# Ballads that opened albums, and ballads that COULD have

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballads-that-opened-albums-and-ballads-that-could-have/288159>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 3, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballads-that-opened-albums-and-ballads-that-could-have/288159 "2005-02-03T13:29:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballads-that-opened-albums-and-ballads-that-could-have/288159/1 "2005-02-03T13:29:07Z")

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A two-prong question, part memory and part opinion. For the purposes of the question, I’d generally rather not address greatest hits collections or best-ofs, just original issue recordings.

What’s the most effective use of a ballad as the opening track of an album, and what song _could_ open an album? Many artists have opened their recordings with an uptempo song, what George Martin called a “potboiler” in reference to Beatles albums, but not as many do it with slow songs.

For the first part of the question, I’ll go with my fave: The Band’s “Tears Of Rage” from _Music From Big Pink_. I can’t imagine that album starting any other way. A chancy move in its time, starting with a slow song, but it really stood out as a result.

The one I think could open an album would be “Rocket Man” from Elton John’s _Honky Chateau_. I dubbed this song as the first one on an 8-track tape in my younger days, and to me, it still works as a great, if moody and dark, opener.

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**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\
**Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ballads-that-opened-albums-and-ballads-that-could-have/288159/2 "2005-02-04T13:54:17Z")

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Forgot to add…I was basically thinking of any slow tempo song, so I’m also thinking that something like _Abbey Road_’s opener “Come Together” would count.