The opening tones of ‘All Day and All of the Night’ are instantly stirring. Dave Davies’ raw, overdriven guitar sound – the result of a deliberately mutilated speaker cone in his amplifier – was in place for the fantastic riff that opens and sustains the song, and over which his brother Ray’s vocal melody lies in unison.
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Blue Öyster Cult guitarist Donald ‘Buck Dharma’ Roeser’s drone riff in A minor, devolving into distinct sections, is as much part of the American landscape as the Hollywood sign or the four presdients on the face of Mount Rushmore. ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’ remains one of those great American rock tracks of the seventies – with a lengthy, rousing guitar solo, Roeser and members address the eternal themes of love and death.
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Even if you don’t know the band or remember much of the song, chances are you will know the falsetto wail of ‘Wipe Out!’ that introduces the song. When surf music was popularized in 1960s America by the Beach Boys, it was The Surfaris, a little-known group, who played a huge part in the phenomenon! Since its 1963 release, the song has been covered by numerous artists, and the phrase ‘Wipe Out’ remains in the public’s conscious to this day.
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Ted Nugent introduces ‘Strangehold’ with a memorable riff, that is still known to rock fans today. Nugent, a contradiction of sorts, was more likely to have been found enjoying outdoor pursuits during the seventies, than drinking and taking drugs (the perceived norm for this decade of music stars). It is interesting that the song’s extended mid-section, in which Nugent solos, would be the perfect entertainment for hippies, in diametric opposition to its composer’s intentions.
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The single ‘Pinball Wizard’ rocketed onto the scene in 1969 and featured as part of The Who’s novel rock opera album Tommy. Beginning with that subtle, echoed buildup, the stabbing guitars and then the superb, ethereal chord sequence that leads into the vocal, it is one of the Sixties’ defining compositions.
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The irresistible opening riff to ‘Start Me Up’ sets up a track which can be heralded as a thumping rock anthem. Brash and unapologetic, the song made it clear that the 1980s would be the decade in which the Stones found their maximum audience – as indeed history proved!
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In the whole of 1970s rock music, few songs have as much weight or as much continued relevance as ‘Kashmir’. The song is over eight minutes long and everything about it screams ‘epic’. Robert Plant called it ‘the pride of Led Zeppelin’ and there is something about the ambition of ‘Kashmir’ that makes it unique.
Buy this song at iTunes or Amazon. The official band site is here.
The Ultimate Rock Riffs 