most recognizable opening riffs

[omnivorette]

Same here, Firefox on a Mac.

[SeaGal]

Geez, away for most of a day and the best thread ever comes along and I have to spend 2 hours catching up--but what a memory lane trip.

 

Here's one that hasn't been posted yet: Every Day is Halloween by Ministry

 

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[hollywood]

If no one has mentioned it, "Tainted Love." Maybe Richard Blade played it so many times--I don't know--but I always know it's coming.

[ghostrider]

Was this thread "invisibled" yesterday?

 

I looked for it several times but it was nowhere to be found by any means I could come up with.

 

Anyway I would like to submit that this belongs in the primary list in mongo's first post:

 

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[g.johnson]

And...

 

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[Wilfrid1]

A riff is a short, memorable repeated phrase, usually a chord progression.

 

Not every memorable intro is an "opening riff".

 

Anyway, although I haven't read every page, I bet this hasn't been posted. Only one chord, but exquisitely deployed.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti8sMxPwC4U

 

This is an obvious contender for the very best, and if it's already posted I apologize.

 

 

And finally, to my taste:

 

[Stone]

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[Stone]

It's hard to pull of a nasty sneer when you're dressed like you're in Monty Python skit about transvestite punksters.

[foodie52]

Damn. I always thought it was "I'm a CHEAPSTER for your love."

[hollywood]

The opening figure of CSN&Y's "Wooden Ships" is pretty recognizable. The song, eh, whatever.

[Priscilla]

A riff is a short, memorable repeated phrase, usually a chord progression.

 

And finally, to my taste:

 

Ya, mine too. As posted 'way up there somewheres!

 

The distinction between intro and riff should be maintained.

[ivan]

A riff is a short, memorable repeated phrase, usually a chord progression.

 

And finally, to my taste:

 

Ya, mine too. As posted 'way up there somewheres!

 

The distinction between intro and riff should be maintained.

 

In that case, I must withdraw Memo From Turner.

 

However, I still stand behind Johnny Marr's riff in What Difference Does It Make.

 

Oh, and Peter Shelley's riff in E.S.P.

 

What is it about Manchester?

 

[Liza]

Liverpool envy?

[SLBunge]

One example that meets the "memorable, repeated phrase" definition and is recognizable to two different generations of music listeners would be The Man Who Sold the World

 

Bowie Version

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Cover Version by Nirvana

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[Wilfrid1]

Nice song, nice intro, recognizable... but as a riff?

 

Other than "Jean Genie", here's an example of a great riff from Bowie:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tBAY0LOPBw...feature=related

 

Listen to the four bars before the vocals start. There's your "opening riff".

 

Here's another classic. It starts out as a solo guitar figure, but the drummer, then the rest of the band pick it up and it becomes the song's sustaining riff.