most recognizable opening riffs

[Priscilla]

Hey any Standells posting should be my responsibility.

 

[ivan]

Now we're talking. Dirty Water just won.

[Wilfrid1]

Interesting that a band which has done more than most to murder the simple, classic opening riff, were once responsible for a hall of fame riff, which opens then returns repeatedly as the core of a long instrumental piece. Doctor Wilfrid recommends taking only the first couple of minutes.

 

[Priscilla]

Aaaaaaugh!!! Trustingly, stupidly, I clicked on that!!! And again, aaaaugh.

 

Although at least there was Syd.

[Wilfrid1]

And the band which helped resuscitate the riff after a long period in exile. You only need to listen until the "vocals" occur.

 

Take it, Dee Dee. And don't bring it back.

[Wilfrid1]

Aaaaaaugh!!! Trustingly, stupidly, I clicked on that!!! And again, aaaaugh.

 

There was a medical warning. I know it's a shocker, but I am right about it, aren't I? Never again, I promise.

 

My next post should have offered an antidote. In fact, I think the first 27 seconds of that clip are as good as six months at a spa.

[Wilfrid1]

I was puzzling all night over the precise sense of "opening riff". There are songs which have a brief vocal or instrumental melodic introduction, then move into a recognizable and great riff. I think if the riff arrives soon enough - here it's one and a half bars in - it deserves consideration. Note that only two chords are required here to achieve immortality.

 

 

 

Please note: I am not reviewing the visual accompaniments here. We really only need audio-clips, but You Tube gives easy access.

[ivan]

I only know one guy IRL who could ingenuously use Syd Barrett and "recognizable" in the same sentence. Maybe two.

[Squeat Mungry]

For whatever reason, I have just found this thread.

 

I don't have time to go through the whole thing, so I will just assume that Rock Lobster has been given its due.

[Wilfrid1]

Here's a song which opens with solo guitar, but nevertheless with the riff - one of Mr Thunders' best. Mr Sylvain comes in with a melodic figure after the pace is set.

 

[Wilfrid1]

I mentioned "Subtitute" earlier. Another important example from The Who here, and much more to the point than the Terry Riley pastiche synth noodling which introduces "Baba O"Riley". That song does have a mammoth, simple riff,* but you do have to wait for it. This seizes from the first chord:

 

Got a feeling inside...

 

*Introduced by the piano about thirty seconds in - original version - played solo for eight bars, the band joining in after the traditional clearing of the throat by Keith Moon's drums.

[ivan]

Stranglers. Peaches. *sigh*

 

[Priscilla]

"Roadrunner," that's an essential.

 

I thought of Jimmy Page's "Heartbreaker" the other day; riffalicious and influential. You can hear it in the aforementioned "Barracuda" e.g., among others.

 

And maybe it's just me, but the riff from

makes all immediately known. Plus, there's a bonus guitar solo right up front there as well, for some reason.

 

Oh, "Cahn't Explain," ya. "Substitute" is a great song, but its lyrical contribution might be its most important aspect. The Who'll surprise a person lyrically once in a while all right.

[Lex]

I mentioned "Subtitute" earlier. Another important example from The Who here, and much more to the point than the Terry Riley pastiche synth noodling which introduces "Baba O"Riley". That song does have a mammoth, simple riff,* but you do have to wait for it. This seizes from the first chord:

 

Got a feeling inside...

 

*Introduced by the piano about thirty seconds in - original version - played solo for eight bars, the band joining in after the traditional clearing of the throat by Keith Moon's drums.

Sweet Jesus. Was John Entwhistle ever that young? He looks 17.

[Wilfrid1]

Probably about twenty/twenty-one in that clip. Moon might be in his teens: what a prodigy.