Jul 102013
The device is not used that often, but I usually enjoy a song that begins with a fade-in. It adds a “cinematic” aspect to a song, as if I turned a corner and entered a cool party scene in progress, or in the case of what may be my favorite fade-in song, a Very Personal Moment of Reflection.
Fleetwood Mac‘s “Over My Head” is probably my favorite song by that band and perhaps my favorite song that begins with a fade-in. See if you can stir my memory regarding other songs that begin with a fade-in. What musical fade-in scene most excites you?
Mod, I can’t believe that you’ve forgotten that Hand in Glove, the first Smiths single, opens with a fade-in. Unfortunately the album version of the song, and the one that got codified on the Best of the Smiths collection, goes with a standard full-band opening. But I much prefer hearing that harmonica riff come up slowly into audibility:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytQLR9RpUl4
Two fade-in songs that immediately come to mind are “Dig It” by the Beatles and “I.O.U.” by the La’s.
Good ones, but a gentle reminder on the 1-entry-per-post rule of a Last Man Standing:
Sorry, it’s been a while since I last played Last Man Standing.
Beatles, 8 Days a Week (first ever of its kind?)
The Lyres – “Don’t Give It Up Now”
http://youtu.be/docmgx3y3zg
How did I forget that one?!?! Actually, I don’t believe I’d ever heard it before. The band actually manages to keep Morrissey bridled. Not bad…for a Smiths song:)
Big Star’s “Jesus Christ” fades in, I think.
Yo La Tengo’s Spec Bebop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBJdufFnEnQ
What’s the Kinks song that fades in with church bells?
Big Black Smoke?
2000 Miles by the Pretenders.
In general, I like both the fade in and the fade out, but I hate the fake-fade-out-then-fade-back-in. (I’m looking at you, Matthew Sweet!)
I agree, but I make an exception for Suspicious Minds.
“O My God” by The Police.
I remember thinking that for the first 3-4 Police albums you could conclude that Sting had never figured out how to write a song ending. Almost every song does a fade-out.
I’ll give The Beach Boys a pass on “Help Me Rhonda” too.
“Five Years” Bowie — the drum fade in.
I always figured that was so you could enjoy the part as the song fades out where Stewart starts banging out accents on the bell of his ride cymbal.
One of my favorite Tame Impala songs, “Runway, Houses, City, Clouds” has an almost 35 second fade in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao-MWUF1zUY
I’ll give the Buzzcocks a pass for the fakeout ending of “Our Everything.”
Can I just add that Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” should really have started with a fade in?!
You are correct.
How about “Dreams of Children” by the Jam?
“Key to the Highway” Derek & the Dominos
aloha
LD
Nice. That is definitely one of Stewart’s signature quirks.
I don’t mind the false ending. I probably first fell in love with it while listening to “Are You Experienced?” in my uncle’s bedroom. That song’s got something along those lines. Come to think of it, is there a song more laden with cool studio devices?
Graham Parker – You’ve Got to be Kidding
Elvis Costello’s “Man Out of Time” has a really fast fade-in on the opening “whatever” the beginning of that song is all about. And a fade out on the same “whatever” the beginning of that song is all about.
As much as I like the song I never liked that intro-outro thing.
There’s a story to those snippets. That’s actually from another approach they took to that song. The full version is on a reissue. Terrible!
Husker Du’s version of “Ticket to Ride”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWH8Xa4zGzA
Boston – “More Than A Feeling”
And because it sounds so much like the start of Boston, Love and Rocket’s “Sweet F.A.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od0cn_7dY_M
Last Townsperson Standing!
Locomotive Breath.
Does Night Train by Steve Winwood count?
Ba Ba Ba Ba Battery Brides by XTC.
And while I’m at it, doesn’t Susie Q by CCR fade in? I think so.
Hero Takes A Fall – the Bangels
“Runaway,” by XTC
“One Of the Millions,” XTC
TG: we reach!
The Undertones, “It’s Gonna Happen”
LAST MAN STANDING!
Dylan, “Changing of the Guards” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2D7LFsKNa4
Damn, that was the one that was on the tip of my brain, but I just couldn’t place it. Good call.
The Undertones (again), “Casbah Rock”
Aerosmith: “Lick and a Promise”
LMS
Thanks, I got a few more Dylans up my sleeve for this, I guess maybe he does this a little more than I would have thought.
Dylan, “True Love Tends to Forget” (from same album as “Changing of the Guards”)
Yes, that’s surprising.
The Velvet Underground, “Train Comin’ Round the Bend” (or whatever the title of that song is). TAKE THAT, smartypants who thought he or she was sitting on an “I could have had a V-8!” entry!
Rolling Stones, “Just Want to See His Face,” one of the great songs on Exile, of which each song is irreplaceable. Suck on that, Mod!
“Samson & Delilah” by the Dead (or Jerry’s Kids, back on the band nickname thread) fades in on the drums.
The Clash – I Fought The Law
LMS!
New Order’s “Temptation” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYTl1YA_uHQ
Roxy Music, “Out of the Blue” (a great, great song). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpvfQZQi71I
and a great live version for good measure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9QpI3wVvek
How about The The’s “This Is The Day”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-32AAp418V4
“Black Friday” Steely Dan
aloha
LD
I send an Octoban flam and splash cymbal hit your way.
I love that song!
The Smiths’ “Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others” fades in, fades out and then fades back in again! TOP THAT!
ELO, “Turn to Stone”
Humble Pie, “Take Me Back”
Beatles, “Dear Prudence”
aloha
LD
Bron-Yr-Aur
Bob Dylan, “Black Diamond Bay”
Can I get a ruling on CSNY “Deja Vu”? I don’t know what to make of that crap. It’s like the hippies couldn’t make up their minds on how to start. I mean, if “We have all been here before,” wouldn’t you know WTF to do?
aloha
LD
I don’t see that this was ever closed. The third of Undertones fade-ins “Wrong Way”
I am LMS!