15 Greatest Album Openers!

[Jack the Stripper]

I will get around to doing my list shortly. Been very busy of late and this is a list that needs some thought. Same with the album closer list.

Not sure there should be a hard & fast rule with an album opener though. As long as it hooks the listener from the get go and sets a strong  positive mood, its worked as an opener.

[Charger]

I guess your idea of what makes a good opener and my idea of what makes a good opener are completely different.  For me, the "high gear and intensity" doesn't have to start from the very first note.  I find that a methodical and persistent build up from the very first note, leading into the high gear and intensity, to be quite impressive.  Like, Black Sabbath, the perfect song to open the bands debut album.

Well that's all in the mind of the listener isn't it? For me fast and furious is a better way to go...

All that being said though...Black Sabbath is one of those slower plodding tracks that actually do work as an opener too...mainly because of the rain and church bells...they work great. But still it's not a top 15 opener for me.

[Jack the Stripper]

The more I thought about this the harder it got so I just went with what was coming to me first and some from my memories of dropping the needle for the first time on the opening track of these associated albums.

Not even gonna try and put them in order.

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Angel Of Death - Slayer
South of Heaven - Slayer
Blackened - Metallica
Live Wire - Mötley Crüe
Fast As A Shark - Accept
Over The Mountain - Ozzy
Ace Of Spades - Motörhead
Battery - Metallica
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Holy Wars...The Punishment Due - Megadeth
Detroit Rock City - Kiss
Wild Child - W.A.S.P.
Angel of Death - Thin Lizzy
Rapid Fire - Judas Priest

[Charger]

Interesting picks there too Jack.

I was thinking about Blackened too. But didn't even remember to think about Rapid Fire!