Best opening song in a music album

[Ronin]

For you what is the best nº1 track on a music album? (side A track 1 on a vinyl?)

I´m talking about those songs that besides being a great song are also a great kickass way to anounce you´re listening to a album by band "X".

My vote goes for "You think I ain´t worth a dollar but I feel like a Millionaire" from Queens of the Stone Age...the Album is "Songs for the Deaf"...

This song is especially powerfull the first time you hear it.....it starts with a great guitar riff....but the sound is strangelly half-muted........which makes you turn up the volume!...that´s when Nick Oliveri´s screamed vocals come on and the the production volume is turned way up!......

man...that song is like a kick in the balls!....and you know you´re in for one hell of an album.


what about you guys?

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

That is a very good choice, I love that album.

I'd vote for Foxy Lady from Are You Experienced, and More than a Feeling from the first Boston album.

[Stig]

Baba O'Riley from Who's Next by The Who
Wouldn't It Be Nice from Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

And there are many more who are good. Like More Than A Feeling as BKS said.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Baba O'Riley is an excellent one.

I'd have to go with "One Of These Days" off of Floyd's Meddle album. Anyone who's listened can tell you why.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

I can't believe I forgot that, that's a cracking opener.

[Beirut]

The Motley Crew album that opens with Dr. Feelgood.

I borrowed the CD off a buddy years ago and have yet to listen to any other song on it except that one. But it's a honker!

[Spino]

Wow, what a great question! I remember when I was a teenager my best friend and I had a discussion about this same topic. Are we going purely for quality or hard rocking, in your face tunes of the highest quality? Some great posts so far, Baba O'Riley is hard to top but this slew of gems just popped in my head and make it awfully hard to decide...

Song - Album - Artist (in no particular order)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap - AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin
Good Times Bad Times - Led Zeppelin I - Led Zeppelin
Roadhouse Blues - Morrison Hotel - The Doors
Sympathy for the Devil - Beggars Banquest - Rolling Stones
Start Me Up - Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
Message in a Bottle - Reggata de Blanc - The Police

Obviously most of the songs I listed are more 'in your face' type of tunes


PS, sorry BKS but 'Manic Depression' was the first track from 'Are You Experienced?', not 'Foxy Lady'.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

According, to wiki, the track listings differ between the US and UK versions. Foxy Lady is the first track on the UK version.

[naut]

Here in Australia "Are You Experienced?" has the best song to open with, Purple Haze.

[Togakure]

Have to go with what's already been mentioned: Led Zeppelin, from II and IV respectively: Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog.

Honorable mentions:
- Peter Gabriel, from Security, Rhythm of the Heat
- NiN, from Pretty Hate Machine, Head Like a Hole
- Van Halen, from Van Halen, Running with the Devil
- Depeche Mode, from Black Celebration, Black Celebration

There are so many....

[InsaneApache]

Five Years from The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Best album from the 70s hands down.

[English assassin]

My vote goes to Hells bells, from AC/DC, Back in Black.

Boiiiiiiiiiing......Boiiiiiiiiiing.........Boiiiiiiing.........

[Bijo]

"The Power of Equality" on "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Heed the quiet start, funky guitar, the fitting voice, the tight drums, the flow and touch of the song, and the bass whose motion is beautiful.

Thereafter the next song would immediately appear with a beautiful funky guitar; it befits the (almost) perfect flow. Unfortunately too much exposure to this sort of music possibly excites emotion, thus I am not to heed it.

[Csargo]

"The Power of Equality" on "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Heed the quiet start, funky guitar, the fitting voice, the tight drums, the flow and touch of the song, and the bass whose motion is beautiful.

Thereafter the next song would immediately appear with a beautiful funky guitar; it befits the (almost) perfect flow. Unfortunately too much exposure to this sort of music possibly excites emotion, thus I am not to heed it.

Good song.

[Axeknight]

Overture - Tommy - The Who
Speed King - In Rock - Deep Purple
Jailbreak - Live & Dangerous - Thin Lizzy
Like A Rolling Stone - Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
Gimme Shelter - Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones

[naut]

"The Power of Equality" on "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Heed the quiet start, funky guitar, the fitting voice, the tight drums, the flow and touch of the song, and the bass whose motion is beautiful.

Thereafter the next song would immediately appear with a beautiful funky guitar; it befits the (almost) perfect flow. Unfortunately too much exposure to this sort of music possibly excites emotion, thus I am not to heed it.

Good song, but If I was going to pick a Chili album I'd say Fight Like A Brave off Uplift Mofo (warning moderate explicit language) or Jungleman off Freaky Styley (warning socks).

[HoreTore]

Shine on you crazy diamond on Wish you were here by Pink Floyd.

Eases teh pain.

[Bijo]

Good song, but If I was going to pick a Chili album I'd say Fight Like A Brave off Uplift Mofo (warning moderate explicit language) or Jungleman off Freaky Styley (warning socks).

I never heard these before. Are they songs made much earlier? My critical mind tells me these songs are less perfected, but since it's done live I am uncertain.

[naut]

Yes of the second and third albums, (Freaky Styley 1985 and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan 1987 respectively). My favourite two Peppers albums.

[Pannonian]

Smells Like Teen Spirit, from Nevermind, by Nirvana.

[naut]

Smells Like Teen Spirit, from Nevermind, by Nirvana.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Ooh, that reminds me.

"Once" on Pearl Jam's Ten.

[bones58]

I never heard these before. Are they songs made much earlier? My critical mind tells me these songs are less perfected, but since it's done live I am uncertain.

Power of Equality is a fantastic song, it always gets me pump. Though I would have to say regarding the Peppers best album opener it would probably have to be Warped. With Good time boys and Around The World tied second.

[Moros]

Want - Wild mood swings - The Cure.

[drone]

Hey Man Nice Shot (Short Bus, Filter) is a great opener, although their later albums take a different direction so I guess it doesn't really define the band. War Ensemble (Seasons in the Abyss, Slayer) gives you a good feel for what you are about to hear. But I'd have to agree with English assassin, Hell's Bells rules.

[Tristuskhan]

The Clash, "London calling"
Dead Kennedy's, "Kill the Poor", on "fresh fruit for rotting vegetables" album

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Ina Godda Da Vita

Its the whole first side of the album

And speaking of the Who how about the opening number from Live at Leeds.

Young Man Blues - The Who - Live at isle of wright

Close as I could find. Pretty much the same era. Moon is a mad man.

[Ronin]

Ina Godda Da Vita

Its the whole first side of the album

Iron Butterfly!!!
The ultimate one hit wonder band!!!

but what a song...and the drum solo!

ever saw the simpsons episode were bart exchanged the hymns book with Ina Godda Da Vita?
at the end of the song the organ lady drops dead

[Tristuskhan]

ever saw the simpsons episode were bart exchanged the hymns book with Ina Godda Da Vita?
at the end of the song the organ lady drops dead

Saw it... almost died laughing myself

[Moros]

It's Ina Gadda Da Vida, youngtsers.