Best opening to an album?

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Charlie Jefferson

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Sep 2, 2007
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"There's going to be some trouble,
A whole house will need rebuilding,
And everyone I loved will recline on an analyst's couch quite soon
Your father cracks a joke and in the usual way empties the room. . . ."

Now My Heart Is Full (Vauxhall And I) - Morrissey (1994)

Family disintegration portrayed with such mordant wit. A devastatingly funny opening to a great album. Panache and pathos writ large.

Anyone got any other astonishing openers, musically or lyrically?
 
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Gerrardasnails

Well-known member
Sep 6, 2007
295
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18,890
Charlie Jefferson:"There's going to be some trouble,
A whole house will need rebuilding,
And everyone I loved will recline on an analyst's couch quite soon
Your father cracks a joke and in the usual way empties the room. . . ."

Now My Heart Is Full (Vauxhall And I) - Morrissey (1994)

Family disintegration portrayed with such mordant wit. A devastatingly funny opening to a great album. Panache and pathos writ large.

Anyone got any other astonishing openers, musically or lyrically?

By far, "IN THE CITY THERE'S A THOUSAND THINGS I WANT TO SAY TO YOU"!!

First song on the greatest hits album, "Snap!". The album was in my local's jukebox and is how I discovered my favourite band about 10 years after they disbanded. First song on side 2 of the original album, "In The City".
 
John Duncan

John Duncan

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Jan 8, 2008
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Oooo excellent thread, since I'm finding it very difficult to think of the best one. Am tempted to say 'King of Sunset Town' by Marillion from 'Season's End' - takes at least a full minute of increasing volume and tension until it's released by the soaring guitar part. Still gives me the willies.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I've always found Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 (the opening track to the Joshua Tree) a fantastically exciting song. And on the remastered version the intro which previously was hissy and messy takes on a scale like a church organ. I think it sounds amazing and just gets you in the mod to listen to the rest of the album.

I also love the quiet and understated intro to Telegraph Road by Dire Straits (opening track on Love over Gold) which ets up to song and the album perfectly.

Finally i've alway thought the intro track on The Good Will Out by Embrace is a good one, its just the sounds of the studio and various instuments getting warmed up which leads directly into the first track. I'm sure its not genuine and has been done may time before but i think its a great intro and a brave one for a young band on their debut album.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I've got a pocket full of pretty green, I'm gonna put it in the fruit machine,
I'm gonna put it in the juke box, it's gonna play all the records in the hit parade.
The Jam - Sound Affects

Now for those of you watching in black and white, this one's in Technicolor.
The Jam - The Gift
 
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Anonymous

Guest
The opening to 'Songs For The Deaf' by Queens Of the Stone Age.

You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar But I Feel Like A Millionaire

Starts of quiet as if you have the volume set low then kicks in after a minute or so.

or In Your Honour by the Foo Fighters
 
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Anonymous

Guest
"Where's the paper bag that holds the liquor. Just in case I feel the need to puke."

The Silver Jews, Punks in the Beerlight from Tanglewood Numbers.

Sets the whole tone of the album. Pure Class.
 
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fatboyslimfast

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Jan 10, 2008
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"Here she lies in her fleecy gown,
By my side in the eiderdown,
but she can't get a ticket to morning town,
Cos I have restless legs".

Great start to a great album - Achtung Bono by Half Man Half Biscuit.
 
D

dirtydawg1967

Well-known member
Jan 12, 2008
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"Ahhhhh, it's time to relax,
and you know what that means,
a glass of wine, your favourite easy chair,
and of course this compact disc playing and your home stereo.
So go on, indulge yourself,
that's right, kick off your shoes, put your feet up,
lean back and just enjoy the melodies.
After all, music soothes even the savage beasts."

"Time To Relax" from "Smash" by the Offspring.

Not clever, stirring, thought provoking or even that musical. Rather a comedic start to an excellent album.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Charlie Jefferson:"There's going to be some trouble,
A whole house will need rebuilding,
And everyone I loved will recline on an analyst's couch quite soon
Your father cracks a joke and in the usual way empties the room. . . ."

Now My Heart Is Full (Vauxhall And I) - Morrissey (1994)

Family disintegration portrayed with such mordant wit. A devastatingly funny opening to a great album. Panache and pathos writ large.

Anyone got any other astonishing openers, musically or lyrically?

Close the thread, this Morrissey opening is indeed the very best openening to an album.
 
D

Dougal1331

Well-known member
Dec 30, 2007
69
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18,545
A bit different to previous suggestions, but I'd go for Pendulum's Hold your Colour. (Not to everyone's tastes, I'm sure!)

The intro track is awesome, and the drop into the first track proper just raises every hair on your neck! It sets up the album perfectly.

"Somewhere out there in the vast nothingness of space, somewhere far away in space and time,

staring upward at the gleaming stars in the obsidian sky.

We're marooned on a small island in an endless sea. Confined to a tiny spit of sand, unable to escape.

But tonight, on this small planet -on Earth- we're going to rock civilisation..."

Oh, just one thing- this needs to be LOUD, and the cat should be put outside first.

Jon
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I think Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit from Nevermind it's not bad as opening track...
emotion-1.gif
 
T

the record spot

Guest
Motorhead - Ace of Spades (title track)
Genesis - Dance On A Volcano (Trick of the Tail), Watcher of the Skies (Foxtrot), Behind the Lines (Duke)
Yes - Close to the Edge (title track)
Neil Young - Country Home (Ragged Glory)
Beth Rowely - Nobody's Fault But Mine (Little Dreamer)
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Best openings easy

Hells Bells from Back in Black by AC/DC

Black Sabbath from Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
 
S

survivor

New member
Mar 31, 2008
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Good thread! Talk about getting you thinking. It would help if I could look through my collection for reminders but most of it`s inaccessible right now.

Off the top of my head here`s a few favourites which musically always get me excited -

Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf track title - `Bat Out Of Hell`

A New World Record - ELO track title - `Tightrope`

Escape - Journey track title - `Don`t Stop Believing`

Trick Of The Tail - Genesis track title - `Dance On A Volcano`

A Night At The Opera - Queen track title - `Death On Two Legs` (dedicated to ...

Weld - Neil Young track title - `Hey Hey, My My`

Not Of This World - Pendragon track title - `If I Were The Wind`

Storms Over Still Water - Mostly Autumn track title - `Out Of The Green Sky`

Lyrically I can`t think of anything at the moment that stands out other than Morrissey who will be a tough act to beat. Very, very clever songwriter. For a man who supposedly makes depressing music(?!) he doesn`t half bring a smile to my face with his brilliant observations. It`s not the opening to an album but how can you compete with a lyricist who comes up with lines such as -

"Beware, I bear more grudges than lonely high court judges"
 
S

survivor

New member
Mar 31, 2008
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0
diy hubs:

Best openings easy

Hells Bells from Back in Black by AC/DC

Black Sabbath from Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

These two are brilliant also. Good choices hubsy!
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
The start of The Wall by Pink Floyd is still bloody good to this day! Introduces the rest of the album and the variations on the theme continue throughout the album like a common motif.
 
B

Big Chris

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Apr 3, 2008
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Queen - A Day at the Races. Shepard tone in the intro....Class.

Sepultura - Arise. Love those menacing bio-mechanical machine-type sounds.

Opeth - Blackwater Park. The steady swell that seems to take an age before the ultra-heavy dischordant guitar riff kicks in......Amazingly good........Plus the fact that it kicks off one of, if not the best metal album ever made, has to count for something.
 
P

PJPro

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Jan 21, 2008
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"Jesus died for somebodys sins but not mine."

Link

Track: Gloria
Album: Horses
Artist: Patti Smith

First line of the first track of the album. I know that Thaiman doesn't rate it but I think this is a brilliant album.....for someone my age.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
I like -

Foxey Lady - Are you experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

White Room - Wheels of Fire - Cream

Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin

Shine on you Crazy Diamond - Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

and more.....
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Inter 84:

Shine on you Crazy Diamond - Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

and more.....

WELCOME TO THE FORUMS INTER 84!
Wooooo, forgot about that! The classic "DU DA DU DAHHHH" on the guitar from nowhere is just classic Floyd of the highest kind. Only they could do it! Floyd have a nack for creating the best albums.
 
S

survivor

New member
Mar 31, 2008
32
0
0
Inter 84:

I like -

Foxey Lady - Are you experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

White Room - Wheels of Fire - Cream

Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin

Shine on you Crazy Diamond - Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

and more.....

I have to hang my head in shame. How could I forget `Shine on you Crazy Diamond`?
 
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