Based on the opinions and votes of disc jockeys and radio listeners nationwide, and aired on the Vinyl Express (Big 95.3 and big953.com) August 18-19, 2018
Best rock ‘n roll song intros ever:
- Go All The Way– Raspberries 1972 (Guitar played by Wally Bryson of Cleveland, Ohio)
- Long Cool Woman– Hollies 1972 (Guitar played by Allan Clarke)
- China Grove– Doobie Brothers 1973 (Guitar played by Tom Johnston)
- 25 or 6 to 4– Chicago 1970 (Riff lifted from Led Zeppelin, guitar played by Terry Kath)
- Layla– Derek & the Dominoes 1972 (Eric Clapton & Duane Allman)
- You Give Love a Bad Name– Bon Jovi 1986 (Vocal intro)
- Satisfaction– Rolling Stones 1965 (Riff dreamed up & played by Keith Richards)
- Reeling in the Years– Steely Dan 1973 (Guitarist Elliott Randall nailed the intro in one take)
- Born to Run– Bruce Springsteen 1975 (most performed song of the Boss’s career)
- Born to be Wild– Steppenwolf 1968 (was originally a ballad)
- Vehicle– Ides of March 1970 (highest rated horn section intro in our survey)
- Start Me Up– Rolling Stones 1981 (Stones are only act to be listed twice in survey)
- Take It Easy– Eagles 1972 (Guitar played by Bernie Leadon)
- All Right Now– Free 1970 (Single was mixed for AM radio)
- Light My Fire- Doors 1967 (Double keyboard/organ intro, rare for 1967)
- Money for Nothing– Dire Straits 1985 (Guitar played by Mark Knopfler)
- Louie Louie– Kingsmen 1963 (oldest song in survey)
- Smells Like Teen Spirit– Nirvana 1991 (Guitar played by Kurt Cobain)
- I Feel Good– James Brown 1966 (Vocal intro, including scream)
- For What It’s Worth– Buffalo Springfield 1966 (Acoustic guitar played by Neil Young)
- Grazing in the Grass– Friends of Distinction 1969 (one of two horn section intros in top 25)
- Don’t Fear the Reaper– Blue Oyster Cult 1976 (cowbell popularized by SNL sketch)
- Jump– Van Halen 1984 (Rare synthesizer intro for Van Halen)
- A Hard Day’s Night– Beatles 1964 (iconic one-chord intro by George Harrison)
- Centerfold– J Geils Band 1982 (Organ played by Seth Justman)
And the ones that didn’t quite make the cut:
Whole Lotta Love– Led Zeppelin 1969, Billie Jean– Michael Jackson 1982, Maggie May– Rod Stewart 1971, Sweet Child O’Mine– Guns N’ Roses 1988, Smoke on the Water– Deep Purple 1973, Saturday in the Park– Chicago 1972, Ticket to Ride– Beatles 1965, Touch Me– Doors 1967, Magic– Pilot 1975, Sir Duke– Stevie Wonder 1977, But It’s Alright- J.J. Jackson 1966, Venus– Shocking Blue 1969, Born in the USA– Bruce Springsteen 1984, Let It Ride– BTO 1973, Honky Tonk Women– Rolling Stones 1969, American Woman– Guess Who 1970, My Sweet Lord- George Harrison 1970, Owner of a Lonely Heart– Yes 1983, Tears of A Clown– Smokey Robinson 1971, Get Down Tonight– KC & Sunshine Band 1975, Barracuda– Heart 1977, Don’t Stop Believin- Journey 1981, I Want You Back– Jackson Five 1970, For the Love of Money– O’Jays 1973, You Can Call Me Al– Paul Simon 1988
Say it ain’t so! You left out Ramblin’ gamblin’ man by Bob Segar? Surely that must have been a computer glitch that omitted that one….
Great stuff David! Glad WFLI is playing most of those again! Lots of fun!
I guess that old guys like me didn’t vote. No 50’s songs that I recognized. Bill Hailey’s Rock around the Clock just to mention one.
Jerry Linger is correct! The intro to Rock Around The Clock is THE classic; the catalyst to what followed. By the way, everyone forgot:
Get Ready — Rare Earth
Cry Like A Baby — The Box Tops
Judy In Disguise — John Fred and His Playboy Band
Spirit In The Sky — Norman Greenbaum
However, at this time, the “Greatest Instrumental Intro Award” goes to (envelope please): The Horse (Cliff Noble)
1st Runner Up: Overture From Tommy — Assembled Multitude
2nd Runner Up: Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band — Meco (3:32 version)
Has anyone listened to the intro to Sweet Jane on Rock and Roll Animal( Lou Reed) live? The guitar solos are great!
I can’t believe it has been left off lists.
If this isn’t in the top 5 of all time, then I must not know Rock music. Please listen and let me know what you think.
YES SIR… intro to Sweet Jane on Rock and Roll Animal( Lou Reed) live is #1 in my book of unheralded masterpieces.
It was only played on album rock stations, No mainstream play at all.
I totally agree. Sweet Jane intro is one of the very best!
Tarot Woman – Raimbow
Standing In The Rain – James Gang
School – Suoertramp
Eruption – Van Halen
Honorable mention to Meadows – James Gang
Runaway – Bon Jovi has an amazing intro! Also November Rain – Guns N’ Roses
One of the most under rated intros of all time would be “diary of a madman” arguably best rnr intro of all time, we can only imagine what rock n roll would sound like had Randy survived.
No Welcome to the Jungle or Gimme Shelter is surprising. I see those as #1 and #2. Eruption from Van Halen. Hells Bells from AC/DC. Or lots of things from AC/DC. Pretty Vacant from the Sex Pistols or London Calling by the Clash? No Creedance Clearwater Revival. Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters (Hard Again LP version with the amazing Johnny Winter) and Johnny B. Goode by the true King of Rock n Roll, the late, oh so great, Chuck Berry belongs somewhere in these lists.
Love that I Want You Back makes the almost list. That into says “DANCE”. The 1978 cover by Graham Parker and the Rumour gives it hard, but still dancing, punch. 25 or 6 to 4 (Chicago) and China Grove (Doobies) are great intros and a welcome listen by bands that I’m otherwise not interested in.
How could Marshall Tucker Band song Can’t You See NOT be on this list???
A GREAT intro!!