The Greatest Guitar Riff Ever: 1966

Almost too many riffs to choose from, how the fuck am I gonna choose one, find out I guess

The Best Riff of 1966

I’m getting this out of the way early: there’s no Clapton this week, despite two bands he was in releasing albums in ‘66 that guitar dweebs haven’t shut the fuck up about for nearly sixty years. I’m not going to pretend like this is for some moral reason, since the dude seems to be a piece of shit or whatever. It isn’t. We’ve discussed guitarists who have been shitty people already and I’d have to imagine that will come up again. It is what it is. It’s just that the dude, out of all of the guitarists that magazines sell issues ranking over and over again, refuses to riff. Solo? Bet your ass. Riff? Rarely ever, except for some obvious examples that will be included later on, sure. I don’t think Eric fucking Clapton has shooters in 2024 anymore but people like to yell at me every week about riffs I’m missing (this newsletter has been 100% correct every week shut up) so I’m getting it out of the way early that he wasn’t overlooked, he just is a geek who doesn’t riff. Anyways. The nominees.

The Beach Boys - Wouldn’t It Be Nice

I feel a bit bad not including “Green Onions” however many weeks ago that was given that I drew the line at it being an organ riff and not a guitar riff, considering I included bass riffs last week. I guess we’re going with “any riffs played by string instruments.” The bass on this song doesn’t stop moving and it rules. Often with the Beach Boys, I tend to think about the more ornate bullshit they throw into each song but it’s easy to forget the bass almost always rips. Carol Kaye GOATed.

The Beatles - She Said, She Said

The riff here isn’t, on paper, anything insanely exciting. It’s six notes kinda repeated throughout that mostly match the vocals. Much like most other Beatles songs though, the reason the guitar on “She Said, She Said” pops so much is because the production. It sounds like a million bucks. Props to George Martin for making George Harrison sound like a genius. Once again, I feel compelled to shout out an absolutely horrible Black Keys cover. What is the deal with those guys?

Bob Dylan - I Want You

Let it not be said that, if I am accused of being too subjective or biased with this newsletter, that I waited nearly two months before including a song by probably my second favorite musician ever. Granted, uhh, the early folk Dylan albums are a bit light on riffs. But still. I was being an objective journalist reporting on The Riff. However, that time is over, this song absolutely fucking rules and the electric guitar riff throughout is a big reason why. Can a riff sound sad? Yes, this song is proof. Wayne Moss probably isn’t a household name - I feel like I can say that pretty positively given this is one of my favorite albums ever and I had to look up dude’s name - but man he deserves to be based off this riff alone. I’d like to say this was the winner (it’s the winner in my heart) but if I did I’d be tarred and feathered in the streets.

Buffalo Springfield - For What It’s Worth

Is this a riff or is it just two notes on the guitar? I’m including it just because it’s maybe thee most instantly recognizable guitar intro of the week but, like, come on it isn’t winning lol.

Love - My Flash On You

Love has been a blindspot for me for quite some time. I have a massive Chrome folder of bands to check out whenever I’m just farting around not doing anything and Love has been in there for years. This song rules! I’m moving them up in the folder. The bass here absolutely goes. I don’t know who Ken Forssi is but I intend to find out.

The Mothers of Invention - Motherly Love

I’m not going to pretend to be a Zappa-head. I’m mostly allergic to his brand of music. The riff in “Motherly Love” is pretty undeniable though. Kind of feels like the other side of the coin from “She Said, She Said.” A groover, for sure.

The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black

I mean, like, sure. It’s not a guitar. It’s not a bass. It’s a fucking sitar? I’m really stretching the definition of what we’re trying to do here with riffs but, like, come on. There isn’t a more iconic riff off any instrument from this year. I’m not gonna include it because it’s played on one of these fucking things? Get a grip. Also maybe the only time there will be a Stones riff included and it isn’t played by Keith Richards. Shoutout Brian Jones.

The Who - Boris the Spider

I’d say that most the stuff I said about Clapton and not riffing earlier also kinda applies to Pete Townshend. Again, ignoring the uhhh “extracurricular” stuff about the man, he just isn’t A Riffer. A great player of chords, sure, but a chord progression does not a riff make. However, tell that to John Entwistle. Ole Pete didn’t have to riff because he had maybe the best bass riffer ever backing him up. And “Boris” just might be John’s best riff. A goofy song, for certain, but a top shelf riff.

What is the Best Riff of 1966?

We got a lot of riffs this week and, as much as I’m partial to Bob Dylan and as cool as the production on “She Said, She Said” is, the two finalists are pretty clearly “Paint It, Black” and “Boris the Spider” here. Two non-guitar riffs. I think “Boris the Spider” has the more fun riff that goes harder but “Paint It, Black” has the more iconic and probably better riff. I feel like I might have shit the bed a bit last week choosing “Drive My Car” over “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” too, and I don’t want to do that again. “Paint It, Black” takes it. The sitar can riff, who knew.

Does it top the previous Best Riff?

Best Riff of 1966: The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black

Best Riff Previous Champion: Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman

I mean, it has to, right? “Oh, Pretty Woman” is a great and fun riff for the era but “Paint It, Black” is a great and fun riff for, like, the entire canon of rock music? The Stones take it, sorry Roy.