Willie G. Moseley Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 There have been classic rock songs that have begun with a huge, booming chord that is so potent it's encaustic. Sometimes said chord isn't even done on a guitar.Not talking about riffs like "Smoke on the Water"; just single chords that last maybe four or five seconds minimum (i.e., long enough to get your attention in an impressive manner). And I suppose we could be a bit liberal and allow single notes as well instead of chords (RE: "Bam" on King X's Ogre Tones)The first four-and-a-half examples I thought of were:"Comfortably Numb": Pink Floyd---ain't too many songs done in Bm, and it's powerful enough to where a lot of amateur bands still want to play it. BTW, the movie version of The Wall was on TV last night. Still powerful, still depressing, but the mix on "Comfortable Numb" is better than the original version, IMO."Earth Calling": Hawkwind---from the live Space Ritual album. Prolly a number of other Hawkwind songs would fit into this category as well."Sketch": Vanilla Fudge---opens their sophomore album, The Beat Goes On, done on an organ. An early and critically-reviled "concept" album, but it still holds up as a harbinger of progressive rock (and Thomas Edison speaks on that album as well as on "Bam" on the King's X album!)"I Can See For Miles": The Who"Won't Get Fooled Again": The Who---this is the "half-example", on accounta there's the keyboard noodling going on in the middle of the intro chord.Other contributions and comments about this list solicited.
Celtic_Bill Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 The Who "The Kids Are Alright", one punchy intro chord........
Scottcrud Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 I know I'll get flamed, but I always thought the intro chord progression to Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over was pure genius. At least I think it is.
tbabinec Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 +1 on Hard Day's Night - that's a great opening chord.How about the start of the Yardbirds "Shapes of Things"?Which leads to Zep "Good Times, Bad Times," "Communication Breakdown," etc.
santellavision Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 Steely Dan - Don't take me Alive. Awesome opening chord by Larry Carlton.
Bennyboy-UK Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 A Hard Days Night immediately comes to mindArnieZ+1 I thought the same
Ted Posted May 22, 2010 Posted May 22, 2010 I know I'll get flamed, but I always thought the intro chord progression to Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over was pure genius. At least I think it is.Crowded House is a definitely a Favorite of mine. "Together Alone" is one of my all time best albums.
jwhitcomb3 Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 Bad Company - "Can't Get Enough"+1Also "You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC-Jonathan
jim777 Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 A Hard Days Night immediately comes to mind ArnieZ Bad Company - "Can't Get Enough" Two great calls there I LOVE the F#7sus4 at the begining of Rush's "Cygnus X-1 Book II Hemispheres", which they reprise on "Far Cry". You Rush fans know what I'm talking about
Bass Guy Dave Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 first thing that comes to mind: Priest's "Some Heads are Gonna' Roll" Studio version of that note is one of (if not the ) ultimate tone quests for me. Here's a live one from '86. Killer performance, especially by Halford.
DaveL Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 first thing that comes to mind:Priest's "Some Heads are Gonna' Roll" That's pretty cool... I'll add Motorhead "Killed By Death" and maybeAC DC "walk all over you"
veatch Posted May 23, 2010 Posted May 23, 2010 Crazy Little Thing Called Love (if'n ye count the sus as the same chord and stuff...)
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