What'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.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
Gang of Four
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a65bbce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x197+0+0/resize/880x867!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fentertainmentcvr-66e6b1f8370fcb1f9d3ca953d90fc50706fba368.jpg)
Dusty Springfield
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5e8e02d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fdustyinmemphiscvr-f3c82e5be9ec559c184abb520d7fed1cd24d2651.jpg)
Hear "Just a Little Lovin'" on YouTube.
The Flamin' Groovies
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c0fdb46/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fshakesomeactioncvr-2fac13b903ad239a1c1a7027a9a4dc922e6e043f.jpg)
Hear "Shake Some Action" on YouTube.
Judas Priest
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1f8f26f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fstainedclass-3278f2bae22ebfc2df3755465e3f156da061440a.jpg)
Urge Overkill
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c275733/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fsaturationcvr-a32617d725aa1d1a8d410eca00a705247b5314f8.jpg)
Hear "Sister Havana" on YouTube.
Miles Davis
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0620e63/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fnefertiticvr-277c0433dc396e4e56454e530fc2bc7288f63055.jpg)
Frank Sinatra
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/82259b8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fweesmallhourscvr-0f6a2befe51bfbd6eabf73abe6d79277d02f4a36.jpg)
Hear "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" on YouTube.
The Rolling Stones
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/cfeb18c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fletitbleedcvr-da63041ba1041160edacc4bd1bc391d049ae3b13.jpg)
Hear "Gimme Shelter" on YouTube.
Prince & the Revolution
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/41f9c73/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x197+0+0/resize/880x867!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fpurpleraincvr-4c6a08cf5a89e301d1e4738b7d59df45231911c8.jpg)
Hear "Let's Go Crazy" on YouTube.
Talking Heads
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e91389/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fmoresongscvr-06e75e968286d4c3fccd4a64598795d086752cc8.jpg)
Hear "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" on YouTube.
Roxy Music
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a1490a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fcountrymusiccvr-5e8c023b94a0727087ea4c3e323713577e58670f.jpg)
Hear "The Thrill of It All" on YouTube.
Lou Reed
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d7286c5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Floureedcvr-7a5bb118d360558e7c8577138707017156558d7f.jpg)
Hear "I Can't Stand It" on YouTube.
Led Zeppelin
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9a32a8b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fledzeppelincvr-77e458c177af7ea56e26e7cf5588c66b4c850661.jpg)
Hear "Immigrant Song" on YouTube.
King Crimson
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d53530f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fcrimsonkingcvr-209d2652a022affa2cc8455e4d790c739945a534.jpg)
Hear "21st Century Schizoid Man" on YouTube.
Bob Dylan
![](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a449394/2147483647/strip/true/crop/200x200+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.npr.org%2Fassets%2Fmusic%2Fprograms%2Fasc%2F2010%2F06%2Fhighway61cvr-533ac38f681556b51915c901eb00699130da2529.jpg)