15 Incredible Opening Tracks from Seminal Albums
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…
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.
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe 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')
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesSome 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.
Joey Ramone (1951-2001), singer with US punk band the Ramones, on stage during a live concert performance by the band, with drummer Tommy Ramone in the background behind his drumkit, 1977.
Led Zeppelin – “Good Times Bad Times” ('Led Zeppelin')
Evening Standard/Getty ImagesTwo glorious, Earth-shaking notes open Led Zeppelin's self-titled debut, and from then on, the rock and roll landscape was never the same.
British rock band Led Zeppelin. From left to right, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham (1947 - 1980), John Paul Jones.
Heart - "Magic Man" ('Dreamboat Annie')
Express Newspapers/Getty ImagesThe 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.
Portrait of sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of the rock group Heart on tour in Europe, 1976.
Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road” ('Born To Run')
ohn Minihan/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe 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.
American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, UK, 18th November 1975.
U2 – “Where The Streets Have No Name” ('The Joshua Tree')
Evan Agostini/Getty ImagesRemember 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.
Inductees Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, Bono and The Edge of the rock group U2 pose backstage at the 20th Annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel March 14, 2005 in New York City.
Aerosmith – “Toys In The Attic” ('Toys In The Attic')
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"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.
Musicians Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford, Joe Perry, Steven Tyler and Joey Kramer of Aerosmith pose at the press junket to announce their new album "Music From Another Dimension" and upcoming dates for their "Global Warming" tour at the House of Blues on September 18, 2012 in West Hollywood, California.
Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter” ('Let It Bleed')
Len Trievnor/Express/Getty Images'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.
British rock band the Rolling Stones in 1969, after the death of founder member Brian Jones. They are, from left to right; drummer Charlie Watts, new member guitarist Mick Taylor, vocalist Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards and bass player Bill Wyman.
Iggy & The Stooges – “Search and Destroy” ('Raw Power')
Rich Fury/Getty Images"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?!
Iggy Pop performs onstage on day 3 of FYF Fest 2017 at Exposition Park on July 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Patti Smith – “Gloria” ('Horses')
Nicholas Hunt/Getty ImagesSome 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.
Patti Smith performs at The Anthology Film Archives Benefit and Auction on March 2, 2017 in New York City.
Queen – “We Will Rock You” ('News of the World')
Keystone/Getty ImagesThe 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.
8th September 1976: British rock group Queen at Les Ambassadeurs, where they were presented with silver, gold and platinum discs for sales in excess of one million of their hit single 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The band are, from left to right, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), Roger Taylor and Brian May.
Van Halen – “Runnin’ With The Devil” ('Van Halen')
Michael Buckner/Getty Images"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.
David Lee Roth (L) recieves a hug and a kiss from guitar player Eddie Van Halen at the Van Halen Press Conference announcing their new tour at the Four Season Hotel on August 13, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.
AC/DC - "Hells Bells" ('Back in Black')
Newsmakers/Getty ImagesWhether 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.
Members of the Australian rock band AC-DC pose for a photograph after the Rock Walk handprint ceremony September 15, 2000 at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, Ca. From left: Brian Johnson, Malcolm Young, Cliff Williams, Angus Young and Phil Rudd.
The Who - "Baba O'Riley" ('Who's Next')
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesNever has the synthesizer sounded as cool than on the opening track on the masterpiece that is 'Who's Next.'
Roger Daltrey (left) and Pete Townshend of The Who playing in concert.
David Bowie – “Five Years” ('The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars')
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesDavid 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.
British rock singer David Bowie performs with an acoustic guitar on stage, in costume as 'Ziggy Stardust,' circa 1973.
Black Sabbath - "War Pigs" ('Paranoid')
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"War Pigs" and its anti-war sentiment have made it a timeless classic in all of rock and roll, not just the metal genre.
Black Sabbath, with lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, performed live at the 'ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards' at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, Ca. 4/7/01.
