Best Opening Track on a Debut Album

[Mighty AC]

I heard an interesting question on a radio show this morning. What is the best opening track on a debut album? Indie and unpopular debut albums count, but EPs don't have to be included.

Without putting much thought into it "Welcome to the Jungle" by GnR, "The River" by the Tea Party and "Break On Through" by the Doors pop into my head.

[The_Squid]

Boston - More than a Feeling

[Guest Derek L]

Rolling Stones -Not Fade Away

Funny enough, it was the second track on the writers debut album:

And of course

Edited March 20, 2013 by Derek L

[bush_cheney2004]

Steely Dan - "Do It Again" from Can't Buy A Thrill (1972)

Edited February 11, 2014 by bush_cheney2004

[Guest Derek L]

And my sister's favorite:

http://youtu.be/gudEttJlw3s

And ironically enough for Freddie:

[eyeball]

Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times and Dire Straights - Down To The Waterline come to mind.

[Guest Derek L]

I had this on 8 track, the first one I bought when I got my drivers licence and first car:

http://youtu.be/V1uz_aDo0YA

And the second 8 track:

http://youtu.be/D6G-qb1RRCo

[Moonlight Graham]

"Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath. The first heavy metal song ever, invented a genre, arguably the best metal song ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5yR5XhCIeg

[DogOnPorch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uijFctBM47M

1976: Max Romeo and the Upsetters.

Edited March 20, 2013 by DogOnPorch

[Michael Hardner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSsEm4p2-Xc

Night Train - the Oscar Peterson Trio

[The_Squid]

Once - Pearl Jam from their debut album Ten.

[kimmy]

Just out of curiosity I did a bit of searching on Wikipedia, and came up with some candidates:

"I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles

"I Will Follow" by U2

"Can't Get Enough of Your Love" by Bad Company (I only looked this one up because I thought "Bad Company" might be the opening track. )

"Astronomy Domine" by Pink Floyd

Of the ones mentioned so far in this thread, I think "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Break On Through" are the best choices, both for the same reason. As soon as you hit "play", they blow you back into your seat.

-k

[Michael Hardner]

Rather than just post OUR tracks, let's also make a habit of listening to what others have posted here.

I clicked on DogOnPorch's choice here, not knowing what it was and surprisingly - it's 70s era Reggae. I remembered, then, that the Upsetters were a band that worked with producer Lee "Scratch" Perry, whom I'd heard of. It's pretty straightforward, not fancy but it's real Bob-Marley era reggae.

[GostHacked]

Good freakin thread. I looked through my collection and this is a pretty hard question to answer.

Only think I can think of at this time, is Peach Union - On my Own. CD Audiopeach released 1996. Only CD they did as a group. Too bad though.

[Moonlight Graham]

Just out of curiosity I did a bit of searching on Wikipedia, and came up with some candidates:

"I Saw Her Standing There" by The Beatles

"I Will Follow" by U2

Of the ones mentioned so far in this thread, I think "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Break On Through" are the best choices, both for the same reason. As soon as you hit "play", they blow you back into your seat.

-k

Those are all good choices.

Did the same google search:

'Purple Haze' by The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Are You Experienced? had different opening tracks, depending where you lived. In

the UK, the first track was "Foxy lady." In the US [and Canada], it was "Purple Haze."

Edited March 21, 2013 by Moonlight Graham

[The_Squid]

Those are all good choices.

Did the same google search:

'Purple Haze' by The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Are You Experienced? had different opening tracks, depending where you lived. In

the UK, the first track was "Foxy lady." In the US [and Canada], it was "Purple Haze."

Either way it was still awesome!! Good choice...

[Mighty AC]

I love listening to the tracks that have been posted. Either Hendrix tune is solid; Good Times Bad Times, Black Sabbath, and Once are all good picks too. I've never heard of Peach Union or Max Romeo but it's always nice to hear new artists.

I flipped through some of my old CDs that are collecting dust here in my office and I came up with two more.

Novocaine For The Soul by Eels and from my childhood air-band days, Strutter by Kiss.

[Mighty AC]