Top 10 Opening Tracks From 1970s Rock Albums

Top 10 Album Opening Tracks In Rock Music

Feature Photo: Anthony Mooney / Shutterstock.com

Our “Top 10 Opening Tracks from 1970s Rock Albums” article celebrates what we believe were the best opening songs placed on 1970s rock albums. Of course, there are thousands to choose from, and the list could easily have been a top 100, or even a top 200 or 500. Initially, we attempted to compile an all-time list, but that quickly became an impossible task, so we decided to start a series where we would pick from each decade separately.

Album opening tracks are extremely important. If the first song on an album isn’t great, there’s a good chance you’re not going to listen to the rest of the record. And that’s just from a fan’s perspective. From a record company’s viewpoint, they realize that if they send a new album to a radio station and the first track doesn’t catch the listener’s attention, chances are the record will be lifted off the turntable before any other song gets a chance. Therefore, the stakes are pretty high for a record company and a band to place, if not the best track, then at least one of the best tracks first on an album.

# 10 – More Than A Feeling – Boston

We open our Top 10 Album Opening Tracks in Rock Music list with a song that blew us all away. This wasn’t just an opening track on an album; it was the opening song of a band’s career. If you were alive back in 1976, you’ll never forget the first time you heard this song on the radio and said to your friends, “Who is that?” Unlike many opening tracks that hit you with full force from the first second, Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” kind of fades in with that guitar.

The way the song is produced and arranged, it sort of puts you in a trance instantly and then just blows your mind as soon as those drums come in and Brad Delp’s vocals lift you as the sound of his voice soars into the stratosphere, changing your perception of what rock and roll is all about and all it could be. To be 16 once again in the ’70s… We were the lucky ones who grew up during that decade and got to experience music like this for the first time when it was first released.

Read More: Tommy DeCarlo of Boston: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

# 9 – Fool For The City – Fool For The City (Foghat)

Now, how many times did you drop the cassette of this album into your car cassette player, roll down the windows, and just cruise down the road feeling pretty good as the sound of Foghat blasted through those speakers? Foghat’s brilliant 1975 album was fueled by the iconic song “Slow Ride.” However, it was the album opener that fans also fell in love with and would become the band’s concert opener for many years to come. The band on the album at the time consisted of Lonesome Dave Peverett on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Rod “The Bottle” Price on lead and acoustic guitars, Roger Earl on drums, and Nick Jameson on bass. I just love this band! We almost went with Driving Wheel from Night Shift instead, because that’s actually our favorite Foghat song, but we just felt this one was a little more iconic.

Read More: Roger Earl: The ClassicRockHistory.com Interview

# 8 – Bat Out Of Hell – Bat Out Of Hell (Meat Loaf)

In the number eight spot on our Top 10 Album Opening Tracks in Rock Music list, we present one of the most exciting openings in music we’ve ever heard. I remember buying this album when it was first released, drawn solely by how cool the album cover was. I had never heard of Meat Loaf before, but I thought any album with a cover as striking as this one had to be good. Of course, when I first placed it on my turntable, it went beyond anything I was ever expecting. Todd Rundgren fully understood what Jim Steinman was attempting to achieve in rock and he executed it brilliantly. With members of the E Street Band playing along and the brilliant musicianship of Todd Rundgren, the powerful vocals of Meat Loaf unleashed a monster of a tune on an album that would dominate the last couple of years of the 1980s and somehow seemed to last forever.

# 7 – Carry On Wayward Son – Leftoverture (Kansas)

In the number seven position on our Top 10 Album Opening Tracks in Rock Music list is the legendary Kansas track “Carry On Wayward Son.” Do you remember how big this song was? There’s nothing like an a cappella opening that is then greeted by a masterful progressive rock guitar lick, surrounded by glorious rock organ playing and a stunning rhythm section. The lineup on this one featured Steve Walsh on lead vocals, keyboards, and organ; Robby Steinhardt on backing vocals; Kerry Livgren on guitar and piano; Rich Williams on guitar; Dave Hope on bass; and Phil Ehart on drums. The song was released on the album entitled Leftoverture. The album was released in 1976.

# 6 – Brown Sugar – Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones)

We couldn’t compile a list like this without including a Rolling Stones song. The Rolling Stones released so many amazing albums in the 1970s filled with iconic songs. However, they didn’t always save the best for first. Many classic Rolling Stones tracks were buried deep within the albums. But not this one—”Brown Sugar” was the opening track to one of the best Rolling Stones albums ever released, Sticky Fingers, which we all came to love. We almost went with “Miss You” from the Some Girls album, but we thought “Brown Sugar” was just more classic.

Read More: The Rolling Stones 24 Tour Rocks MetLife Stadium Review 5-23-24

# 5 – Roundabout – Fragile (Yes)

At the halfway point on our Top 10 Album Opening Tracks in Rock Music list, we present a progressive rock classic. Up to that point in time, progressive rock music had never had such a big hit as Yes had with “Roundabout.” Of course, in order for it to become a hit single, the record company had to do some pretty major editing to cut down the time. Still, even with the edit, it was such a stunning rock and roll song. No one has ever sung quite like Jon Anderson. And, of course, the musicianship of the rest of the band made people fall head over heels in love with this group in the early 1970s.

Read More: Complete List Of Yes Studio Albums And Songs

# 4 – The Song Remains the Same – Houses Of The Holy (Led Zeppelin)

Yeah, we know most people are going to say, “What do you mean, where’s ‘Black Dog’? How could you not include ‘Black Dog’ on this list?” Well, okay, you’re probably right; we should have included ‘Black Dog’ as one of the most iconic opening songs. Or whatever you know, there is a reason why Led Zeppelin named the title of the movie and the song ‘The Song Remains the Same.’ This is one of the greatest songs the band has released, and while it may be hard to argue it’s underrated, it certainly isn’t as popular as a song like ‘Black Dog.’ Still, there’s just something about this one that I’ve always thought made it such a great album opener.

We almost wanted to include ‘Custard Pie’ too, because as you know that was the great opening song to our favorite Led Zeppelin album, Physical Graffiti. And then again, there’s also ‘Achilles’ Last Stand,’ which is smoking. Yes, we could have made an argument for any Led Zeppelin song from the 1970s, except for the first two albums, which of course were released in the late ’60s.

Read More: Top 10 Led Zeppelin Songs

# 3 – We’re an American Band – We’re an American Band – (Grand Funk Railroad)

It’s interesting how so many people forget that in the early 1970s, especially between 1970 and 1975, Grand Funk Railroad was arguably the biggest rock band in the world. This band initially started out with lengthy, progressive rock tunes and eventually streamlined their songs to three-to-four-minute hit records without losing any bit of substance. They became one of the most beloved rock bands globally and remain cherished by many who grew up during the 1970s. “We’re an American Band” was their biggest hit of their career—an all-time classic that deservedly makes our list of top opening tracks. There’s no way we could leave this one off.

Read More: An Interview With Don Brewer On Writing “We’re An American Band”

# 2 – “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)

If Grand Funk Railroad was the biggest rock band in the world in the early seventies, then Elton John was undoubtedly the biggest pop star of that era. No other pop star, not even Paul McCartney, had as many hits as Elton John did from 1970 to 1976. The man was truly relentless; he and Bernie Taupin churned out hit after hit, released on albums that were jam-packed with great songs. Many would argue that the album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was his creative peak, although here, we still believe it was Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. Nonetheless, the record start with one of the most brilliant rock instrumentals that segue into a roaring rock and roll masterpiece called “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.” It doesn’t really get better than this.

Read More: Complete List Of Elton John Articles on ClassicRockHistory.com

# 1 – Baba O’ Reily – Who’s Next

We close out our Top 10 Album Opening Tracks in Rock Music list with perhaps the greatest rock song ever released in classic rock history. I mean, when you label a song as such, how could it not be number one on a list like this? But here’s “Baba O’Riley,” the perfect opening track. It starts out with that arpeggiated synthesizer sound, soon joined by that majestic three-chord piano progression. And of course, it all culminates in Pete Townshend’s swinging guitar crashes, all engulfed by Keith Moon’s maniacal drum playing.

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the listener is greeted by Roger Daltrey’s roaring vocals, marking the ultimate teenage rebellion anthem. This is what rock and roll has always been about, my friends. Of course, as all big-time classic rock fans already know, The Who’s brilliant masterpiece served as the opening track on their 1971 album Who’s Next.

Read More: The Who’s Best Song On Each Of Their Studio Albums

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  1. Baybluesman July 7, 2024

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