Willie G. Moseley Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Sometimes, a remarkable example of distorted guitar (usually a chord) seems to get embedded in the back of my mind, and I was reminded of such earlier this morning when I heard the Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime" from the live STOP MAKING SENSE album---the distorted chords that pop up at the end of that song are huge and 'throaty', and are, for me at least, definitive distortion that's unforgettable. Perhaps it's just me, but the 'fuller' the better; the shrill stuff doesn't seem to stick with me. Another example is the C chord that ends "Come Sail Away" on Styx's CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Tommy Shaw described it as a C with a low G that also included J.Y. and him stepping on every processor that could get to... There could also be some single-note stuff included, such as the bass riff that intros "Love Bites" on the mid-'80s PRIEST LIVE album. How did he do that?I'm sure there are a myriad of other examples, but these are the ones I came up just off the top of my head (may add more posts later). And of course such choices are as individual as listeners themselves.Others?
Submariner85 Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Lotta stuff by Zakk Wylde and Dimebag Darrell
David B Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 That "Once In A Lifetime" used to get me too. Even though I thought that was the goofiest video ever made when I was a kid, that end was heavy as hell & cool. Another great sounding one is the beginning of "I Need A Lover" by John Cougar.
cmatthes Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Maybe it's more an overdrive thing than true distortion, but Badfinger's "No Matter What" opening chords are right up there"Sick of Myself" by Matthew Sweet also has a certain heaviness to those distorted chords."Do Ya" - ELO Can't beat THAT!Also for pure Distortion + type Distortion, anything by Bob Mould with Husker Du, especially "These Important Years" comes to mind.Ditto to Mark for VH's "You Really Got Me", although the Kinks version was also pretty groundbreaking.
KeyOfZ Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love, Shout at the Devil and Girls, Girls, Girls.John Sykes - Whitesnake (whole album)Van Halen - For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (whole album)Jason Becker - It's Showtime! (from David Lee Roth A Little Aint Enough)Marty Friedman - Dragon Mistress and Anvils (from Dragon's Kiss)ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed ManAC/DC - Back in BlackProbably a bunch more that I am drawing a blank on.
Aceldama Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 I know U2 doesn't get a lot of respect around here: "Desire" has a great opening.
RacerX Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Van Halen- you really got me. Grabs your attention from the first bombastic noteDeep Purple- anything live,mistreated, smoke, lazy, pick one. The definitive sound of a Strat in Blackmores hands. This is a great topic, I could go on and on here...Mark.
Brooks Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 powerchords at the end of govt mules "towering fool" (esp when he stomps on the flanger, awesome).intro powerchords to urge overkill's "sister havana".end riff of zz top's "nasty dogs & funky kings".
pesocaster Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Some of my faves:STP (Dean Delo) ... interstate love songJackson Browne ... On the Blvd.Jackson Browne (David Lindly slide tone).. Running on EmptyBadlands first album (Jake E. Lee).. all of itTommy Bolin .. Post Toastie leadMountain (Lesslie West) .. Mississippi QueenDeep Purple (R. Blackmore) ... My Woman from Tokyo / Knocking at your back doorJames Gang (Joe Walsh)... Funk 49 / Walk AwaySteely Dan (Larry Carlton)... Don't take me alivePat Benatar (Neil Geraldo) ... You Better RunRobert Plant (Robbie Blunt) .. Burning down one sideLed Zep ( Jimmy Page) ... In the EveningThe Tubes (Steve Lukather) ... Talk to you LaterZZ Top (Billy Gibbons) .... Everything pre Eliminatorall I can think of at the moment...
princeofdarkness56 Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 If you ever listen to the whole song Ride Captain Ride by Blues Image, Mike Pinera breaks out a wicked distored solo at the end of the song. Trouble is, the radio stations never play that part. You have to listen to the recording.
hamerhead Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 'Spirit in the Sky' by Norman Greenbaum.The sound of an amp taken right to the edge of blowing up is too cool.
Submariner85 Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 Metallica - The Outlaw Torn - all of the solo right after the lead in part.Kiss - God of Thunder solo.
chewie37 Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 And from out of left field - Ace Frehley's cover of ELO's Do Ya.Oh, and anything from the first 2 Boston Albums.
gwayne Posted October 2, 2005 Posted October 2, 2005 I love the tone on The Cult's "Wild Hearted Son" and pretty much anything off Sonic Temple.cmatthes - good call on "Do Ya" !!
El Kabong Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 I always loved the lick from Talk Talk's, "Lifes' What You Make It." How did he go from that thick clean tone to that distortion with effects all in one lick?"Also, I have always been affected by Will Sargeant's A11th chord on Echo and the Bunnymen's, "Over the Wall." The early incarnation of the stock distortion of the Roland Jazz chorus 120 was so terrible, it truly could only be used in avante terms, musically. I use the influence of his terrible rhythm playing as an excuse for mine, after 20 years of hacking on the guitar.Finally, the garage simplicity from the "Cruisers Creek" riff from the Fall's, "Our Nation's Saving Grace", showed a street wise pop sensibility with an edge that was missing from the Knack's bubble gum hiding behind a leather jacket.There have beeen so many examples of distortion discussed to death about metal and classic rock, I'm glad the author of this thread chose something out of the ordinary.
Jack C Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Walk All Over You by ACDC.That's one song that I listen to just because the guitar sounds so good. Hell, EVERYTHING sounds perfect in that one. It starts with one guitar, then adds the other, then the bass, then the drums. When Bon finally starts singing... Damn. Pure rock and roll.
Bass Guy Dave Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Intro of the Beatles "Revolution.""Highway to Hell" is Coca-Cola. Classic and always tasty."All Right Now" by Free fits in the same vein too.I always liked the first chord from Priest's "Some Heads are Gonna' Roll" from "Defenders." (BTW, wasn't "Love Bites" using an 8 /4 string Cruise doubleneck on the Turbo concert? (Hafta' dig out my Priest Electric Eye DVD now.))I thought "Sad but True" from Metallica was a good match of tone and riff."Crazy Babies" or Mr. Tinkertrain" were good Zaak ones. "Suicide Solution" was a good Randy R. one."Ma Ma Ma Belle" from ELOand dang if the stuff in Queen's "We Will Rock You" didn't have a great sound. Killer riff. I'm gonna have to actually finally get some Queen stuff and really listen to it. I've realized I really missed out on some classic stuff as I start flipping through the classic rock stations these days.Great thread. Best Wishes
Jack C Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 and dang if the stuff in Queen's "We Will Rock You" didn't have a great sound. Killer riff. Oh yeah, I forgot about that one! Maybe the best sounding guitar part ever. Massive.
polara Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Yeah, +1 for all the guitar in We Will Rock You.And every note of every song of My Bloody Valentine's classic, "Loveless." The biggest guitar sounds I can think of, and I used to be into Sabbath.Bob Mould's "Black Sheets of Rain."
Billy_Baloney Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Stones-Can Ya Hear Me Knockin'Bob Mould-Black Sheets of RainTodd Rundgren-#1 Lowest Common DenominatorSmashing Pumpkins-I am One
pasqual12 Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Gary Richrath's power chords at the end of "Roll With The Changes" always struck me. I may be biased because I believe that that cut is one of, if not THE best captured rock and roll tune.Lukather's tone on Rosanna...Frampton at the end of "Do You Feel Like We Do"...Foo Fighters Learn to Fly...Shawn Lane solo tone...WOW
paults Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Great Distortion Sounds (and riffs, for that matter..):Miserlou-Dick DaleRock & Roll-Mitch Ryder and DetroitMississippi Queen-MountainSweet Child of Mine-GNRThe "elephant" tone that Robert Fripp uses for some of his solos comes to mind, as do the very-Hendrix Red Hot Chili Peppers and live Pearl Jam tones. Some of the most elegantly crafted distortions (and in many subtle shades) that I have heard would be the guitarists from Train and Matchbox Twenty.
Lockbody Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 The first chord of "Eruption"Cheech's first chord of "EaracheMyEye"
SteveB Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 There is none better than Petrucci's tone on "The Rover" from "A Change of Seasons". Except maybe his tone on "Perfect Strangers" from the same disc.
Guest Mike Lee Posted October 3, 2005 Posted October 3, 2005 Not mentinoned yet for Chords:The Who - Who's Next album, especially Won't Get Fooled Again and Baba O'ReillyZZTop - Jailhouse Rock live (Fandango album)Black Crowes - Southern Harmony album, especially Sting Me and Sometimes SalvationJourney - Any Way You Want ItNot mentioned yet for Lead Tone:Eagles - Solo on One of These NightsEagles - Leads on Hotel CaliforniaJourney - Feelin That Way/AnytimeLittle Feat - Let it Roll
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