
The Best Opening Tracks Ever?

Cover art for Nefertiti by Miles Davis (top left), Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield (right) and More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads (bottom left). courtesy of the artists hide caption
Cover art for Nefertiti by Miles Davis (top left), Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield (right) and More Songs About Buildings and Food by Talking Heads (bottom left).
courtesy of the artistsWhat's the best opening track ever? We asked and listeners responded with roughly 800 picks, posted on our blog and via Twitter.
On this edition of All Songs Considered, we gathered a crew to play the best songs that kick off albums. These are often game-changers, from Frank Sinatra to Gang of Four. Join host Bob Boilen as he chats with Tom Moon, author of 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, and Monitor Mix blogger Carrie Brownstein as they look at what an opening track can mean.
The Best Opening Tracks Ever?

Gang of Four
- Song: Ether
- from Entertainment! [Rhino Expanded]

The Flamin' Groovies
- Song: Shake Some Action
- from Shake Some Action

Judas Priest
- Song: Exciter
- from Stained Class

Urge Overkill
- Song: Sister Havana
- from Saturation

Miles Davis
- Song: Nefertiti
- from Nefertiti

Frank Sinatra
- Song: In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
- from In the Wee Small Hours

The Rolling Stones
- Song: Gimme Shelter
- from Let It Bleed

Prince & the Revolution
- Song: Let's Go Crazy
- from Purple Rain
- by Prince & The Revolution

Talking Heads
- Song: Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
- from More Songs About Buildings And Food

Roxy Music
- Song: Thrill Of It All
- from Country Life

Lou Reed
- Song: I Can't Stand It

Led Zeppelin
- Song: Immigrant Song
- from Led Zeppelin III

King Crimson
- Song: 21st Century Schizoid Man
- from In The Court Of The Crimson King
![Cover for Highway 61 Revisited [Remastered]](https://media.npr.org/assets/music/programs/asc/2010/06/highway61cvr-533ac38f681556b51915c901eb00699130da2529-s200-c15.jpg)
Bob Dylan
- Song: Like a Rolling Stone
- from Highway 61 Revisited [Remastered]