Best way to kick off an album...just one, please

first song i heard from the band, the week of the album's release, the band helped save my life and mind in my terminally laid-off factory town, and to escape the first chance i got

this is the band in one song

The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual

 

Crosby Stills & Nash, all 3 of their 70s albums start with a great intro song, I'm going with the mesmerizing "Shadow Captain" from the 1977 CSN album. I love the way it builds in intensity as it goes, just like a car going from first to second to third gear

 

Another great building intro like the CSN one is Janis Joplin, "Move Over" kicking off the Pearl album. Her band Full Tilt Boogie just soars on this one, especially that great melancholy guitar solo

 

KISS Army simply rules on here

 

Refugee

 

Fugazi - Facet Squared from 'In on the Kill Taker'
This song could never be anything but an album opener.

 

Sweat loaf from locust abortion technician.

 

In the Meantime by Helmet. That intro will wake you up.

 

How about £#%&ing Beethoven? Side one track one of the Fifth Symphony?

 

Was that the video you were meant to post?

 

Rotary Connection - Life Could

 

Surprised nobody has mentioned this one yet:

 

One backwards: Eno

 

Only Shallow- MBV

 

Whoops.... looks like my wife's feed crossed into my YouTube page.

 

"Hot 'n Nasty" (Humble Pie "Smokin')

 

black dog

 

Song of Love-Stephen Stills/Manassas

 

Classic. I don't know what tricks Tom Allom used on that album's production, but if turned up sufficiently, this will register on a seismometer.

 

This is an obscure one that I keep finding excuses to mention because it's worth it. "C'mon, Get Passive" by Fireproof Sam and the Network Stars. "Hit me with the kick drum."