  An article on fark today listed the "50 Greatest Song Parts". Thats right, not the whole song, but the best parts of songs. To see the list go here: urlLink retroCRUSH: Top 50 Song Parts . While its a good list and obviously influenced by personal taste, some of the parts may not appeal to everyone. I decided, that I to would list my favorite 40 song parts. So here we go!
40: The Beatles - "Sun King" As the previous song fades out, the crickets pick up in the beginning of this song. Its really very soothing. However not many people have heard the crickets because they don't listen for them. 39: Ben Folds Five - "One Angry Dwarf.." I have always loved this solo because the chords have a very jazz like tone to them, except they are played angrily, and then at the end he goes into a little run that lends another hint of anger to the song. 38: The Beach Boys - "California Girls" Most people don't catch it right away, but the words "Girls, Girls, Girls, Yeah I Dig Girls" is the perfect touch to the end of the song. 37: Little Guilt Shrine - "Jet, Jackie and J.C." Sure its a song about Jackie Chan, which is alright.
But the very end of the song has always seemed to get a chuckle out of me. Out of nowhere comes this seemingly random 60s horror movie ad for "Dr. Jeckl and Sister Hyde". If you haven't heard the song before, let me know. I'll arrange for you to hear it. 36: George Harrison - "Run of the Mill" This is one of George's truely masterful guitar creations. This little piece speaks a lot for the song itself, if you can find a bootleg acoustic version, give it a listen.
Otherwise the album version from All Things Must Pass has the same effect. 35: Nick Drake - "From The Morning" If you're a fan of Nick Drake, you'll know all about his "Drone Note". If you don't the "Drone Note" is a note Nick Drake would play repeatedly not as a bass line as an additional sound. Sometimes I've found the most powerful part of a song is not always a solo or verse, but the subtle changes most people miss. This is a perfect example, this simple flat note change sets the whole tone of the song. The prime example of this takes place around 1:06 in the song.
Listen for it through the rest of the song once you've heard it 34: The Beatles - "Getting Better" Crisp, bright and to the point. When this came out in 1966, this chord change would have been the greatest thing anyone heard. Its pure genius on Paul's part, the progession is simple and effective, its catchy and stays in your head. 33: The Guess Who - "American Woman" (Single Version) Like #34, this chord progression will stay in your head all day, its very catchy and gritty. This riff is so memorable that you'd be hard pressed to find someone who DIDN'T know it. 32: Doc Watson - "Shady Grove" Even if you don't like Bluegrass, you have to admit that the alternating guitar/banjo solo work on this song is smart.
Essentially the "solos" are variations of what they play during the main verse and get more complex as the song progresses, providing a melodic evolution throughout the song. 31: The Beatles - "Get Back" Billy Preston's Keyboard Solo on "Get Back" sets this song in stone. There are two parts that MAKE the song Get Back, John's Lead Guitar, and Billy's Keyboard. If you've ever heard a version of Get Back without the Keyboard solo, it just sounds empty and hollow, Billy came up with a Solo that is memorable, something everyone knows filled with melodic changes, it seems to be all over the place. I've been guilty of whistling along many times. 30: Allman Brothers Band - "Blue Sky" Normally I don't like long guitar solos, but this is an exception.
Starting at 1:07 the solo runs until 2:28 when a second guitar kicks in by 2:42 the solo has been handed over to the other guitar seamlessly and the solo continues until 4:15 when they make their way back to the lyrics. Essentially this song is one long guitar solo, but its smooth and pleasant to listen to, if you are in the right mood, the solo conveys the emotion in the song. 29: The Beach Boys - "California Girls" Ahh the intro to "California Girls", Again we revisit the Beach Boys and the genius of Brian Wilson. The intro has an epic sound to it, its an intro that takes you somewhere.. where? why to California! If there could be music every day when the sun rose over California, it would be this first 22 seconds of "California Girls".
Use your imagination and picture LA as the sun rises with this as a background and you'll see what I mean. 28: 10,000 Maniacs - "These Are Days" The Opening 45 seconds of "These Are Days" (Unplugged version of course! ) is a suprisingly interesting piece of music. First its the Mandolin, then the Guitar Joins In, Then the Bass, Organ, and Piano all before Natalie Merchant even sings, The timing of every instrument is perfect and builds the song up to a rising start. 27: Arlo Guthrie - "City Of New Orleans" Of course I had to do a railroad song, but not any old railroad song. This is the ONLY song that captures the sense of riding a train, musically.
Listen to Arlo's light melodic guitar as it drives the song. The piano adding the additional "sway" and the simple drum track adding that "clickity clack" sound. While the song itself is a sad tribute to the death of the railroad, the music itself keeps the essence alive. 26: Dave Matthews Band - "Spoon" Bela Fleck's banjo work on "Spoon" is amazing. From the handsome banjo solo to the compliment to Dave's guitar Bela does a beautiful job with the song. This is no folky banjo, this sounds very much right at home with the mood of the song.
What always sticks in my mind is the little "secret song" played by what sounds to be Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds and Bela Fleck. Its a running improvision which Before These Crowded Streets was tied together with. Part of this "tune" can be heard at the very end of "The Last Stop" and shows up again in a longer haunting form with words after "Spoon". 25: The Beach Boys - "Heroes And Villains Suite" There is a bit of Orchestra at 2:06 in the unfinished track from Smiley Smile . This is NOT in the later released version of "Heroes and Villains". Smiley Smile was intended to be Brian Wilson's masterpiece, sadly Brian never finished it with the beach boys.
While bootleg versions differ in how "Heroes and Villains" sounds, one includes a neat little orchestra backing written by Brian. This little bit of music captures the essence of the song, a tribute to Americana. 24: George Harrison - "I'd Have You Any Time" The Lead Guitar in "I'd Have You Anytime" is classic George. Elegant and beautiful, each note is refined and sings the emotion of the song. The guitar seems to reach out invite you into its embrace just as much as the lyrics. 23: Gordon Lightfoot - "If You Could Read My Mind" "If You Read Between The Lines You'll Know That I'm Just Tryin To Understand..".
When someone leaves you, its hard to understand the reasoning why. In a song that captures that feeling beautifully, this one line stands out because its not a simile like the others. In fact its telling the person who left him for the answer, because he himself does not know. Its a powerful statement one a lot of people can associate with at one point or another. 22: Ben Folds Five - "Philosophy" The Opening Piano to "Philosophy" is An absolutely beautiful piece of music! It has always suprised me that this song wasn't more popular and not played on the radio.
Everytime I hear it I wish I could play this on the piano. 21: Jewel - "Varg Och Delfin" At around 1:31 Jewel hits a high note on "Varg Och Delfin" or "Swedish Lullaby" for those who can't remember the title. Jewel has a beautiful voice, but when she hits that long high note it sends chills down my spine. This is one of the most beautiful songs Jewel sings, if you've never heard it, give it a listen, you'll be impressed. 20: Fleetwood Mac - "Rhiannon" How can you NOT love that guitar riff at the beginning. The riff itself is simple, but its hypnotic and stays with you.
Ask someone about the song and chances are they will remember the riff specificly. 19: Murray Head - "One Night In Bangkok" Half Instrumental, Half Pop Song, All 80's! The Song starts out like a soundtrack and then at 1:48 it all changes and becomes an interesting pop song! Its a unique mix of good orchestrated sound and what was modern at the time. Even if you hate the song, it suprised you the first time you heard the song thats for sure. 18: Dave Matthews Band - "The Stone" When you see a musician live and they switch from one song to another seamlessly its always a treat, but when they do it on a studio album, its even better.
In this case the orchestra backing Dave Matthews on "The Stone" pulls a fast one on you, one you might not have even caught until now. At the end of the song around 6:12 the orchestra starts playing "Can't Help Falling In Love" the transition is so natural with the rest of the song, that even the astute of hearing don't usually pick it out. 17: Jarvis Church - "Run For Your Life" As I pointed out before, background vocals sometimes say things you miss. In this case, you can't miss what the background vocals are saying. In a song about crazed fans, what would help drill the point home better than a rousing chorus of: "Run For Your Live" "Cuts You With A Knife" "Lying On The Sidewalk" "Heart In Your Hand". You can't get any more direct than those lyrics!
16: Santo And Johnny - "Sleepwalk" Everyone has heard this song once in their life. Not everyone knows the title or who performs it. :) Its one thing to make your guitar sing, but to make a guitar cry like this song takes some skill. If you are feeling down, and hear this song, you will want to cry! It always makes me want to cry. 15: Cake - "Love You Madly" Sometimes I hear a percussionist that makes me wish I could drum.
This song is a perfect case of just that. From the opening "ticka-swish" gentle cymbal ringing to the background "shuffle" sound this is a busy percusive song. Pay attention to the drum track sometime and hear it for yourself. 14: Johnny Cash - "Hurt" Its one thing for Johnny Cash to have done a cover of a Nine Inch Nails song, but to do it with so much emotion and that you feel regret and sorrow as you listen is worthy of praise. Now to be fair, I am cheating a bit, the song is a lot more power if you watch the video for it. Just as the piano starts around 2:28 the video becomes very powerful and will wear down on even the hardest of hearts.
13: Mazzy Star - "Fade Into You" The chord progression of this song, as simple as it may be, has a habit of popping in my head everytime I feel down. Combined with the fact this song has some of the most depressing lyrics ever written, this song is pure 100% depression. The interesting part, is that the song is the same chords over, and over, and over on the guitar. If I were to ever kill myself, it would be to this song. All kidding asside, I have an odd fascination with this song. While it is depressing, it is beautiful and gets stuck in my head quite often.
12: Bobby Horton - "Long Ago" I love Civil War music, this song has a pretty melody and the introduction is no exception. While the rest of the song is about the brotherhood formed between soldiers (as told by aged soldiers), the intro perfectly captures the essence of youthful innocense of these soldiers marching to war. While the song is about the Civil War, the message is timeless. 11: Eric Claption - "Layla" If there was EVER a favorite guitar lick in my mind its the opening riff of Layla. Its instantly recognizable, full of energy and a true classic. If you hear the riff, you'll want to scream out "Layla!
", I know I do. 10: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - "Warehouse" (Live At Luther College) By now you should know I am a sucker for intros, this one takes the cake. Weighing in at 3:30 this intro starts simple and becomes a full blown symphony of music. Dave and Tim working together here paint a beautiful musical portrait. If you listen carefully, you can hear throughout the intro where Dave and Tim stay perfectly in sync with each other, complimenting the other. This is my all time favorite intro!
9: Fleetwood Mac - "Big Love" (Live) Off the Best of CD comes this live gem. Most importantly the solo is a testiment to the skill of Lindsay Buckingham. I am always a fan of complex picking, and this is some of the cleanest and fastest picking I've heard. 8: Dave Matthews - "Stay Or Leave" Dave is known for catchy riffs and bass runs, this song is no exception. However it has one thing going for it orchestration! 2/3rds of the way through the song the Orchestra kicks in and helps drive home the whole message of the song.
As the song progresses it starts quiet and builds with more power and energy which feeds the emotional reflection of the song. This is a perfect case of a song being "completed" by an orchestra. 7: Led Zeppelin - "Bron-y-aur Stomp" Yes finally Zeppelin makes it on the list. ;) This song has one of the most creative rhythm guitar parts I've yet heard. However, this is VERY hard to hear in the song except towards the beginning. While a band today would simply used some power chords or a basic riff for the rhythm, Zeppelin goes one further by using one wicked little bass run in there.
6: Dave Matthews Band - "Halloween" Hearing a musician cuss sometimes isn't a big deal. However when you hear one cuss you usually avoids it, you KNOW he's pissed about something. However if you'd been in love and asked someone to marry you 5 times and get turned down like Dave was, you'd be resentful too. What better way to vent your anger than with a song! Around 3:02 Dave lets loose with the line "Tell us are you satisfied with fucking..." At this point his voice is a complete growl and that anger is very apparent. Something few artists can truely capture in their voice.
I imagine Dave had a sore voice for a few days after he recorded this one. However, you can't get much angrier than this song! 5: The Beatles - "Dear Prudence" My idea of a perfect song is one that evolves as you listen to it, such is the case with Dear Prudence, it starts slowly, hypnoticly. However around 2:50 the song reaches a crecendo before coming to rest softly and gentle just as it started. It is during this time that you can count 6 different instruments if you've been paying attention, while the beatles couldn't have played all of them at the same time, the use of tracking here pays off beautifully and the sound generated is vibrant, exciting and alive. 4: The Beach Boys - "Surfer Girl" Everyone loves a love song, but no love song is as perfect as "Surfer Girl".
If you pay attention to the lyrics its evident that Brian Wilson was a smart songwriter. Here we have honest words of admiration from one person to another. There is nothing tragic, no problems or anything stopping these two lovers. Brian paints a picture of perfection between a boy, a girl and their ocean. No where in the song does anything come between what he loves best, the ocean and his surfer girl. This song offers a view into the perfectness of true love, a view of what is important, that special someone and how much of a part of your world they are to you.
3: "Ashokan Farewell" Often associated with being a Civil War song, this song is actually ABOUT the Civil War and was written afterwards. In the right setting, this song will make even the strongest heart cry with its beauty and haunting sound. As far as waltzes go, this is the top of the top. Another case where the song evolves, starting alone and building a harmony of instruments this song reaches its peak with a full orchestra. But the most moving part of the song is the very when all other instruments cut out, leaving a single violin to carry on. 2: The Beatles - "The End" When your band is releasing its last studio album, how do you say goodbye?
Well you give them something to remember! In this cause, the alternating guitar solos in "The End". Paul, George and John all take turns in that order playing solos each one showcasing their individual style from Paul's refined sound, to George's Elegance and John's raw upfront style. Each one of these solos is a beauty! but the last solo from George will send a shiver down your spine. All in all, the perfect way to say goodbye to your fans.
1: Dave Matthews And Tim Reynolds - "Typical Situation" (Live At Luther College) I know I know, What am I smoking? This song as number one? Over The Beatles, Zeppelin, Etc?? Well there is a good reason why! This song features what I consider to be the "perfect" guitar solo. Tim's handywork pays off as you listen to it, every note compliments the Dave's playing, and unlike most solos this isn't Tim's show off time, its his chance to shine melodicly with Dave.
Around 5:25 Tim sounds to do the impossible, if you listen closely Tim has managed to himself and Dave to sound like 3 guitars! I absolutely LOVE this solo and when it comes on, I crank the volume on my stereo just to showcase it! Now I don't expect you to agree with me here, but those are my favorites. Tell me what favorite song parts you have in the comments section, I'd love to hear them. 
