10 Greatest Rock Song Intros From The 1970s
3. Caroline - Status Quo
As with so many great riffs, it starts with a lone instrument. This time it is Rick Parfitt's Telecaster grinding out the quintessential Quo guitar riff for twenty seconds before the band kick in. A longtime set opener for Quo, where Rick would extend that twenty seconds for anything up to a couple of minutes, sonic nirvana is achieved as the whole band lock into the groove.
A true 'goosebumps' moment for any Quo fan, and along with 'Down Down', Quo have created two of the greatest openings in '70s rock. Absurdly maligned by critics and detractors for playing the same three chords - ie the three chords that the entire history of blues, rock and rock'n'roll uses - not only is Parfitt one of the greatest rhythm guitarists of all time, but Francis Rossi is no slouch either.