4 Songs with the Most Iconic Intros in Country Music

Country music is packed to the brim with great songs that contain memorable and meaningful lyrics. There are also plenty of songs that contain unforgettable instrumental breaks. However, not all country songs have instantly recognizable or memorable intros.

Videos by American Songwriter

The songs below fit the latter category. They’re the songs that country fans can recognize within the first few notes. The musicians who recorded the songs made an impact on listeners that will outlive even the youngest fans.

[RELATED: Hit Country Songs From the 1980s You Forgot Were Awesome]

1. “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson

Intros in country songs don’t get much more recognizable than the opening riff from Alan Jackson’s 1993 chart-topper “Chattahoochee.” It’s instantly recognizable, letting listeners know within the first few notes that they’re in for the summer jam to end all summer jams. It’s the kind of riff that listeners can sing along with, and that’s rare in country music.

2. “There Stands the Glass” by Webb Pierce

Webb Pierce released “There Stands the Glass” in 1953, and it spent 12 weeks at the top of the country chart despite being banned from the radio. It’s a near-perfect sad drinking song with everything one could want from a classic country tune. The steel guitar lick floats in, leading Pierce’s mournful voice, creating an iconic intro for this top-tier country song.

3. “The Housefire” by Turnpike Troubadours

Red Dirt country legends, the Turnpike Troubadours, have plenty of songs with memorable intros. However, very few can match the opening track from their 2017 album A Long Way from Your Heart. Even Felker’s harmonica backed with Kyle Nix’s fiddle creates a sound that makes the opening bars of the song instantly recognizable and memorable. While not everyone is familiar with this Oklahoma-based band, those who are will doubtlessly perk up when they hear that melody.

4. “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard

There are few country songs as iconic as “Mama Tried” and it all starts with that timeless intro. Roy Nichols of The Strangers lays down one of the most recognizable hybrid picking lines in the genre’s history, and the rest of the band falls in behind him. It doesn’t matter if they’re in an empty car or a crowded bar, those opening notes will draw the ear of any country fan.

Featured Image by Tony Norkus