Best Ever Albums

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Johnnyo — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:14:21 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/28/2026 14:14

Link

Opener from

Black Rose: A Rock Legend (1979) by Thin Lizzy

Following the kettle drums you've then got that great guitar opener from Gary. a great track, a great album

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Tha1ChiefRocka — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:31:27 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 01/27/2026 06:31

Hey, thanks for keeping this running every once in awhile people. �'�

Paid In Full (1987) by Eric B. & Rakim

Paid In Full is rightfully lauded as being a cornerstone in the formation of modern hip hop both in terms of Rakim's flow/lyricism and Eric B's greater usage of sampling in his production. "I Ain't No Joke" serves as both the opening to the album and a transitional song in the history of hip hop, featuring elements of what had been done and what was to come. What strikes me every time I hear this song is the first ten seconds. The percussion comes in, typical 808 sound, complete with the reverbed hand clap. �'� Something the avid hip hop listener had heard a hundred times before. But at 10 seconds, Rakim's titular declaration triggers the live drum sample and JB's horns to come into the mix. Rakim confidently delivers his consistently dense rhymes while Eric B. cuts and scratches behind him with ease. Gone are the electro/disco influences of the early 80s. So is the "stop at the end of every bar" flow that dominated previous hip hop acts. It all comes together in a way that simply had not been done previously. It's shocking to listen to Rakim's rapping in the context of songs that came out before and after this album was released.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Johnnyo — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:17:49 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 01/23/2026 10:17

NYAndreas wrote:

Two of my favorite album openers: “Running Up That Hill” from Hounds of Love (1985) by Kate Bush, and “Jackie” from The Lion and the Cobra (1987) by Sinéad O’Connor.
Both are statements of total artistic control, with Kate and Sinéad operating outside pop norms, rejecting convention and reframing pop as personal art.

Kate uses a propulsive, synthetic beat and an instantly memorable melody to take an abstract idea, the desire to swap emotional positions, and render it universal and danceable.

Link

Sinéad could easily have opened her debut with one of the more accessible pop tracks (“Mandinka” or “I Want Your (Hands on Me)”). Instead, rather than playing the industry game, she opens with her least radio-friendly song, a career-defining act of defiance that makes her intentions unmistakably clear.

Link

Both great picks.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

NYAndreas — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 18:47:18 GMT

Author: NYAndreas

Posted: 01/22/2026 23:47

Two of my favorite album openers: “Running Up That Hill” from Hounds of Love (1985) by Kate Bush, and “Jackie” from The Lion and the Cobra (1987) by Sinéad O’Connor.
Both are statements of total artistic control, with Kate and Sinéad operating outside pop norms, rejecting convention and reframing pop as personal art.

Kate uses a propulsive, synthetic beat and an instantly memorable melody to take an abstract idea, the desire to swap emotional positions, and render it universal and danceable.

Link

Sinéad could easily have opened her debut with one of the more accessible pop tracks (“Mandinka” or “I Want Your (Hands on Me)”). Instead, rather than playing the industry game, she opens with her least radio-friendly song, a career-defining act of defiance that makes her intentions unmistakably clear.

Link

Re: Hello Heaven, Hello - YUNGBLUD

Johnnyo — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 12:28:47 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 11/30/2025 17:28

stanchoiaz wrote:

Idols (2025) by Yungblud I know it's a relatively new record, however, I do believe its one of the best album openers ever made. Though it is kinda lengthy, and I am not usually a fan of long tracks, I think this one is so well made that it deserves a mention. Such a great way to prepare us of the sound of YUNGBLUD's latest album 'Idols'. A genre I personally call stadium rock and I love so much. If you haven't already, check it out, you won't regret it.

Goin to need to check this album out. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

bojolpif71 — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 05:59:13 GMT

Author: bojolpif71

Posted: 11/30/2025 10:59

Link

Antisocial, the first track on Trust's album Répression, released in 1980.
In French, of course... This song was later translated into English and performed by the bands Anthrax and Children of Bodom. Metallica also performed it during their 2017 tour in France.

Hello Heaven, Hello - YUNGBLUD

stanchoiaz — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 03:50:36 GMT

Author: stanchoiaz

Posted: 11/30/2025 08:50

Idols (2025) by Yungblud I know it's a relatively new record, however, I do believe its one of the best album openers ever made. Though it is kinda lengthy, and I am not usually a fan of long tracks, I think this one is so well made that it deserves a mention. Such a great way to prepare us of the sound of YUNGBLUD's latest album 'Idols'. A genre I personally call stadium rock and I love so much. If you haven't already, check it out, you won't regret it.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Romanelli — Sun, 2 Nov 2025 17:56:45 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 11/02/2025 22:56

Link

But only if played REALLY loud.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Andras — Sun, 2 Nov 2025 16:23:44 GMT

Author: Andras

Posted: 11/02/2025 21:23

Helena, it blows every song ITT out of the water. Top 10 greatest openers includes : Changes (Hunky Dory) Trash (Coming Up) Moving Out (The Stranger) Tarot Woman (Rising) Detroit Rock City (Destroyer) The Adults are Talking (The New Abnormal)

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Johnnyo — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 13:49:52 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 08/30/2025 17:49

albummaster wrote:

Not sure about greatest ever openers, but a few fav openers. Overlooking loads more.

Nevermind (1991) by Nirvana
Perhaps a bit cliché but Smells Like Teen Spirit

Innervisions (1973) by Stevie Wonder
Too High an outstanding track to kick off Innervisions and sets the tone for the album.

Tracy Chapman (1988) by Tracy Chapman
Talkin' Bout a Revolution one of my favourite ever tracks on one of my favourite ever albums.

All great picks.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

albummaster — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 06:34:08 GMT

Author: albummaster

Posted: 08/30/2025 10:34

Not sure about greatest ever openers, but a few fav openers. Overlooking loads more.

Nevermind (1991) by Nirvana
Perhaps a bit cliché but Smells Like Teen Spirit

Innervisions (1973) by Stevie Wonder
Too High an outstanding track to kick off Innervisions and sets the tone for the album.

Tracy Chapman (1988) by Tracy Chapman
Talkin' Bout a Revolution one of my favourite ever tracks on one of my favourite ever albums.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Johnnyo — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 14:28:07 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 08/29/2025 18:28

CharlieBarley wrote:

Hey Repo I thought about the opening for The Cure's Disintegration too! All time classic opener for me as is Black Sabbath. Good call.

Here's mine:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Darkness On The Edge Of Town by Bruce Springsteen

The mighty BADLANDS opens my favourite Bruce Springsteen album.

Good thread Chief!
8)

A brilliant opener. Whilst we are on the topic of Bruce, what about

Blinded by the light? Not just a great opener to

Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. (1973) by Bruce Springsteen

But also to his career

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

CharlieBarley — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:15:46 GMT

Author: CharlieBarley

Posted: 01/23/2024 19:15

Hey Repo I thought about the opening for The Cure's Disintegration too! All time classic opener for me as is Black Sabbath. Good call.

Here's mine:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Darkness On The Edge Of Town by Bruce Springsteen

The mighty BADLANDS opens my favourite Bruce Springsteen album.

Good thread Chief!
😎

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Jboy56 — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:13:52 GMT

Author: Jboy56

Posted: 01/23/2024 15:13

Good Times Bad Times

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Tha1ChiefRocka — Thu, 9 Nov 2023 23:51:03 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 11/10/2023 04:51

Thanks for the renewed interest in this thread! And, I can agree that those two Cure tracks are worthy nominees.

I am still in the process of making a playlist of these songs. I've got about 150 right now.

As for today's entry...

4. "Painkiller"

Painkiller by Judas Priest

Hey, hi, this is Judas Priest and you can go fuck yourselves.

Remember us? You liked us in the late 70s and early 80s. For the past 5 years our albums have kinda been ignored though.

OK, maybe we shouldn't have added synthesizers on Turbo.

And maybe we shouldn’t have done a cover of “Johnny B. Goode” for the lead single on our last album.

(We thought that Anthony Michael Hall movie was going to be a big hit. IT WAS NOT.)

But that shit doesn’t matter, because in case you forgot, we’re the best fucking metal band in the world.

Rob renewed his deal with Satan, so you can bet your sweet leather-clad asses that he’s going to wail.

Glen and K.K. have developed some new tricks. You'll hear those in a minute or two.

Oh, by the way, we got rid of the old drummer and got a new one. He’s going to start this song off.

Anyway, here’s Painkiller.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Repo — Tue, 7 Nov 2023 11:28:06 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 11/07/2023 16:28

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

The second song I thought of was...

2. "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath

Ok, now we get into something that is so iconic that I shouldn't need to write as much as I did for the last post. (To justify it's inclusion in this particular list.) Not many artists can claim to invent a genre of music with one song, but Black Sabbath invented Doom Metal with this track in 1970. (Which was released as a single BTW!)

And, as with the previous track, I urge you to consider what it must have been like to hear this for the first time in 1970:

"Oh, that's a weird cover. I think I'll buy this album. "Black Sabbath", well that's a bit edgy."

"Whoa, it's like, raining. That's cool."

"Oh no, what's happening? The record must be at the wrong speed. That guitar sounds all wrong."

"Wait, no, it's supposed to sound like that?"

"Uh, what is this guy talking about?"

(Figure in black that points at me)

"Mom? Pick me up. I'm scared."

Totally!!! 😈

My offerings are the openings to BOTH The Cure's Pornography => "It doesn't matter if we all die! 😈 " and Disintegration...

Link

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

AAL2014 — Mon, 6 Nov 2023 22:56:27 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/07/2023 03:56

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Hollis' classical inspiration comes through in full force on this track in that it best relates to the sonic energy of a classical piece of composition. Particularly of note is that transition between the verses and the chorus. It's one of those times where everything is so smooth and seamless that the actual skill behind crafting something as brilliant as it is may go unnoticed.

Like Tiger Woods swinging a golf club.

Or Ken Griffey Jr. swinging a bat.

It seems so effortless as to render the observer mystified in it's presence.

^^Fantastic and very true.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Tha1ChiefRocka — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 03:34:49 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 07/23/2022 07:34

Thanks Afterhours! I love that album by Bark Psychosis as well. Probably the closest another group has come to replicating the 'Mark Hollis' sound. If there was one.

3. 'Like A Rolling Stone'

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan

The electric Bob Dylan came bursting forth on Highway 61 with what would become his most enduring troubadour ballad. Apparently it's quite possibly the "most acclaimed song all time", so I don't think I need to add any other commentary. We've all heard this one before.

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

AfterHours — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:58:52 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 07/18/2022 18:58

Chief! Love the fact that you highlighted Spirit of Eden and painted the picture of how revelatory Talk Talk's masterpiece would've been (and still is) back in 1988! With a much deserved nod to Laughing Stock too, which might be its equal or even better. I've been going back and forth on these two for years, along with Hex by Bark Psychosis. Few, if any, genres, have 3 virtually equally great albums that are so-so-so-so close and so difficult to discern which order they should be in. Fortunately, this can only lead to listening to them more to try and (but fail to) figure it out 😁

Re: The Greatest Album Openers

Tha1ChiefRocka — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 03:01:59 GMT

Author: Tha1ChiefRocka

Posted: 07/18/2022 07:01

The second song I thought of was...

2. "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.