PenguinJoe

One of my fave opening tracks of recent years.

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Supermallet

Oh, wah, not everyone agreed with you.

Also, if we're going with Elvis Costello, how can we not mention "No Action" from This Year's Model?

inri222

"Double Dare", BAUHAUS, In the Flat Field

bunkaroo

To me there is some truth to the fact that any album I like a lot I will think has a great opening track. That's part of what makes it a great album. The few I mentioned though were ones with tracks that I think grab you right away, so there is no need to name the opening track of every album you like.

Hiro11

This is a good point. Almost every great album starts off with a killer track. It might be more interesting to list great albums that have lackluster first tracks. For example: "Siamese Dream". I'd argue the first two tracks on that album are the weakest two tracks on the album.

boc4ever

That's what I was talking about. You feel an energy that makes you feel like you are about to take a musical journey. I named "Aces High" and "Invaders" because in both cases they come charging at you and segueway nicely into a slower tempo song; 2 Minutes to Midnight and Children of the Damned. If the albums started with those tracks, or for example, 22 Acacia Avenue, it wouldn't have the same draw for me. Metal Health is a good example in my eyes too. From the opening drum beat you feel the impact. If the album opened with Cum on Feel the Noize, I don't think that is a good opening track. Another example is Seven Seas by TNT. I think that song is a great opening song and great track overall, but the rest of the album is pretty weak. So an album can have a great opening track without being a classic in itself. Maybe someone would be interested in another thread called "Great album closers" For sure, Diary of a Madman and Hallowed Be Thy Name are phenomenal to me. Oh yes, let me add Over the Mountain here also

Damed

In recent memory, Artificial Nocturne off Metric's Synthetica album comes to mind.

rbrown498

"Everything In Its Right Place" - Radiohead, Kid A
"Death on Two Legs" - Queen, A Night at the Opera
"More Than a Feeling" - Boston, Boston
"Harm in Change" - Toro Y Moi, Anything in Return
"Don't Sing" - Prefab Sprout, Swoon
"Possession" - Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
"Head Like a Hole" - Nine Inch Nails, Pretty Hate Machine
"Coyote" - Joni Mitchell, Hejira
"Long Hot Summer" - The Style Council, Introducing the Style Council

JANK

Yeah 21st Century Schizoid Mad IS indeed one to the best opening tracks - ever. The bridge ALONE defies description with the interplay of Fripp's guitar over Giles Bros drumming and bass running. Still awesome to hear and enjoy. Thanks for posting it.

CRM114

21st Century Schizoid Man is completely mind blowing considering what else was going on musically at the time. Perhaps only Zappa was doing anything as challenging. I haven't thought much about it though.

arminius

The Stooges-1969, Down on the Street, Search and Destroy
Deep Purple-Speed King, Highway Star, Woman From Tokyo


There are so many. Actually I think the only major artist without a great lead off track is Bob Dylan. I think that was deliberate on his part though.

bluetoast

London Calling.

CRM114

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The Times They Are a-Changin'
All I Really Want to Do
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Like a Rolling Stone
Tangled Up in Blue
Hurricane
Love Sick

covenant

Neon Knights

Turd Ferguson

I can't believe I haven't seen my all-time favorites here yet (maybe I missed them):

1.) Baba O' Riley from "Who's Next"

2.) Middle of the Road from The Pretenders "Learning To Crawl"

Hiro11

Love, love, love that song.

EddieMoney

"Just Too Bloody Stupid" - Close Lobsters from "Foxheads Stalk This Land"

boc4ever

I second that emotion I loved the Pretenders first two, but they lost me when they did "Back on the Chain Gang" However, this song kicked some major ass!

van der graaf

Khan - Space Shanty. For all you prog lovers, check it out if you don't know it.

Ky-Fi

Oh, can't forget my favorite song from one of my favorite bands:

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Norm de Plume

Blowin' in the Wind
Jokerman
If Not for You
Changing of the Guards

tammsters

my favorite Bunnymen album

mndtrp

This is the first thing I thought of, too.

Phodg

Excellent choice. A highly underrated album IMO.

Hokeyboy

"Give Me Love" off of 'Living In The Material World'. Apologies if this was mentioned already. Also 'The Lovely Linda'? No? OK.