Best riff in a song

[Atshen]

Painkiller (Judas Priest)

 

[Atshen]

Simple but effective: Holy Diver

 

[Atshen]

And, someone had to say it:



SMOKE ON THE WATER!!!

 

[Atshen]

I Want You (She's So Heavy) (Beatles)

 

[Atshen]

Chuck Rainey's bass riffs in Josie.

 

[Atshen]

The Carcass song "Inpropagation" is a wonderful mini-collection of riffs.

 

[Funky Ghost]

In a song full of killer riffs Invalid Link Removed, of course, appeals to us

 

[Unrepresented]

"Fire" - Ohio Players; the main riff is iconic, but the break riff is even better, starting at 1:41

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKAiMTMqJ_Y

"Superstition" and "Higher Ground" - Stevie Wonder. Killer clav work.

"Pass the Peas" - the JB's. Maybe the coolest horn riff of all time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUkfiLjooxs

And the horn riff from James Brown's "Make It Funky":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKJ5sVbIooc

The horns in "The Grunt" as performed by the JB's (and stolen from the Isley Brothers) should be on this list as well IMO.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

Now that we're referencing horn riffs?
Freedom Jazz Dance is off the hook!

 

[BayStateBass]

I don't know anyone who needs more than the first measure to recognize Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music".

 

[Unrepresented]

I realize this may be a divisive pick, but the primary synth line from "The Message" still rocks.

 

[Eric Perry]

Simple but effective: Holy Diver

Another stellar call.

 

[FilterFunk]

The horns in "The Grunt" as performed by the JB's (and stolen from the Isley Brothers) should be on this list as well IMO.

Agreed! What Isley Brothers song did it come from?

P.S. I didn't read the OP carefully enough - sorry about making a list instead of sticking to just one

 

[truecanadian04]

Cowboys form hell by Pantera. The main riff in the song is extremely sold.

 

[Bard2dbone]

The opening bass line on "Radar Love" - Golden Earring

And

The opening riff for "Godzilla" - Blue Oyster Cult

Cities on Flame- BOC

Prison Sex- Tool

I like em simple.

I remember noticing back in the day that Blue Oyster Cult had a BUNCH of unusually good riffs holding up some mostly otherwise forgettable songs. After much consideration I nominate for their best: the bass line from ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence

Go look it up. I'll wait here.



See? Isn't that amazing? I still use it as a warm up at jams just to see if I can get someone to jump in. Although, in fairness I no longer remember the lyrics to be able to sing it if they did. Doesn't matter. No one seems to remember the song but me.

 

[Bard2dbone]

Dissidents by thomas dolby, to me this is just freaking awesome. Look it up peeps

Mad props to Thomas Dolby! You HAVE to respect any musician whose passport literally listed his occupation as 'inventor'.

Mississippi Queen

We actually added this to our playlist for the cool riff before we realized just how gut wrenchingly high the vocals really are.

 

[Unrepresented]

Agreed! What Isley Brothers song did it come from?

P.S. I didn't read the OP carefully enough - sorry about making a list instead of sticking to just one

The Grunt by the JB's

 

[duff beer]

I didn't read all the posts, but for me it's the riff at the end of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl". It begins at 2:41:

 

[Unrepresented]

I remember noticing back in the day that Blue Oyster Cult had a BUNCH of unusually good riffs holding up some mostly otherwise forgettable songs. After much consideration I nominate for their best: the bass line from ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence

Go look it up. I'll wait here.



See? Isn't that amazing? I still use it as a warm up at jams just to see if I can get someone to jump in. Although, in fairness I no longer remember the lyrics to be able to sing it if they did. Doesn't matter. No one seems to remember the song but me.

While that's probably my favorite BOC song, my appreciation for it is primarily the awesome chorus hook, the rest of the song usually leaves me flat. It's interesting how different people connect with different aspects of the same thing.

 

[UncleFluffy]

NIB, of course