Introductions aren’t always easy, especially when it comes to debut albums. You have to say a lot in a finite amount of time. You have to establish your sound and leave room for improvement. It’s a hard line to tow and not everyone gets it right. Those that do, however, have a special place in the rock hierarchy. The three bands below are counted among those numbers, churning out not only great debut albums but also timeless opening tracks.
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“Running with the Devil” (Van Halen)
The opening track to Van Halen‘s debut album, “Running with the Devil,” has remained one of their most beloved. It’s a bold album opener. The siren-esque noise at the top of the track could’ve potentially been a turn-off for listeners. Van Halen took the risk and earned a now-iconic intro. The driving guitars are the stuff of rock legend, and the unforgettable chorus has endured for generations. In terms of introductions on debut albums, it doesn’t get much stronger than this.
“Purple Haze” (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
Jimi Hendrix put psychedelia on the map with his debut album, Are You Experienced. The album, as a whole, was a sonic taster of a new musical venture. No one had grasped the mind-melting guitar solos that would soon become commonplace in this rock sub-genre. He delivered a transcendent experience that paired well with the psychedelics that ruled this era of rock.
The opening track to this album, “Purple Haze,” was Hendrix’s calling card. Though he had many name-making tracks at his disposal, fans will always see this song as the impetus of Hendrix’s musical movement.
“Blitzkrieg Bop” (Ramones)
If you need a song that will instantly orient someone to the punk rock movement, look no further than the Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Given how important this song would be to the band’s career, it’s wild to consider it was an introduction to the Ramones for many listeners in 1976.
Not only was “Blitzkrieg Bop” an amazing opening track on the Ramones’ debut album, it also transcended the band, able to stand on its own without having any context of their career. Even those not well versed in punk will know this song. It has been in far too many movies, television shows, and referenced in too many other songs to be forgotten.
(Photo by Getty Images/Bob Riha, Jr.)
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