OK, you know how this works…a different day, a different thought process, a different 12. But here’s today’s, with many favourites left out. Let me know yours!
My and Ross Goodall’s video on Andy Partridge’s songs here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcqKUN9e5HQ&t=1926s
source
Some great choices James. My 12 (in no particular order) are:
David Bowie – It's No Game Pt 1 (Scary Monsters)
ELO – Prologue / Twilight (Time)
Genesis – Behind The Lines (Duke)
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
Elton John – Funeral for a Friend/ Love Lies Bleeding (GYBR)
Rolling Stones – Rocks Off (Exile)
Queen – Brighton Rock (Sheer Heart Attack)
Slade – Rock n Roll Preacher (Til Deaf Do Us Part)
The Smiths – The Queen is Dead
T.Rex – Children of Rarn / Jewel (T.Rex)
Kinks – Morning Chorus (Preservation Act I)
The Clash – Safe European Home (Give em Enough Rope)
You mentioned Bridge Over Troubled Water which is a brilliant song but I always felt it would have made a great closing track but then again, where would I put Song For The Asking?
Great selection James! Some of them are my favourites too.
It would be interesting to see this become a series with different artists, genres etc. Cheers.
Brilliant list – was thinking of doing my own response when I started watching but I can't really top the selection you came up with
A couple of mine are:
"Neon Knights" from Sabbath's album "Heaven and Hell"
"Five Years" from Bowie's album "… Ziggy Stardust …"
These two albums also have my favourite closing track. There's an idea for another topic!
Thanks James….totally agree on Jokerman….he's had quite a few contenders over the years!
As soon as it started I knew what your No.1 would be 😀
good call 🤝 off the top of my head 1. first light by 🐫 2. k.o.s.t by Marillion 3. don't let him go by R.E.O. 4 streets have no name by U2 5. subdivisions by Rush 6 God blessed video by Alcatraz 7. r.a.a.b. by Genesis… (i'll get to 12 eventually) 👋
Some great picks, especially 'Jokerman' one of my top 5 Dylan songs. 'American without tears' your fave Elvis Costello song? Wow……mine's 'Beyond belief' an opening track too….My dad loved 'Solsbury Hill'…great song. I absolutely loooveee the rampant 'Faron Young' great album 'Steve mcQueen'….great video James!
A great list, James. Just one caveat: isn’t Solsbury Hill the second track on Peter Gabriel’s first album?
Airport! Fantastic!
Great topic, I need to think of my top 12, but Atrocity Exhibition from Joy Division’s Closer would be there.
Anyway, I would also feature Pink Floyd, but it would Shine On You Crazy Diamond. Such a languid, moody piece. I was also thinking that I would include Peter Gabriel and then you pop up with Solsbury Hill. I was trying to choose one from three, Intruder from PG3 (the first time I heard this was at Birmingham Odeon in 1980 before the album came out and it made a very deep impression), The Rhythm Of The Heat from PG4 and Red Rain from So. I’d suggest that Peter Gabriel is the master of the opening track.
Great choices! Jokerman is a wonderful track. Likewise, no idea what it's about! I love the sound of Infidels and suspect Dylan knew what he was doing by making Jokerman so long, possibly at the expense of including some of the famous outtakes like Blind Willie McTell and Foot of Pride. It's a mesmerising song!
Hi James
Solid list, can't say there are any here that I don't like.
Solsbury Hill is a great track from my favourite Gabriel album, although Moribund the Burgemeister actually opens the record.
Astronomy Domine is possibly one of the most effective opening tracks on any album, absolutely love it.
90125 is an interesting album, I always really liked the track Leave it with its' a capella opening and Art of Noise style production.
Blinded by the Light is a great song, but I still have a soft spot for Manfred Manns' prog style reworking.
It had to be ' Airport' as your top spot, and what a cracker it is.
The chord progression is lovely on the chorus and always reminds me of 'Junk' by McCartney, but it's progressive new wave pop at its' most creative.
Hope you have a great weekend. 👍
Nice to hear your list, James.
I think I first heard Owner Of A Lonely Heart on an episode of Knightrider. So, whenever I hear it I get images of David Hasselhoff in my head.
Thanks to Stephen Walsh for pointing out that 'Solsbury Hill' is actually the second track on 'Peter Gabriel'. That wasn't the case for the old home-taped cassette I had of it back in the eighties!!
Great list! Solsbury Hill is awesome! I agree about Free Fallin, and I'm a mega Petty fan! I'd add songs like Baba O Riley, Good Times Bad Times, and Hello by Oasis. Cheers my friend.
Mama by Genesis opening their 1983 album, School by Supertramp opening Crime of The Century, The Queen is Dead by The Smiths, Hotel California by the Eagles, Come Together by The Beatles, Brown Sugar by The Stones, Wouldn't It Be Nice by the Beach Boys, Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding by Elton…those are a few great ones, I think. Take care, James!
A lot of great choices! I really love XTC (Skylarking is excellent!) and Yes. I must say that I don't remember ever hearing of the band "The Motors" or the song "Airport". They must have not been very big in the US. I just now listened to the song "Airport" on YouTube. Reminds me a lot of ELO when they sing "Airport" in the background.
Of course I will furrow my brow and say, "Do It Again"? 🙂
Stupid Man – Lou Reed
Brown Earth – Laura Nyro
Hot Stuff – Rolling Stones
Jokerman – Bob Dylan (I definitely agree!)
Mother – John Lennon
Perfect Skin – Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
some great shouts there James.. love all of those choices..
There was a version of this that did the rounds before on the VC ages ago. Maybe even before you started making videos. I don't think it was 12 though. I included FFF on the Public Image Ltd. – Album. It was so long ago I can't remember what else there was on my list.
A most enjoyable listen James. This is on the topic list for my podcast to do but it may be a fun one to do a video on also. There are albums that we have so much emotion about primarily due to that opening track that scoops us up and takes us to a new place. Fisherman’s Blues from the Waterboys is one that does it for me. I need to think this one over some
Hi, another James Griffiths here, so had to subscribe 😅 Dance On A Volcano would be in my top 10 openers
The greatest opening song of all time is hands down break on through (to the other side) by the Doors which is from their debut album so it is a double best. Where the streets have no name by U2 is also great and if it is Pink Floyd then it is either one of these days from Meddle or in the flesh? from the Wall. Also fantastic is the road to hell part 1-2 by Chris Rea.