Instantly recognizable drum intros.

[KenSanders]

There have been so many solid gold rock classics that began with a “drummer only” intro.  These songs are so famous today that you can actually name the song within a couple of beats, and long before any other instruments begin to play.

Example?  How many times have you heard just one bar of cowbell on “Honky Tonk Women” and that’s all you needed to name the song?  I think that’s amazing. 

For the purposes of this particular thread, I am not including many other great classic rock songs that have drums along with some other instruments (for examples: “Mississippi Queen” – Mountain or "You Rocked me All Night Long” by AC/DC) even though the drum part is a signature part of the song’s intro.


Here is my list of ten classic songs that I believe have the most instantly recognizable drum kit intros.


Robert Palmer -Addicted to Love
Temptations - Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Grand Funk Railroad - American Band
Commodores - Brick House
Boz Scaggs - Dirty Lowdown
Paul Simon - Fifty Ways to Lose your Lover
Jr. Walker and the All-Stars" - "Shotgun"
Led Zeppelin - Rock and Roll 
Toto – Rosanna
Queen - We Will Rock You
The Surfaris - Wipeout


There are, of course many other songs with cool drum intros, and you may respond with an entirely different list.  These are simply the ones that, in my opinion, have endured the test of time and became rock classics.  Share your thoughts. 

[Ian_Borg]

Here are two more that come instantly to mind - Dreams (Fleetwood Mac) and Lakeside Park (Rush)
 

[KenSanders]

Man, those are great tunes.

[Tomm]

I know I'll be listening with a new interest so I can contribute to this list.  Good project suggestion, Ken.

[Carthage]

Hi,

      Here are some "Instantly recognizable drum intros".  The question is recognizable by who.  Depending on what you listen to and what time era you're talking about, you will get different results.

      I have a list that is instantly recognizable by me, but may not be recognizable to some people.  If that is the case, then it would be a fun challenge to find them and listen to them for some people.

      Anyway, here is a quick list.  Some intros are short, some longer.

       1.  Hot For Teacher - Van Halen  (try playing that one)
       2.  Runaway Child - Buddy Miles
       3.  New Orleans -  Gary and the U.S. Bonds (The first beat I ever learned to play)
       4.  The Hunger - Don Dokken (off the Don Dokken cd)
       5.  Little Miss Lover - Jimi Hendrix (Axis - Bold As Love cd)
       6.  Cosmic Chaos - Gama Ray (very rcognizable for Heavy Metal heads)
       7.  Jabo - James Brown (James Brown Plays New Breed album)
       8.  Doodle Pickle - Little Joe Cook  (you have to be into soul music)
       9.  Money - The Kingsmen 
     10.  Sheba - Johnny and The Hurricanes

[KenSanders]

Those are some good cites Don.  I have played this drum intro game with my own mind for years.  When a drum beat intro played on the radio I would try to name the correct song within 8 beats.

[Carthage]

Hi,

       Here is a short one but very important one I believe as simple as it is.

       Walk Don't Run - The Ventures

[KenSanders]

I am old enough for that one to be on my "instant recognition"drum  intro list.   

[Tomm]

Same here Ken, on that .  Here's a newer one...The Best of What's Around...another simple but totally recognizable intro lick.

[KenSanders]

By the Dave Matthews Band....good one Tomm.

I think if we get about thiry songs postsedhere, I'll poll everyone here in the forum to pick THE most instantly recognizable of all.

[Carthage]

Hi,

    For me it would probably have to be "Hot For Teacher".   Also, I might add, in my opinion the most difficult to play.  All I could think of when I heard that for the first time was a combination of amazement, excitement, and the pure joy of hearing something like that being played, and finally "that bastard!".

[KenSanders]

Thought I would post the video for everyone.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-4GZFbCqx18&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-4GZFbCqx18&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

[Carthage]

That's a great video.  It really shows the rock n' roll spirit and the group's attitude towards everything except their music of course which was perfect.  Thanks for putting that one up Ken.

Unfortunately the producers cut off the introduction.  They don't like drums so much.  Drummers are always getting cut.  Anyway, here is the song with the intro.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/U3MMjnslom0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/U3MMjnslom0&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

[KenSanders]

Totally awesome. 

[Carthage]

Here is Ken Mary on the Don Dokken cd playing the intro for "The Hunger".

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/HcJA59apn2Q&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/HcJA59apn2Q&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

John Norum replacing George Lynch on guitar.

[KenSanders]

Another great drum intro!

[KenSanders]

Hope some of you will join in on this thread and share some more tunes with all of us.

[vista1868]

http://youtu.be/lCFcWdco1nw

http://youtu.be/UDs3qPFkAj0

http://youtu.be/BQIdjHcS4m4

[vista1868]

I forgot one:

http://youtu.be/DqDLVR2I5QE

[KenSanders]

Those are some great ones!

[ElliotPeterson]

Here's an easy one. Tom Sawyer.