In my humble opinion, when it comes to an extended intro, nothing can possibly beat "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," with "Riders on the Storm" close second.
As far as kick-ass intros, it'd be hard to beat Metallica "Master of Puppets," Alice in Chains "Would," and Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss." I've always loved Iron Maiden "Wasted Years" with a sick riff as well. Reading most of the choices listed, perhaps I have different notion of what a "best beginning" is. |
"It's a quarter to three......"
from "One for My Baby(and One More for The Road)"
by Frank Sinatra |
Lust for Life by Iggy Pop has a great intro |
"Under My Wheels" - Alice Cooper
Dweller I use the intro as my ringtone. How about Mott The Hoople's All The Young Dudes. No doubt what song is coming with that intro. |
Street Life by the Jazz Crusaders. listen to the opening. wow! |
Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
"I love you Pumkin!" |
On a related note, there's also a whole subcategory of spoken intros. Some notable examples:
Patti Smith's cover of "Gloria" - "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"
Kid Creole's cover of "Oh, What a Night" - "Hey Frankie, I had a night like that, too. Let me tell ya about it."
Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" - "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here...."
Marty |
Aurra's "Are You Single?" The electric bass is fantastic and begs to be turned up.
Faze-O's "Riding High." The keyboard sets the mood and ambiance for the rest of the song. |
Whipping Post ........ Allman Brothers Band Live at the Filmore East... It doesn't get much better than this. One of the all time great song beginnings. |
Ben Webster - the song Soulville from his album Soulville, 1st song on side A. Bluesy intro before Ben's sax comes in.
Perfect name for that song and album, btw. |
Bruce Hornsby "The Way it Is" |
"American Woman" by the Guess Who. One of many great intros. |
"Riders On the Storm", The Doors |
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" I need a lover" and "Sweet jane" are maybe the longest, and quantity counts, so why not?
Hey, teh mellotron created rocket taking off in "Higher And Higher"! What can beat that? Maybe a modern digital recording of the real thing? Remake anyone? |
All Aboard!
Ozzy's Crazy Train |
"Let the music in tonight ... " Give Life Back to Music, Daft Punk |
"Under My Wheels" - Alice Cooper |
"I need a lover", John Mellencamps version. |
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Whammer Jammer by the J. Geils Band |
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"That's All You Need" - Rod Stewart and the Faces |
Here's another goodie. Miss Gradenko by The Police. Written by Stewart Copeland, it's and amazing tune to audition music. Actually it's too good. |
The Rolling Stones "Can't you hear me knocking" would be my close second choice :) |
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime. |
Get real fools, even an old Classical Music fan like me knows Marvin and Tammy's " Ain't nothing lke the real thing baby" tops all comers. |
stones: cant you hear me knocking.
iggy pop: sixteen |
"Kick Out The Jams," MC5
"And Your Bird Can Sing," The Beatles
"Chest Fever," The Band
"Green Onions," Booker T. And The M.G.s |
"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is," another by Chicago. |
I also have to say the Intro to "Sweet Jane" on Lou Reed's Rock and Roll Animal LP. |
Back in '72/'73 there were three albums that came out with a heart beat as the first song/intro.
Tull's "Passion Play"
ELP's "Trilogy"
Floyds, "Dark Side of the Moon"
I quite often wondered how they all came about to be released around the same time with the same intro. I figured the producers were out slamming ales somewhwere in Great Briton and got to talking about music production. I could hear them in the morning, " Ive gah' a brilliant eye-deeya. We'll star' wih' an arhbeyt."
-John |
Very good replies so far, I'll also add Black Sabbath's NIB for Geezer's awesome bass intro. |
Stones: Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown
Good Beatles picks above.
Grateful Dead: Help on the Way, Shakedown Street |
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Good list, I'll add I'm a Man by Chicago |
The Beatles - Day Tripper. |
Yep, the Intro. to Sweet Jane is an all-time classic. Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter provide an incredibly powerful and beautiful duet. I had this on constant playback on my Mom's open reel machine until she blew a gasket one day, heh, heh...
-RW- |
On a similar theme, song with best ending is "I'm Just A Singer in a Rock and Roll Band". Ends the song, the album and the classic 7 period of the Moody Blues most fittingly similar to how "The End" on Abbey Road provided a fitting ending to The Beatles. |
Solsbury Hill-Peter Gabriel
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window-Joe Cocker version
The Sky Is Crying-Stevie Ray Vaughn |
Lou Reed Intro/Sweet Jane |
My favorite is probably James Gang "Funk #49". |
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ELP. "From the Beginning" |
Back in the Saddle - Aerosmith
In the Light - Led Zeppelin
Over Under Sideways Down - Yardbirds
Somebody Call me a Doctor - Van Halen
War Pigs - Black Sabbath
Do It Again - Steely Dan
Join Together - The Who
Can You Hear the Music - Rolling Stones
Welcome to the Club - Joe Walsh
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Sweet Child of Mine - Guns and Roses
Getaway - Earth Wind and Fire
Thankyoufalletinmebemiceelfagin - Sly and the Family Stone
I could go on |
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Heartbreaker - Led Zeppelin |
Sweet Jane on "Rock and Roll Animal" album. |
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Rod Stewart "I'm losin' you" has a great beginning, with that awesome guitar riff and the Wurlitzer electric piano. The middle and the end are pretty great too. Of course, Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" has that great organ intro. I may be stuck in the late 60's but I can live with it. |
