Achilles is fantastic too, I agree. I Love that song. But realistically “best album opener of all time” for LZ think would have to tier this way I think.
1- good times bad times, whole lotta love, immigrant song, black dog
2- song remains the same, Achilles last stand
After that it’s a big drop off. Custard pie, in the evening, and we’re gonna grove are fine but not in the same class.
I think anything tier 1 LZ beats probably every other artist. Tier 2 still beats most.
I personally like Workingman's and In the Dark too.
I do like the studio Terrapin, but while it's great live, there's just a complexity to it that makes the studio fantastic.
It’s the last thing I sang to my mother when she told me she was going to die. That was on a Tuesday, she died Thursday.
Can’t help but think about her and smile any time I hear it now.
Always felt The Stones opened their albums with great songs. Some of their openers are:
"Sympathy for the Devil" - Beggars Banquet
"Paint it Black" - Aftermath
"Lets Spend the Night Together" - Between the Buttons
"Gimme Shelter" - Let it Bleed
"Miss You" - Some Girls
"Brown Sugar" - Sticky Fingers
"Start Me Up" - Tattoo You
"Rocks Off" is the opener from Exile on Main Street and a great one too.
Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath from their debut album Black Sabbath. Probably the best opening song for any band ever. Was their opening song for their career, and pretty much nailed it.
I’ve always been a fan of “Bodhisattva” off Steely Dan’s Countdown To Ecstasy, also “Do It Again” off Can’t Buy A Thrill. Other than that,
“More Than A Feeling”, Boston’s debut
“Introduction”, Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority
“Highway Star”, Deep Purple - Machine Head
“Waiting”, Santana’s debut
“Achilles Last Stand”, Led Zeppelin - Presence
“Strange Brew”, Cream - Disraeli Gears
“Kid Charlemagne”, Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
I am the sea & The Real Me- The Who. It’s just weird, idk, it’s definitely a great starter for that album. The entire album’s got weird vibes. It’s like the remnants from Tommy and Who’s Next into one giant album (not so giant for The Who), I love it!
Agreed. That slow build opening, like the sun coming up to start a new day, and then there is something so satisfying about those opening "I want to run, I want to hide" lines, maybe they resolve a key change or something, through the first chorus.
"The Spirit of Radio," Rush - Permanent Waves
In fact, almost nobody opens an album better than Rush. Other great Rush openers (IMO) include "Finding My Way," "Anthem," "Bastille Day," "2112," "Tom Sawyer," "Subdivisions," "The Big Money," and "Dreamline."
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order.
I have checked 1,626,047,773 comments, and only 307,522 of them were in alphabetical order.
Runnin’ With the Devil - Van Halen’s debut
Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground - White Blood Cells
Cochise - Audioslave
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Funeral for a Friend - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Carry On - Deja Vu
I feel the earth move - Tapestry
It was my first concert. I was 15. I walked through a bunch of people handing me pamphlets telling me I was going to hell for going. Glenn and KK in a tube of lasers. Rob rode the Harley out, kicked it over and whipped it like Indiana Jones. Great show!
Fuel-Metallica
Running With the Devil-Van Halen
Women-Def Leppard
Thunder Road-Bruce Springsteen
Hell’s Bells-AC/DC
Let’s Go Crazy-Prince
Gimme All Your Lovin’-ZZ Top
I wouldn’t want to speculate as to what’s the “best” opener. But consider the start of Queensrÿche’s album *Operation Mindcrime* in that conversation.
I think the combination of *I Remember Now* and *Anarchy-X* (both short skits), followed by the bombast of *Revolution Calling* sets the mood, ramps up the angst, and lays the groundwork for story that follows.
"I feel kinda basic today. Top five, side ones, track ones: Janie Jones, Clash, from The Clash; Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye from Let's Get It On; Nivana, Smells Like Teen Spirit, off of Nevermind..."
https://youtu.be/1GIGcWLwSDQ
Best opening song: Rush - Tom Sawyer(Moving Pictures)
Best opening note: Yes - Roundabout (Fragile)
EDIT: Limelight is a great song but it’s arguably not one of the greatest songs in rock history and (as noted below) NOT the opening track.
Also: if that is not a sign of dementia I don’t know what is.
Keep Pushin’ (R.E.O album, 1976)
Ridin’ the Storm Out (Ridin’ the Storm Out album, 1973)
Honorable mention for all the Zeppelin albums from the 70s. There is not a single song that is not instantly recognizable and classic.
More Than A Feeling Comes to mind. I feel like it can get extra points because it’s the opening song on the opening album. Similar to welcome to the Jungle.
Put Me on - Styx
"Put Me on
I'm your brand new record album
Side one, track one
Won't you listen to the songs?
Play me loud
Don't you worry 'about your neighbors
Hope I make you feel good all day long
All day longgggg"
The Grand Illusion - Styx
Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner debut album and track
Let the Day Begin - The Call
Let's Go - The Cars
Most of the great Stones openers have been mentioned already, so I’ll add these:
“Roll Me Away” - Bob Seger’s The Distance
“Love Sick” - Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind
Both great openers …
If I Were Going and Crime Scene pt 1 set up Gentlemen and Black Love perfectly for the Afghan Whigs, respectively.
Don't Carry it All is a great intro to the Decemberists' The King is Dead.
You are correct! I heard that on the radio when the album was released & I just had to go buy it come payday. I still have the lp. To me, it was the best Queen album. Like it said on the back cover credits, " no one played synthesizer".
Introduction - Chicago Transit Authority.
Tells you everything you need to know about this \[at the time\] new band who doesn't sound like anything else on the radio then and provides examples.
Literally every single opening song on every Zep album
I was looking for this post. Every opener for Zep albums is an absolute banger
We’re gonna groove? Custard pie?
We are gonna grove is great. See the video from RAH, 1970. Custard pie - a banger
YESSSS the one that leads into We’re gonna groove. The drum fill that combines these two songs is a nut
Custard Pie is incredible
Custard Pie is amazing! Love that song.
I was going to say Immigrant Song, but yeah I think you’re right.
Agree 100% except PG. for some reason custard pie just doesn’t do it for me.
The first 4 albums anyway.
Boooo Achilles Last Stand is amazing…
Achilles is fantastic too, I agree. I Love that song. But realistically “best album opener of all time” for LZ think would have to tier this way I think. 1- good times bad times, whole lotta love, immigrant song, black dog 2- song remains the same, Achilles last stand After that it’s a big drop off. Custard pie, in the evening, and we’re gonna grove are fine but not in the same class. I think anything tier 1 LZ beats probably every other artist. Tier 2 still beats most.
Box of Rain is great at setting the tone American Beauty gives off.
I sure hope I eased your pain.
Not as much as Ripple, Brokedown, or Attics, but Box is a strong 4th for me off American Beauty. Just such a strong album, with so many great songs.
It’s pretty much the only studio album they put out that I listen to.
I personally like Workingman's and In the Dark too. I do like the studio Terrapin, but while it's great live, there's just a complexity to it that makes the studio fantastic.
For an opener I’d go with Bertha off Skull and Roses. The birth of a classic!
It’s the last thing I sang to my mother when she told me she was going to die. That was on a Tuesday, she died Thursday. Can’t help but think about her and smile any time I hear it now.
Very touching Sorry you lost her
I think for the Dead though it has to be Bertha on Skull and Roses. It's not their best song but it starts the album off with a bang.
Glad to see Dead near the top. I'd like to throw in Saint Stephen
Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
The most epic opener of all time. Gives me chills and I’ve probably listened to it 900 times.
Elton: So I’m thinking that I’ll pl— Dee Murray: Nah.
Winner!
Gimme Shelter
Always felt The Stones opened their albums with great songs. Some of their openers are: "Sympathy for the Devil" - Beggars Banquet "Paint it Black" - Aftermath "Lets Spend the Night Together" - Between the Buttons "Gimme Shelter" - Let it Bleed "Miss You" - Some Girls "Brown Sugar" - Sticky Fingers "Start Me Up" - Tattoo You "Rocks Off" is the opener from Exile on Main Street and a great one too.
War Pigs Paranoid- Black Sabbath. Doesn’t get better imho
This is way too far down the scroll. I was getting ready to post when I noticed somebody already figured it out.
Sabbath is always the answer.
True
Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath from their debut album Black Sabbath. Probably the best opening song for any band ever. Was their opening song for their career, and pretty much nailed it.
This is the only correct answer
Five Years
Fuck yes.
It's the Immigrant Song.
Good Times Bad Times Even Jimmy knew what he had in Bonham opening with such bass drum thunder.
[удалено]
Best opener to launch any album in history.
100%
I’ve always been a fan of “Bodhisattva” off Steely Dan’s Countdown To Ecstasy, also “Do It Again” off Can’t Buy A Thrill. Other than that, “More Than A Feeling”, Boston’s debut “Introduction”, Chicago - Chicago Transit Authority “Highway Star”, Deep Purple - Machine Head “Waiting”, Santana’s debut “Achilles Last Stand”, Led Zeppelin - Presence “Strange Brew”, Cream - Disraeli Gears “Kid Charlemagne”, Steely Dan - The Royal Scam
Bodhisattva is so good ❤️
Countdown is my favorite Dan album. Bodhisattva has my heart
I love Countdown! Aja and The Royal Scam are also up there for me.
You just reminded me I forgot to put Kid Charlemagne on the list 😭😭
It’s ok! I just got lost on the SD Wikipedia and I’m like, these are alllllll awesome opening songs and track listings in general.
Close to the Edge
Brown Sugar If we're talking all genres, Tangled up in Blue
And Like a Rolling Stone
Ummm… Dylan is classic rock.
Nah, he's folk
Black Dog kicks the door open Speaking of Zeppelin, The Song Remains The Same is a hell of a opener as well Let Go Crazy by Prince off of Purple Rain
I love that you slipped Prince in there! Love all 3 songs!
I am the sea & The Real Me- The Who. It’s just weird, idk, it’s definitely a great starter for that album. The entire album’s got weird vibes. It’s like the remnants from Tommy and Who’s Next into one giant album (not so giant for The Who), I love it!
Shine on You Crazy Diamond off of PF's Wish You Were Here. That whole album is 🔥 but there isn't a better song they could have opened with
Where the Streets Have No Name
Definitely in the running for best opening of an opening song.
Agreed. That slow build opening, like the sun coming up to start a new day, and then there is something so satisfying about those opening "I want to run, I want to hide" lines, maybe they resolve a key change or something, through the first chorus.
Good Times Roll - The Cars' debut album Plainsong - The Cure's Disintegration
shit. Good Times Roll is GREAT. that whole album is so listenable!
Plainsong deserves a shot at the title. Incredible opener.
“Overture” - Tommy by The Who
"The Spirit of Radio," Rush - Permanent Waves In fact, almost nobody opens an album better than Rush. Other great Rush openers (IMO) include "Finding My Way," "Anthem," "Bastille Day," "2112," "Tom Sawyer," "Subdivisions," "The Big Money," and "Dreamline."
2112
“Thunder Road” - Born to Run Bruce Springsteen
Honorable mention to Badlands from the next record.
And Born in the USA
Would you look at that, all of the words in your comment are in alphabetical order. I have checked 1,626,047,773 comments, and only 307,522 of them were in alphabetical order.
Baba O’Riley
Can’t believe I had to scroll so far for the right answer
Rocks Off.
Rocks Off, Sympathy, Brown Sugar, and Gimme Shelter are all incredible openers from the stones
Black Dog - Led Zeppelin IV That little guitar warmup before Plant's "Hey, hey Mama..." 🤌
Welcome to the Jungle
‘Whole Lotta Love’ and honestly for me it’s not really close.
Yup!
Death on Two Legs - Queen
Ahh, I put Brighton Rock, but that’s another really good one!
I would counter with “Tie Your Mother Down”.
Good Times Bad Times off of Zeppelin I.
Runnin’ With the Devil - Van Halen’s debut Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground - White Blood Cells Cochise - Audioslave Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Funeral for a Friend - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Carry On - Deja Vu I feel the earth move - Tapestry
The White Stripes are so fucking underrated.
Most Ramone’s songs. 1234
Rush 2112 side A.
Black dog
Taxman
Aqualung
Hard to get better than Ozzy with Blizzard of Ozz with I Don’t Know followed by Crazy Train. Might be the best one, two punch ever.
Judas Priest “Hellion / Electric Eye” would like a word.
Battery.
The Hellion / Electric Eye - Judas Priest
Crap. Just posted the same and then saw this.
It was my first concert. I was 15. I walked through a bunch of people handing me pamphlets telling me I was going to hell for going. Glenn and KK in a tube of lasers. Rob rode the Harley out, kicked it over and whipped it like Indiana Jones. Great show!
That’s awesome
Baba ORiley More than a Feeling London Calling
Speaking of The Clash, Spanish Bombs
“Carry On My Wayward Son” from Leftoverture, Kansas
Welcome to the Jungle
“Welcome To The Jungle”- Appetite For Destruction.
Fuel-Metallica Running With the Devil-Van Halen Women-Def Leppard Thunder Road-Bruce Springsteen Hell’s Bells-AC/DC Let’s Go Crazy-Prince Gimme All Your Lovin’-ZZ Top
THUNDER ROAD
Can't believe how far I've had to scroll to get to this.
“One” three dog night
I always wonder why the classic rock universe has largely forgotten Three Dog Night.
Me to man. Just like blood sweat tears.
Thunderstruck
"Back in the Saddle Again" off of Aerosmith's "Rocks".
Brighton Rock - Queen, Sheer Heart Attack
R U Ready To Rock, Blue Oyster Cult, Some Enchanted Evening album. It kicks off a great live concert record.
Agreed. How about Godzilla off Spectres?
Definitely another great leadoff song!
Welcome To The Jungle- Appetite For Destruction Hell’s Bells - Back In Black
I wouldn’t want to speculate as to what’s the “best” opener. But consider the start of Queensrÿche’s album *Operation Mindcrime* in that conversation. I think the combination of *I Remember Now* and *Anarchy-X* (both short skits), followed by the bombast of *Revolution Calling* sets the mood, ramps up the angst, and lays the groundwork for story that follows.
The way "School" opens for Supertramp's Crime of the Century album is perfect.
War pigs
"I feel kinda basic today. Top five, side ones, track ones: Janie Jones, Clash, from The Clash; Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye from Let's Get It On; Nivana, Smells Like Teen Spirit, off of Nevermind..." https://youtu.be/1GIGcWLwSDQ
Hey man how about Point of No Return off of Point of No Return?
War pigs
In the Flesh - Pink Floyd The lamblies down on broadway - Genesis
Best opening song: Rush - Tom Sawyer(Moving Pictures) Best opening note: Yes - Roundabout (Fragile) EDIT: Limelight is a great song but it’s arguably not one of the greatest songs in rock history and (as noted below) NOT the opening track. Also: if that is not a sign of dementia I don’t know what is.
The opening riff to Highway to Hell tells you, “This is going to be awesome!”
Where the Streets Have No Name
“IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO TODAY” Sgt pepper.
Black Dog
Detroit Rock City (Destroyer) KISS Not Fragile (title track) Bachman Turner-Overdrive (Them from)The Monkees (Monkees first album)
Paradise City
Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath from the album Black Sabbath
Sir Duke
Do It Again- Steely Dan
Foreplay/Longtime
Great songs. Unfortunately, that's the end of side 1 of the record (3rd song on the CD). More than a feeling is the opening song on the album.
In The Flesh?
Come together
Keep Pushin’ (R.E.O album, 1976) Ridin’ the Storm Out (Ridin’ the Storm Out album, 1973) Honorable mention for all the Zeppelin albums from the 70s. There is not a single song that is not instantly recognizable and classic.
Break on through(to the other Side)
Duke
The Changeling
Houses of the Holy has the greatest opening 30 seconds...
SPARKS > "may we start?"
Good Times, Bad Times.
Second Hand News is a great starting song for Rumours
Like a rolling stone.
Minor Threat is from the 80s, but not really considered classic rock. But, their song Filler IMO is the best opening to a record of all time.
"Sweet Jane" live on Lou Reed's Rock and Roll Animal.
Black Water - Doobie brothers
Any Zeppelin album. 8 incredible opening songs on every studio album ……..even We’re Gonna Groove from Coda is a killer opening track.
Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding
Detroit Rock City - KISS Destroyer
“Sting Me” -The mother f*#kin’ Black Crowes
Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends - ELP (1974)
Here's one I don't see mentioned: Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf.
Song remains the same
Carry On Wayward Son. Kansas, Leftoverture.
Hells Bells -AC/DC Back In Black More Than A Feeling - Boston Cochise - Audioslave
"Baba O'Reilly" - Who's Next
Thunder Road
Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf
Hotel California.
More Than A Feeling Comes to mind. I feel like it can get extra points because it’s the opening song on the opening album. Similar to welcome to the Jungle.
Put Me on - Styx "Put Me on I'm your brand new record album Side one, track one Won't you listen to the songs? Play me loud Don't you worry 'about your neighbors Hope I make you feel good all day long All day longgggg" The Grand Illusion - Styx Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner debut album and track Let the Day Begin - The Call Let's Go - The Cars
HELLO THERE...Ladies and Gentlemen ........ CT
Good times bad times. Imagine it being 1968 and putting that on for the first time.
Sweet emotion- Aerosmith
Aqualung
Machine Head - Bush
Not necessarily the first track of the album, but “Diamond Dogs”.
Boston - Foreplay/Longtime but then Eruption/You Really Got Me ...holy hell!
Shine on you crazy diamond (1-5)
Most of the great Stones openers have been mentioned already, so I’ll add these: “Roll Me Away” - Bob Seger’s The Distance “Love Sick” - Bob Dylan’s Time Out Of Mind Both great openers …
* war pigs * more than a feeling * sympathy for the devil * gimme shelter but i think personally it's gotta be streets
This next one is the first song on our new album
"One more try for love" Ronnie Milsap
Wouldn’t It Be Nice kicks off Pet Sounds perfectly
If I Were Going and Crime Scene pt 1 set up Gentlemen and Black Love perfectly for the Afghan Whigs, respectively. Don't Carry it All is a great intro to the Decemberists' The King is Dead.
Temples of Syrinx
Like A Rolling Stone is a decent opener.
Keep Yourself Alive. First song first side of first Queen album.
You are correct! I heard that on the radio when the album was released & I just had to go buy it come payday. I still have the lp. To me, it was the best Queen album. Like it said on the back cover credits, " no one played synthesizer".
“The Hellion” opener on Judas Priest’s Screaming for Vengeance, and I’m not sure it’s even close.
2112 easily
The golden road (to unlimited devotion) off the Grateful Dead’s self titled debut
Let the Good Times Roll.
Right Death Before - ASG, has one of the best openings I've heard.
Refugee- TP and the HB's Once Upon A Time In The West- Dire Straits Safe European Home- The Clash Slip It In- Black Flag
Introduction - Chicago Transit Authority. Tells you everything you need to know about this \[at the time\] new band who doesn't sound like anything else on the radio then and provides examples.
Atom heart mother
Rocks Off. stones
Them Bones
Welcome to the Jungle on Appetite for Destruction. Great intro to a great album!
2112: Overture
Yours is no disgrace
More Than A Feeling
Thick as a brick pt. 1 lol