Today's Musical Question: Power Play
Dave at Garfield Ridge asks the burning question:
what are the best power openings to rock songs? Not necessarily the same chords as those found in the rest of the song (although in the case of "Unchained" they are the same), but which songs kick ass from the very beginning? Which ones get you pumped just from the first five or ten notes alone?
Dave's answer is Unchained by Van Halen and I'm going to agree with him on the sole basis that I just so happen to have Unchained in my head as it was the last song I listened to in the car.
Although that answer won't stand more than ten minutes before I come up with forty more.
And go share your answers with Dave, too.
Comments
I'm gonna get so flamed for this, but "Smokin'" by Boston.
Also, of course, "Smoke on the Water".
Posted by: Farmer Joe | September 27, 2005 05:20 PM
Can't You Hear Me Knocking, by the Stones.
Runners up:
Bitch
Satisfaction
Jumping jack Flash
Honky Tonk Woman
Start Me Up
That's why Keith Richards is the king riffmeister.
Ah, can't forget Joe Perry, either:
Walk This Way
Train Kept a Rollin' (ok, Jeff Beck)
Last Child
Mama Kin
Well, anything on the first four albums
Oh Oh Oh!!!
Rock 'n' Roll Hoochie Coo by Rick Derringer!
Beautiful Girls from Van Halen II
Back in Black
Stop me!
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 05:29 PM
And I second Smoke on the Water
Can't forget Iron Man by Black Sabbath
Mississippi Queen by Mountain
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 05:31 PM
Rock Candy by Montrose
I. Must. Stop.
I've got about 16,000 songs in my iTunes folder, and probably 5 percent of them deserve a place on this list. My head will asplode!
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 05:35 PM
The drum intro to Painkiller by Judas Priest
Posted by: Shawn | September 27, 2005 05:36 PM
Well, ok, one more:
Voodoo Chile by Jimi
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 05:46 PM
Evenflow (Pearl Jam)
Enter Sandman (Metallica), although a little long
Funk #49 (James Gang)
Helter Skelter (Beatles)
Don't Fear the Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult)
Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
When I Come Around (Green Day)
Welcome to the Jungle (Guns 'n' Roses)
Hash Pipe (Weezer)
Oh yeah, I might get flamed on a few, but it's all good.
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 05:59 PM
Eruption - Van Halen
Can't Find My Way Home (Electric Version) - Blind Faith
Have a Cigar - Pink Floyd
I can't decide between:
Good Times, Bad Times - Led Zeppelin
or
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Yyz - Rush
Aqualung - Jethro Tull
Posted by: Darth Monkeybone | September 27, 2005 06:00 PM
Oh God, how could I forget about Purple Haze!
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:02 PM
"Sting Me" and "Remedy," by the Black Crowes.
"Wild Flower" by The Cult.
"Ocean Size" by Jane's Addiction.
"Hello There" by Cheap Trick.
"Brown Sugar" by the Stones.
Shit, I just realize all of these (except "Remedy") start out with a single guitar for a couple of measures before the drums kick in.
Posted by: Alex | September 27, 2005 06:04 PM
Slow Ride, man. Fog-fuckin'-hat.
Posted by: Hubris | September 27, 2005 06:06 PM
I definitely second the following:
Brown Sugar (sorry Keith)
Teen Spirit
Purple Haze
Funk 49
And I gotta add:
Magic Carpet Ride by Steppenwolf
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 06:07 PM
I'll see your "Magic Carpet Ride", Mark. And I'll raise you a "Sunshine of Your Love". Can't believe I forgot that one too.
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:13 PM
"Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix
"Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie
"Iron Man" by Black Sabbath (not the classic dah, dah, dah-nah-dah part, but the ominous groaning that precedes "I am Iron Man!")
"Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones (one of only two Stones songs I like)
Posted by: The Tensor | September 27, 2005 06:15 PM
Oh, and "Of Sins and Shadows" by Symphony X.
Posted by: Shawn | September 27, 2005 06:16 PM
Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins.
Posted by: Hubris | September 27, 2005 06:17 PM
Frankenstein (Edgar Winter)
Roundabout (Yes)
Hells Bells (AC/DC)
Sympathy for the Devil (Stones)
Heartbreaker (Pat Benetar)
Interstate Love Song (STP)
Aeroplane (Chili Peppers)
Down With the Sickness (Disturbed)
Get Away (Godsmack)
Free Ride (Edgar Winter)
and I second Slow Ride (Fog Fucking HAT!)
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 06:19 PM
Ok jo-fo, I'll see your Sunshine, and raise you a
White Room
Born Under a Bad Sign
Crossroads
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 06:21 PM
And how could anyone forget:
Cocaine!
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 06:22 PM
Mississippi Queen - Leslie West
Posted by: TC@LeatherPenguin | September 27, 2005 06:31 PM
Pinball Wizard (Who)
I'm Free (Who)
Baba O'Reilly (Who)
We Will Rock You (Queen)
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 06:31 PM
Impressive array of songs there, Mark. You must be a musician. I am having trouble pulling any more out of my ass, but.....uh-oh, here it comes...
(splat)
Life's Been Good to Me (Joe Walsh)
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin) - though there's technically no intro
American Idiot (Green Day)
Fell On Black Days (Soundgarden)
Vasoline (Stone Temple Pilots)
Plush (Stone Temple Pilots)
Sad But True (Metallica)
Fire (Jimi Hendrix)
All Along the Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix)
I can't think of any more, but perhaps you'll inspire me further.
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:34 PM
Smoke on the Water or Baba O'Reilly.
Posted by: Annie | September 27, 2005 06:35 PM
Oh, great "Who" stuff Mark.
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:35 PM
Them Bones - Alice in Chains
Posted by: Hubris | September 27, 2005 06:38 PM
No Excuses (Alice in Chains)
Shameless (Ani DiFranco) - though not exactly rock
Give It Away (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:42 PM
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin) - though there's technically no intro
Well, there's that soft throat-clearing sideways pick-scuffing on the low E string that precedes the vocal intro, which builds anticipation and thus serves as an intro just fine.
Which reminds me of the song that served as the inspiration for "Black Dog": "Oh Well" by (Peter Green-era) Fleetwood Mac, which opens right into a smoking riff.
Posted by: Alex | September 27, 2005 06:44 PM
Come Together (Beatles)
Bitch is Back (Tina Turner version)
No Matter What (Badfinger)
Ladykiller (Lush)
Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:45 PM
Tie Your Mother Down - Queen,
Walk In The Shadows - Queensryche,
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult,
Little Dreamer - VAN HALEN
No particular order; hearing any one of them still makes me want to put on new shoes!
Posted by: Bohemian | September 27, 2005 06:51 PM
Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix)
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin)
American Woman (Guess Who) - after the lame-arse bluesy intro, that is
Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress (the Hollies)
Gimme Some Lovin' (Spencer Davis Group)
Posted by: jo-fo | September 27, 2005 06:52 PM
jo-fo:
I'll see your American Woman and raise you a No Sugar Tonight (Guess Who)
Rock and Roll--great choice.
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:03 PM
Epic (Faith No More)
Now that I've got your attention, Michele, will there be some kind of vote for best intro, or top five or something?
If so, I would urge you all to unzip your copiies of Sticky Fingers and spend some time with my first choice, Can't You Hear Me Knockin'
Yeah, as if I could settle on only one best. Riiiight.
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:05 PM
jo-fo
"American Woman (Guess Who) - after the lame-arse bluesy intro, that is"
Ah, damn! And I was beginnin' to like you! Although my day job for 20 years is stodgy lawyer dude, I spent the '90's gigging twice a week at local L.A. blues clubs, and blues guitar is still my passion. Ya can't dis where we came from, dude!
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:17 PM
Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Posted by: Frank at work | September 27, 2005 07:21 PM
QOTSA - No One Knows
QOTSA - Feel Good Hit of the Summer
Ramones - Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Tragically Hip - New Orleans is Sinking
White Stripes - Black Math
Posted by: jwl | September 27, 2005 07:28 PM
(oooh, I'm gonna catch hell for these)
You're In Love - RATT
Lay it Down - RATT
Posted by: Bill | September 27, 2005 07:41 PM
Jimmy Olsen's Blues (Spin Doctors)
Semi-Charmed Life (Third Eye Blind)
Working Man (Rush)
Control (Puddle of Mudd)
and, oh my god, I just listened to this so I've got to repeat it:
Rock Candy (Montrose)
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:50 PM
How can we ignore Kiss???
Duece
Cold Gin
She
Firehouse
Strutter
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:54 PM
4 Non Blondes: Superfly
STOP ME!
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 07:57 PM
Mr. Brownstone
Sweet Child o' Mine
Welcome to the Jungle
and
Jungle Love (Steve Miller)
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 08:01 PM
Grrrr... when will this end???
ZZ TOP must haves:
Waitin for the Bus
La Grange
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Heard it on the X
Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
Tush
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 08:23 PM
Thanks for the link Michele, much obliged!
Posted by: Dave at Garfield Ridge | September 27, 2005 08:26 PM
So aside from All Along the Watchtower, Rock and Roll, and Sunshine of Your Love, all already mentioned, I'm throwing in the following (although I may have missed them if already mentioned):
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
All Day and All of the Night - The Kinks
Anarchy in the UK - The Sex Pistols
Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
Hey, Hey, My, My - Neil Young
Posted by: Lesley | September 27, 2005 09:05 PM
Let's see, here. Intros. No particular odor.
Not in order, either, and all off the top of my bean, after several beers. (What better state to judge Rock tunes, after all? And remember, I come at the question from an old-school DJ's perspective. The purpose of a great intro was to grab the radio listener's attention, and idetinfy the tune quickly.
Iron Butterfly: Inna-Godda-Dav-ida; perhaps the most recognizeable guitar line in all of Rock.
Rare Earth: Hey, Big Brother; The build-up is classic, and when that big B3 Hammond cuts loose you KNOW you're in trouble. The accoustics in the old Motown studios didnt hurt the sound, either.
Spencer Davis Group: Gimme some Lovin'; Same answer, pretty much.
Derrenger: Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo; THe intro labels the song for what it is; great high-schol gym rock.
AC/DC; Back in Black; Like, I've gotta actually describe that one?
Chicago; Toss between "Make Me Smile", "I'm a man", and "Beginnings" Say what you will about JWG as a producer... the man knew how to get that attention getter out there.
Doobies; China Grove. Pin the meters from the first cycle.
ELO; Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle; Elemental R&R, from someone I consider a flat out production genius.
Golden Earing; Radar Love. A great attention getter, but doesn't nearly reveal the power the tune itself has.
Guess Who; Hang onto your life; A realllll attention getter, and actually more than a little jarring... then again it was meant to be, given the song subject.
G&R; Sweet Child: Great intro. In fact, the intro was better than the song, I'm afraid... and that was the best the band ever did. (OK, I know, I'm gonna get hit with that one.)
Rod Stewart:Hot Legs; You know you're in for a party tune, two seconds in.
Huey Lewis: Heart of Rock and Roll. If you can't beat mix that one in, check your pulse. You may be dead.
Humble Pie: Hot and Nasty; Some of the hottest organ I've ever heard. Sadly, the song falls flat after that. For that matter, so did the band.
Journey; Stone in love.
Jr Walker and the All-Stars, or Stevie Winwood's "Roll with it". Doesn't matter, it's the same song.
Molly Hatchet's cover of "Dreams I'll Never see" Long slow build. When I played a rock bar, years ago, I used to set it up so that the very begining was playing at room volume. Given I was playing with around 2kw of audio in those days, I just about blew the front windows out of the place when it got going, 2 minutes later.
Enough for now.
Posted by: Bithead | September 27, 2005 09:17 PM
Lesley and Bithead:
You embarrass me; how could I have overlooked all those???
Gotta add War Pigs, either Black Sabbath or Faith No More.
Posted by: Mark | September 27, 2005 09:23 PM
Sweet Jane - Lou Reed
Posted by: spd rdr | September 27, 2005 10:25 PM
so many classics in here
I rest my case
Posted by: Dave in Texas | September 27, 2005 10:32 PM
"Heartbreaker" Led Zep
Posted by: bustah | September 27, 2005 10:33 PM
Rock the Casbah -- THE CLASH!!!
An odder one...
What I Say -- Miles Davis, from the album Live Evil. ROCKIN' FROM THE GIT GO.
Posted by: El Ricko | September 27, 2005 10:58 PM
There's so many, but honestly. Smoke On the Water? It's simplistic and the first thing any kid learns on his guitar only because he can play with one finger. Overrated, in my opinion, especially when compared to others on this list.
And because I was thinking about Pantera when I wrote this, I'll add:
I'm Broken - Pantera
and
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Metallica
Posted by: Pauly | September 27, 2005 10:59 PM
I Feel Free by Cream and Omaha by Moby Grape.
Posted by: Pat Patterson | September 28, 2005 12:09 AM
Ziggy Stardust
Posted by: spd rdr | September 28, 2005 07:22 AM
What's wrong with you people? Probably over 200 songs have been submitted here, and no one lists Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman"???? I'm not saying that the song is necessarily on my "top ten played" list, but that vamp is probably the ultimate rock vamp ever written. Four notes, and that beat is absolutely locked into your head. There cannot possibly be a single aspiring guitar player in the Wester Hemisphere who hasn't taken those eight notes and played them over and over at top volume until Mom threatened to take away the amps.
Posted by: Amphioxus | September 28, 2005 08:09 AM
Yea, but they're all playing the Van Halen version.
Posted by: michele | September 28, 2005 08:37 AM
Rush: The Spirit of Radio
G&R: Welcome To The Jungle
Judas Priest: Electric Eye
Iron Maiden: Number Of The Beast
Iron Maiden: Wasted Years
Iron Maiden: Aces High
Motley Crue: Looks That Kill
Motley Crue: Live Wire
Ozzy Ozbourne: Crazy Train
Rollins Band: Hotten And Hotter
Extereme: Warheads
Queen: Gimme The Prize
Must. Stop. Now.
Posted by: Analog Mouse | September 28, 2005 09:44 AM
Digging into the older stuff;
BS&T: Smiling Phases; There's a horn section that could, as Duck Dunn once put it, turn goat piss into Gasoline... and it shows.
Kinks; You really got me; Knitting needle speakers and all
3 dog night: Liar; Enough bass to rattle my old man's 66 chevy trunk lid, even with the old AM-only radio.
Clapton: Cocaine;
Beatles; Ticket to Ride;
Diamond's "Cherry Cherry".
Louden Wainwright III: Dead Skunk; You knew it was gonna be weird from the first note.
Must. Stop.
Posted by: bithead | September 28, 2005 03:45 PM
Openings/Intros?
Rush- Force Ten
Billy Thorpe- Children of The Sun
Disturbed- Down With The Sickness
(come on, it's absolutely overpowering, and despite Disturbed's other flaws, thats the ultimate metal opening sound)
And for the obligatory Van Halen suggestion -Jump
Posted by: John Irving | September 28, 2005 05:16 PM
AIC: "Man In The Box", "Would?", "Angry Chair".
Rush: "Hemispheres", "2112", "Tom Sawyer", "One Little Victory", "Working Man", "Superconductor", "Animate", "Spirit of Radio", "Freewill".
Posted by: Ian S. | September 28, 2005 06:15 PM
Arlo Guthrie - "Alice's Restaurant Massacree"
I can't believe nobody's pulled out SRV:
"Shake for Me"
"Love Struck Baby"
"Pride and Joy"
"Mary Had a Little Lamb"
"Couldn't Stand the Weather"
"Little Wing"
Temple of the Dog - "Hunger Strike"
They Might Be Giants - "Don't Let's Start"
Van Morrison - "Brown Eyed Girl" (!)
Violent Femmes - "Blister in the Sun"
Bauhaus - "Bela Lugosi's Dead."
Bob Mould - "Stand Guard"
The Clash - "I fought the law"
Johnny Cash - "Hurt"
Muddy Waters - "Rolling Stone"
Screaming Trees - "Nearly Lost You"
Soul Asylum - "Somebody to Shove"
Posted by: Bryan | September 29, 2005 12:51 AM
I'll second would? by AIC
Posted by: coolrobc | September 29, 2005 09:20 AM