Best Songs to Open an Album

[Anodyne]

I feel like we've had this conversation. I dunno. Here's some NPR thoughts on it. "Gimme Shelter" and "Like a Rolling Stone" are obvs. If you're going to pick a Lou Reed thing (and when it's a 'best of music' theme, then you must), then you have to go with "White Light/White Heat" which is one of the top 10 rock songs of all time regardless of order in an album. The list seems frozen before 1985 besides the odd Urge Overkill (?!) entry. UO is playing the local music fest tonight (Kermit Ruffins this evening, Mekons play tomorrow, and Robbie Fulks on Sunday). Fugazi "Waiting Room" (13 Songs) would be on any list of mine. Also, needs moar country (Buck "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail").

Criteria: great stand-alone song, and sets the tone for an otherwise excellent top-to-bottom album.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

A Hard Days Night from the album of the same title - The Beatles

London Calling / London Calling - The Clash

And it Stoned Me / Moondance - Van Morrison

Baba O'Riley / Who's Next - The Who

Timebomb / Too Far to Care - Old 97's

Welcome to the Working Week /My Aim is True - Elis Costello

Accidents Will Happen / Armed Forces - Elvis Costello

Beyond Belief / Imperial Bedroom - Elvis Costello

Brilliant Mistake / King of America - Elvis Costello

So What / Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

Kid Charlemagne / The Royal Scam - Steely Dan

Under the Pressure /Lost in the Dream - War on Drugs

Whole Lotta Love /Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin

The Immigarnt Song / Led Zeppelin III - Led Zeppelin

Black Dog / Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin


That's all I've got for now.

 

[Anodyne]

I liked their inclusion of "Immigrant Song."

"London Calling" is another must, you're right.

I'll also submit Isaac Hayes' epic Burt Bachrach cover "Walk on By" from Hot Butter Soul and NWA "Straight Outta Compton."

 

[squeak]

Gin & Juice - Doggystyle
Snoop Dogg

 

[squeak]

Two Dope Boyz In a Cadillac - ATLiens
Outkast

 

[squeak]

Things Done Changed - Ready To Die
The Notorius BIG

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

Don rich was a hell of a talent to lose on a motorcycle. I don't know if Buck ever brought himself to talk about it publicly. I know for years and years he couldn't or wouldn't.

I'm not sure if Whole Lotta Love has any serious competition in this category. Start the Malibu, throw that tape in, ease out of the parking lot and cruise into Saturday night. Holy freakin' cow.

 

[Orange Jennyslipper]

"Start Me Up" by the Stones on 1981's Tattoo You led off an ass-kicking album and initiated quite a few evenings of debauchery and general hanky-panky between me and Mrs. AB (who's a real person, btw).

Only three or four songs were released off it, but we listened to it so many times some of the unreleased songs are among our favorites. "Hang Fire," "Little T&A" and "No Use in Crying" are every bit as good as the opener, "Neighbors" and "Waiting on a Friend."

 

[CowboyJD]

Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run

Side one opens with Thunder Road

Side two opens with Born to Run

 

[xplor58]

Hotel Califirnia / Eagles

 

[Mr. Blonde]

For newer albums:

Stuck Between Stations - Boys and Girls in America - The Hold Steady
Seven Nation Army - Elephant - The White Stripes
Drunken Poet's Dream - Trouble in Mind - Hayes Carll
Cover Me Up - Southeastern - Jason Isbell

 

[Cowguy]

Back in black opened with hell's bells on side one and back in black on side two.

Talking heads - talking in tongues - burning down the house

Heart - little queen - barracuda

 

[CowboyPhil]

Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N Roses

 

[CBradSmith]

Everything in it's Right Place - Kid A - Radiohead.

 

[anon_ph7vrsh7abnty]

Into - The XX

The Suburbs - Arcade Fire

 

[gipraw]

Tom Sawyer - Moving Pictures / Rush

Pocket of a Clown - This Time / Dwight Yoakam

Happiness is Easy - The Colour of Spring / Talk Talk

 

[dude02]

War Pigs - Paranoid / Black Sabbath

 

[latimdj]

Black Dog....Led Zepplin IV.....Thread Over IMO....

 

[JohnVoight]

More obscure:

Led Zeppelin 1 - Good Times, Bad Times (you could probably just pick any of the first 4 album openers and wouldn't be wrong)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - I am Trying to Break your Heart
This is Happening - Dance Yourself Clean
Z - Wordless Chorus
Musicforthemorningafter - Life on a Chain
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - King of Carrot Flowers Part 1