1965 seems to be the invasion of riff-based songs - Daytripper, Satisfaction, Mr Soul (oops - can't think of anymore, but you get my drift.) Then a few years later and they're gone for the rest of the decade. Who started this and where did it come from? And why such a short life (or are there only so many riffs out there)
I thought about Honky Tonk Woman when I wrote that, but couldn't decide if it was a riff song without hearing it again. I know the riff kicks the song off, but does it carry through the whole song, as opposed to having a melody based on it (if that makes sense) I'm trying to play it in my head but it ain't working. Don't know about the Dylan song though. It's not a riff in the classic sense is it (ie a repeating chain of notes) Again I'll have to listen to it.
Chuck Berry had unique riffs for most of his songs. Elmore James had the "wa-wa-wa-wa-wa" slide riff. The Chess blues factory had alot of songs with riffs--from Smokestack Lightning to Spoonful.
You could even go back to the bluesmen who played riffs or fills between verses--Charley Patton to Robert Johnson.
The "riff" seems to be an African-American blues-based structure--a simple musical phrase used to punctuate verses or act as a kind of call-and-response to the vocal. It's usually antiphonal in the sense that it does not merely replicate the melody line but "responds" to it.
While instrumental songs such as Rebel Rouser or Raunchy might incorporate simple melody lines or "riffs"; I think a true "riff" is a usually part of a larger song structure and usually implies interaction whether between musician and musician or musician and vocalist.
In Jazz parlance a "riff" is a simple musical formula, usually improvised upon, or returned to periodically during improvisation. Riffs are born of improvisation, but if overused, become stale or trite. Thus the "shave-and-hair-cut-two-bits" riff (at one time commonly used to end songs) has become hopelessly cliche.
I believe John stole the "Day Tripper" riff from Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step" and Paul "lifted" the Lady Madonna riff from Johnnie Parker's "Bad Penny Blues" (produced in 1956 by George Martin).
Luckily for the Beatles you cannot copyright a riff.
Chuck Berry had unique riffs for most of his songs. Elmore James had the "wa-wa-wa-wa-wa" slide riff. The Chess blues factory had alot of songs with riffs--from Smokestack Lightning to Spoonful.
You could even go back to the bluesmen who played riffs or fills between verses--Charley Patton to Robert Johnson.
The "riff" seems to be an African-American blues-based structure--a simple musical phrase used to punctuate verses or act as a kind of call-and-response to the vocal. It's usually antiphonal in the sense that it does not merely replicate the melody line but "responds" to it.
While instrumental songs such as Rebel Rouser or Raunchy might incorporate simple melody lines or "riffs"; I think a true "riff" is a usually part of a larger song structure and usually implies interaction whether between musician and musician or musician and vocalist.
In Jazz parlance a "riff" is a simple musical formula, usually improvised upon, or returned to periodically during improvisation. Riffs are born of improvisation, but if overused, become stale or trite. Thus the "shave-and-hair-cut-two-bits" riff (at one time commonly used to end songs) has become hopelessly cliche.
I believe John stole the "Day Tripper" riff from Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step" and Paul "lifted" the Lady Madonna riff from Johnnie Parker's "Bad Penny Blues" (produced in 1956 by George Martin).
Luckily for the Beatles you cannot copyright a riff.
Thanks for the clinical breakdown of what a "riff" is, otherwise nobody would have a clue. Good frickin' Lord. How about Gregorian Chants or Canticles? Luckily for any Bluesmen/Women, they can't be sued for any infractions of a simple musical formula, usually improvised upon, or returned to periodically during improvisation.
Who started this and where did it come from? And why such a short life (or are there only so many riffs out there)
Bobber's right ... riff songs are and will be always hits ... after all, The Rolling Stones have been producing riff songs now and then without stopping -some were, and are, even hits-.
Nowadays riffs are more used than ever ... I think that I can hear a riff in almost all discotheque music (sorry but so are my ears )
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DM's Beatles forums › Other music forums › Various Artists, Lyrics, Discographies, URLs › Who started riff songs?