The most powerful first track of an album you have ever heard

Pick almost any AC/DC album, they know how to start with a powerful opening track: "Baby, Please Don't Go", "It's A Long Way To The Top(If You Want To Rock N Roll", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Go Down", "Rock N Roll Damnation", "Highway To Hell", "Hells Bells", "For Those About To Rock(We Salute You)", "Thunderstruck", etc...

 

"Now for those of you watching in black and white, this one's in Technicolour"
Happy Together by The Jam on The Gift LP

 

Not bad. I'd go with Where Eagles Dare from Piece Of Mind

 

"Red".
Pure, powerful growl.

 

I assume "Running With the Devil" has been mentioned, right? That has to be top five anyway.

 

First two songs that came to mind:

"Bone Machine" by Pixies from "Surfer Rosa".
Title track "London Calling" by The Clash.

 

One of my faves:

 

Nice to see this mentioned, was going to throw it up here myself!

I won't quote any of the lyrics here mind you...

 

I only listen to records backwards looking for Satanic Messages.

 

Solid Air on "John Martyn's "Solid Air"

 

Lyrically I'd go for ".....and in the death, as the last few corpses lay rotting on the slimy thoroughfare, the shutters lifted...." etc etc. Very powerful imagery from Mr B on 'Future Legend'.

Musically it would be 'Safe European Home' on the second Clash album. A song that takes no prisoners. You play this one at 11.....

 

Nothing comes close.

 

Defines "powerful".
Seems all videos on YouTube of this track have been deleted.

 

Sometimes - The Stranglers "Someday I'm gonna smack your face" Lol

 

Lose Control on Ash's 1977. You know an album and song beginning with Tie Fighters won't be bad.

 

Fixed it for you

Deep Purple might just win this thread

"Speed King"
"Highway Star"
"Burn"

UK version of British Steel opens with the Priest scorcher "Rapid Fire"

One of my all time favorite Iron Maiden songs opens my favorite Iron Maiden album, "Caught Somewhere in Time" from Somewhere in Time.

 

See No Evil

 

"I Feel Free", Fresh Cream, US tracklist

 

Yep, hence the photo! Still... anyone that's interested and doesn't have the album should most certainly get that album. Now!

 

And this is where Steven Wilson got his inspiration for "Blackest Eyes"...
Twenty seconds of quiet noises and then it explodes.

 

The other end of the 'powerful' spectrum. A man arresting everything within earshot with his voice and his acoustic guitar.

 

Good one
That drum-intro is epic!

 

"Planet Claire" by The B-52's.

 

"Bat Out of Hell." It reaches out, grabs you by the balls, and doesn't let go until the final notes of "For Crying Out Loud!"

 

Off the top of my head, my top 5:
Watcher of the Skies - Genesis
Luminol - Steven Wilson
A Hard Day's Night - The Beatles
Rock N' Roll - Led Zeppelin
Subdivisions - Rush