Some songs build, and some songs just take off. “Blitzkrieg Bop” takes off the second it begins, and there's no turning back for the rest of the album.

The self-titled debut of the Ramones was released 43 years ago today (April 23.) Like many iconic albums, its opening track set the pace for the magic that followed.

In honor of the anniversary of Ramones, here are 15 incredible opening tracks from seminal albums.

Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop” (‘Ramones’)
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Some songs build, and some songs just take off. “Blitzkrieg Bop” takes off the second it begins, and there's no turning back for the rest of the album.
Led Zeppelin – “Good Times Bad Times” (‘Led Zeppelin’)
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Two glorious, Earth-shaking notes open Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut, and from then on, the rock and roll landscape was never the same.
Heart – “Magic Man” (‘Dreamboat Annie’)
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The moan of the opening riff coupled with a lovesick tale introduces everyone to Ann and Nancy Wilson and makes one thing very clear: Rock and Roll isn't just a boy's club anymore.
Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road” (‘Born To Run’)
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The opening piano and harmonica coupled with Springsteen's vivid imagery of that screen door slamming paints a picture bolder than most artists could create. Even if the lyrics of "Roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair" weren't in "Thunder Road," you'd probably end up being moved to do so anyway.
U2 – “Where The Streets Have No Name” (‘The Joshua Tree’)
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Remember of some songs build? In the case of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name," they build for 1:46 until they hit the first verse. If you get goosebumps from just the studio recording, experiencing this song live take things to another emotional level.
Aerosmith – “Toys In The Attic” (‘Toys In The Attic’)
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"Toys In The Attic" may not have been released as a single, but it's aggressive opening riff and straight-forward chorus has allowed the track to become a setlist mainstay for Aerosmith for decades.
Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” (‘Let It Bleed’)
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'Let It Bleed" was the Rolling Stones' farewell to the 1960's, and opening with the Vietnam War-evoking "Gimme Shelter" is certainly a bold way to make a statement. Add in Merry Clayton's vocal solo, and you've got quite possibly the best opening album track of the '60s.
Iggy & The Stooges – “Search and Destroy” (‘Raw Power’)
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"I'm a streetwalking cheetah with a heart full of napalm." What more do you really need to know about this Iggy & The Stooges track?!
Patti Smith – “Gloria” (‘Horses’)
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Some covers/song reworkings live in the shadows of their source material, and some become their own animal. When it comes to Patti Smith's "Gloria," it's a case of the latter.
Queen – “We Will Rock You” (‘News of the World’)
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The film 'Bohemian Rhapsody' has given a new appreciation of why "We Will Rock You" was created. By giving the fans a song they could perform through the stomp-stomp-clap hook, Queen also created one of the biggest sports anthems of all time in the process.
Van Halen – “Runnin’ With The Devil” (‘Van Halen’)
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"I live my life like there's no tomorrow, and all I've got, I had to steal." The opening track on Van Halen's debut tells you everything you need to know about the band.
AC/DC – “Hells Bells” (‘Back in Black’)
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Whether or not the intro bells were symbolic of ringing in a new era for AC/DC with singer Brian Johnson after the sudden passing Bon Scott, the haunting "Hells Bells" does signal the arrival of the Aussie giants as one of the most influential hard rock bands in history.
The Who – “Baba O’Riley” (‘Who’s Next’)
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Never has the synthesizer sounded as cool than on the opening track on the masterpiece that is 'Who's Next.'
David Bowie – “Five Years” (‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’)
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David Bowie could make anything sound beautiful and cool. The greatest example of that might just be on "Five Years," when he made the end of the world sound borderline serene.
Black Sabbath – “War Pigs” (‘Paranoid’)
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"War Pigs" and its anti-war sentiment have made it a timeless classic in all of rock and roll, not just the metal genre.

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15 Incredible Opening Tracks from Seminal Albums

Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop” (‘Ramones’)

Led Zeppelin – “Good Times Bad Times” (‘Led Zeppelin’)

Heart – “Magic Man” (‘Dreamboat Annie’)

Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road” (‘Born To Run’)

U2 – “Where The Streets Have No Name” (‘The Joshua Tree’)

Aerosmith – “Toys In The Attic” (‘Toys In The Attic’)

Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” (‘Let It Bleed’)

Iggy & The Stooges – “Search and Destroy” (‘Raw Power’)

Patti Smith – “Gloria” (‘Horses’)

Queen – “We Will Rock You” (‘News of the World’)

Van Halen – “Runnin’ With The Devil” (‘Van Halen’)

AC/DC – “Hells Bells” (‘Back in Black’)

The Who – “Baba O’Riley” (‘Who’s Next’)

David Bowie – “Five Years” (‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’)

Black Sabbath – “War Pigs” (‘Paranoid’)

Sign me up for the 93.9 BOB FM email newsletter!

Become a BOB V.I.L. (Very Important Listener) and stay up-to-date with music news and upcoming concerts and events. Plus, be the first to know about exclusive giveaways and prizes!