Entertainment For Lively Minds
What's the best opening to an album?
And I don't mean just the first track. I mean the first three tracks - bang, bang, bang - each one superb.
Purely by chance the last three albums I played were:
John Grant's Queen of Denmark
Dare by The Human League
The first Stone Roses album
Each one has a trio of opening tracks -
TC & Honeybear, I Wanna Go To Marz, Where the Dreams Go To Die
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of, Open Your Heart, The Sound Of The Crowd
I Wanna Be Adored, She Bangs The Drums, Waterfall
- that make you wonder if there's any point in listening to the rest of the album as things can only go downhill (although to be fair each record makes a noble effort to sustain the early brilliance).
What other albums start with three stone-cold classics (I'm not counting greatest hits)?
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Welcome Interstate Managers
Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne:
Mexican Wine, Bright Future In Sales, Stacy's Mom
Mind you, the first nine tracks on that album are all great in my view.
Why stop at nine?!
Track Ten is Halley's Waitress, one of the wittiest songs they've ever done... unless it's an old joke that I've never heard, which is very possible!
Why stop at Ten?!
Hung Up On You (at track 11) is one of the best country pastiches ever. It's up there with Faraway Eyes by the Stones!
Holy cow! WIM really *is* a fine album, isn't it.
That's why...
...at the last Thames Valley Mingle I nominated it as my current favourite when put on the spot, to a few blank looks. It's not perfect, though - Peace and Love is irritating. But I like the way it closes with Yours and Mine.
Isn't the new album due out soon?
It is
The new album is out in August and if the three tracks to be released from it so far (either as downloads or streams) are anything to go by then, as usual, it's going to be worth the wait. My only concern is that they're going to end up touring here while I'm on holiday in their home country.
August 2nd
August 2nd. If you visit their website, you'll find links to stream a couple of the news tracks already.
yup - apparently so.
not sure if they're popping over in this general direction to promote it. Their appeal is surely very selective nowadays...
I can understand people giving you blank looks. Most people will think that they're one-trick ponies, in the world of Power Pop, but there's a lot more going on there.
One trick?
If that's what most people think then most people are wrong! They're pretty much at the top of the tree as far as Power Pop is concerned. They may not be prolific but the quality control is second to none. The only bands that can currently come close (in the PowerPop sphere) are Army Navy & The New Pornographers. I'd be delighted to be corrected as it would almost certainly mean a new discovery for me.
and then this fantastic song arrives as track 4...
The Real New Fall LP (Formerly Country On The Click)
Green Eyed Loco-Man
Mountain Energei
Theme From Sparta F.C
Good call.
The Unutterable's opening of Cyber Insekt, Two Librans and W.B is also brilliant, and I really like The Marshall Suite's Touch Sensitive, F-oldin' Money and Shake Off.
But as with many things Fall it comes down to Hex: The Classical, Jawbone and Air Rifle and Hip Priest.
As Soon As
I saw the title of the first post, I thought of The Real New Fall LP.
Great start to an album.
My Three Are
ELO-A New World Record,Tightrope,Telephone Line,Rockaria
XTC-English Settlement,Runaways,Ball and Chain,Senses Working Overtime
Everything Everything-Man Alive,MY KZ,UR BF,Qwerty Finger,Schoolin'
XTC
I would go for Oranges and Lemons myself:
Garden of Earthly Delights
Mayor of Simpleton
King for a Day
Hounds of Love
First three tracks build up to a crescendo:
Running up that Hill
Hounds of Love
The Big Sky
Then, Mother Stands for Comfort tones things down a bit and allows you to catch your breath, before Cloudbusting sweeps you up and carries you to the end of the side.
I can't think of a better first side of an album.
Phantom Power, Super Furry Animals
Hello Sunshine - the lovely lilting voice of Griff singing 'Hello sunshine, come into my life' banishes all cares and woes.
Liberty Belle, then Golden Retriever - like a great lost glam song
Have an up.
Hello Sunshine was one of the songs on my 'favourites' CD I compiled for the recent Massive meet-up.
And you're right, you can't fault those first three tracks on the album.
Here's 3
Ignoring the obvious selection of three Bob Dylan albums.
Byrds - Notorious Byrd Brothers - Artificial Energy, Goin' Back, Natural Harmony
Dr John - Gris-Gris - Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya, Danse Kalinda Ba Doom, Mam Roux
David Crosby/Graham Nash - Live - Immigration man, Lee Shore, I used to be a king
Is a live album cheating?
Is a live album cheating?
Yes. Sorry.
Allrighty
then I'll go with the obvious :
Gene Clark - No other - Life's greatest fool, Silver Raven, No Other
RT - 'Rumour and Sigh'
Read About Love
I Feel So Good
I Misunderstood
Not too shabby.
Sparks - Propaganda
1. Propaganda
2. At Home, At Work, At Play
3. Reinforcements
Not really a contender for 'Greatest' I suppose
But I've always found it intersting that the absolutely ace opening three songs on the first lp by The Cars are also the only songs by that band I really like
That's the point I'm making
If you've got three great songs you've got to be pretty confident (to the point of arrogance) to stick them as the first three numbers on your first album (and all my examples are first albums of sorts). You're making a real statement but you better make sure you can follow it up.
Additional point:
The reason I thought of that Cars album is that back in the days of cassettes (espesh handmade ones with entire albums on one side of a c90), when spooling past less loved songs was a pain in the arse, one tended to reach for frontloaded albums and that was one that got a lot of play. (Another one that springs to mind is Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall").
Course if you tell the kids that nowadays.... Don't know they're born most of 'em....
Pet Shop Boys - Very
"Can You Forgive Her?"
"I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing"
"Liberation"
The Stone Roses - Second Coming
Breaking Into Heaven
Driving South
Ten Storey Love Song
Three of their very best - quality control dipped alarmingly thereafter up to the last couple of tracks.
Better than...
...the first 3 tracks on their first album? For me, only Ten Storey Love Song is in the same league.
Hmm...
Breaking Into Heaven is probably the best thing they ever committed to record. Driving South is a decent stab at Led Zep (better than any stabs Led Zep had at being Led Zep post 1975 anyway) and Ten Storey Love Song is just gorgeous. Honourable draw.
Breaking Into Heaven
Is indeed a high point in their canon. In fact, I'm going to put it on. Ten Storey Love Song is wonderful too, but I can take or leave Driving South.
Love "Forever Changes"
1. Alone Again Or
2. A House Is Not A Motel
3. Andmoreagain
Ramones "Rocket To Russia"
1. Cretin Hop
2. Rockaway Beach
3. Here Today Gone Tomorrow
Shack "H.M.S. Fable"
1. Natalie's Party
2. Comedy
3. Pull Together
Teenage Fanclub "Grand Prix"
1. About You
2. Sparky's Dream
3. Mellow Doubt
Blondie "Parallel Lines"
1. Hangin' On The Telephone
2. One Way Or Another
3. Picture This
The Lyres "On Fyre"
1. Don't Give It Up Now
2. Help You Ann
3. I Confess
Lyres ...
Even better if She Pays The Rent was one of them.
Ah, someone else here
who appreciates Lyres!
Forever changes
- there is one line on the whole album I would have different if I could.
That's reasonably close to perfection.
A question ...
What would you replace with "That's reasonably close to perfection"?
May I ask...
...what line?
Oh !
"The snot has caked against my pants...it has turned into crystal"
I don't know what I would replace it with, and it's meant to jar anyway. Which it does. It's probably the banality of the "bogie" imagery with a UK/US difference in the use of "pants" and also "against" seems wrong when it should really be "on" - but that wouldn't scan properly.
It's only 2 seconds on the whole album - which isn't too bad.
I guessed....
...it might be that one.
I personally love it.
yes sir me too
I picked up on that line reasonably young and thought "that's mental". I thought it was great!
Right
Close To The Edge
And You & I
Siberian Khatru - Yes.
What do you mean 'it's the whole album?'......
Okay, my response would change everytime you asked me but here's some to be going on with:
Songs From Northern Britain - Teenage Fanclub
Start Again
Ain't That Enough
Can't Feel My Soul
I'll also take:
Hats - The Blue Nile
Over The Hillside
The Downtown Lights
Lets Go Out Tonight
Bit obscure perhaps but...
The album is Gigi D'agostino - L'amour Toujours
1 - Another Way
2 - L'amour Toujours
3 - Elisir
4 - The Riddle
5 - La Passion
6 - The Way
All stone cold classics of the Eurodance genre. It goes a little bit downhill from there, however.
Sound Affects
Pretty Green
Monday
But I'm Different Now
All Mod Cons:
All Mods Cons
To Be Someone (Didn't We Have A Nice Time)
Mr Clean
The Nightfly:
IGY
Green Flower Street
Ruby baby
Searching For The Young Soul Rebels
Dexys of course.
First that whirl through an old radio dial. Then
Burn It Down
Tell Me When My Light Turns Green
The Teams That Meet In Caffs.
Elton John - Madman Across the Water
Tiny Dancer
Levon
Razor Face
Madman itself is a none too shabby fourth
Stones - Sticky Fingers
Brown Sugar
Sway
Wild Horses
Spirit - Twelve Dreams of Dr Sardonicus
Prelude-Nothing to Hide
Nature's Way
Animal Zoo
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece
Fair Play
Linden Arden
Who Was That Masked Man
Definitely Maybe
Rock n Roll Star
Shakermaker
Live Forever
BOOM
Definately Definately
3 songs that sum up the swagger of the Gallaghers and indeed the time. A great start to an album! Couldn't agree more.
Sugar
Copper Blue -
The Act We Act
A Good Idea
Changes
Blisteringly great from the word go
Christ, almost forgot Midlake's Van Occupanther
Roscoe
Bandits
Head Home
The whole album is most beautifully persuasive set of songs I've heard in a decade
- I doubt they'll ever top it
Van Occupanther
Was going to be on my original list but, for me, after a blistering start with Roscoe & Bandits, Head Home just dips a little bit - if the title track or Branches followed then it would be in for sure.
I'm talking bollocks
Have just listened to Head Home again and it's magnificent.
i knew you'd come round...
head home is a bit of a family favorite chez reader, my boy has already cracked the flute intro
Fine call on both, Carl.
Particularly Copper Blue which is very much a toploaded album.
the first time
i heard copper blue it was like being pinned to the wall by this onslaught of guitar - but after hoover dam the effect dissipates
Aja
Black Cow
Aja
Deacon Blues
...and they're not even the best three songs on a 7 song record.
That'll be Peg.
Malcolm Middleton
Into the Woods starts:
Break My Heart
Devastation
Loneliness Shines
which is pretty much perfect
UNPOC -Fifth column kicks off with the superb quintet:
Amsterdam
Been a While Sinc I went Away
I don't feel too Steady
Here on my Own
Avignon
(deffo need to go as far as Here on My Own)
And Nick Cave - Tender Prey, not fave album overall but it starts
The Mercy Seat
Up Jumped the Devil
Deanna
Strewth...
Genesis (!)
My i-Tunes ratings tells me this:
Genesis -Trick of the Tail:
Dance On a Volcano
Entangled
Squonk
Bowie - Station to Station:
Station to Station
Golden Years
Word on a Wing
Richard Hawley - Truelove's Gutter:
As The Dawn Breaks
Open Up Your Door
Ashes On The Fire
The New Yardbirds' 'Physical Graffiti'...
Custard Pie
The Rover
In My Time of Dying
Not bad... not bad at all.
A few more:
Burning Spear - "Hail H.I.M."
Hail H.I.M.
Columbus
Road Foggy
Vic Godard & the Subway Sect - "What's the Matter Boy"
Stop that Girl
Birth & Death
Stand Back
Nic Jones - "Penguin Eggs"
Canadee-I-O
The Drowned Lovers
The Humpback Whale
Yusef Lateef - "Eastern Sounds"
The Plum Blossom
Blues for the Orient
Chinq Mau
Echo & the Bunnymen - "Heaven Up Here"
Show of Strength
With a Hip
Over the Wall
As usual the answer is..
David Bowie- Let's Dance.
1. Modern Love
2. China Girl
3. Let's Dance
(It's a shame the album falls apart after that, but those three tracks are brilliant)
Opening schmopening...
...it's nearly the whole album! I am sure that my original vinyl copy had a mere 7 tracks including the previously available Cat People and the wretched Ricochet. Wikipedia seems to add "Shake It", but I don't remember that one. I remember liking the album, particularly those three openers as you say, but feeling a trifle disappointed on the whole value-for-money thing. Yet I believe it's his biggest seller by far.
Totally agree
about the worth of those three tracks.
There's an undoubted dip after that, no doubt, but it's still enjoyable from the point of view of admiring the peerless musicianship / production. Then it ends (well, the proper album at least) with this, which is far from shabby...
Not every album has to be '10 solid gold classics' you know ;-)
U2's Joshua Tree: "Where the
U2's Joshua Tree: "Where the Streets Have No Name"//"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"//"With or Without You"
Story behind this, as told on BBC documentaries: Steve Lillywhite mixed the album, then asked his wife Kirsty MacColl to arrange the running order. When she was asked what cunning tonal algorithm she's used to select the optimum arrangement for an overarching lyrical and musical narrative she replied "Best song first, second best song second..."
So, Kirsty wasn't too keen on...
..."Mothers of the Disappeared," then?
Good Start
Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks:
Holidays In The Sun
Bodies
No Feelings
Clash - Give Em Enough Rope:
Safe European Home
English Civil War
Tommy Gun
Jam - All Mod Cons:
All Mod Cons
To Be Someone
Mr Clean
Who - Sell Out:
Armenia City In The Sky
Mary Ann With The Shakey Hand
Tattoo
Big Country: The Crossing;
In A Big Country
Inwards
Chance
An up for The Crossing
Would have liked to have sequenced it with Lost Patrol replacing Chance but still excellent
And what a great
closer as well in "Porrohman"...
An up from me too
What a cracking album.
REM: Lifes Rich Pageant
Begin The Begin
These Days
Fall On Me (my favourite REM song of all)
Rest of the album's pretty good too, but my God those first three...
Beatles For Sale
Maybe I should lose a point for choosing a Beatles album, but hopefully I gain it back for choosing their most overlooked one. I don't care what anybody says: side 1 of this record is staggeringly good (INCLUDING "Mr. Moonlight." Listen to the vocal.) Side 2 loses its way a bit, but it has always been a favourite of mine.
1. "No Reply": Dick James reportedly called it the first "complete story" Lennon told in song.
2. "I'm A Loser": Lennon's Dylan influence making its debut, and a lovely harmonica solo.
3. "Baby's In Black": an easy contender for the best track they ever recorded. Let's face it, it's a belter of a sea shanty.
The joy...
...of seeing someone else publicly doff the cap to 'Baby's in Black'. It's sublime, yet bizarrely overlooked (at least it seems that way from the, ahem, 'Beatles discussions' I have with friends/family/luckless passers-by).
it's a great track.
I just find myself humming
'oh dear, what can the matter be' to it.
It's a joy
that riches can still be mined in them there Beatles. Off the T of my H:
'There's a Place' - not-of-this-world harmonies in the chorus.
'Your Mother Should Know' - ditto, for the intro.
Other favourites of mine have already been mentioned.
So I'll go for a bit of Blue Öyster Cult.
Secret Treaties.
Career Of Evil
Subhuman
Dominance And Submission
Three of their finest, one after another.
Replacements: Pleased to Meet Me
1) I.O.U.
2) Alex Chilton
3) I Don't Know
Also,
Ryan Adams - Gold
1) New York, New York
2) Firecracker
3) Answering Bell
Blimey "Gold" what a record
Is Ryan Adams The Matrix of pop. Like The Matrix sequels every subsequent RA release pushes the magnificence of his older stuff out of your thoughts (well mine anyway..) until someone shoves them back in your face.
INXS - Kick
No, wait, come back...
- Guns In The Sky BANG
- New Sensation BOOM
- Devil Inside POW
- Need You Tonight KNOCKOUT
Great album.
Hello?
Earfucked by Pixies
Debaser
Tame
Wave Of Mutilation
Oblivious, Boy Wonders, Walk Out To Winter
A 5 star rated triple humdinger at 17 years old. Living in East Kilbride. Amazing.
Just imagine ...
... what wonders Green Jacket Grey would have revealed.
Remain in Light
Born Under Punches
Crosseyed and Painless
The Great Curve
... and just to follow up Once in a Lifetime and Houses in Motion.
And I must add that ....
Sleeping Lessons
Australia
(Pam Berry)
Phantom Limb
.. is none too shabby either. That James Mercer should stay away from Dangermouse and get back to his band and create some more magic.
Surprised Revolver hasn't been mentioned
Taxman
Eleanor Rigby
I'm Only Sleeping
Velvet Crush, "Teenage Symphonies to God"
Hold Me Up
My Blank Pages
Why Not Your Baby
Brilliant start to that album!
A Few More
Anita Baker - Rapture
Sweet Love
You Bring Me Joy
Caught Up In the Rapture
The Congos - Heart Of The Congos
Fisherman
Congoman
Open up The Gate
Indigo Girls - First Album
Closer To Fine
Secure Yourself
Kid Fears
Teardrop Explodes - Kilimanjaro
Ha Ha I'm Drowning
Sleeping Gas
Treason
What about Ziggy Stardust?
Five Years
Soul Love
Moonage Daydream
or ABC's Lexicon of Love
Show me
Poison Arrow
Many happy returns
Or if I may suggest one more
Bob Dylan's Blood on the tracks
Tangled up in blue
Simple twist of fate
You're a big girl now
Of course The Lexicon
Have an up for that.
If you put a gun to my head, that may be the album I plumped for as my favourite ever.
The Doors by The Doors
Break On Through
Soul Kitchen
Chrystal Ship
Really quite a strong opening I feel - works for me
Hmmm....
The Anna Calvi record:
'Rider to the Sea'
'No More Words'
'Desire'
Rush - 'Moving Pictures'
'Tom Sawyer'
'Red Barchetta'
'YYZ'
The Smiths - 'The Queen is Dead'
'The Queen is Dead'
'Frankly Mr Shankly'
'I Know It's Over'
and, of course, 'Tubular Bells'!!
'Part 1'
'Part 2'
Oh.
The Waterboys - A Pagan Place
1."Church Not Made With Hands" - 6:05
2."All The Things She Gave Me" - 4:34
3."The Thrill Is Gone" - 4:33
It's either that or Neil Young's Ragged Glory;
1."Country Home" – 7:05
2."White Line" – 2:57
3."F*!#in' Up" – 5:54
I was going to say "This Is The Sea"
although, in truth, it's a pretty perfect album.
Don't Bang The Drum
Whole Of The Moon
Spirit
Transformer - Lou Reed
1. Vicious
2. Andy's chest
3. Perfect day
An awful lot of these suggestions....
....are singles pretending to be album tracks.
Sometimes only one, sometimes (in the case of Oasis and Bowie) all three.
Rubber Soul:
Drive My Car / Norwegian Wood / You Won't See Me
Five Leaves Left:
Time Has Told Me / River Man / Three Hours
Between The Buttons:
Yesterday's Papers / My Obsession / Back Street Girl
Not a single in sight.
Accadacca
Highway to Hell. All the way through - killer, no filler. High way to Hell, Girls Got Rhythm and Walk All Over You to kick it off.
None of their other albums goes the first 3 rounds, although many will have 3 or more greats.
Sgt Pepper's not their best
but you can't argue with Sgt Pepper/With A Little Help/Lucy In The Shy as an opening salvo
Lucy In The Shy
would've of course been the better title. I have images of her at the village fete being pelted with coconuts now.
Lucy In The Shy With Coconuts
Suddenly someone is there at the tombola
A girl with huge black eyes
Probably not what you're after ...
Edit: definitely not what you're after. Note to self "read the question"! Three tracks! Three!
but at an impressionable age, Richard Burton's narration and the opening bars of War of the Worlds left an impression on me.
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Just Like Honey
The Living End
Taste The Floor
Propaganda - A Secret Wish
Dream Within A Dream
The Murder of Love
Jewel/Duel
Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House
Sweetie
Italian Dry Ice
Hollywood Bass Player
I like this game, so I shall go out on another couple of limbs
Crowded House (Mean to me, World where you live, Now we're getting somewhere)
David Gray - White Ladder (Please forgive me, Babylon, My oh my)
Tonic - Lemon Parade (Open up your eyes, Casual affair, If you could only see)
Jeff Buckley - Grace (Mojo Pin, Grace, Last Goodbye)
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever (Free fallin', I won't back down, Love is a long road)
Radiohead - Ok Computer (Airbag, Paranoid Andriod, Subterranean Homesick Alien)
Tom Robinson - Still Loving You (Feel so good/hurt so bad, Nothing like the real thing, Still loving you)
World Party - Bang! (Kingdom come, Is it like today?, What is love all about?)
Regurgitator - Unit (I like your old stuff better than your new stuff, Everyday Formula, !). Well, it always makes me smile.
Texas - Southside (I don't want a lover, Tell me why, Everyday Now)
Third Eye Blind (Losing a whole year, Narcolepsy, Semi-charmed life)
Bang!
There's an album I haven't listened to in far too long. I shall rectify this tonight.
World Party...
Your post prompted me to listen to them again.
This is fantastic, isn't it?
BTW, that's a reunion I'd like to see. Wallinger with the Waterboys. Can't find the reference online, but I seem to remember an interview with Karl some years back where he urged Mike to stop being an Irish traditional [can't remember the derogatory term] and come back to the world of pop. In principle, I agree with the sentiment, as this is a pop song to the very core of its being...
Ooo....you had me up to Texas...
Are they back supporting Foregone Conclusion?
Hmm,
I thought Radiohead would catch the flak, but I can see why Texas would. Maybe over-familiarity will do that. I just played it to death when it came out, accompanied me on many, many long drives, and numerous overseas aquaitances without the associated baggage fell for it too.
Ahem.....
The Band "The Band" - Across The Great Divide; Rag Mama Rag; The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.
Van Morrison "Moondance" - And It Stoned Me; Moondance; Crazy Love (and that's before you get to Caravan and Into The Mystic - has he ever bettered that little lot?)
Townes van Zandt - "Our Mother the Mountain"
- Be Here to Love Me
- Kathleen
- She Came and She Touched Me
Ian Hunter; the eponymous elpee.
Track One:
Track Two:
Track Three:
Exodus !
Natural Mystic
So much things to say
Guiltiness
leading onto the perfect brilliance of the rest of the album.
Lyres On Fyre
Don't Give Up Now, Help You Ann, I Confess are superb, but you don't stop listening to side one till the end it's that good.
There are so many...
Nick Lowe - "The Convincer":
1) Homewrecker
2) Only a Fool Breaks His Own Heart
3) Lately I've Let Things Slide
Little Feat - "Dixie Chicken"
1) Dixie Chicken
2) Two Trains
3) Roll Um Easy
Frank Zappa - "Hot Rats"
1) Peaches En Regalia
2) Willie the Pimp
3) Son Of Mr Green Genes
This has been a very enjoyable thread, but...
... there hasn't been enough jazz in it, has there, now, Massivers?
So, better late than never:
Lee Morgan - "the Sidewinder"
The Sidewinder
Totem Pole
Gary's Notebook
Keith Jarrett Trio - "Changeless"
Dancing
Endless
Lifeline
... and I think I'll just sneak in the opening three tracks of my favourite album of the year so far, Matthew Halsall's scintillating "On the Go"
Music for a Dancing Mind
Song for Charlie
The End of Dukkha
High Land Hard Rain/Surf
First three tracks...
1 Oblivious
2 Boy Wonders
3 Walk Out to Winter
I love the whole album but these are three works of genius and just lift the mood every time. And then in a totally different vein, the great Roddy Frame starts his Surf album with these three gems...
1 Over You
2 Surf
3 Small World
I'd love him to re-record High Land
Hearing him play some of the old songs at his solo acoustic shows really highlighted how much the 80's production on the album grates on me.