Greatest opening riffs

[Huggy]

I know he's been a complete whackjob for years but for a while in the 70s and early 80s, Ted Nugent was making loads of great records like this one:

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

I think this was Ernie Isley's first record with the band, on bass.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

I don’t know if this is a riff but it’s certainly a memorable opening. With Flo and Eddie on backing vocals to boot

 

[Huggy]

Obviously Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird get all the raves from Skynyrd fans but to me this is their best one:

 

[MarkWatney]

"Satisfaction" notwithstanding:

 

[Jake from State Farm]

 

[Jake from State Farm]

I had to go through this thread to make sure this song wasn’t here. The omission has now been rectified

 

[Slacker]

 

[terrier]

Seen the Lyres many times.
And coming from a band we usually associate with a Vox organ...

 

[Slacker]

I saw Lyres just once, in a small club, and they were fantastic.
Wonder why they never hit it big nationally. Great garage band.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

This one is immediately identifiable.

 

[ChrisLong]

A couple of weeks after this thread started, I never would have thought of this, but then I heard it and it seems appropriate:

 

[Jake from State Farm]

 

[daytonadan1983]

I know he's been a complete whackjob for years but for a while in the 70s and early 80s, Ted Nugent was making loads of great records like this one:

Great White Buffalo was also pretty good

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Good one from ELO. Here a couple of others from the band that should be on this list:

 

[da man]

I've seen two Beatles songs on here but we could do a whole thread on great Beatles openers.









I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

BTW, I know people say that last one was stolen from Bobby Parker. I prefer "inspired by", as they are not quite the same:

 

[da man]

A few more, as the site only lets you include five videos per post:

 

[da man]

And a few from the greatest of them all, Ray Charles:

 

[Slacker]

This thread has (inevitably) jumped the shark.
Do we list our favorite Aerosmith songs next?

 

[Huggy]

One of the great copped Beatles riffs ever: