November 27Nov 27 Cherub Rock has to be up there..I know Billy is a douche, but god damn his run was great. Off the top of my head.. Jane's Addiction - Stop - Ritual De Lo Habitual Metallica - Blackened - Justice Alice in Chains - Them Bones - Dirt Outkast - Gasoline Dreams - Stankonia Modest Mouse - Third Planet - Moon & Antarctica *and of course Goodie Mob - Free - Soul Food Edited November 27Nov 27 by goodiemob
November 27Nov 27 It's an interesting question, do you mean favorite song that happens to be an album opener, or best at opening an album? Gimme Shelter is the GOAT song and happens to be an opener, and Cherub Rock and Good Times Bad Times are really good songs that are openers. White Zombies Electric Head Pt 1 is probably the best at actually opening an album.
November 27Nov 27 Very tough to beat Gimme Shelter because it sets the table for Let it Bleed perfectly. What's Goin' On by Marvin Gaye's gotta be in the conversation. Tangled Up in Blue told you that Blood on the Tracks was playing for keeps out of the gate. Thunder Road from Born to Run. And it Stoned Me on Moondance. Where the Streets Have No Name/Joshua Tree. Time of the Preacher/Read Headed Stranger. Wildflowers by TP. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning just invites you to have a bourbon while Frank tells you how much love and pain are entwined. There are some damn fine opening tracks. But album tracking as a whole is very much a lost art.
November 27Nov 27 Hard to say favorite, but a few came to mind off the top of my head. I immediately go back to middle school/early high school for some reason Black Dog- Led Zeppelin IV Enter Sandman- Metallica Straight Outta Compton- NWA Welcome to the Jungle- GnR The Intro>The Magic Number- De La Soul Round Here- Counting Crows
November 27Nov 27 "Refugee" Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Damn The Torpedoes) "Barracuda" Heart (Little Queen) "Good Times Roll" The Cars (The Cars) "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Nirvana (Nevermind) "I Am One" Smashing Pumpkins (Gish)
November 27Nov 27 3 hours ago, Tylerocks said: Hard to say favorite, but a few came to mind off the top of my head. I immediately go back to middle school/early high school for some reason Black Dog- Led Zeppelin IV Enter Sandman- Metallica Straight Outta Compton- NWA Welcome to the Jungle- GnR The Intro>The Magic Number- De La Soul Round Here- Counting Crows These are one of those times we need rep comments back so I can tell you I only pos repped you for the 1st five ones, and in fact almost gave you the middle finger for fucking Round Here.
November 28Nov 28 Airbag - Radiohead (OK Computer) I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco (Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) Held - Spoon (Lucifer on the Sofa) To Be Young - Ryan Adams (Heartbreaker) Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins (Siamese Dream) Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys (AM)
November 28Nov 28 Man I've always been a huge fan of "Wild Flower" off of The Cult's Electric. Also "The One Thing" from INXS Shabooh Shoobah
November 28Nov 28 "One Little Victory" opening Rush's Vapor Trails. A song that ended up gaining them a whole new generation of fans, starting with the drums after Neil had gone through all his shit, and just a badass song period. A lot of folks don't listen to anything Rush did after the 1980s, and miss out. Edited November 28Nov 28 by Rimbo
November 28Nov 28 10 hours ago, texasdago said: Man I've always been a huge fan of "Wild Flower" off of The Cult's Electric. Also "The One Thing" from INXS Shabooh Shoobah This also came to mind for me. Electric was the first CD I bought, think 7th grade? What a great album
November 28Nov 28 I stopped buying new Rush after being let down by Signals. That track is about as close as I can imagine them getting to garage/punk/grunge. Pretty cool. Such a trashy hi-hat sound and drum performance in general. Not typically Peart.
November 28Nov 28 4 hours ago, jimmyjazz said: I stopped buying new Rush after being let down by Signals. That track is about as close as I can imagine them getting to garage/punk/grunge. Pretty cool. Such a trashy hi-hat sound and drum performance in general. Not typically Peart. They put out some really good stuff on Snakes and Arrows and Clockwork Angels.
November 28Nov 28 The Spirit of Radio and Tom Sawyer by Rush. I could name others but I love the band. Runnin’ With Devil on Van Halen’s debut, with those car horns that were slowed down to make that cool opening effect. Ah Via Musicom/Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson Soulful Terrain - Eric Johnson On The Loose - Saga. Takes me back to high school It’s kinda three tracks that run together, and ends with Armageddon - Aldo Nova We played that one in my high school garage band and it was fun Don’t Tell Me You Love Me - Night Ranger Still the best song they ever made One Of These Days - Pink Floyd
November 28Nov 28 Personal Favorites Sting Me - The Black Crowes Pearl Jam - Go Airbag - Radiohead Subdivisions - Rush Play the Game - Queen Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys Yes - Roundabout Beetlebum - Blur The Concept - Teenage Fanclub Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump
November 29Nov 29 1 hour ago, Rip76 said: Personal Favorites Sting Me - The Black Crowes Pearl Jam - Go Airbag - Radiohead Subdivisions - Rush Play the Game - Queen Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys Yes - Roundabout Beetlebum - Blur The Concept - Teenage Fanclub Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump Man. Roundabout is a dang good choice for this thread.
December 1Dec 1 On 11/28/2025 at 5:22 PM, Rip76 said: Personal Favorites Sting Me - The Black Crowes Pearl Jam - Go Airbag - Radiohead Subdivisions - Rush Play the Game - Queen Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys Yes - Roundabout Beetlebum - Blur The Concept - Teenage Fanclub Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump I am not even OCD and the way you listed these piss me off lol
December 1Dec 1 On 11/28/2025 at 5:22 PM, Rip76 said: Personal Favorites Sting Me - The Black Crowes Pearl Jam - Go Airbag - Radiohead Subdivisions - Rush Play the Game - Queen Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys Yes - Roundabout Beetlebum - Blur The Concept - Teenage Fanclub Beastie Boys - Shake Your Rump Shake Your Rump isn't the opening track though...
December 1Dec 1 1 minute ago, elguapo said: Shake Your Rump isn't the opening track though... True, sorta. TatG is more like an intro.
December 1Dec 1 played out now since every sporting arena uses it but Seven Nation Army on Elephant was cool
December 4Dec 4 “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana’s Nevermind) “Welcome to the Jungle” (GNR’s Appetite for Destruction) “Whole Lotta Love” (Led Zeppelin II) “Hotel California” (Eagles) "Stranglehold" (Ted Nugent) "Baba O'Riley" (The Who Who's Next)
December 5Dec 5 Pain Lies on the Riverside - *LIVE* (Mental Jewelry) Tiny Dancer - Elton John (Madman Across the Water) Take On Me - A-Ha (Hunting High and Low) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (Face Value) Invisible Touch - Genesis (Invisible Touch)
December 5Dec 5 Baba O'Riley Highway to Hell Surrender Gimme Shelter London Calling Hold My Life A Hard Day's Night Whenever You're On My Mind The Song Remains the Same Immigrant Song
December 5Dec 5 Gonna go weird direction and not sure if this is sound logic, Second Hand News might be the worst song on the entire Rumours album. But it sets the tone and gives you a taste of the album making you wanting more.
December 7Dec 7 Hells Bells - AC/Dc Run Baby Run - Sheryl Crow Come Together - Beatles Yours Is No Disgrace - Yes Ain't Wasting Time No More - Allman Brothers What's Goin On - Marvin Gaye Strange Days - doors 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson Take the Highway - Marshall Tucker Band Counting Backwards - Throwing Muses
December 8Dec 8 Several good ones already mentioned. I’ll nominate Intro by The XX off their self titled album. It’s just a little 2 minute instrumental track, but I really enjoy it. Apparently their other fans do too because they usually include it in the encore when they perform live
December 9Dec 9 On 11/27/2025 at 7:11 AM, GhostOfTomJoad said: Where the Streets Have No Name/Joshua Tree. Not necessarily my favorite, but one of the best and most iconic in my opinion, on an album that is on most lists of best albums of all time. On 12/4/2025 at 5:18 PM, Orange-4-Life said: “Welcome to the Jungle” (GNR’s Appetite for Destruction) I wish I could go back in time as 12-year-old South Austin and hear this opener for the first time. It can still give me a charge. It was during the rise of the 80s hair bands, but those guys and that song kicked ass in a way that the likes of Poison, Motley Crue, Skid Row, etc. never could.
December 9Dec 9 7 hours ago, South Austin said: Not necessarily my favorite, but one of the best and most iconic in my opinion, on an album that is on most lists of best albums of all time. Same sentiment. U2, Lanois and Eno managed to capture the feel of a band sweeping in like an ominous (divine) bird of prey (redemption), flying over the desert and asking if you have the commitment to join them on that undetermined journey. "It's all I can do" is such a touchstone to the Glimmer Twins asking what else can a poor boy do 'cept sing for a rock 'n roll band.
December 9Dec 9 On 12/8/2025 at 3:30 PM, Hammerin Hank said: Several good ones already mentioned. I’ll nominate Intro by The XX off their self titled album. It’s just a little 2 minute instrumental track, but I really enjoy it. Apparently their other fans do too because they usually include it in the encore when they perform live Lil’ Nigel’s 2nd grade teacher would put this song on when they returned from recess all amped up. They would quiet down and start humming along a lock into a more quiet class time. It was a great use of music.
December 10Dec 10 On 11/27/2025 at 3:35 PM, zlavydra said: Angel of Death This is the right answer. My second place goes to Unrepentant by the Dwarves on their album The Dwarves Are Young and Good Looking. Other entries include: Where the Streets Have No Name Sgt Pepper Wouldn't it Be Nice Holiday in the Sun Bombtrack (RATM)
December 11Dec 11 For a 70s AOR FM radio vibe, I submit "More Than A Feeling" by Boston, even though y'all are tired of hearing it.
December 11Dec 11 16 hours ago, jimmyjazz said: For a 70s AOR FM radio vibe, I submit "More Than A Feeling" by Boston, even though y'all are tired of hearing it. Never get tired of Boston.
December 11Dec 11 3 minutes ago, tbone_ said: Never get tired of Boston. That album came out when I was a kid, but I was already halfway into a lifelong obsession with popular music. I had a hand-me-down AM/FM clock radio prior to getting a proper stereo, and when I first heard that track my mind was blown. It really was a different sound than I had ever heard. Said clock radio was basically this:
December 11Dec 11 I think being blown away the first time you heard Boston is pretty typical. I know I was.
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