100 best organ riffs ever

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100. Mos Def "Fear Not of Man"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:34 (twenty years ago) link

99. Uriah Heep - Gypsy

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:35 (twenty years ago) link

98. "Weirdo" by the Charlatans
97. "Hush" by Deep Purple

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:35 (twenty years ago) link

96. Brainticket - Cottonwood Hill

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:35 (twenty years ago) link

95. "Ice Queen" by the Stranglers

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:36 (twenty years ago) link

94. "96 Tears" - ? & the Mysterians

― BrianB (BrianB), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:36 (twenty years ago) link

93. Del Shannon: "Runaway"

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:37 (twenty years ago) link

92. gimme a little sign - brook benton

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:38 (twenty years ago) link

93. Jimmy Smith "Root Down"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:39 (twenty years ago) link

er, 91

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:39 (twenty years ago) link

90. "Gimme Some Lovin'", preferably by the Wendigo, but I'd accept Spencer Davis Group

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:40 (twenty years ago) link

89. Jimmy Smith - Back at the Chicken Shack

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:42 (twenty years ago) link

88. Beastie Boys - So Whatcha Want

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:42 (twenty years ago) link

87. bob dylan - "positively 4th street"

― sean marvin (williamtell), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:43 (twenty years ago) link

why is number one at number 96?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:44 (twenty years ago) link

86. Medeski Martin & Wood - Bubblehouse

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:44 (twenty years ago) link

oops i mean at #94... it would have at least been cool if it was at 96

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:45 (twenty years ago) link

and the thing in "runaway" isn't an organ, and it's not a riff it's a "solo". you all are really making a mess of this list. idiots.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:45 (twenty years ago) link

85. "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder

― BrianB (BrianB), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:46 (twenty years ago) link

85. moon in june-soft machine

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:46 (twenty years ago) link

84 then

― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:46 (twenty years ago) link

see?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:46 (twenty years ago) link

Superstition - also not an organ

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:47 (twenty years ago) link

83. Jay-Z/Just Blaze - Public Service Announcement

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:49 (twenty years ago) link

limiting answers to rock only, since too difficult to choose among Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Young, J.S. Bach, etc.

These are all actual organs and riffs; god only knows about the numbering at this point....

"Black Magic Woman" -- Santana
"Chest Fever" -- The Band
"Church of Anthrax" -- John Cale/Terry Riley
"Sister Ray" -- Velvet Underground
"Vitamin C" -- Can
"Pump It Up" -- Elvis Costello & The Attractions
"Man-Erg" -- Van Der Graaf Generator
"In Every Dream Home a Heartache" -- Roxy Music
"Hope for Happiness" -- Soft Machine
"Ruins" -- Henry Cow

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:50 (twenty years ago) link

83. Charlatans - "The Only One I Know"

82. Elvis Costello - "Pump It Up"

81. Shadows of Knight - "Shake"

― Joseph McCombs, Friday, 30 January 2004 19:51 (twenty years ago) link

a clavinet isn't an organ? I thought it was just a type of organ. sorry.

― BrianB (BrianB), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:53 (twenty years ago) link

Godspell OCR, "Light of the World"

::runs away::

― Prude (Prude), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:53 (twenty years ago) link

modern lover = "roadrunner"

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:56 (twenty years ago) link

frank zappa.. peaches en regalia.. (ian underwood, holler)

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 30 January 2004 19:57 (twenty years ago) link

BrianB: a Clavinet is a sort of electronic version of a harpsichord -- there are rubber strikers under the keys and actual strings in it.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:00 (twenty years ago) link

Booker T. & the MG's - Green Onions

(hmmm, should I really list the rest of their catalog??)

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:00 (twenty years ago) link

The Doors - Soul Kitchen

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:01 (twenty years ago) link

Theme from Ghost & Mr. Chicken - Vic Mizzy, supergenious.

― dave225 (Dave225), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:04 (twenty years ago) link

The Meters - Sophisticated Cissy

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:04 (twenty years ago) link

(i was kidding when i called everybody idiots, by the way)

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:04 (twenty years ago) link

yeah, yeah, I know a univox or whatever's on the Del Shannon record is monophonic, but nuts to you. And it is too a riff.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:07 (twenty years ago) link

a clavinet is like an electric piano but instead of striking the strings, it plucks them, that's the simplified answer I guess.

Billy Two by the Clean

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:08 (twenty years ago) link

Taking control of the list, this is officially:

62. Medeski Martin & Wood - Latin Shuffle (the riff before it actually becomes a shuffle)

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:08 (twenty years ago) link

Accepting Jordan's numbering,
61. "Double Shot of My Baby's Love" - Swingin Medallions

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:10 (twenty years ago) link

it's not a riff!

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:11 (twenty years ago) link

okay. Dad.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:12 (twenty years ago) link

60.What goes on (Velvet Underground live 1969)
59.Cheap Wine - Green on Red
58.Pushin' too hard - The Seeds

― Mark Trick, Friday, 30 January 2004 20:16 (twenty years ago) link

57. cabaret voltaire-nag nag nag

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:19 (twenty years ago) link

56. TI-Rubberband Man
55. High Contrast-Basement Track
54. J. Geils Band-Freezeframe

― mayor motorcade (mayor motorcade), Friday, 30 January 2004 20:30 (twenty years ago) link

53."Town Called Malice"- the Jam

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:08 (twenty years ago) link

52. (though it should be top ten) Booker T. & the MG's, "Hang 'em High"

P.S. Procol Harum will be #1, won't it? Promise?

― Joseph McCombs, Friday, 30 January 2004 21:37 (twenty years ago) link

jamaica to thread.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:42 (twenty years ago) link

If it's the Procol Harum I think you're thinking of...IT'S NOT A RIFF! [ducks]

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:42 (twenty years ago) link

Caravan - For Richard
(err, the supersimple octave-thingy after the long quiet part. One of the greatest rock-out moments ever, and it came from freakin' CARAVAN!)

I want to say several VDGG songs, but all the riffs I think of turn out to be played either on the bass or the sax. Dammit.

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Friday, 30 January 2004 21:46 (twenty years ago) link

Skipping 11 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

37. Harry J, "Liquidator"

― Pete Scholtes, Saturday, 31 January 2004 00:07 (twenty years ago) link

36, Iron Butterfly "In-a Gadda-da Vida"

― nonthings (nonthings), Saturday, 31 January 2004 00:15 (twenty years ago) link

35. The Band, "Stage Fright"

― nonthings (nonthings), Saturday, 31 January 2004 00:17 (twenty years ago) link

34. The Specials, "Ghost Town"

― nonthings (nonthings), Saturday, 31 January 2004 00:28 (twenty years ago) link

Genesis: Return Of The Giant Hogweed

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 31 January 2004 00:44 (twenty years ago) link

32. Tuxedomoon, 'Desire'

― Ferrrrrrg (Ferg), Saturday, 31 January 2004 01:26 (twenty years ago) link

31. nappy roots - "awnaw hell no"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Saturday, 31 January 2004 05:05 (twenty years ago) link

"Time is Tight" Booker T & MGs
"Radio, Radio" Elvis C
"Hush" Deep Purple

― Ian Grey (Ian_G), Saturday, 31 January 2004 06:46 (twenty years ago) link

"Mass Riff" by fucking STEREOLAB!

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 31 January 2004 14:57 (twenty years ago) link

man, this is like making a "best guitar solos ever" thread and going 80 posts before someone mentions Black Sabbath

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 31 January 2004 14:57 (twenty years ago) link

(I will let someone else be indginant about the Beach Boys)

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 31 January 2004 15:02 (twenty years ago) link

which one do you mean ? Good Vibrations, California Girls, Shut Down Pt.2 or another song ?

26. Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (if it counts)

― eleki-san, Saturday, 31 January 2004 15:42 (twenty years ago) link

man, this is like making a "best guitar solos ever" thread and going 80 posts before someone mentions Black Sabbath
Which it would have very good reasons to do.

― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Saturday, 31 January 2004 15:49 (twenty years ago) link

25. Styx - Blue Collar Man

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Saturday, 31 January 2004 17:27 (twenty years ago) link

24. Apparat Organ Quartet - "Romantika"
23. Inspiral Carpets - "Saturn 5"
22. Pulp - "O.U."

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Saturday, 31 January 2004 18:47 (twenty years ago) link

What, "Iron Man" didn't make its way to Norway or something?

21. Led Zeppelin, "Trampled Under Foot"

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 31 January 2004 20:19 (twenty years ago) link

20. The Monks, "Shut Up"

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Saturday, 31 January 2004 22:04 (twenty years ago) link

I think the organ part at the end of "Spirit of Eden" by Talk Talk (in the song "Wealth") is wonderful.

― Salvador Saca (Mr. Xolotl), Saturday, 31 January 2004 23:53 (twenty years ago) link

"fire" - the crazy world of authur brown

― mike bott, Sunday, 1 February 2004 05:02 (twenty years ago) link

Nate - that's actually a clavinet on "Trampled Under Foot". Not trying to be pedantic about it -- the whole cool thing about the song is that basically they were inspired by Stevie's "Superstition"!

― Broheems (diamond), Sunday, 1 February 2004 05:10 (twenty years ago) link

I know, but isn't there a short but fierce legit organ break/solo right after Robert goes all "OOOOOOOOOOH"?

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Sunday, 1 February 2004 05:21 (twenty years ago) link

oh, wait, I see whatcha mean, never mind

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Sunday, 1 February 2004 05:22 (twenty years ago) link

19. giorgio moroder - "tears"
18. dj shadow - "organ donor"

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 1 February 2004 08:04 (twenty years ago) link

17. Unwound - pardon my french

― Dr. Annabel Lies (Michael Kelly), Sunday, 1 February 2004 08:08 (twenty years ago) link

16. Modern Lovers - "Road Runner"

Best "Sister Ray" rip ever

15. Attila - "March Of The Huns"

In fact, I nominate the great "Attila" LP in its entirety!
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311070946591122&sql=At908b5t4tsqe

― Myonga Von Bontee, Monday, 2 February 2004 18:35 (twenty years ago) link

14. "People Say" - Go-Betweens

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 2 February 2004 18:40 (twenty years ago) link

two years pass...

oh cmon, green onions has gotta be up there, and like a rolling stone, and arebours

― Slimline Davies, Friday, 26 May 2006 19:09 (seventeen years ago) link

13. "Liar Liar" - Castaways
12. "Tempted" - Squeeze
11. "Ambition" - Subway Sect
10. "Incense and Peppermint" - Strawberry Alarm Clocks

― zeus (zeus), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:36 (seventeen years ago) link

9. "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" - The Damned

― zeus (zeus), Friday, 26 May 2006 21:40 (seventeen years ago) link

ahem:

8. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 26 May 2006 22:06 (seventeen years ago) link

7. "Telstar" - Tornados
6. "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" - Procol Harum

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 27 May 2006 01:18 (seventeen years ago) link

5. 'Stoneage Cinderella', Died Pretty

― Jeff Wright (JeffW1858), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:10 (seventeen years ago) link

4. Beach Boys "California Girls"

― Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Saturday, 27 May 2006 03:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Doors - "Break on Through"

― Mark (MarkR), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Roadrunner was counted twice. And I was going to put down "Abacab" by Genesis, but I think I just realized that was a synth for the first time ever. Dammit! So, uh:

3. The Cyrkle, "Red Rubber Ball"

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:42 (seventeen years ago) link

2. B-52s "Rock Lobster"

― Maltodextrin (Maltodextrin), Saturday, 27 May 2006 06:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Gotta second Chest Fever by The Band, and mention Garth Hudson by name.

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 27 May 2006 06:56 (seventeen years ago) link

1. Outkast "Bombs Over Baghdad"

― Dr. Rodney's Original Savannah Band (R. J. Greene), Saturday, 27 May 2006 07:48 (seventeen years ago) link

You forgot The Beatles - I'm Looking Through You

― Steve Goldberg (Steve Goldberg), Saturday, 27 May 2006 11:13 (seventeen years ago) link

A Third for Chest Fever

And one for The Human Switchboard: Say No To Saturday's Girl

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 27 May 2006 12:43 (seventeen years ago) link

miracle workers - one step closer to you
mashamkan - as years go by

― coco the kid, Saturday, 27 May 2006 13:33 (seventeen years ago) link

NICO - Little Sister

― antonio, Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:23 (seventeen years ago) link

while we're giving seconds and thirds to Chest Fever, yes, I fourth or fifth it...

― dave's good arm (facsimile) (dave225.3), Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Light My Fire (sorry, but it's true!)

― RuPaul's Brother, Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Huh, i was about to post Caravan's For Richard, but apparently I already did so over two years ago.
Another success!

― Øystein (Øystein), Saturday, 27 May 2006 19:09 (seventeen years ago) link

What?! no Red River Rock?

― Carlos C., Saturday, 27 May 2006 22:47 (seventeen years ago) link

"Runaway" uses a Clavioline.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxpost

― naus (Robert T), Sunday, 28 May 2006 01:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Bobby Bland, people!!!

"I'll Take Care of You"

most abruptly stiff-assed, menacing riff EVA!

― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Sunday, 28 May 2006 01:13 (seventeen years ago) link

four years pass...

Mellow from Honkey Chateau-Elton John
Awesome organ solo on this track (actually
an electric violin but you'd never know).

― Cam McCallum, Monday, 7 February 2011 02:14 (thirteen years ago) link

How did the Sir Douglas Quintet and the famous Augie Meyers not get invited to this party? Calling in "She's About A Mover," "Dynamite Woman," "Nuevo Laredo," etc.

― that's not my post, Monday, 7 February 2011 02:53 (thirteen years ago) link

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