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Opening songs...

Bryan Burnett | 20:05 UK time, Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Thanks for all your synth suggestions tonight. We certainly tried to fit in a lot of songs tonight but apologies if yours got left out. Tomorrow's theme is what we like to refer to as 'one for the bloggers'. I'm looking for your suggestions of the best opening tracks of all time. My favourite bit in High Fidelity is where he comes up with a list of his top five of best 'side ones - track ones'. Maybe you could have a go at something similar?

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Dexy's Midnight Runners - "Burn It Down" ~ "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels"

  • Comment number 2.

    Joe Jackson - "One More Time" ~ "Look Sharp"

  • Comment number 3.

    Talking Heads - "I Zimbra" ~ "Fear Of Music"

  • Comment number 4.

    WEDNESDAY




    Innocence
    - Kirsty MacColl ~ Kite

    The Bitch is Back
    - Elton John ~ Caribou

    Hello Hooray
    - Alice Cooper ~ Billion Dollar Babies

    Songs from the Wood
    - Jethro Tull ~ Songs from the Wood


    and a few Country songs...


    Don't Touch My Hat - Lyle Lovett ~ The Road to Ensenada

    This is Country Music
    - Brad Paisley ~ This is Country Music

    I Ain't the One
    - Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)

    (What This World Needs is) a Few More Rednecks
    - Charlie Daniels ~ Simple Man


    :o)

  • Comment number 5.

    Une Nuit a Paris - 10CC, from the album Original Soundtrack

    DC

  • Comment number 6.

    Neneh Cherry - 'Woman' (from Man)

    Hard Fi - 'Cash Machine' (from Stars of CCTV)

    Dave Edmunds - 'Get Out Of Denver' (from Get It)

    Elbow - 'Starlings' (from The Seldom Seen Kid)

  • Comment number 7.

    John Mayer - 'Waiting On The World To Change' (from Continuum)

  • Comment number 8.

    Refugee - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes

    Late for the Sky - Jackson Browne - Late for the Sky

    Charlie Darwin - the Low Anthem - Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

    The Suburbs - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

    Dirty Rain - Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

  • Comment number 9.

    Sometimes ~ T. Stranglers Rattus Norvegicus What a first line ;-)
    Kill The Poor ~ Dead Kennedys Fresh Fruit For Rotten Vegetables
    Suspect Device ~ Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material
    Uncontrollable Urge ~ DEVO Are We Not Men
    Homicide ~ 999 Separates
    Babylon's Burning ~ T. Ruts The Crack

  • Comment number 10.

    Janie Jones - The Clash, The Clash

    Gloria - Patti Smith Group, Horses

    Five Years - Bowie, The Rise And Fall of etc

    Baba O'reilly - The Who, Who's Next

    Circus Games - The Skids, Absoluite Game

    but you all know what I want to hear:

    Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run........

  • Comment number 11.

    Not the live at Hammersmith version?

  • Comment number 12.

    NO!!!!!

  • Comment number 13.

    "Fireball" - Deep Purple

    "Jailbreak" - Thin Lizzy

    From albums of the same name

    And in the words of Joe, "more to follow".....


    ...but only two more, as I try to instigate a "Blog Code Of Conduct" of a max of four shouts per theme.

  • Comment number 14.

    Ok then AFR as you are seen as Blog Regulator:

    Janie Jones - The Clash, The Clash

    Gloria - Patti Smith Group, Horses

    The Skids, Absoluite Game

    but you all know what I want to hear:

    Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen, Born To Run........

  • Comment number 15.

    Once Bitten, Twice Shy / Ian Hunter (Ian Hunter)

    Midnight Summer Dream / Stranglers (Feline)

    Re-Make Re-Model / Roxy Music (Roxy Music)

    Fire & Water / Free (Fire & Water)

    Loads more but will respect the 4 track guideline.

    Al.

  • Comment number 16.

    Bah, annoyed at missing Tuesday's theme. But kudos for the ELP at the end (even if it was the wrong track - everyone knows it should have been Lucky Man).

    Right, onward. The best opening tracks - whether gentle intros, or stompers - all do a great job of announcing: right, sit back; this is what you're in for.

    So while there are so, so, so many great tracks that happen to be on Side 1, track 1, great album openers are a different story.

    Album Openers
    ~~~~~~~~~
    Probably no co-incidence that this contains quite a few 'story' albums, whether musicals or concept albums (maaan):

    * The Saw Doctors - The Green and Red of Mayo (All the Way from Tuam)
    For a long time, this was what I woke up to
    * This Mortal Coil - Velvet Belly/The Jeweller (Filigree & Shadow)
    Also an alarm clock tune - a nice gentle easing into the day (hmmm do we have a theme here..?)
    * Runrig - Headlights (The Big Wheel)
    Sets the tone of the album beautifully
    * Paul Simon - The Boy in the Bubble (Graceland)
    From the opening notes, to the simple fact that it groove you know this ain't your normal Paul Simon album
    * Tom Jones - What Good Am I? (Praise and Blame)
    Oh, so that's the mood Tom's going for...

    And let's address the audience with a narratorial voice:
    * Prince - Let's Go Crazy (Purple Rain)
    * Jeff Wayne/Richard Burton - Eve of the War (War of the Worlds)
    So good, the most recent film version used this pretty much verbatim.
    * Pink Floyd - In The Flesh Part I (The Wall)
    * The Rocky Horror Show - Opening/Science Fiction (The Rocky Horror Show)

    Great First Tracks
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~
    * Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue (Blood on the Tracks)
    * Mika - Grace Kelly (Life In Cartoon Motion)
    * Scissor Sisters - Laura (Scissor Sisters)
    plus loads from The Beatles, U2 etc etc.

  • Comment number 17.

    And it goes without saying: +1 to Norrie for Baba O'Riley & Five Years

  • Comment number 18.

    One more thing on synthy goodness - old stylee synths seem to be making a bit of a comeback with modern technology simulations.

    In particular, Moog have been doing great things with Apps for a certain fruit-branded tablet, building on their heritage, but using the touch screen for even more ways to expressively interact with sound.

    Blowing my own trumpet here, but I knocked together with the Animoog App, sounding like it comes right out of the 1970s ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radiophonic Workshop cuttingroom floor. All done with traditional sound on sound looping and fat analogue type sounds.

  • Comment number 19.

    'Turn on the radio', introductory track to John WETTON's 'Caught in the crossfire' is really gripping.
    Worth mentioning are also 'Communion with the sun' by UTOPIA (Album 'Râ'); 'Welcome to Boomtown' by David and David; 'Secret Separation' by FIXX (Album: 'Walkabout')
    'River of Orchids' by XTC (Apple Venus); 'The flyer' by SAGA (album: 'Heads or tales')

    .... But I have this idea that none will make it on air this evening. Why? Far too obscure. In French, folks would say: 'Pas assez commercial.'

  • Comment number 20.

    Hello again Bryan, Blogotariat.....
    I really cannot resist drawing your attention to this:

    Please have a listen
    Friendly greetings from Chris

  • Comment number 21.

    Just one more tune I really want to share with you. In 1986, David RICKETTS and David BAERWALD released 'Boomtown'. Both are session musicians.



    Enjoy.

  • Comment number 22.

    The Undertones - "Family Entertainment"

    Billy's Fourth ☺

  • Comment number 23.

    Burn The Black Suit-Juliet Turner(Album of the same name)
    Sorry You Asked?-Dwight Yokam(Gone)
    Romeo's Tune-Steve Forbert(Jackrabbit Slim)
    Joni Mitchel-Night Ride ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ (Album of the same name)
    All I Really Want-Alanis Morissette(Jagged Little Pill)

  • Comment number 24.

    #13

    Adam,

    You're nine days late...

  • Comment number 25.

    #13

    Adam,

    You're ten days late...






























    innumerate git

  • Comment number 26.

    (from 'Desolation Boulevard') ............. 'The Six Teens' ~~~ The Sweet

    (from 'Mott') ............ 'All the way from Memphis' ~~~ Mott the Hoople

    (from 'Electric Light Orchestra') ............ '10538 Overture' ~~~ ELO

    (from 'Blondie') ........... 'X Offender' ~~~ Blondie

    (from 'Punks not Dead') .......... 'Punks not Dead' ~~~ The Exploited

    (from 'Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts') ........ 'One Chord Wonders' ~~~ The Adverts

    (from 'Can't stand the Rezillos') .......... 'Flying Saucer Attack' ~~~ The Rezillos

    (from 'Peepshow') ........... 'Peek-a Boo' ~~~ Siouxie & The Banshees

  • Comment number 27.

    #25
    Its no April Fool thing SG.
    I think a BCC would be good.
    The point on limiting the number of shouts is not me having a go at the folk who come up with the google-spawned lists. Some folk genuinely have a lot of songs they like that fit the theme.
    I just think it would help them focus a bit and choose the ones they’d really like to be considered. It would also help cut out the rubbish that you couldnt possibly want played but it fits the theme so down it goes. Then what do you know, it gets on the show. (Lilly the Pink is a recent example of this).
    Other points that might be included on a BCC are: stealth listing, aliases, re-posting on F***book and Twitter, a moratorium on Queen records, anagrams, picking on Henri and so on.





    You know it makes sense.
    ;)

  • Comment number 28.

    Top drawer Mr Titter!

    Alternatively best last track apart from Down In The Sewer is

    Motorbike Beat ~ T. REVILLOS Rev Up








    This is an Alternative Theme suggestion!

  • Comment number 29.

    #27 #25 Also point to make is that I think that sometimes when the production team are faced with a huge list they might feel obliged to play something from it, even if there isn't anything very good included.
    You could still list as many as you want but just think more about tracks you genuinely would like to hear. Perhaps start or conclude within your post?
    Just an observation.

    Anyhoos
    # 26 Seconds for Mott Rex
    All The Way From Memphis / Mott The Hoople

    Al.

  • Comment number 30.

    Every time I've prioritised a list and very strongly indicated that *THIS* above all else is the acme of the theme in question, it's been roundly ignored.

    So no, I won't be going for that.

  • Comment number 31.

    Ma's a gran

  • Comment number 32.

    #30

    Just choose fewer then.

    Let our guide be "Four, Tops" as we strive together for a listless Blog!

  • Comment number 33.

    I think I generally comply with the BCC and they are all jolly good suggestions. I Would do away with the annoying *** but you all seem to like them so I wont even mention it!

  • Comment number 34.

    My favourite opener is 'Baba O'Reilly' by The Who on 'Who's Next?'

  • Comment number 35.

    #33

    Generally comply?? You, along with Julie, are serial stealth listers!
    Its four per theme not per post!


    BTW
    I'll settle for a draw tonight

  • Comment number 36.

    AFR,
    I like the idea of "4 Tops"... friends hereabout may recall the "wading thru treacle" rant, couldn't beat them, had to join them! for that I am truly sorry.
    May I be allowed dispensation to revert to my metro sexual alter-ego occasionally and forgiven for any late additions that do spring to mind following fellow blogger's posts?
    Is a GIO Chapter Meeting called for?

  • Comment number 37.

    #35 gasp!

    Ps agreed and that's job done!

    #36 a legendary rant. I must google it!

  • Comment number 38.

    Baba o'reilly would be good 2 nights in a row

  • Comment number 39.

    Hello again Bryan, Blogotariat, etc...

    No no no no, 'Once in a lifetime' is NOT the opening track to TALKING HEADS' 'Remain in light'
    It is 'Born under punches'
    YES YES YES it is a GREAT song.

  • Comment number 40.

    #36
    Could be MM.

    I have more suggestions for the BCC draft......

  • Comment number 41.

    Millport or Babbity Bowster, Merchant City? Millport or Babbity Bow...

    When finalised call it a "Charter" reckon the Corporation will appreciate that.

  • Comment number 42.

    Hello again Bryan, Blogotariat, etc....

    I'm sorry but I was not impressed with the opening tracks played last evening. Very few things up my street. Well, each to his/her own , they say....
    Alabama shakes? Naaaah! that was trash, really. In fact, I turned off the computer at about 8:20 PM (my time) and switched on the telly.
    Hope the music will be better tonight.

  • Comment number 43.

    Ìý
    Ah kain! Any show that includes U2 and the Smiths is a sair heid!

    It would be much more listenable if they played more of my excellent suggestions.


    Indeed, I would salute its listenability!

  • Comment number 44.

    One more opening track I really want to mention: 'Sacred songs' by Daryl HALL
    Album: 'Sacred songs' produced by Robert FRIPP.
    A pure gold nugget!!!!

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