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Dirk Star Group: Members Posts: 1331 Joined: Sep. 2007 Posted: April 18 2008, 20:07 I was just sat here listening to the old Gerry Rafferty song "Get It Right Next Time."And just as the track is fading in,I`m thinking to myself.."Wow this has got to be one of my favourite intro`s to a song of all time,absolutely love it" Which kind of got me thinking what some of my favourite Mike intro`s were.Those little pieces of magic that he seems to so often conjour up to draw you into his own musical world somehow. The first one that sprung to mind for me was the start of Hergest Ridge part one.That beautiful wavering opening chord.Combined with all those slowly revealing themes so lightly and delicately played on top of it.It`s just such a wonderous beguiling sensation those first few moments of Hergest Ridge.Thinking about it now it`s like slow moving images of flowers awakening in early morning dew.Or maybe water dripping onto leaves next to a stream or something.Like looking at a world in miniature for a while before we`re eased into the bigger picture as it were.Ok a little bit cornball there but that`s how it seems to me I suppose.I remember as a young teenager it took me a long time before I really began to like that section of music.And yet it must be way up there amongst my favourites now no question. I suppose the polar opposite to that would have to be Amarok.You did`nt want to be listening to that album for the first time in your life whilst still putting the rest of your shopping away or something..."Ooooh I`ll just pop Mike`s new cd on here while I sort out the tin cupboard!"...Complete carnage and mayhem would have undoubtably ensued.And any kind of logical makeshift filing system that you may have ever had in there would be completely out of the window.Beans next to the draining fluid and everything.Pandebloodymonium! Seriously though the first time I heard those first couple of minutes or so of Amarok I think I almost wet me pants with excitement.By the time he got round to saying "Happy!?" for the first time,I probablly felt like saying.."Are you kidding I`m bloody ecstatic."..All on the back of Earth Moving as well,unbelievable stuff. Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: April 18 2008, 20:54 To me, Tubular Bells is the definition of a perfect intro. Not only it's perfect, but it sounds like an alien transmission from outer space, like something you bump into while browsing the outer regions of AM radio and that causes the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end. It's a mix of scary and exciting already with just the piano, and when the organ and glockenspiel come in, it's suddenly like you're IN the radio. I also like the intro of Crises a lot, too. It's a bit more cliché, but sets the mood nicely before a shift towards the shiny. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

Harmono Group: Members Posts: 759 Joined: May 2005 Posted: April 18 2008, 23:10 Hergest Ridge part one, definitely, but part two also. I can't decide which I prefer. I could do without the fret noises in the beginning of the second part though, so maybe part one is perfecter, yes, perfecter. Both parts always make me feel very calm. That's peace of mind. Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: April 18 2008, 23:25 I can second what Sir M said.  The TB Intro also functions beautifully as a stand-alone piece.  Because it is impossible for me to separate the sound of it from the movie that used it, it has a certain powerful ominous eroticism to it. The intro to "Hergest Ridge" conjures up images of a red sun rising over a misty primieval dawn. And it may be sacrilege to say here, but my blood starts really pumping faster when I hear AC/DC's "Thunderstruck"! Back to top

Taurus 4 Group: Members Posts: 46 Joined: Aug. 2007 Posted: April 19 2008, 05:30 Weird - I was thinking about making the exact same thread today. My favourite openings include those for Tubular Bells Part One, Hergest Ridge Part One (either mix), Incantations Part Four, Sheba (live), The Lake and Weightless. Sheer beauty. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: April 22 2008, 09:16 To me it would be Incantations part 1.The voices being added one by one to build up that big chord is just sublime and then into the strings and flute. And of course TB.Goes without saying.The Lake i'd agree with definatley.  But i also think Crises is a really good opener.Listened to this first on my 9th bithday in 1984 at i remeber than listening really avidly.The Fairlight was new in 84 so these were really exciting sounds! And lastly Airborne.Ok it's not Mike playing the bass on this one but it's a fantastic intro. Good thread. -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Matt Group: Admins Posts: 1186 Joined: Nov. 2002 Posted: April 22 2008, 10:13 I've always loved the start of "Heaven's open". Tinkly piano and then this massive majestic guitar. Don't much like any of the rest of the song but I'm always happy to listen to the intro! -------------- "I say I say I say I say, what's got three bottles and five eyes and no legs and two wheels" Back to top

Bassman Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: Feb. 2008 Posted: April 22 2008, 10:20 Yeah, the guitar bursts in and crushes your head.  Vive le volume! And the Incantations intro is wonderful.  It's like a Statement Of Intent, telling you that something new and beautiful is about to get underway. Back to top

The Caveman Group: Members Posts: 2178 Joined: Jan. 2008 Posted: April 22 2008, 11:13 Heaven's Open is a real energiser.I only really listen to it on compilations like the Platinum Collection or  the Elements box as i'm not a fan of the whole cd particuarly but it is HUGE. An intro needs to grab you by the ears and this does i'll grant  you.  Those of us who've seen the Space Movie will know the bit in the opening with the intro to Incantations is played over a dawn scene with the swans (or could be geese)taking off.As close to perfect as could be.I really don't know what it is about this opening section but i can and often do listen to it repeatedly as it's is such a beautiful thing.He says waxing lyrical -------------- THE COMING OF THE GREAT WHITE HANDKERCHEIF IS NIGH. Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: April 22 2008, 11:37 Heaven's Open is a damn good call, but be aware that here speaks an avid fan of the whole album. I like how that piano line is irresistibly pretty and ear-grabbing, but sounds dangerously close to a Disney tune; but then the song starts and assures you that yes, everything is just fine and no, you're not about to watch the newest Peter Pan cheesefest. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

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