Song With Best Beginning

"I need a lover", John Mellencamps version.

"Under My Wheels" - Alice Cooper

"Let the music in tonight ... " Give Life Back to Music, Daft Punk

All Aboard!

Ozzy's Crazy Train

" I need a lover" and "Sweet jane" are maybe the longest, and quantity counts, so why not?

Hey, teh mellotron created rocket taking off in "Higher And Higher"! What can beat that? Maybe a modern digital recording of the real thing? Remake anyone?

DSOTM....

"Riders On the Storm", The Doors

"American Woman" by the Guess Who. One of many great intros.

Bruce Hornsby "The Way it Is"

Ben Webster - the song Soulville from his album Soulville, 1st song on side A. Bluesy intro before Ben's sax comes in.
Perfect name for that song and album, btw.

Whipping Post ........ Allman Brothers Band Live at the Filmore East... It doesn't get much better than this. One of the all time great song beginnings.

Aurra's "Are You Single?" The electric bass is fantastic and begs to be turned up.

Faze-O's "Riding High." The keyboard sets the mood and ambiance for the rest of the song.

On a related note, there's also a whole subcategory of spoken intros. Some notable examples:

Patti Smith's cover of "Gloria" - "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"
Kid Creole's cover of "Oh, What a Night" - "Hey Frankie, I had a night like that, too. Let me tell ya about it."
Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" - "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here...."

Marty

Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
"I love you Pumkin!"

Street Life by the Jazz Crusaders. listen to the opening. wow!

"Under My Wheels" - Alice Cooper
Dweller

I use the intro as my ringtone.

How about Mott The Hoople's All The Young Dudes. No doubt what song is coming with that intro.

Lust for Life by Iggy Pop has a great intro

"It's a quarter to three......"
from "One for My Baby(and One More for The Road)"
by Frank Sinatra

In my humble opinion, when it comes to an extended intro, nothing can possibly beat "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," with "Riders on the Storm" close second.

As far as kick-ass intros, it'd be hard to beat Metallica "Master of Puppets," Alice in Chains "Would," and Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss." I've always loved Iron Maiden "Wasted Years" with a sick riff as well. Reading most of the choices listed, perhaps I have different notion of what a "best beginning" is.