Vamping

In all of music, there is no greater joy than the return to vamping from an extended solo. Vamping is using a repeating riff over and over again. It's very frequent in blues music, the most common phrase being the famous four note "dum da-dum da dum," featured most famously in George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone."

In blues, the typical strong structure is vamping+lyrics, followed by chaotic soloing by the guitarist and/or bassist and/or drummer, then a return to vamping and a closing verse to finish it all up. It's that return to the ostinato that really turns me on, so to speak. The best example is in Cream's live version of "Crossroads." Music scholars have tried to find the cue that all three band members used to simultaneously return to the main riff from chaotic improvised dueling bass, guitar, and drum instrumental break (the one beginning at ~2:30, not to say that the previous one is child's play). But there isn't one. It's insane. One minute everyone is shredding, then everyone simultaneously moves to the bridge, with no obvious cue, and before the audience knows it, Clapton is singing again. That's music. It's the unseeable, unhearable bond between three artists at work.

Other great examples of the return to vamping, in no particular order: The Marshall Tucker Band's 10 minute live version of the blues staple "Everyday I Have the Blues." The Allman Brothers Band's "Black Hearted Woman" from their debut self-titled. Albert Collins' "I Ain't Drunk (I'm Just Drinking)," which is hilariously matter-of-fact. ZZTop's "Just Got Paid Today," my favorite song from the little ol' band from Texas. The Doors' "Light My Fire," which is tragically abbreviated by many of the corporate radio stations. Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," in which the riff returns after a jungle-noise break and blistering guitar/drum interplay. Deep Purple's "Highway Star," one of the best songs for the open road. Guns 'n' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," from Appetite, one of the hardest rocking albums ever. And, most recently, Wolfmother's "White Unicorn," from their stunning debut.