50 Best Riffs

A year or so back I saw that some metal magazine had put out a list of the top/best/most memorable guitar riffs of all time.  I wish I could find this now but it seems like everyone has put together such a list subsequently and so I haven't been able to dig it back up.  I've looked over other lists and they too seem to be lacking.  So I decided to put my own list together, which I give below in descending order for a change.  To me, what makes a riff great or memorable is that its so simple, catchy, and recognizable that your brain instantly starts "humming" it.  Moreover, I feel like the most memorable riffs are ones where if I simply hum it for you, you'd recognized it almost instantly. 

1. Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple--if this isn't your first pick you don't have ears.   This is the ULTIMATE rock riff, and anyone who has been alive in the last 50 years would recognize this if you played it or even hummed it for them.
2. Layla - Derek & The Dominoes/Eric Clapton--this is a close second; again, I think you'd have to be deaf not to recognize this one. 
3. Back In Black - AC/DC--a little trickier than the riffs above but still very recognizable.

4. Frankenstein – Edgar Winter--I think most people would recognize this if you hummed it for them, but may not remember the name of the song or the artist.  Too bad because this is a fun, freaky 70's romp of a song, highlighted by its unforgettable riff, made legendary when Otto the bus driver on the Simpson's hummed this in one episode.

5.  Iron Man - Black Sabbath--Sabbath had lots of memorable riffs and hooks but none more recognizable than this one.

6.  Oh! Pretty Woman-Roy Orbison--I debated putting this higher, possibly as high as third.  Its definitely a song nearly everyone recognizes.

7.  Walk This Way - Aerosmith--this gained new life after their remake with Run DMC in '86; not sure if it would have been this high otherwise.
8. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana--the highest song not recorded in the 60's or 70's; I'm obviously speaking here about the guitar intro here.  Its so iconic now and an entire generation considers this "classic" rock.
9. Satisfaction—the Rolling Stones--I considered putting this one higher too, but I also considered putting it lower.  For some people, this is instantly recognizable, but others might not recognize it if you hummed it.
10. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin--see #9 above, same thing.
11. Should I Stay Or Should I Go - Clash--again its the intro that catches you.
12. Day Tripper - Beatles--other than Roy Orbison this is the oldest song on the list I believe. 

13. Bad to the Bone—George Thorogood--this could also be higher for some folks; its ubiquity in movies (any time someone wimpy toughens up this song is played in a movie, particularly if its a comedy) makes it recognizable to a lot of people I think.

14. All Day And All Of The Night—The Kinks--I'd almost forgotten this song when I glanced at another list.

15.  Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin--another wonderfully catchy and simple riff by Zep.

16. Wild Thing—the Troggs--another oldie.

17. My Sharona—the Knack--obviously its the bass line that's memorable here but I think most people who grew up in the 70's and early 80's would recognize it if you started humming it.

18. Bang Your Head – Quiet Riot--non-metalheads might not recognize it but in metal its one of the most memorable riffs ever.

19. Cold Gin - Kiss--I considered a lot of Kiss songs but this one is the most memorable to me.
20. Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones--a classic by the Stones.

21. Enter Sandman - Metallica--another of the most recent cuts on the list.

22.  I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts--this could also go higher I think but again I think some people might not recognize it.

23. Cat Scratch Fever—Ted Nugent--a classic by the Detroit Wild Man.

24. Runnin’ With the Devil—Van Halen--Van Halen had to make the list; they actually make it twice (see below).

25. Photograph – Def Leppard--another iconic 80's glam metal riff.

26. Highway To Hell—AC/DC--just hearing this riff start this song is instantly recognizable to me.

27.  Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses--this one would have been higher but its so hard to hum or sing!

28. Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne--ditto!

29. China Grove – Doobie Brothers--I loved this song in the 70's (and still do).
30. American Woman—the Guess Who--my 4 year old son recently got into this song so it was in my mind.

31. Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young--a somewhat surprisingly heavy riff from a guy who has otherwise made a lot of mellower songs.

32. Born To Run—Bruce Springsteen--could be higher if you're from Jersey.

33. Rock You Like a Hurricane—the Scorpions--I was racking my brain because I knew there was a song from the 80's that had a memorable riff and finally remembered this.

34. Barracuda--Heart--this one is harder to hum or sing or whatever but everyone would recognize it if they heard the beginning of the song.

35. Start Me Up—Rolling Stones--the last truly great riff the Stones ever recorded.

36. Sunday Bloody Sunday—U2--one of the few new wave/postpunk memorable riffs.

37. Li’l Devil – Cult--people who weren't young in the 80's might not recognize this.

38. Life’s Been Good—Joe Walsh--people who weren't young in the 70's might not recognize this.

39. Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult--hard to hum/sing but still very recognizable.
40. Money For Nothing—Dire Straits--another 80's entry.

41. White Wedding - Billy Idol--I'm talking mostly about the picking riff here.

42. Killing In the Name – Rage Against The Machine--a big loud, heavy riff from the 90's.

43. Eye of the Tiger—Survivor--another classic.

44. Alive—Pearl Jam--a great grunge riff.

45. Cult of Personality—Living Colour--loved this song back in the day.

46.  Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen--the second Van Halen entry
47. All Right Now – Free--this one is a little harder to recognize for me but still made the list.

48.  Blue Monday – New Order--again its the bass riff that's memorable here

49. White Girl - X--might not be something non-Angelenos remember but I sure do.

50. Rebel Rebel – Davie Bowie--glam riff.

Honorable mention:

51.  Free Ride--Foghat

52.  Hair of the Dog--Nazareth.

Feel free to post comments, agreements, disagreements, ridicule, adulation, whatever.