Entertainment For Lively Minds
Killer Opening Tracks On Debut Albums
Posted by David Wright on 14 October 2011 - 8:18am.
I listened to Noel Gallagher’s interview on 6 Music the other night and Steve Lamacq commented that Rock N’ Roll Star is a great opening track for a debut album. It certainly sets the tone for the album, what other killer opening tracks appear on debut albums? We can also take the softly softly approach for the opening track. Sometimes quiet is just as effective as a loud intro.
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Strolling Down the Highway
I know we've discussed Bert Jansch a lot in the days since his passing, but "Strolling Down the Highway", which opens the debut album "Bert Jansch", really is perfect. He set out his stall, not just for the album, but for an entire career.
Not the only career
kickstarted by the artist and song.
(Nick Drake, Strolling Down The Highway).
I think my favorite opener is...
... Sunday Morning from The Velvet Underground and Nico. When I first played that album, I was expecting some proto punk, to say I was wrong footed is an understatement. But I was wrong footed in a good way.
See No Evil
So many openings to choose from, but the opening to Television's Marquee Moon is a perfect mixture of swagger, intelligence and intent.
"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"
Best opening line ever - on the best debut album ever. Patti Smith - Horses.
This is, I believe, the
correct answer.
Undoubtedly so
Correct in every detail
Here's a few
Hip hop is generally very good for this, assuming I'm allowed to leave off opening skits
NWA - Straight Outta Compton (you are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge)
Raekwon - Knuckleheadz (speedy piano loops, cinematic, frenetic stylish rapping - perfect introduction to a magnificent record)
De La Soul - The Magic Number (De La take you into their world)
Libertines - Vertigo (Drunken, careering, wobbly, live, thrilling)
Eminem - My Name Is (announcing the arrival of a startling new voice, wilfully offensive, funny and charming - not his proper debut album but might as well have been)
Super Furry Animals - God! Show Me Magic (roaring glam rock challenging the almighty to show himself)
Nirvana - Blew (slow, heavy, murk, sexy grinding tune in which we are introduced to the growl of one of the finest, most expressive singers of all time)
The Stooges - 1969 (It's 1969 OK, all across the USA, it's another year for me and you, another year with nothing to do)
Excellent call
on NWA.
Opening skits and skits in general bug the shit out of me. Enjoyable when De La Soul lampooned them on Is Dead but heard once they then ruin (for me) their best album.
Lauren Hill's Miseducation is near perfection save for the bollocks in between the tracks.
Gravediggaz' Niggamortis suffers purely because of the skits.
The list goes on and on.
Yes..
The NWA one is spot on.
And with you both on the 'skits'. Hip-hop and "nu-soul" (hate the expression, but it does describe the artists I mean: Erykah Badu, Jill Scott) are both shocking for this.
Also just gone back and am now listening to Miseducation after several years. God, it's great.
I tell you what though
...that Gravediggaz album is one of the finest records I have ever heard.
The State That I Am In
From Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk
I was surprised, I was happy for a day in 1975
I was puzzled by a dream, stayed with me all day in 1995
My brother had confessed that he was gay
It took the heat off me for a while
He stood up with a sailor friend
Made it known upon my sisters wedding day
Talk about being drawen in to a story.
I wanna be a door
Setting out their stall, you could say:
Take me back to dear old blighty...
Great opener, or does it just peak too early?
Peaks too late I reckon...
...it's off their third studio album rather than their debut.
Pay attention Timothy!
Massive schoolboy error
didn't read the OP properly!
Echo & The Bunnymen
Going Up
The opening always reminded me of the closing credits music to Space 1999. So for an impressionable teenager it was self-evident that this music was coming from somewhere beyond Moonbase Alpha.
Almost 50 years old
The Fabs - I saw her standing there.
As always folks..
Wire. Pink Flag. Reuters.
The first track off Bleach
by Nirvana (Blew) – though not the best track on the album – was just such a ferocious statement of intent.
Magazine - "Definitive Gaze"
One could hardly wish for a more definitive opening track for a debut album than Magazine's "Definitive Gaze", which kicks off "Real Life" in such splendid fashion.
The Doors - Break On Through To The Other Side
The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored
Brilliantly arrogant. This is us. This is our statement.
Still raises the hairs on the back of my neck
edit - just seen the above - great minds etc etc....
JIMI
nothing was the same after this:
Uncle Elvis
One minute 23 seconds of pure pop and an opening line wanking reference.
Talk about setting your stall out.
A few from me
Tubeway Army - Listen To The Sirens
Red Guitars - Remote Control
The Cure - 10.15 Saturday Night
Body Count - Body Count's In The House
Big Country - In A Big Country
Blondie
X Offender
(warning : contains Debbie Harry looking gorgeous)
Some more that I like...
Suede - So Young
Daft Punk - Daftendirekt
Cascada - Every Time We Touch
Basshunter - DotA
Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
That said, I think the best shout was above. NWA - Straight Outta Compton.
three of the best...
REM - Radio Free Europe
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin
Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe (is anyone going to the Scala show next month?)
FoW at the Scala
Just ordered my tickets today. Very excited because I thought I'd be out of the country, but a change of plan means I can go!
R.E.M.
Radio Free Europe from Murmer.
"In the days of my youth..."
Mink Deville - "Venus of Avenue D"
I know I'm not the only Willy Deville fan on this board, so let's have the song that kick-started the first Mink Deville album, "Cabretta", done here in a smokin' live version on German television...
I cannot believe this has not been namechecked yet
For me, it will always be this:
(Janie Jones by The Clash, by the way)
The sound of marching jackboots.
A cheap holiday in other peoples misery...
Of course!
I reject all my other choices - this is the one. That absolutely blew my mind when I first heard it, back in the Spring of 1994.
Good Call.
I was going to mention this track if I hadn't done Oasis.
A debatable one here
It depends whether you recognise the eponymous Ron Sexsmith as his first album (which it was for most of the world).
Years later his independent debut Grand Opera Lane got a reissue, but I recognise RS as the debut and so I offer you Secret Heart.
The Mighty Dexys - Burn It Down
The trawl through the radio dial is now pre-history but it was so typically Dexys - big headed and cheeky bastards - it still gives me the bumps.
And what a song. Stick your (anti) Irish jokes up yer arse. You never heard of Oscar Wilde, Brndan Behan, Sean O'Casey?
Seagull
Less shoe gazing more hair-raising! Ride's debut side one/track one was full-on Home Counties sonic attack.
How about...
...this?
(I Don't Want To Go Home by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes)
Contrary to claims above
this very well may be the winner.
Patti Smith - Confrontational.
Southside - Rocks like a mutha, sings with deep soul, and there's a real song with a tune.
Fucking Dress!
First track, first album....Dont Fall by The Chameleons
One from this year
A Walk Across the Rooftops by the Blue Nile
Romantic yearning from the kick-off.
I've changed my mind
Can't believe I missed this.
Planet Claire
by The B 52s
Boots by The Residents
Kicks open the door for you to visit the weird world of the Eyeballed Ones. You might last one minute or possibly, the next thirty six years of countless albums.
Time has told me this is one
Cue lightshow...
Not exactly her debut
but excluding the Gospel and standards stuff that came before it, this is the moment that the world discovered its singer
From the album , I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You), the title track.
Listen. Have sex. Simple.
Predictable? Moi?
Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device
you've got me girl on the runaround
'Remake Remodel' from Roxy Music's debut album would be my personal favourite. I'll never forget the impression they made when I first saw them on Whistle Test - awesome!!