Your favorite Piano Riff/Melody of all time..

Ray Charles on "Georgia on my mind"

 

Mike Garson's piano on the title track of Bowie's Aladdin Sane is stunning. The four note figure that trades with the guitar on the opening and verses - and then that explosive solo: just brilliant.

 

I have loved music since I can remember, but I can't play an instrument to save my life, but I know a catchy piano riff or melody, when it passes my ears. With that said, I have always been fascinated with the piano playing by the late Mike Melvoin, on The 5th Dimension's "Last Night (I Didn't Get To Sleep At All)". I especially love the unique piano opening of the song ...

 

John lennons part on Obla Di, Obla Da, more because of the story behind it.....

Evidently Paul had put his band mates through a gazillion takes of what they thought was a crappy song. Lennon left the studio and came back smashed, and said something like this "this is how we are going to play this f@$king song" and sat down at the piano and pounded it out.

The rest is history

 

Intro to S&G's "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

 

I'm a fan of the simple but effective piano riff on "So Cruel" - u2,
Also, "Jackie's Strength" - Tori Amos, and "Imagine" - John Lennon

 

I'm very fond of Horace Silver's piano riff on Song For My Father. Sometimes less is more.

 

This here:

 

My favorite version of this Monk classic:

 

When I first saw your thread title, I immediately thought of Elton John. But the track was Tiny Dancer. It has some real nice changes in there

 

Patti Smith - Piss Factory.

 

Well it would have to be an Elton song. I'd go with Idol, then Rocket Man. Those are the ones I like playing the most, anyway.

 

Bruce Hornsby - The Road Not Taken (the riff and the ripping solo, all great)

Also:
Mother Love Bone - Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns
Tori Amos - Precious Things
Elton John - Sixty Years On

 

Brian Eno, 1/1

 

When Jobim comes in at the bridge of "Girl from Ipanema."

 

Wakeman's passages in "South Side of the Sky" beginning at 2:57 and moving through 3:19.

 

That intro makes the song. If anyone has heard the "Peter Sellers tapes" recording of that song, it is preceded by a quick, false start followed by the intro we know and love. Pure attitude.

 

Bloody Well Right is my choice. I've loved it since the album came out and I heard it as a child.

 

Whenever I listen to this piano melody, I can't help but become wistful.

"Energy Flow" (another track on this album) is also great.

 

The intro to Sexy Sadie would be one.
Love Will Stone You would be another.

 

Roy Bittan on Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell... The instrumental intro and the repeats are amazing!!

 

The first two that come to mind are the intros to 'Going Back To My Roots' by Lamont Dozier, or Cheryl Lynn's 'You Saved My Day'. Both seminal records in the history of House music.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdEwRm-kSJ0

 

…or, on a different tack, the coda from 'Layla' is lovely!

 

Favourite riff - The Rolling Stones (is it Nicky Hopkins?) - We Love You