I know its late Spring but I meant to write this column earlier in the season and time just got away from me.
Spring has always been a time of new beginnings. It’s the start of nine months of getting outside and enjoying life.
This column is not about Spring, it is about beginnings. Great openings to songs you may or may not have ever heard of.
Now we all know the great opening lines to songs like “Satisfaction” or “Hotel California” but have you ever listened to the beginning of Deep Purple’s “Child In Time” or “Lazy”? Probably not, so I am here to reintroduce you to some great opening lines from some pretty good music.
Since I already mentioned the Stones how about taking another listen to the opening guitar licks from Mick Jagger’s “Memo From Turner”. This song would fall in my Top 100 songs category so I am a little biased but Mick Jagger’s vocals take second fiddle to Ry Cooder’s slide guitar.
Another song that begins with a perfect guitar intro is “Dragon Attack” by Queen. Brian May never really received the proper credit but he was a very solid guitarist and played perfect foil to Freddie Mercury. Forget all of flamboyance and overplayed pop garbage and dig a little deeper into Queen’s catalog and you will find some really good music.
Looking into David Bowies catalog you will find dozens of great openings but my favorite is “Stay”. Earl Slick, lead guitar, with Carlos Alomar on rhythm guitar and their interplay is the highlight of the song, not Bowie’s vocals.
One last great opening by a great guitarist is “Welcome to the Club” by Joe Walsh. Typically clean and straightforward Walsh’s guitar playing is what makes this song work. I love Walsh BTW. Ultra talented and funny as Hell. My brother, who knows a thing or two about music has said that the Eagles didn’t truly rock until Joe Walsh joined them. I agree 100%.
Let’s look at the back of the stage and I think there are a few great Drum intros out there we can listen to.
Let’s start with Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher”. Alex Van Halen was known as a smasher. Playing hard just to drive Eddie Van Halens’ shredding guitar but he was more than that. He is an excellent drummer who rarely (on record) had a chance to show his chops. The beginning of this song sounds so different. Maybe like a muscle car ready to leave the line at some local speedway? Anyway, he powers this looney song.
Normally I don’t slide over to other genres when I do these lists and some people may argue I am not sliding at all but The John Mayer Trio does a version of “I Got A Woman” that begins with one of the best drum solos I have heard in a long time. Any of the live versions are good and the studio version is shorter but Steve Jordan is awesome on any version. The more I listen to John Mayer, the more I like him. Sue me.
While this next song has a searing guitar along with it, Larry Mullen’s beginning to “Bullet the Blue Sky” is perfect. Mullen rarely ever took center stage for the band but he is one of the best drummers of this era.
My next choice is a little offbeat. Bob Weir and Rat Dog’s version of the Beatle’s “Tomorrow Never Knows”. It’s similar but different. No matter how many times I listen to this song I enjoy it more and more. As a matter of fact I like every version I have ever heard and it’s all because of that unusual drum solo in the beginning.
My last drum intro recommendation is from Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan album. This album was probably one of the most over played albums of the late 70’s, early 80’s, which is shame because it really is one of the best live albums ever. Listen to the drum intro by Bun E. Carlos on “Ain’t it a Shame”. I remember seeing the band in Memphis in 1978 and they blew me away. Rick Nielsen must have played 20 different guitars that night. He played hanging upside down and Carlos had a cigarette(?) dangling from his mouth the whole night. One interesting note. If you watch the Youtube version of the song it is different from the album version. Same concert, different opening?
These last few take a little getting used to because they aren’t your standard openings but the songs are great.
First one is Boz Scaggs’ interpretation of ‘“Loan Me a Dime”. I have mentioned this song before and with good reason. It has a very cool bluesy beginning. For the first two and half minutes you get that organ/guitar intro that carries throughout the song. Duane Allman on lead guitar makes this song unforgettable.
Another great opening to a great song is the bass line from “The Magnificent Seven” by The Clash. Maybe I am too partial since this would be another song from my top 100.
“The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is unusual in that the first minute or so of the opening of this song is for headphones only. It starts as a faint piano solo with bongos and a smooth saxophone solo. Having seen this song live when I was a mere pup I can tell you it is amazing.
My last song this time around is “Time has Come Today”. The use of a cowbell has never been better.
I know there are hundreds or even thousands of songs that have great beginnings and I am sure I will agree with everyone when they email and complain that I neglected ABBA or Helen Reddy. This is just a little taste of some great openings to great songs.
Another fantactic listening weekend, Thank You!