Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Arts and Entertainment => Topic started by: citoyen on 14 October, 2009, 12:56:04 pm

Title: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 14 October, 2009, 12:56:04 pm
Just been reminding myself of the greatness of ABC's Lexicon Of Love and I'm jiggered if I can think of a better album-opening track than the truly majestic Show Me.

Any other contenders?

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: bikenerd on 14 October, 2009, 01:03:52 pm
Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: mr_brooks on 14 October, 2009, 01:15:00 pm
"Thunder Road" from Born to Run.

Put in the context of the mid-70's, a struggling, massively over-hyped artist, with two not-particularly successful albums in a markedly different style to their name, I think the opening is both magnificent and courageous.

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tewdric on 14 October, 2009, 01:18:07 pm
At the time, I always thought that the first track on 2112 was very impactive.  I also like, but hesitate to admit it, the opening track on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - "Funeral for a friend" is it?
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: pcolbeck on 14 October, 2009, 01:29:04 pm
"Rikki Don't Lose That Number" from Pretzel Logic - Steely Dan 1974

Not my favourite or my favourite group (though I do love it) but a fantastic opening track. On headphones or a good stereo it's just magnificent.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: nicknack on 14 October, 2009, 01:29:54 pm
At the time, I always thought that the first track on 2112 was very impactive.  I also like, but hesitate to admit it, the opening track on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" - "Funeral for a friend" is it?

Yes, I listened to that again recently for the first time in decades . I could still remember all the words.  :-[
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 01:35:03 pm
Speak to Me on Dark Side of the Moon is pretty good.

Just trying to think of some others.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Woofage on 14 October, 2009, 01:45:34 pm
"Burn It Down" from Searching for the Young Soul Rebels is a great opener  8).
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 01:46:39 pm
Hard to beat:

Prefabriques - Trust  (Trust)

Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd (Wish You Were here)

Suspect Device - SLF (Inflammable Material)

I'd have more if the Wikipedia gnomes weren't asleep today ;)

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tim on 14 October, 2009, 01:48:56 pm
Hmmmm, so to be not only a good track, but also to serve as a good opening for the album upon which it resides.

I'll propose Bittersweet Symphony, the opening track on Urban Hymns (The Verve), as a contender.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: nicknack on 14 October, 2009, 01:49:43 pm
Umm... perhaps

"Bug Powder Dust" from Bomb the Bass's Clear

"White Room" from Cream's Wheels of Fire

"Watch That Man" from Bowie's Aladdin Sane

"Highway Star" from Deep Purple's Made In Japan

"Black Dog" from Led Zep 4

"Deadwing" from Porcupine Tree's Deadwing

No, hang on a minute - it's got to be:

"21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson

No contest.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: hbunnet on 14 October, 2009, 01:50:23 pm
Like A rolling stone, recognisable from the first  rimshot.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 02:05:39 pm
Bit more checking on Wikipedia later (it's surprising how many tracks I thought opened albums actually appear later):

Princess of the Night - Saxon (Denim & Leather)

Gloria: In Excelsis Deo - Patti Smith (Horses)

Till Vistory - Patti Smith (Easter)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 14 October, 2009, 02:08:40 pm
Some technical explanation is required for those under 35.
An analogue disc is pressed with grooves which are the physical wave-form of the content. One channel of a stereo record is vertical, the other horizontal. The needle is connected to coils in the cartridge, which produces the signal to be amplified. The disc is 12 inches in diameter and moves at 33 1/3 rpm. The first track is on a portion of the disc with a mean diameter of about 11.5 inches, the last track on a side is at a mean diameter of 5.5 inches. This means that the first track will have the capacity for a greater dynamic range and a higher signal to noise ratio, because the groove is moving twice as fast and has twice the effective bandwidth.
The ideal opening track is the most complex, with the most instrumentation and the greatest dynamic range. It should literally pin your ears back, in a way that is difficult to explain if all you have ever heard is compressed versions.
So my ultimate opening track is '21st Century Schizoid Man' by King Crimson. Not for any artistic merit, but because it uses the opening grooves to best effect.
YouTube - King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Iyj_Ze0BHA)
The side 2 opener is similar of course, and all the contemplative acoustic stuff is towards the centre of the disc. All this makes no sense to the CD generation, as CDs read from the middle to the edge and have sufficient bandwidth to handle anything.

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: border-rider on 14 October, 2009, 02:10:24 pm
Burning Down the House  - Talking Heads (Speaking in Tongues)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tewdric on 14 October, 2009, 02:11:20 pm
Shine On You Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd (Wish You Were here)

Agreed!
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: mattc on 14 October, 2009, 02:13:11 pm
It has been suggested that you can judge a good LP by
Side 2 Track 1

(Is that really true about the faster speed giving better fidelity?!?)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: vorsprung on 14 October, 2009, 02:14:11 pm
Some of the LPs of "The Fall" have great openers

The Fall - Frightened YouTube - The Fall - Frightened (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IOfQO9z-7g)
The Fall - Lay Of The Land YouTube - The Fall - Lay Of The Land (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSwtUJYIko)
The Fall - The Classical YouTube - The Fall - The Classical (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umKEj_fFNBw)
The Fall - Eat Y'self Fitter YouTube - The Fall - Eat Y'self Fitter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c3dWfKn_Lo)
The Fall - My New House YouTube - The Fall - My New House (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS_MauJshXU) ( also Sonic Youth cover this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOxsFSVr6ak (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOxsFSVr6ak) )
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tewdric on 14 October, 2009, 02:14:59 pm
Umm... perhaps
No, hang on a minute - it's got to be:

"21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson
No contest.

it's a fine track, for sure.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 14 October, 2009, 02:16:24 pm
It has been suggested that you can judge a good LP by
Side 2 Track 1

(Is that really true about the faster speed giving better fidelity?!?)

That's why Singles ran at 45 rpm and why disc jockeys had 12 inch 45 rpm singles. Relax on a 12 inch sounds amazing.

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Wowbagger on 14 October, 2009, 02:16:58 pm
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony no. 5 in C minor.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 02:17:40 pm
Relax on a 12 inch sounds amazing.

Damon.

The Innuendo Consultant will see you now, sir...
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: vorsprung on 14 October, 2009, 02:18:04 pm
makes no sense to the CD generation, as CDs read from the middle to the edge and have sufficient bandwidth to handle anything.


Or to 80s kids who hear it first on a 12" single
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 02:18:59 pm
Burning Down the House  - Talking Heads (Speaking in Tongues)

And Psycho Killer from Stop Making Sense
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: border-rider on 14 October, 2009, 02:20:55 pm
Burning Down the House  - Talking Heads (Speaking in Tongues)

And Psycho Killer from Stop Making Sense

yes- that is a better opener than Burning Down the House, isn't it ? :)

Forgotten that one.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Manotea on 14 October, 2009, 02:26:48 pm
Handsworth Revolution, Steel Pulse (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fhvw2lwSZ7Y)

May not be pin your ears back pyrotechnics but the opening bars always sends a zing down my spine.

Nostalgia, eh?

Edit: though now I understand the rools better I'd go with Wish You Were Here - its just about the only track listed I'm familar with!
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: mattc on 14 October, 2009, 02:36:07 pm
It has been suggested that you can judge a good LP by
Side 2 Track 1

(Is that really true about the faster speed giving better fidelity?!?)

That's why Singles ran at 45 rpm and why disc jockeys had 12 inch 45 rpm singles. Relax on a 12 inch sounds amazing.

Damon.

Well, purely on 'sonic cathedral' criteria, I'd vote for Relax too (I'm not a Frankie fan, but that and 2 Tribes sounded like something from another planet at the time - Trevor Horn? I imagine CDs had taken over before anything else came along that sounded so revolutionary.)

I thought the speed variations were just to increase capacity. Once again Damon you have educated me in something I shall never find useful.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Martin on 14 October, 2009, 02:39:55 pm
Release the Pressure; Leftfield (Leftism)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 14 October, 2009, 02:46:40 pm
Once again Damon you have educated me in something I shall never find useful.

Not useful but fascinating. Thanks, Damon!

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Rhys W on 14 October, 2009, 02:47:01 pm
Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips.

 Well it's one of the best "heavily compressed drum sounds" opening an album, and a pretty good song as well ("They're just humans, with wives and children.")

 London Calling (off, er, London Calling) is quite an opening statement.

 Another cracking eponymous opener is The Queen Is Dead.

Singing in a minority language will naturally limit your audience, but I regard Moelyci (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moelyci_(album)) by Steve Eaves up there with the best of Neil Young or Springsteen, and it starts off with a stormer.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Biff on 14 October, 2009, 03:10:08 pm
A bit different:

YouTube - Jeff Wayne - War of the worlds (Live) (Eve of the war) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8JLqsbK5V0)

THAT voice followed by those 3 notes. Gets me every time.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 14 October, 2009, 03:11:26 pm
The two big classical winners from the golden age of Hi-Fi were Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, which opens with 'O Fortuna', the Old Spice music. and 'Also sprach Zarathustra' by Richard Strauss, the Apollo lift off music. These had the big production numbers at the start of Side 1.
Carmina Burana is better on CD though, because the reprise of 'O Fortuna' at the end of the piece is better modulated and tighter.

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Woofage on 14 October, 2009, 03:15:35 pm
Carmina Burana is better on CD though

Except the version I have has been mixed with the brass too loud and lacks ambience  >:(. Dynamics OK though so I s'pose the producer got something right :-\.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 14 October, 2009, 03:19:55 pm
A bit different:

YouTube - Jeff Wayne - War of the worlds (Live) (Eve of the war) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8JLqsbK5V0)

THAT voice followed by those 3 notes. Gets me every time.

Oh yes.  Superb.  Gripped from the very start.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Andrew Br on 14 October, 2009, 03:22:45 pm
"Angel" on Mezzanine or "Safe from harm" on Blue Lines, both by Massive Attack would be my suggestions with a respectful nod in the direction of Martin and "Release the pressure".

Other ideas- "Dream within a dream" from A Secret Wish by Propaganda.

Must focus on work now.
Really must focus....................... :-\

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Flying_Monkey on 14 October, 2009, 04:13:08 pm
Release the Pressure; Leftfield (Leftism)

Oh yes, definitely. Also, completely at random off the top of my head:

'Sure Shot' by the Beastie Boys (from Ill Communication)
'Alone Again Or' by Love (from Forever Changes) - which is so great because of its delicacy rather than its in your face-ness (though it does have great dynamic range)
'Green Onions' by Booker T and the MGs (from Green Onions)
'Party Line and 'David Watts' by The Kinks (the first from Face to Face, the second from Something Else)

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: redshift on 14 October, 2009, 06:05:37 pm
Malaria, from Oil and Gold by Shriekback.  You know you're in for the weird stuff when you hear it.

I could pick a lot of Rush, but we've already had 2112, so I'll go with Dreamline from Roll The Bones, and Subdivisions from Signals.  I also think Far Cry was a great opener.

Hell's Bells from Back in Black - but I preferred the way that the title track was used to open the film Iron Man.

Jeff Wayne thirded.

Astradyne from Vienna.

I sure there'll be others.  So much is about the context of the album.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: rogerzilla on 14 October, 2009, 06:10:27 pm
Einleitung from Richard Strauss's tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra.

I win.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Pingu on 14 October, 2009, 06:32:34 pm
Where The Streets Have No Name - The Joshua Tree, U2
One Of These Days - Meddle, Pink Floyd
Sat In Your Lap - The Dreaming, Kate Bush
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tewdric on 14 October, 2009, 06:47:05 pm
Einleitung from Richard Strauss's tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra.

I win.

Yes, you do.

If we're including classical music, then the the opening passage of Sibelius 1st Symphony was the one that most kicked me in the teeth at a concert, with Simon Rattle at the controls of the CBSO in about 1984.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 14 October, 2009, 06:51:25 pm
A quick trawl through my vinyl reveals that Sheet Music by 10cc had excellent opening tracks on Sides 1 and 2.
Wall Street Shuffle and Silly Love. For ultimate nostalgia these live versions from 1974 take some beating, let them play out as 10CC did excellent live codas.
YouTube - 10cc Wall Street Shuffle Live (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYBh4ryl5k)
YouTube - 10cc Silly Love Live (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7rFCOyTI0)

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: CAMRAMan on 14 October, 2009, 06:57:22 pm
Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John introduced me as a teenager to the world of synthesisers.

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 14 October, 2009, 07:01:56 pm
A great start to one of my favourite albums - Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, Track 1: Tangled Up In Blue.

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Chris N on 14 October, 2009, 07:06:53 pm
I Wanna Be Adored - The Stone Roses
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Spinners on 14 October, 2009, 07:07:05 pm

 London Calling (off, er, London Calling) is quite an opening statement.


Hard to better that!

Beetlebum - Blur (Blur)

The Reflex - Seven & The Ragged Tiger (Duran Duran)

Big Love - Tango in the Night (Fleetwood Mac)

Brighton Rock - Sheer Heart Attack (Queen)

Money - The Adventures of Hershanm Boys (Sham 69)

Animation - Days in Europa (The Skids)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: rogerzilla on 14 October, 2009, 07:22:28 pm
Lots of rock/pop ones:

"Black Dog" on Led Zeppelin IV (or whatever it's not called)
"Break On Through (To The Other Side)" from The Doors
"Kuff Dam" from Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile White Out
"Reverend Black Grape" from It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah! (another rude Shaun Ryder opener)

and in a slightly different vein,

"Song For Whoever" from Welcome To The Beautiful South.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 14 October, 2009, 07:23:48 pm
Red Rain - So, Peter Gabriel

Can't think of anything else right now that's quite as good as that & not already been mentioned, although

I Zimbra - Fear of Music, Talking Heads is not bad turned up to 11 :)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: alan on 14 October, 2009, 07:44:29 pm
There is a danger of seriously over-dosing on nostalgia reading this thread.Some of this stuff would be the soundtrack of one's life.
Those tracks that spring to my mind have already beem mentioned.
Further thought brings to mind artists such as The Shadows,The Beatles,The Hollies.Several Motown tracks would also be included on my list.
All these would be "contenders" but I would find it extremely difficult to single out just one for the accolade of Best Ever Track :-\
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: onb on 14 October, 2009, 08:37:29 pm
Gimme Shelter on Gimme Shelter ,still sends shivers down my spine
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: geoff on 14 October, 2009, 08:46:38 pm
Gimme Shelter on Gimme Shelter ,still sends shivers down my spine

Gimme Shelter: on Let it Bleed

+1 to that elsewise though
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: border-rider on 14 October, 2009, 08:54:17 pm
Gimme Shelter on Gimme Shelter ,still sends shivers down my spine

Gimme Shelter: on Let it Bleed

+1 to that elsewise though

Gimme Shelter: on Some Girls Wander By Mistake

+1 to that otherwise though ;)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Martin on 14 October, 2009, 08:55:31 pm
Carmina Burana is better on CD though

Except the version I have has been mixed with the brass too loud and lacks ambience  >:(. Dynamics OK though so I s'pose the producer got something right :-\.

The only problem I have with Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi being the opening piece of Carmina Burana is that it makes the rest of it a bit of an anti-climax by comparison; whereas the whole work starts simply and moves to a fantastic climax; if you don't believe me try it from, say, In Trutina or even In Taberna onwards.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: RJ on 14 October, 2009, 09:01:43 pm
(in no particular order)

Canadee-i-o - Penguin Eggs (Nic Jones)

Debaser - Doolittle (Pixies)

Romeo had Juliette - New York (Lou Reed)

Know Your Rights - Combat Rock (The Clash)

Block Rockin' Beats - Dig Your Own Hole (Chemical Brothers)

Tangled Up in Blue - Blood On the Tracks (Bob Dylan)

Novocaine for the Soul - Beautiful Freak (Eels)

Blue - Tomorrow the Green Grass (Jayhawks)

Requiem - Killing Joke (Killing Joke)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Flying_Monkey on 14 October, 2009, 09:14:56 pm
(in no particular order)

Canadee-i-o - Penguin Eggs (Nic Jones)

Debaser - Doolittle (Pixies)

Romeo had Juliette - New York (Lou Reed)

Know Your Rights - Combat Rock (The Clash)

Block Rockin' Beats - Dig Your Own Hole (Chemical Brothers)

Tangled Up in Blue - Blood On the Tracks (Bob Dylan)

Novocaine for the Soul - Beautiful Freak (Eels)

Blue - Tomorrow the Green Grass (Jayhawks)

Requiem - Killing Joke (Killing Joke)

An excellent selection....
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Deano on 14 October, 2009, 09:42:19 pm
Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips.

+ a million :)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Deano on 14 October, 2009, 09:42:58 pm
Also:

Janie Jones - The Clash by The Clash (I cannot believe no-one's mentioned this)
Waiting Room - 13 Songs by Fugazi
Ether - Entertainment! by Gang of Four
Right Here - Tallulah by The Go-Betweens
The Light At the End of The Tunnel is the Light of An Oncoming Train - Cammel Laird Social CLub by Half Man Half Biscuit
Yes - The Holy Bible by the Manic Street Preachers

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Pingu on 14 October, 2009, 09:48:37 pm
A great start to one of my favourite albums - Bob Dylan, Blood on the Tracks, Track 1: Tangled Up In Blue.

+1  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Pingu on 14 October, 2009, 09:50:14 pm
Airbag - OK Computer, Radiohead
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: geoff on 14 October, 2009, 09:58:44 pm
Smells like Teen Spirit - Nevermind (Nirvana)

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: rogerzilla on 14 October, 2009, 10:18:50 pm
"The Headmaster Ritual" - Meat Is Murder (The Smiths)

"Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools..."
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Jaded on 14 October, 2009, 10:21:31 pm
One of these days. Meddle. Pink Floyd.   If it has been on already, hooray.

Killer. H to He. Van der graaf. Unmissable

Astral Weeks. Astral Weeks. Van the man

Got to go back. No Guru, No Method, No teacher. Van the Man

Kingdom Hall. Wavelength. Van the man

Smack my bitch up. The fat of the land. Prodigy

Dark & long. dubnobasswithmyhead. Underworld

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: spesh on 14 October, 2009, 10:36:09 pm
Looks like a few of my favourite openers have already been mentioned, so here's couple for the unabashed rockers: :demon:

How Far Jerusalem - On A Storyteller's Night (Magnum)
Still Of The Night - Whitesnake/1987 (Whitesnake)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Pingu on 14 October, 2009, 10:42:08 pm
Lovely Head - Felt Mountain, Goldfrapp
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: StuAff on 14 October, 2009, 11:04:33 pm
Quite a few of my faves already mentioned, plus...
Enter Sandman, Metallica, Metallica (aka the Black Album)
Head Like A Hole, Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
From Out of Nowhere, Faith No More, The Real Thing
Feel Good Hit of the Summer, Q.O.T.S.A., Rated R
N.W.O., Ministry, Psalm 69.......
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Andrew Br on 14 October, 2009, 11:20:10 pm
I Wanna Be Adored - The Stone Roses

Forgot this.
We have a winner  :thumbsup:

Until I think of something else  :-\



Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Andrew Br on 14 October, 2009, 11:21:52 pm
Lots of rock/pop ones:

"Kuff Dam" from Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile White Out
"

Forgot that too.
And Kuff Dam backwards is ?

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: tonycollinet on 14 October, 2009, 11:43:09 pm
Telegraph road - Love over Gold, Dire Strats. "all the twiddly bits"
Bat out of hell - Bat out of hell - meatloaf
Take a Bow - Black Holes and Revelations - Muse
Don't leave me this way - Communards - Communards
The Riverboat Song - Moseley Shoals - Ocean Colour Scene
Sunburn - Showbiz - Muse
Uprising - The Resistance - Muse
Sunday Bloody Sunday - War - U2


And I am now listening to "Shine on you crazy diamond" Most excellent.


Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 15 October, 2009, 12:27:41 am
Gimme Shelter: on Let it Bleed

Yeah, the Stones were pretty good at opening tracks...

Sticky Fingers? Brown Sugar.
Exile On Main Street? Rocks Off.
Beggars Banquet? Sympathy For The Devil.

Let It Bleed also has one of the great closing tracks too - You Can't Always Get What You Want. Shame about some of the stuff in between.

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 15 October, 2009, 12:28:46 am
"The Headmaster Ritual" - Meat Is Murder (The Smiths)

"Belligerent ghouls run Manchester schools..."

Lyrically, the best opening line to an album, definitely.

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 15 October, 2009, 12:29:49 am
Janie Jones - The Clash by The Clash (I cannot believe no-one's mentioned this)

Now you mention it, I can't believe it either.

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tourist Tony on 15 October, 2009, 01:43:01 am
Mahler, number 1
Sibelius, number 3
Beethoven, 5 or 9

Hawkwind, Assault and Battery off Warrior OtEoT
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: tiermat on 15 October, 2009, 07:53:33 am
Some of My Favourites:

Big Calm - Morcheeba (from Big Calm), sets the whole tone for the album
Brave Captain - fireHose (from Ragin Full On)
Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine (from Lungs, one of my new favourites)
Razor - Foo Fighters (In Your Honour disc 2)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: bikenerd on 15 October, 2009, 07:57:15 am
Smells like Teen Spirit - Nevermind (Nirvana)

Good, but I prefer Serve the Servants from "In Utereo".

"Teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm bored and old".
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 15 October, 2009, 09:47:31 am
I suspect it to be

Bortkiewicz Piano Concerto No 1 B Flat Major
On late 1950s LP

The case for
2nd Rate composer
2nd Rate conductor [William Strickland]
2nd Rate Pianist [Marjoie Mitchell]
2nd Rate orchestra [NDR Symphony Orchestra]
On a cheap series of great classic lps.
One of the most sort after, overpriced classical recordings

The relatively recent hyperion cd is not quite such fun.

If you hear it you will think it is pastiche of every early hollywood romantic melodrama over the top soundtrack, but it was composed 1917. Brilliant.

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 15 October, 2009, 09:54:26 am
...
Enter Sandman, Metallica, Metallica (aka the Black Album)
.......


That's an opening track?  Definitely up there on the list!

Telegraph road - Love over Gold, Dire Strats. "all the twiddly bits"
...
Don't leave me this way - Communards - Communards
The Riverboat Song - Moseley Shoals - Ocean Colour Scene
...
Sunday Bloody Sunday - War - U2

All excellent tracks, though I have come late to Riverboat Song, having 'redicovered' it on a compilation CD called 'Play It Loud'.  Wonderful.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: onb on 15 October, 2009, 10:27:53 am
Gimme Shelter on Gimme Shelter ,still sends shivers down my spine

Gimme Shelter: on Let it Bleed

+1 to that elsewise though


Doh age related  moment




Closer from Only by the Night   - Kings of Leon

And it Stoned me from Moonndance -Van Morrison

Dont Bang the Drum from This is The Sea - The Waterboys .Which probably has the best final track on an Album in This is the Sea but I suppose thats another thread.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 October, 2009, 11:36:48 am
Achilles Last Stand ~ Presence ~ Led Zeppelin
Airline to Heaven ~ Mermaid Avenue Volume 2 ~ Billy Bragg & Wilco (mostly the latter)
Chic 'n' Stu ~ Steal This Album! ~ System Of A Down
Cochise ~ Audioslave ~ Audioslave
Dimension ~ Wolfmother ~ Wolfmother
Disgruntled Employee ~ The Deathray Tapes ~ Mick Farren & Jack Lancaster
Down On The Street ~ Fun House ~ The Stooges
Drunk On Hallelujahs ~ Skirt ~ The Dear Janes
Evening Of Swing (Has Been Cancelled) ~ CSI: Ambleside ~ Half Man Half Biscuit
Fair Exchange ~ Sunburst Finish ~ Be Bop Deluxe
Hells Bells ~ Back In Black ~ AC/DC
Hunting Tigers Out In 'Indiah' ~ Tadpoles ~ The Bonzo Dog Band
Hurricane ~ Desire ~ Bob Dylan
I Wanna Destroy You ~ Underwater Moonlight ~ The Soft Boys
India ~ The Psychedelic Furs ~ The Psychedelic Furs
Leben Heißt Leben ~ Opus Dei ~ Laibach
Loser ~ Mellow Gold ~ Beck
Losing Touch With My Mind ~ Sound Of Confusion ~ Spacemen 3
Motörhead ~ Motörhead ~ Motörhead
Music For A Found Harmonium ~ Broadcasting From Home ~ Penguin Café Orchestra
Overkill ~ Overkill ~ Motörhead
Puppet Life ~ Laughing Academy ~ Punishment Of Luxury
Requiem ~ Killing Joke ~ Killing Joke
Seven Nation Army ~ Elephant ~ The White Stripes
Sometimes ~ Rattus Norvegicus ~ The Stranglers
Spirit Of The Age ~ Quark Strangeness And Charm ~ Hawkwind
Spook Perv Happenings In The Snooker Hall ~ Ooh Crikey It's ... Lawnmower Deth ~ Lawnmower Deth
Storm ~ Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven  ~ Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Subterranean Homesick Blues ~ Bringing It All Back Home ~ Bob Dylan
Tab ~ 25 Tab ~ Monster Magnet
The Grudge ~ Lateralus ~ Tool
The Sickbed Of Cuchulainn ~ Rum, Sodomy & The Lash ~ The Pogues
The Yip Song ~ Respect ~ Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
White Room ~ Wheels Of Fire ~ Cream

and of course:

Part 1 ~ Sir Henry At Rawlinson End ~ Vivian Stanshall

That's an hour of my life I'll never get back :P
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tewdric on 15 October, 2009, 11:46:48 am
Smells like Teen Spirit - Nevermind (Nirvana)



Of course..
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: CommuteTooFar on 15 October, 2009, 12:11:24 pm
You do realise the best first tracks are mostly on compilation albums.

Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Quisling on 15 October, 2009, 03:00:29 pm
Koder på snor from the album of the same name by Valravn.  Beautiful.  Clicky for a listen to a snippet:
Koder på snor: Valravn: Amazon.co.uk: MP3 Downloads (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Koder-p%C3%A5-snor/dp/B002O0TXG6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1255614997&sr=8-5)

Also, no YouTube - Jean Michel Jarre - Equinoxe part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFjtxDfrjB0) ???
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Regulator on 15 October, 2009, 03:02:34 pm
Allegri's Miserere on the 'Best of Kings' album.

Perhaps the best ever recording of the Miserere.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Rhys W on 16 October, 2009, 12:10:49 am
Not sure if it's been mentioned since last time I contributed, but...

What's The Frequency, Kenneth? - REM, Monster.

After setting the scene, that tremolo-driven guitar sound reappears at later points in the album as a kind of sonic reoccurring theme.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 16 October, 2009, 12:28:14 am
It's still 21st  Century Scihozoid Man.
YouTube - Seasons - 21st Century Schizoid Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWS3ofzuiMU)

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: PaulF on 16 October, 2009, 12:32:58 am
Not sure if it's been mentioned since last time I contributed, but...

What's The Frequency, Kenneth? - REM, Monster.

After setting the scene, that tremolo-driven guitar sound reappears at later points in the album as a kind of sonic reoccurring theme.

Or even perhaps Accelerate?

But Damon's probably right:

It's still 21st  Century Sciozoid Man.
YouTube - Seasons - 21st Century Schizoid Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWS3ofzuiMU)

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Mrs Pingu on 16 October, 2009, 10:06:14 pm
Takk.... - Takk, Sigur Ros
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tourist Tony on 20 October, 2009, 10:26:23 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned since last time I contributed, but...

What's The Frequency, Kenneth? - REM, Monster.

After setting the scene, that tremolo-driven guitar sound reappears at later points in the album as a kind of sonic reoccurring theme.
"Leitmotif" or "idée fixe"
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 October, 2009, 10:27:44 pm
Not sure if it's been mentioned since last time I contributed, but...

What's The Frequency, Kenneth? - REM, Monster.

After setting the scene, that tremolo-driven guitar sound reappears at later points in the album as a kind of sonic reoccurring theme.
"Leitmotif" or "idée fixe"

Of which there's a particularly good example in Richard Strauss's "Till Eulenspiegel's Lustige Streiche".
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Tourist Tony on 20 October, 2009, 10:31:03 pm
Or in Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 October, 2009, 10:40:00 pm
Or in Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Indeed. You could argue that the first movement of Beethoven's 5th symphony, or the first movement of his 1st piano concerto, also include an idée fixe, although in both cases a very rudimentary one.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Rhys W on 20 October, 2009, 11:28:55 pm
Huh? There's some other guitar parts that sound a bit like it is what I meant.  :-[
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 21 October, 2009, 05:49:56 pm
'That Lady' from 3+3 by the Isley Brothers is a good track, there's a nice live version.
YouTube - THAT LADY ~ LIVE IT UP / THE ISLEY BROTHERS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8n76liv4Y)

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: andyoxon on 21 October, 2009, 05:57:53 pm
YouTube - Knights Of Cydonia: HAARP (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8WP7aOD_9Q)   OK, possibly not ever, ever, ever...but still good. ;)
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Flying_Monkey on 21 October, 2009, 06:03:33 pm
'That Lady' from 3+3 by the Isley Brothers is a good track, there's a nice live version.
YouTube - THAT LADY ~ LIVE IT UP / THE ISLEY BROTHERS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8n76liv4Y)

Great song, but I'd rate 'Fight the Power' off The Heat is On as a more powerful opening track though.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Really Ancien on 21 October, 2009, 06:20:10 pm
'That Lady' from 3+3 by the Isley Brothers is a good track, there's a nice live version.
YouTube - THAT LADY ~ LIVE IT UP / THE ISLEY BROTHERS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng8n76liv4Y)

Great song, but I'd rate 'Fight the Power' off The Heat is On as a more powerful opening track though.


Curiously, 'Fight the Power' is that rarity, Funk/Prog crossover, collaborating with Margouleff and Cecil of 'Tonto's Expanding Head Band' who did a lot of work with Stevie Wonder. I prefer the Funk/Rock crossover of 'That Lady'. I think I prefer the Public Enemy 'Fight the Power'. YouTube - Public Enemy - Fight The Power [HD] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WHe5fxS3dA)
YouTube - TONTO & Stevie Wonder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuaSzFf7yq0)

Damon.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Flying_Monkey on 21 October, 2009, 06:23:53 pm
Now Innervisions is a superb album... in fact all of the stuff he did that came out of that collaboration is awesome.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: citoyen on 25 October, 2009, 12:47:47 am
Just thought of another great one - and somewhat surprised it hasn't been mentioned already...

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us by Sparks, from Kimono My House.

d.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: Hummers on 25 October, 2009, 08:50:17 am
Another vote for the Pink Floyd albums up to and including Wish You Were Here and King Crimson, Court of the Crimson King. 21st Century was used on Children of Men and I had forgotten how good it was.

My submission; Exercise 1 from Bent's Programmed to Love.

Bonkers but quite delightful which is true for the whole album.

H
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: kyuss on 28 October, 2009, 04:42:10 am
Happy Monday's Kinky Afro, opening track to Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches. It has no place amongst the true musical greats like Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, but that whole album reminds me of when life was at its best. I was 16-17, just started working so had money but without the responsibilities of adulthood, getting stoned and drunk every weekend, and was dating the first person I've ever properly loved (still do in a way). Good times.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: clarion on 28 October, 2009, 10:57:50 am
I Thank You on Deguello by ZZ Top.
Title: Re: Best album-opening track ever?
Post by: RJ on 28 October, 2009, 08:38:35 pm
(in no particular order)

Canadee-i-o - Penguin Eggs (Nic Jones)

Debaser - Doolittle (Pixies)

Romeo had Juliette - New York (Lou Reed)

Know Your Rights - Combat Rock (The Clash)

Block Rockin' Beats - Dig Your Own Hole (Chemical Brothers)

Tangled Up in Blue - Blood On the Tracks (Bob Dylan)

Novocaine for the Soul - Beautiful Freak (Eels)

Blue - Tomorrow the Green Grass (Jayhawks)

Requiem - Killing Joke (Killing Joke)

An excellent selection....

Bonus track:

Country Home - Ragged Glory (Neil Young)  ;)