Best Album-Opening Tracks: 15 Must-Hear Anthems Picked By You, the Readers

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Apr 09, 2025

The Best Album Opening Tracks of All Time: Your Picks

By definition, an album’s opening track is its most important song. It must set a clear tone, establish a record's aesthetic or thematic point of view, and, above all else, grab the listener’s attention. Like the opening line of a great novel or a classic film’s first scene, first impressions are everything.

Recently, I asked you—this incredible community of newsletter readers—what the greatest opening track of all time was. You came through with lots of excellent picks via Substack Notes, so thank you to everyone who participated. This post compiles and dissects your picks, which span many different eras and genres.

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In alphabetical order, let’s begin.

1. "Age of Consent" by New Order (1983)

Opening New Order's Power, Corruption & Lies with one of the brightest and iconic basslines of all time, "Age of Consent” represents a critical sonic sea change for a band who would go on to redefine alternative and new wave music. By shifting away from their darker post-punk roots of their Joy Division days, “Age of Consent” signaled a vibrant, more dance-oriented direction that would become New Order’s calling card. While still melancholic, the lyrics are more modulated in their introspectiveness, influencing countless indie artists in the years since. A timeless alternative banger.

2. "Aqualung" by Jethro Tull (1971)

If nothing else, Jethro Tull knows how to make an impression with an album opener. “Aqualung” is unconventional in many ways, from the negative space between the instantly recognizable guitar riff that creates immediate tension to the unsettling lyrics inspired by Ian Anderson’s then-wife, Jenny Franks’, photographs of the homeless living along the Thames. Contrasting steely prog rock sections with elegant, soulful acoustic passages, it’s unquestionably one of rock history's most memorable and daring album openers.

3. "Cherub Rock" by The Smashing Pumpkins (1993)

You know there’s some Gen Xers in the comment section when there’s a Smashing Pumpkins shout out, amirite?

Kidding aside, “Cherub Rock” is as comprehensive a proxy as you’ll get for the band’s appeal, especially for folks who have fond memories of a certain era of alternative rock. You have that explosive intro that gives way to those sumptuous guitar effects and textures, Billy Corgan’s razor-sharp critique of music industry conformity, and Jimmy Chamberlin’s incredible drumming coming together to deliver an album opener that makes you sit up and pay attention. It’s not a coincidence that, after “Cherub Rock,” the Smashing Pumpkins became one of the alt-rock darlings of the 90s.

4. "Dance Yrself Clean" by LCD Soundsystem (2010)

Few opening tracks build tension through the art of piece-by-piece build-up like “Dance Yrself Clean.” It begins quietly, playfully, and takes its sweet time setting up every element of its instrumental. But, by making you wait, it creates one of music’s greatest misdirects, lulling you into a false sense of security before erupting into an electronic anthem that’s become LCD Soundsystem’s signature tune. It’s one of those songs that actually improves on repeated listens. As one YouTube commenter said, "The first time I heard it, I lost my s***, because I didn't know what was coming. The next time I heard it, I lost my s*** because I knew what was coming.” Hell yeah.

5. "Debaser" by Pixies (1989)

The gleefully obtuse opener from their groundbreaking album Doolittle, “Debaser” is a burst of surreal punk rock. There are more straightforward alternative cuts off that album, including “Here Comes Your Man” and “Wave of Mutilation,” but “Debaser” rises above those tracks to claim the mantle of the record’s most memorable moment. Frank Black’s frenzied vocals, inspired by the surrealist film "Un Chien Andalou," set a wonderfully manic tone that helped define the Pixies’ unique sound. From grunge to Manchester, the residue from “Debaser” can be found in nearly every corner of 90s rock.

6. "Everything in Its Right Place" by Radiohead (2000)

Have a few synth notes ever been as transformative for a band’s overall sound as those that kickstart “Everything in its Right Place?"

Following the commercial success of OK Computer and the famously difficult writing and recording sessions that would eventually yield 2000’s Kid A, this opening track felt like something no one had ever heard before. From Thom Yorke’s haunting, ethereal vocals to the inventive production techniques that would become part of the group’s mystique, it’s not a stretch to say “Everything,” particularly in those first few seconds, changed the landscape of alternative music forever.

7. "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" by Elton John (1973)

This epic two-part suite from Goodbye Yellow Brick Road showcases Elton John at his most ambitious and arguably with his biggest flair for the dramatic. In my recent update of my review of its parent album, here’s what I had to say about “Funeral:"

Ominous chimes and wind whooshes give way to a towering, synth-heavy instrumental that’s equal parts gothic opera and sci-fi soundtrack […] Perhaps this statement will sound overly melodramatic, but the piano that intertwines with the synths later makes the instrumental sound like a conversation between a spirit and a higher power, as if welcoming a soul that's left someone's body to a great beyond (if you believe in that sort of thing). Even if you don't, it conjures up such vivid images that the idea of dialogue is impossible to ignore […] It’s prog-rock Elton, and it kicks so such ass.

8. "Good Times Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin (March 10, 1969)

The thunderous opener on Led Zeppelin’s eponymous debut album, “Good Times Bad Times” is one of the most powerful-sounding hard rock songs ever made. A large part of the credit for that effect must go to John Bonham, whose playing on the track has often been imitated but rarely equaled. In a previous review, I shared my experience trying to play its deceptively complex rhythm:

I remember trying to play this track and several other Zeppelin cuts after I got my first drum kit, and let me tell you, I’ve never felt so out of my depth physically. It’s not simply that my chops as an amateur weren’t (and still aren’t) anywhere close to Bonzo’s, but, after hours spent attempting the groove over and over again, I concluded it was physically impossible to move one’s leg or foot that quickly. Try and play a straight ahead groove with your arms while going nuts on the bass pedal. No thanks.

9. "I Wanna Be Adored" by The Stone Roses (1989)

Like the LCD Soundsystem song from earlier in this post, “I Wanna Be Adored” unfolds at a leisurely, hypnotic page. That steady, confident build-up and swagger was not only a perfect introduction to the Stone Roses’ smash hit debut album, but it also captured the essence of Madchester’s vibe. With an irresistible melody and self-assured attitude, this Britpop gem officially kicked off 90s music sensibilities a year before the decade actually began.

10. "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan (1965)

At this point in human history, there’s not much I can say about “Like a Rolling Stone” that you haven’t heard, either from the rock music criticeratti or the ever-growing number of voices here on Substack. Its biting, discontented lyrics, framed by the groundbreaking electric rock instrumentation, pushed Bob Dylan out of pure folk music and into rock’s inner circle in one six-minute odyssey. It’s not just a 60s anthem—it’s a transcendent culture touchstone.

11. "Needles in the Camel’s Eye" by Brian Eno (1974)

I confess that, despite being a Brian Eno fan, I’d never heard of “Needles in the Camel’s Eye” before scrolling through the initial round of comments in Notes. The opening track off his solo debut, Here Come the Warm Jets, this bold statement track combines glam rock catchiness with avant-garde experimental flourishes. Eno has always been willing to push musical boundaries, most notably as a producer for massive rock acts, but his solo material has also inspired countless musicians across genres, from punk to electronic and beyond.

12. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (1991)

Calling “Smells Like Teen Spirit” a generational anthem sounds both trite and obvious, but it’s easy to forget what rock sounded like prior to its arrival. Hair metal was on its last legs, grunge was still a year or two away from blowing up, and the genre was becoming less and less relevant on the pop charts, save for acts like Bon Jovi. But then, with its powerful riff and scream-along, angst-riddled lyrics, Nirvana reshaped youth culture in the blink of an eye.

13. "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones (1968)

The Rolling Stones have been one of the British Invasion’s most consistent provocateurs, but no album opener of theirs has turned as many heads as “Sympathy for the Devil.” It’s not quite rock, but more towards R&B, Latin, and early Afrobeat stylings (except Keith’s guitar soloing, which is exceptional). Add to that some purposely controversial lyrics spoken from Satan’s point of view, and you have a perfectly audacious opening, reinforcing the Stones' rebellious image for the rest of their long, illustrious career.

14. "Taxman" by The Beatles (1966)

When I saw this pick in the comment thread, I was torn as to whether I was going to include it in this post. It’s neither my favorite Beatles album opener nor their best technically. However, what’s undeniable is how important “Taxman” is to the band’s growth and maturity. The socially conscious lyrics, which take aim at the British government’s suffocating taxation practices, are supported by some of George Harrison’s best guitar playing as a member of the Fab Four. If this toe-tapper doesn’t exist, it may not push the group towards the incisive “Come Togther.” I wouldn’t want to live in that world, that’s for sure.

15. "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Let’s end this post on a high note with “Thunder Road,” the spectacular opener to Born to Run. A cinematic love story told in vivid technicolor strokes, the Boss’ storytelling prowess really shines through on this one. Like much of his writing on the rest of the album, the first verse perfectly embodies a universal kind of emotional longing that he’s always been so good at conjuring in his lyrics. His inspired performance behind the mic is another reason this track has earned him multiple generations of fans, cementing his reputation as one of music’s all-time great narrators.