Hidden Treasures - Album Openers

[Scott]

I tried this once before and I love the thought behind this, so lets do it again. Besides its been a real long time...

Were looking at Album Openers. Do you remember driving to the record store, buying the album and the droppng the needle on that opening track once you got back home? You know Side 1 Track 1! These songs were the tunes that set the mood for the entire album most of the times. And often they were the best the album had to offer, sometimes a hit song and sometimes not, but always one of the best on the album. Here are 5 from the dark recesses of my mind...

Oh - one more thing, since weve been in the 70's for so long, I'm going to steer clear of that decade for at least this week. What are some of your favorite album openers?

PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/a1jsrlf5

	Giuffria Giuffria 1984 1 - Do Me Right Keyboard maestro Gregg Giuffria originally planned to retain the Angel title for his second high-profile cinematic rock show, but the scalding ivories soaring throughout this record prove he's fully in charge, making the Giuffria moniker an apt band name. The long, blond angel always kicks off his projects with some cool keys, and the pulsing prelude to "Do Me Right" overpowers the rest of the song; like much of the album, this track devolves into a standard hair cut with symphonic trappings. Some abrupt occultism flies out of the flip's finale (spookiest cock rock craziness since the rise of Hagar's animal on Three Lock Box). Know now that both Giuffria platters are built around David Glen Eisley's voice, and enjoyment depends on how one takes to his heavy heaving. Plus, typical of this time period, some stuff sears, while some stuff sucks. But wistful weeper "Call to the Heart" rightfully remains Giuffria's crowning achievement and lone chart glory. Poor Giuffria remains a terrain-tethered star who never got off the ground.
	Krokus One Vice At A Time 1982 1 - Long Stick Goes Boom The Swiss headbangers didn't start out as headbangers; they were originally a progressive rock outfit along the lines of Yes, Genesis, and ELP. But when the band didn't get anywhere commercially, it decided to cash in on metal's popularity and started emulating AC/DC. Krokus' detractors would argue that One Vice at a Time is the work of a poor man's AC/DC -- and, to be sure, this 1982 LP is formulaic and contrived. But while Krokus wasn't easy to respect or admire, it was easy to like. AC/DC-minded tunes like "Save Me" and "Long Stick Goes Boom" aren't very imaginative, but they're infectious and enjoyable nonetheless. From Krokus' own songs to a cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman," everything on this album is catchy. Is One Vice at a Time derivative and shamelessly unoriginal? Yes. But it's still a fun record and ends up being a very guilty pleasure.
	Accept Balls To The Wall 1984 1 - Balls To The Wall Accept's most notorious album, Balls to the Wall was also their biggest commercial success. Following hot upon the heels of their creative breakthrough, Restless and Wild, you'd also be hard pressed to find a more sexually charged record in any musical genre. Its hysterically nonsensical lyrics notwithstanding, the legendary title track remains an irresistible, fist-pumping masterpiece that came to epitomize the modern, slow-marching metal anthem as it became known. And when paired with second single "London Leatherboys," it arguably constitutes the most blatantly homoerotic couplet in the history of heavy metal (eat your heart out, Rob Halford). "Fight It Back" is about as close as the band gets to their old, semi-thrashing ways (taken to the limit the previous year with the maniacal "Fast as a Shark"), and it is the more melodic "Head Over Heels" and semi-ballad "Losing More Than You've Ever Had" that set the tone for Accept's future direction. The album's third undisputed classic, the driving "Love Child," kicks off side two with one of metal's great staccato riffs -- so good, the band revisits it nearly verbatim a few songs later with "Losers and Winners," which is nearly as powerful. And though not quite as celebrated, the remaining tracks are no less potent, especially the slowly building tension heard on the downright lascivious "Turn Me On." The bottom line here is that this, like its predecessor Restless and Wild, is an essential heavy metal album, and any fan worth his salt should own them both.
	Rainbow Right Between The Eyes 1982 1 - Death Alley Driver Just a record before, Rainbow sounded as if they were verging on Billy Squier territory, but here, they reverse course and deliver a solid, no-frills hard rock record. It isn't just that the material is stronger, though it certainly is, it's that Roger Glover abandoned his smoothed-out, radio-ready production that marred Difficult to Cure. That's not to say that Straight Between the Eyes doesn't sound dated -- Rainbow was a band that was forever tied to its era -- but the album does have a harder-hitting, muscular sound that is more appropriate for the band. Similarly, vocalist Joe Lynn Turner sounds more comfortable with the group, and the entire band just seems to gel, turning even the generic numbers on the album into enjoyable, straight-ahead hard rock. There may not be any specific showcases for Ritchie Blackmore, but his playing is better heard in this setting, where he's not only soloing, he's propelling the band with his powerful riffs.
	Judas Priest Screaming For Vengeance 1982 1 - The Hellion/Electric Eye Ultimately, Screaming for Vengeance hangs together better than even the undeniable landmark British Steel, both thematically and musically. There's less of a party-down feel here -- the remaining traces of boogie have been ironed out, and the lyrics return to the darkness and menace that gave the band its mystique. Sure, if you stop to read the lyrics, all the references to demons and devils and monsters can look a little gratuitous, but the music here is so strong that there simply aren't any seams showing. Even the occasional filler is more metallic this time around -- in place of trite teenage rebellion, listeners get the S&M-themed "Pain and Pleasure." In fact, "Pain and Pleasure" and "Fever" are the only two songs here that have never shown up on a band retrospective, which ought to tell you that Priest's songwriting here is perhaps the best it's ever been. The midtempo grooves that enlivened British Steel are here in full force on the band's signature tune, "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" (their only American chart single), as well as "Bloodstone," "Devil's Child," and unfairly forgotten single "(Take These) Chains," all uniformly great. But there's a nearly equal emphasis on uptempo headbanging, thanks to the classic "The Hellion/Electric Eye," the terrific album track "Riding on the Wind," and the stupendously high-velocity title cut, which is the closest they ever came to thrash metal (at least in the '80s).

[Jon]

"The Hellion" is the first song on SFV. "Electric Eye" is the second. CORRECT THIS!

"Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To)", "We Will Rock You", "Mustapha", "Tie Your Mother Down",  "Brighton Rock" all by Queen and all great album openers.

Fight Fire With Fire" by Metallica, because it's starts off all sweet and then tears your head off.

"Gimme Shelter", Rolling Stones

"Hey, Hey, My, My", Neil Young & Crazy Horse

"London Calling", The Clash

[Scott]

I cannot listen to The Hellion with Electric Eye they are one to me!!

[Jon]

Then this list is a mockery. It's a sham. A mockery of a sham.

You claim it's album openers and yet.........SHAMERY!!!!!!

[Scott]

[Jon]

Guess not....

[Niels (Mod)]

The very best opener IS from the 70's: "Death On Two Legs" by Queen on "Night At The Opera". And it's not even the best track on that album. I also agree, that "Gimme Shelter" is one hell of an opener.

But the opening on "Screaming for Vengeance" is one (or two) killer too!!

Another one could be "Let It Go" from "High'n'Dry". "Rock Brigade" was also a good opener.

Or "I Surrender" from Rainbow's "Difficult To Cure". I loved that one, back then in '81.

Iron Maiden's "Prowler" is a very good opener as well.

Back in the 70's, there's also "It's a Long Way to The Top..." by AC/DC from "High Voltage" which now is one of my alltime favorites by that band. But "Hells Bells" was the opener, that made me a fan.

One of my alltime favorite opening tracks are "Taxman" on The Beatles "Revolver"-album. Again it's not even the best track on the album, but it's damn good.

 "Running With The Devil" goes without saying.

Or "Surrender", but the list goes on and on.....

[Niels (Mod)]

"Detroit Rock City", anyone?

[RJhog (Admin)]

DRC is great.  As far as Queen goes, I prefer Brighton Rock.  That's just a killer opener.

And although it go played out and everyone is pretty well sick of it now, Welcome To The Jungle was a superb opener.  

And Niels, I agree with you totally on Hells Bells.

As for the songs featured here, I'll get back to you after I've listened, hopefully at work today.

[Niels (Mod)]

Yeah, WTTJ also crossed my mind.

And how could I forget about "Black Dog"

[Scott]

Jon, Niels, and Boss... y'all mention some great openers...  here a few more

The Grand Illusion...

2112 ...  Rush has several great openers, Tom Sawyer, The Sprit of Radio, Subdivision etc....

Baba O'Riley...

[Jon]

A six song SHT list? Interesting. Of course I could post a screenshot showing the SIX songs on the player, but why should I do that? Everyone now knows this list is a sham and is full of shamery. 

Sad about that first song, it starts off really good and then turns baaaad at around the 49 second mark. Not "baaaad' in a good way, but in a generic, "my this sucks" way.

I just listened to that Krokus album a few weeks ago, finally picked it up after all these years. Had it when it first came out, lost the LP and now have it again. Listened to it quite a bit back in '82 and it still sounds good to me now. Of course it isn't "Headhunter", but nothing is. 

I was in England when that Accept album came out, and that was all the rage. We had to get that album and we did. Then we listened to it, mostly to that first track, with the volume turned all the way up.

What's wrong with Billy Squier? And the little synopsis is right, it does sound dated. But it's an ok album with a really cool album cover.

And then there's Priest and the TWO TRACKS posted. Still don't believe me? Look at the player.

This was a decent listen, could have been an awesome listen without the shamery. This is on you, bud. Straighten up. Get it right. 

4 albums (at one time it was all 5).

[RJhog (Admin)]

Giuffria - Only know one song by this band.  This is very keyboardy.  I don't mind that at all.  Sounds proggy.  Were they prog?  Always thought the vocalist sounded like Steve Perry.  Still do, even with this.  But maybe a slightly harder edge to his voice than Perry's.  Good song.

Krokus - I think I may have heard this before, but I'm not sure.  It's AC/DC.  Sounds just like them, vocally and musically. The Bon Scott version, of course.  I'll be totally honest on this one, it does absolutely nothing for me.  First track was much better.  This is very sterile rock to me.

Accept - This one I've heard, but I'm not particularly familiar with it.  It sounds kinda like Bon Scott again on the verses and Brian Johnson on the pre-chorus and chorus.  This is better than the Krokus song, for sure.  Could this be the best AC/DC song that AC/DC never wrote?  This is a terrific opener.

Rainbow - Yet another song I don't know.  I think I picked up the vinyl for this a year or so ago for a buck.  Nice opening pace.  Blistering solo.  Nice.

Priest - I now own this album, thanks to my awesome purchase of the entire pre-Nostradamus catalog for 12.99.  But I haven't listened yet.  So, the first track is an intro, and Jon's bloomers are all wadded up because of it?   Take your Xanax Jon.  Definitely dig the intro, and the Electric Eye is good too.  I've always liked the openers with intros, like Journey did with Majestic/Too Late on Evolution.  Although Too Late was a slow song, the intro made it cool for me.  This works here too.

So, my ranking, based on suitability for album openers, would be:

1. Rainbow (3)

2. Accept (1)

3. Judas Priest (4)

4. Giuffria (2)

5. Krokus (5)

The parentheses shows where I'd rank them based only on their song appeal.  Good job Scott.