Best Opening Track on an Album

[Tommy Walker]

Not just best song that happens to be the first track on an album, but song that best exemplifies what an opening song should be and creates the appropriate mood for the rest of the album.

My choice: Rocks Off from Exile on Main St.

Honorable mention: Second Hand News from Rumours

 

[Nololob]

Speed King by Deep Purple

 

[Prime]

It's a slow first song, but it's fantastic:

 

[Rock Candy]

Has to be Deep Purple's "Burn"

 

[LG]

Some good choices so far...I'll go with Kansas and the first song off Leftoverture, "Carry On My Wayward Son"...foreshadows what's to come, which is an excellent album.

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

I think it has to be "Bat Out Of Hell" for me. It's just such an epic song that hauls so much tush and has carried it's namesake album into immortality.

 

[the_spore]

ZZ Top's "Gimme All Your Lovin'", the first song on their album "Eliminator", is my favorite opening track on an album.


The instant you hear those drums, you know this album is going to rock.

 

[Lynch]

Eeesh, how can you pick just one? There are so many amazing first tracks... Well, ya'll know me to know I can't pick just one, so here's a 'short' list off the top of my head:


AC/DC - Hells Bells
AC/DC - For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
KISS - Detroit Rock City
KISS - Strutter
KISS - I Stole Your Love
KISS - Unholy
Paul Stanley - Tonight You Belong To Me
Dokken - Unchain The Night
Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation
Motley Crue - Live Wire
Beatles - Come Together
Beatles - Sgt Pepper's LHCB
Scorpions - Blackout
Scorpions - Bad Boys Running Wild
Black Sabbath - War Pigs
Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf
Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Dio - We Rock
Triumph - Spellbound
Triumph - Tears in the Rain
Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song
Rush - Tom Sawyer
ZZ Top - Waiting For The Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago
ZZ Top - Tube Snake Boogie



So much for a short list, eh?

 

[pistolpete]

Maybe:
Imagine by John Lennon
Mother by John Lennon
Subterranean Homesick Blues by Bob Dylan
Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan
Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
Thunder Road by Springsteen
London Calling by the Clash
Purple Haze by Hendrix
Tonight's the Night by Neil Young
Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Last DJ by Tom Petty
Handle with Care by the Traveling Wilburys

These would be my some of my favorites, but I think the best one I can think of is Folsom Prison Blues (live) by Johnny Cash. Considering the opening ("Hello, I'm Johnny Cash"), the lyrics, the audience, the venue, and the fact it's a great song makes it the perfect opening song IMO.

 

[ladyislingering]

The first song that came to mind was "I Want You" by KISS.

It gets you totally freaking pumped to hear the rest of the LP.
Every. single. time.