# great opening songs on debut albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392 "2010-02-25T15:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/1 "2010-02-25T15:22:41Z")
I appreciate a great opening song by a new band to make a statement. Some of my favorites: [Pain Lies on the Riverside](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD67wlWhC6U) by Live - while _Throwing Copper_ was their best known album, _Mental Jewelry_ was their debut, and this opening song is incredible… they were only 17 at the time… [Once](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPkz7bZoq18) by Pearl Jam - the opening ambient sound complements the closing song on the album, but the initial riff kicks off a great album… [Jenny Was a Friend of Mine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4aFhDQwEHU) by The Killers - maybe I am a sucker for a good opening base line, but this song just grabs me… [Elephant Talk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrT49daPCQ) - by King Crimson… ok, Crimson loyalists will point out that this is not their first album, but it is the first offering from the Fripp/Belew/Levin/Bruford foursome… the opening riff(s) let you know what you are in for, and Belew and Fripp’s guitar work is extraordinary… [Crack in the Sidewalk](http://www.rhapsody.com/house-of-freaks) - by House of Freaks… an obscure band, but one of my favorite discs… the opening guitar riff and melody/song have great vibe… those are a few of my favs… whatcha got? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/2 "2010-02-25T15:31:38Z")
“Break On Through (To the Other Side)” - The Doors You know you are off to a great start when the first song on your first album is censored. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/3 "2010-02-25T15:41:40Z")
["Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxygqSTO1lQ) off _Horses_ by Patti Smith is not only a great opening song on a debut album, it has the best opening line of an opening song of a debut album EVER: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine!” ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/4 "2010-02-25T15:57:50Z")
I’ve always thought that Radio Free Europe on R.E.M.'s Murmur was a great opening song for a debut album. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/5 "2010-02-25T16:00:50Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > [Elephant Talk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrT49daPCQ) - by King Crimson… ok, Crimson loyalists will point out that this is not their first album, but it is the first offering from the Fripp/Belew/Levin/Bruford foursome… the opening riff(s) let you know what you are in for, and Belew and Fripp’s guitar work is extraordinary… 21st Century Schizoid Man was a pretty astonishing opening in its own right (1st cut on ‘In the Court of the Crimson King’) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/6 "2010-02-25T16:04:58Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > [Elephant Talk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrT49daPCQ) - by King Crimson… ok, Crimson loyalists will point out that this is not their first album, but it is the first offering from the Fripp/Belew/Levin/Bruford foursome… the opening riff(s) let you know what you are in for, and Belew and Fripp’s guitar work is extraordinary… You mention this with all sorts of caveats when you have one of the greatest opening songs in _any_ album, let alone a first album: **21st Century Schizoid Man** Other choices: \*\* Purple Haze\*\* by Jimi Hendrix **Tears of Rage** by the Band **Paper Sun** by Traffic (US album), though the British **Heaven is in Your Mind** is also up there. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/7 "2010-02-25T16:06:04Z")
Guns and Roses - Welcome to the Jungle of course. And I’m not even a big fan. ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/8 "2010-02-25T16:19:39Z")
Welcome to the Jungle is a great one. My thought was Good Times Bad Times by Led Zep. It is a great example of their loud, rollicking, tight but loose sound. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/9 "2010-02-25T16:46:06Z")
Damn, just got beaten to “Good Times, Bad Times.” That was pretty much a statement of who they were right there. Liz Phair’s **6’1"** was also a mission statement type of song, at least for early career Phair. Stone Roses **I Wanna Be Adored** Gang of Four **Ether** The Clash **Safe European Home** Public Enemy **Your Gonna Get Yours** ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/10 "2010-02-25T16:48:29Z")
More Than a Feeling by Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/11 "2010-02-25T17:03:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > The Clash **Safe European Home** > \*\* A great track but not on their debut album. - ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/12 "2010-02-25T17:05:02Z")
_ **Are You Experienced?** _ had different opening tracks, depending where you lived. In the UK, the first track was “Foxy lady.” In the US, it was “Purple Haze.” Either way, that had to have been a pretty phenomenal opening, back in 1967. I’ll second the nomination of “21st Century Schizoid Man.” Other nominees: “I Will Follow” from U2’s _ **Boy** _. The title track of _ **Black Sabbath** _. “Can’t Get Enough” from _ **Bad Company** _. “Transmaniacon MC” from _ **Blue Oyster Cult** _. I never had much use for the Sex Pistols, but “Holiday In the Sun” was a great song to lead off _ **Never Mind the Bollocks** _. “Blitzkrieg Bop” was a great debut track for _ **The Ramones** _. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/13 "2010-02-25T17:06:51Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > A great track but not on their debut album. > > - Crap. For some reason I can never remember that the eponymous album is the first one. Should be pretty easy to remember, but no. “Janie Jones” is a good first album, first track, too, though. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/14 "2010-02-25T17:08:05Z")
Astronomy Domine by Pink Floyd. A great way to start an illustrious recording career. Suzanne by Leonard Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/15 "2010-02-25T17:11:04Z")
Oh, and while Big Country didn’t have a long career, their debut album (called “The Crossing,” in America) was brilliant, and that drum solo was a perfect opening to “In a Big Country.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/16 "2010-02-25T17:13:07Z")
Oh, forgot one: Smashing Pumkins **I Am One** ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/17 "2010-02-25T17:15:02Z")
“She Blinded Me With Science” - **Golden Age of Wireless** by Thomas Dolby Do they have to be well-known songs? If not I’ll throw in “I Must Be High” - **A.M.** by Wilco “Comanche” - **Motorcade of Generosity** by CAKE “Hungry Freaks Daddy” - **Freak Out** by the Mothers of Invention ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/18 "2010-02-25T17:39:14Z")
**Rock The Nation** from _Montrose_ **I Just Want To Make Love To You** from _Foghat_ ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/19 "2010-02-25T17:42:04Z")
“Bat Out Of Hell” by Meat Loaf “Hit The Lights” off **Kill 'Em All** by Metallica ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392/20 "2010-02-25T17:47:06Z")
“Cult of Personality” by Living Colour, off _[Vivid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivid_%28album%29)_. One of the most underrated bands of the last 20 years, if you ask me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-opening-songs-on-debut-albums/530392.md?page=2)