Most rock songs are instantly recognisable by the intro riff or a few bars of music before the vocal kicks in. There actually aren't too many that start with a solo vocal or harmonies without music. In collating this list we knew that Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" would be the first that springs to mind for most people, after all, the sweet magic of "Is this the real life, is this just fantasy" is pretty hard to beat as far as setting up a song goes! 

Here are a dozen that we rate as some of the best vocal intros to a rock song...

Led Zeppelin - "Black Dog" 

"Hey, hey mama said the way you move. Gon' make you sweat, gon' make you groove"

Talking Heads - "Road To Nowhere" 

"Well we know where we're going. But we don't know where we've been"

Jethro Tull - "Songs From The Wood" 

"Let me bring you songs from the wood: To make you feel much better than you could know"

Eagles  - "Seven Bridges Road" 

"There are stars in the southern sky. Southward as you go"

Yes - "I've Seen All Good People" 

"I've seen all good people turn their heads each day. So satisfied I'm on my way"

Boni Jovi  - "You Give Love A Bad Name"

"Shot through the heart, and you're to blame. Darlin', you give love a bad name"

The Beatles - "Hey Jude" and "Nowhere Man" and "Paperback Writer" 

"Paperback writer (paperback writer)"

The Doors - "The Crystal Ship"

"Before you slip into unconsciousness, I'd like to have another kiss"

Elvis - "Hound Dog" 

"You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, cryin' all the time"

Journey - " Any Way You Want It" 

"Any way you want it, that's the way you need it. Any way you want it"

Little River Band - "Lonesome Loser" 

"Have you heard about the lonesome loser"

Queen - "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" 

"Is this the real life, is it just fantasy"