Favourite drum roll intro

[rovereab]

For me it is the drum roll intro to the originally released version of Mother Dear. It's like a call to attention and it sets the pace of the overall song.

There are many Motown songs which have great drum roll intros, what's your favourite?

https://youtu.be/FlSC0nHoIcI?si=AwDQ7NNxi0XppoLa

[BayouMotownMan]

This Ole Heart Of Mine- Isley Bros

[daviddesper]

Motown was of course famous for its fantastic intros. I guess two of the more obvious choices for this specific question would be War and Stop! In the Name of Love. An intro I have always liked, and I guess there is some drum in there somewhere, would be The Marvelettes' The Day You Take One, You Have to Take the Other.

[Motown Eddie]

Three of my favorite 'drum roll intros'-

"Nothing's Too Good For My Baby"-Stevie Wonder
"Nowhere To Run"-Martha & The Vandellas
"I'll Always Love You"-The Spinners

[Starguard4]

The Marvelettes' The Day You Take One, You Have to Take the Other

...yes, on the intro, there is drumming in there, along with bass guitar, electric organ, finger snaps, and the drummer really 'explodes' at approx 6 and a half seconds in. It's one of my all-time favorites, too. And what a great mix of Marvelettes and Andantes on background vocals... sheer perfection!

[Boogiedown]

the one that immediately comes to mind:




but my all-time favorite has to be by proxy:

[DWSheffer]

Gladys and the Pips "Heard It Through The Grapevine".......

[mysterysinger]

"Road Runner" - Jr. Walker.

[Starguard4]

"Get Ready" - The Temptations
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg" - The Temptations

[Philles/Motown Gary]

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS - "Wild One"
https://youtu.be/YqtmrSBQNUQ?si=-G43SQ1EWIJssHZd

THE HIT PACK - "Never Say No To Your Baby"
https://youtu.be/aRR88pNG53E?si=2QujuvNhPRgGvrAy

THE MARVELETTES - "Too Many Fish In The Sea"
https://youtu.be/MJ5RKG2FqGo?si=RuSAgwzdjU9F5vGW

STEVIE WONDER - "Fingertips" [[Part 1) [[Bongos)
https://youtu.be/CpvM6GhmaAw?si=ZkfOrZhcP8XyfeAo

SHORTY LONG - "Function At The Junction"
https://youtu.be/dfy5uN_wt3A?si=nslQMZCfk8SXmhWT

TAMMI TERRELL - "This Old Heart Of Mine"
https://youtu.be/GvfQVpyMeaY?si=g4Fsx-TJQOH4Am6-

MARVIN GAYE - "Little Darling [[I Need You)" [[Tambourine & Snare)
https://youtu.be/SJSQ-N18d-4?si=1UV2iG4qDR6cb-ex

MARVIN GAYE - "How Sweet It Is [[To Be Loved By You)"
https://youtu.be/6NcavEhEZe0?si=O7Jk-6v464J7EEut

MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL - "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing"
https://youtu.be/Jz_D-greh8Q?si=E_Bg6PumtlpnFaLL

THE SUPREMES - "I Guess I'll Always Love You"
https://youtu.be/-y4xGPhc134?si=WUFJmSEoET-Bz-5E

FOUR TOPS - "I Got A Feeling"
https://youtu.be/OY50xVQ5l1c?si=uudkxVj4aIwFtAq0

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS - "Jimmy Mack"
https://youtu.be/obvSFWvgBhg?si=rKmT8pnVCUKc8jhG

MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS - "What Am I Going To Do Without Your Love"
https://youtu.be/CGH4QYM6Wdk?si=6Ki_z_gGS9gybZas

THE MARVELETTES - "Destination: Anywhere"
https://youtu.be/_j1rmmunDTc?si=zeaPT8FhmeEtUVar

EARL VAN DYKE & THE SOUL BROTHERS & THE ANDANTES - "All For You"
https://youtu.be/0cTKLOJPER4?si=2pS53dwm4d5k1gBg

THE MARVELETTES - "Barefootin'"
https://youtu.be/U-Oz5RMiX4A?si=z55eGdo_G4QHPqPi

BARBARA RANDOLPH - "I Got a Feeling"
https://youtu.be/RV_cs-T2Y-Q?si=zsgBaiz9WF_h8Do3

P.J. - "T.L.C. [[Tender Loving Care)"
https://youtu.be/oXP9V-EBBeM?si=2jL8LWkMXmt_GnJw

[theboyfromxtown]

Gotta be this for me

[BritishTony]

Iselys' Behind A Painted Smile [[+ outro!)

[rovereab]

Just thought of another - It's The Same Old Song by the Four Tops!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

For me it is the drum roll intro to the originally released version of Mother Dear. It's like a call to attention and it sets the pace of the overall song.

There are many Motown songs which have great drum roll intros, what's your favourite?

https://youtu.be/FlSC0nHoIcI?si=AwDQ7NNxi0XppoLa

Hey Eamonn, this is a really fun game! I've always known that Motown's intros were super-hot and second to none. In fact, I once compiled a home-made "Name That Tune" CD consisting of nothing but Motown intros which I got out and played whenever we had company. But I NEVER realized how many of Motown's intros started off with a drum passage. After 60 years, it took you to point it out! How the heck did I miss it?

[Boogiedown]

Hey Gary!, I've got a couple of disco ones I've got in mind to throw your way ....

and then how about these:

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Hey Gary!, I've got a couple of disco ones I've got in mind to throw your way ....

and then how about these:

Hey Boogie, my Buddy! I like both -- especially Tata's "I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby". It cooks -- especially love the back-up girls! They make for a powerful production! And Tata especially shines on this as well.

[Boogiedown]

yes this cut by Tata has only gotten better to my ears over the years FULL SPEED AHEAD is a great cut too imo.

these two particularly came to mind for drum intros ....

[Motown Eddie]

Here's one from Motown that's virtually All Drum Roll!

[Starguard4]

The Temptations - [[Girl) Why You Wanna Make Me Blue

[Philles/Motown Gary]

yes this cut by Tata has only gotten better to my ears over the years FULL SPEED AHEAD is a great cut too imo.

these two particularly came to mind for drum intros ....

Yeah, Boogie! Motown loved those drum Intros even into the '70s!

[Philles/Motown Gary]

MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS - "Honey Chile"
https://youtu.be/K0ApnWpPaAA?si=UCIja2YHj-PDtPc_

THE SUPREMES - "Put Yourself In My Place"
https://youtu.be/ZR9vKN3Uy4I?si=lppupui7WgQAVQoI

THE MIRACLES - "Going To A Go-Go"
https://youtu.be/qBlZsqN4gG4?si=IJziY4sUmKdEBeub

JIMMY RUFFIN - "Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby"
https://youtu.be/cFPxuknfrHk?si=DPiCAdKvdCfYWn4G

DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES - "I'm Living In Shame"
https://youtu.be/QNNpKulZHNY?si=uSoWlAEuKberzXDN

MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS - "Show Me The Way"
https://youtu.be/f9G5DBFUC-E?si=fPteuAHDaXeC-8kf

MARVIN GAYE - "Your Unchanging Love"
https://youtu.be/zBqieZ3fgEk?si=DrCKeyj63M8FjULh

STEVIE WONDER - "Ain't That Asking For Trouble"
https://youtu.be/_eiaceJG4us?si=ErladB5-19ZvJqxx

BRENDA HOLLOWAY - "Starting The Hurt All Over Again"
https://youtu.be/LsE4t-XsP0M?si=JpD7AjxYRGar6TMl

JR. WALKER - "Proud Mary"
https://youtu.be/gKpiHSxuZjc?si=SPkkVymwDWXWAPHN

THE MARVELETTES - "When I Need You"
https://youtu.be/h3Jlypdv8ZE?si=DDL6fmg2WF1OR60x

BARBARA RANDOLPH - "When It Rains It Pours" [[First note chopped off!)
https://youtu.be/VpbSjPiQDOY?si=F3nSTIBanyIyMbiO

KIM WESTON - "Take Me In Your Arms"
https://youtu.be/oVkXrimUidA?si=hz4sLzgq83uVWGdl

STEVIE WONDER - "Love A Go Go"
https://youtu.be/PN2FzBDhd2Q?si=hFH2UMk8-33oBEQr

[carlo]

I'm surprised that The Marvelettes' When You're Young And In Love has not been mentioned yet, as that's a real traditional drum roll. I've always appreciated the dramatic intro...

https://youtu.be/MN44dYdf-SE?si=PHFmYF6QIDOUZExF

[lucky2012]

Hey Eamonn, this is a really fun game! I've always known that Motown's intros were super-hot and second to none.

Fun way to revisit classic Motown drum intros! Thanks for all the links, Gary.
My favorites are:
Nowhere To Run - definitely the favorite - always gets me excited
I Heard It through the Grapevine - Gladys/Pips
How Sweet It Is - Marvin
Dancing in the Street

The same or very similar drum intros but I love them all: It's The Same Old Song, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, This Ole Heart of Mine, Function at the Junction, Road Runner, etc.

And yes, I love the original Mother Dear intro, too.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I'm surprised that The Marvelettes' When You're Young And In Love has not been mentioned yet, as that's a real traditional drum roll. I've always appreciated the dramatic intro...

https://youtu.be/MN44dYdf-SE?si=PHFmYF6QIDOUZExF

I love it, too, Carlo. I was gonna include it in my next batch!

[rovereab]

How about these laid back drum roll intros which set a very different feeling to the songs?

Still Water [[Love) - Four Tops
California Soul - Marvin & Tammi

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Fun way to revisit classic Motown drum intros! Thanks for all the links, Gary.
My favorites are:
Nowhere To Run - definitely the favorite - always gets me excited
I Heard It through the Grapevine - Gladys/Pips
How Sweet It Is - Marvin
Dancing in the Street

The same or very similar drum intros but I love them all: It's The Same Old Song, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, This Ole Heart of Mine, Function at the Junction, Road Runner, etc.

And yes, I love the original Mother Dear intro, too.

You're very welcome, Lucky! Providing audio links is my pleasure. It gives people a chance to hear for themselves what I'm referring to. And, as you said, hearing those immaculate intros provides a thrilling trip down Motown memory lane.

If I had to pick a couple of favorite intros, it would be Martha's "Nowhere To Run" and The Marvelettes' "When You're Young And In Love". I would have included them in my posts, but others beat me to the punch. [[Now I know how Mary Wells felt! HaHa!)

I have one final batch prepared which I'll include here.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

FOUR TOPS - "Baby I Need Your Loving"
https://youtu.be/u2rUVSjStkw?si=aL5qI1Rw9cFYv6_0

MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS - "Taking My Love [[And Leaving Me)"
https://youtu.be/if0p6VahhxA?si=tELG-ZkAB1PmDEum

JR. WALKER - "Riding High On Love"
https://youtu.be/yJw1NIcUmlc?si=U-5M92KdjDwQ7Leu

JIMMY RUFFIN - "Bless You"
https://youtu.be/Xr5T1LCQXAM?si=JmIIO8jvi_FLkQEt

THE TEMPTATIONS - "It's A Lonely World Without Your Love"
https://youtu.be/xDPnvLQhdB8?si=tNVIA3l6As0zqUFK

THE MARVELETTES - "Here I Am Baby"
https://youtu.be/bZagXoYTmCU?si=uiiGBlvDet7TptG2

MARTHA REEVES ^ THE VANDELLAS - "Heartless"
https://youtu.be/2_CYomZEwaM?si=e2A9n7KODJTUQ8y7

FOUR TOPS - "Your Love Is Wonderful"
https://youtu.be/HI0jMagj7aQ?si=fCWxf9tilzTxmYrN

MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
https://youtu.be/ABfQuZqq8wg?si=V7hhHYlvd6yOLmrh

[tjl]

"I Guess I'll Always Love You" - Isleys and "Since You've Been Gone" - Tops for me for drums at the start, and nothing will ever beat The Miracles "Going To A Go-Go" for drums at the intro.

[Stax_of_Motown]

Junior Walker & The All Stars - Come See About Me

[Philles/Motown Gary]

MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS - "The Hurt Is Over [[Since I've Found You)"
https://youtu.be/FhjEdO5HqMg?si=ccbcwOzZhAXe6lVX

SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES - "Dancing's Alright"
https://youtu.be/QYYm7Vxs69g?si=ZtG8XZgsAFKt_u-9

STEVIE WONDER - "Music Talk"
https://youtu.be/lY5Ok0uhoIg?si=nKucIwpe4GmBN_38

MARVIN GAYE - "Baby Don't You Do It"
https://youtu.be/sm3nnxOyUzI?si=OzQL1N3HJBig9j_K

THE MARVELETTES - "Too Many Tears, Too Many Times" [[Bongos)
https://youtu.be/QjxofJZGKiU?si=ODZXLuWK9Y76GfI6

TOMMY GOOD - "Baby I Miss You"
https://youtu.be/3L3cne6HHTY?si=j1dpJb2QH9PET6bO

STEVIE WONDER - "Monkey Talk"
https://youtu.be/7iFKNEzJfsE?si=cAPd5Z8X90sztQFR

THE TWISTIN' KINGS - "Congo [[Part 1)"
https://youtu.be/lZX1yCG1iFM?si=nUY9aaJXMwk1kv-Q

LUTHER ALLISON - "Sweet Home Chicago" [[Gordy)
https://youtu.be/H5FkflIxpOU?si=-oC-v7wooredQp8J

JR. WALKER - "Shake And Fingerpop"
https://youtu.be/oKPIgxjeTso?si=aEBHQdCQGsDozLtF

[Sotosound]

Two favourites of mine, one for technical skills and the other just because I love it are: -

1) You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes

OK, the intro is twin guitars playing an octave apart and an electric organ, but the drums arrive with a vicious snap on the snare that finishes as a short roll. No gated reverb needed for that! Just clever technique. I've always heard the snap, but that momentary roll is best heard in the mono mix. Do I hear Benny on this?


2) "I'm More Than Happy [[I'm Satisfied)" by Stevie Wonder.

The drum opening on this track is gorgeous to my lugholes, and the reasonably straightforward but dry, relaxed yet very precise, and slightly funky drumming throughout the track is nicely played and nicely engineered, with the bonus of being turned up loud on the second verse. It's almost a meal to be eaten. Is that Uriel I hear?

[Motown Eddie]

One of my favorite Drum Intros of All Time....

[144man]

The Temptations - [[Girl) Why You Wanna Make Me Blue

I'll go along with that, and although not in the intro there's a similar sounding drum roll throughout J.J. Barnes "Real Humdinger".

[Motown Eddie]

One of Motown's Funkiest Drum Intros-

[BayouMotownMan]

Forgot The Supremes I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking. The single version edited this awkwardly so that it sounds like a record skip. If Motown had issued the full version as a single, it only ran a little over 3 1/2 minutes, it would have done better

[soulwally]

Think you’ve all missed this one… Edwin Starr My Weakness Is You
https://youtu.be/bwfi_latga4?si=49lZL6A5fLGadPep

[Philles/Motown Gary]

DIANA ROSS - "You Were The One"
https://youtu.be/_afv-8t3h-c?si=1OHiIdy7-I9WsNMA

THELMA HOUSTON - "Don't Pity Me"
https://youtu.be/IfxaZCL6mXM?si=YG_3vGJtmak3xcUN

THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH - "Mama I Got A Brand New Thing [[Don't Say No)"
https://youtu.be/nXiNOaPUChs?si=JxeFj6k1vuYLMD8M

EDDIE KENDRICKS - "Get The Cream Off The Top"
https://youtu.be/OeVgJdMzrhc?si=IDad8YVHP3yF3Y84

BOBBY TAYLOR - "Oh I've Been Blessed"
https://youtu.be/zaPgFQ_U4yQ?si=np3qdrxVcxquNX1j

THELMA HOUSTON - "I Can't Go On Living Without Your Love"
https://youtu.be/ckPUO3A09gs?si=Mr8kgiBrBGAE6pAv

JACKSON 5 - "Dancing Machine"
https://youtu.be/HvBUSWhOStE?si=s2M0inwlSe5j_OZ8

BARBARA RANDOLPH - "I Got A Feeling"
https://youtu.be/h9ywb_8HviY?si=4HmPu7tbZ3misTKz

TATA VEGA - "I Need You Now"
https://youtu.be/k3z9n7fzaPc?si=d08ZbXFRrD-Y5hxy

DAVID & JIMMY RUFFIN - "Set 'Em Up [[Move In For The Thrill)"
https://youtu.be/m5k8WcElce0?si=5AnP5CHLAqlGNBTG

FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS - "Love Isn't Here [[Like It Used To Be)"
https://youtu.be/vmO1LTH-A0U?si=64ZFQtPOU6YK_ZNJ

JR. WALKER - "I'm So Glad"
https://youtu.be/GuZ8-AlI8bg?si=YG40_KSdjzdqk1vU

[Motown Eddie]

Almost forgot about this one!

[Motown Eddie]

And-

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KIM WESTON - "You Can Do It"
https://youtu.be/W0RZN_NqWx4?si=kWR8_IQYaWkiqeax

From XIT's "Plight Of The Redman" [[Rare Earth LP/CD)
[[NOTE: Immaculately produced by our very own Ralph Terrana!)
[[Song begins with drums/tom toms at 0:33 after windy and thunderous intro)
XIT - "Beginning"
https://youtu.be/A5pT4AZvamA?si=Fsv0HFIc_bNW3YHg

RARE EARTH - "Hey Big Brother"
https://youtu.be/-c0F2nw7ukk?si=RYcHKuZDwz1SOBLZ

THE RUSTIX [[aka Rustix on their Motown/Rare Earth" "Bedlam" album) -
"I Guess This Is Goodbye"
[[Posted to YouTube by our own Graham Jarvis!)
https://youtu.be/pTTISVEKQ7M?si=fdwC1S8Z9-l0GutB

JIMMY RUFFIN - "Living In A World I Created For Myself"
https://youtu.be/7eIeLW9rDmI?si=e48aS7wUWARtH9Ax

DAVID RUFFIN - "One More Hurt"
https://youtu.be/QJVkSYO8SEQ?si=4JN6HILYy7dUzhK7

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS
"You Need Love Like I Do [[Don't You)"
https://youtu.be/39J1dLjCHZQ?si=h2B5HtUt0BB2-g2Q

STEVIE WONDER - "I'd Cry"
https://youtu.be/0xCqFy5XZBE?si=nTFwWq5jCtibmlqr

MARY WELLS - "You Do Something To Me"
https://youtu.be/qhMlNnatuis?si=bNmdyXwp4_8R8tta

CHUCK JACKSON - "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone"
https://youtu.be/yDwE8vtTPcM?si=l4j2W6dKfjzKPqAV

[Philles/Motown Gary]

KIM WESTON - "You Can Do It"
https://youtu.be/W0RZN_NqWx4?si=kWR8_IQYaWkiqeax

From XIT's "Plight Of The Redman" [[Rare Earth LP/CD)
[[NOTE: Immaculately produced by our very own Ralph Terrana!)
[[Song begins with drums/tom toms at 0:33 after windy and thunderous intro)
XIT - "Beginning"
https://youtu.be/A5pT4AZvamA?si=Fsv0HFIc_bNW3YHg

RARE EARTH - "Hey Big Brother"
https://youtu.be/-c0F2nw7ukk?si=RYcHKuZDwz1SOBLZ

THE RUSTIX [[aka Rustix on their Motown/Rare Earth" "Bedlam" album) -
"I Guess This Is Goodbye"
[[Posted to YouTube by our own Graham Jarvis!)
https://youtu.be/pTTISVEKQ7M?si=fdwC1S8Z9-l0GutB

JIMMY RUFFIN - "Living In A World I Created For Myself"
https://youtu.be/7eIeLW9rDmI?si=e48aS7wUWARtH9Ax

DAVID RUFFIN - "One More Hurt"
https://youtu.be/QJVkSYO8SEQ?si=4JN6HILYy7dUzhK7

GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS
"You Need Love Like I Do [[Don't You)"
https://youtu.be/39J1dLjCHZQ?si=h2B5HtUt0BB2-g2Q

STEVIE WONDER - "I'd Cry"
https://youtu.be/0xCqFy5XZBE?si=nTFwWq5jCtibmlqr

MARY WELLS - "You Do Something To Me"
https://youtu.be/qhMlNnatuis?si=bNmdyXwp4_8R8tta

CHUCK JACKSON - "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone"
https://youtu.be/yDwE8vtTPcM?si=l4j2W6dKfjzKPqAV