's God Springsteen"The Way It Is" - Bruce Hornsby"Livin' On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi"Walk This Way" - Areosmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 "Mystery Song", Status Quo"Anthem", Rush"Ecstacy", Raspberries"Sunrise", Eric Carmen"Welcome to the Jungle", Guns & Roses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 "Jump" Van Halen (Although I'm sick of it, everybody who had a keyboard or piano just had to learn it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Carmen Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Ticket To Ride, I Feel Fine, Tumblin Dice, Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Woman, Start Me Up, Won't Get Fooled Again, I Can't Explain, Look Through Any Window, You Really Got Me, A Hard Day's Night, Paperback Writer, Day Tripper, Brown Sugar, Go All The Way, I Wanna Be With You, Tonight, Substitute, All Right Now, Gimme Shelter, Jumpin' Jack Flash, Happy, Stray Cat Blues, The Last Time, Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown, Needles And Pins, Born To Run, She's The One, Little Red Corvette, 1999, California Girls, Marcella, just for starters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip from st.paul mn Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 I guess I would toss in Badfinger's, No Matter What. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Cartmill Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Oh Yes, I forgot "We Won't Get Fooled Again" from EC's list...There's an intro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted April 11, 2006 Share Posted April 11, 2006 To Eric's list, I'll add - Mr. Tambourine Man, Eight Miles High, So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star, When You Walk In The Room (Searchers version), Til The End Of The Day, September Gurls, Rebel Rebel, Shake Some Action, Shakin' All Over (practically any version), Mississippi Queen, Baby Blue (Badfinger), etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.