It’s possible no-one under 25 will get this article. But the joy of side one, track one is one of my life’s great pleasures. It’s a hangover from the days of 12-inch vinyl when there were five or six songs on each side of a long playing record.
There’s plenty of these musical gems but here are my Top 25 starting with the indisputable heavyweight track one side one of the world: Bob Dylan’s Like A Rolling Stone, recorded and released (on the LP Highway 61 Revisited) in 1965.
As US music genius Greil Marcus said in the best (and probably only) book written about a single song: “When drummer Bobby Gregg brought his stick down for the opening noise of the six-minute single, the sound - a kind of announcement, then a void of silence, then a rising fanfare, then the song - fixed a moment when all those caught up in modern music found themselves engaged in a running battle for a prize no one bothered to name: the greatest record ever made, perhaps the greatest record that ever would be made.”
Marcus kind of liked the song. But it covered all the bases for a great track one side one (now just T1S1): it grabs your attention, it puts you in a place and time, it opens the door on a revelation and it tells you about the space the rest of the record will occupy. Listen to it and try to disagree.
Here’s the rest (the rules include that each artist can only have one song - although if someone is a solo artist and in a band, they can have more), in no set in stone order:
2- Shake Some Action by the Flamin’ Groovies on Shake Some Action (1976). This is a brilliant rock and pop song that sums up what is top flight San Francisco garage rock album.
3- Cinnamon Girl by Neil Young on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (1969). The sensational opener from the godfather of grunge with a driving drums and bass that never gives up. Best garage rock ever.
4- Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen on Born To Run (1975). There’s a few Bruce rivals in T1S1 world but this just says it: welcome to a Rock Classic.
5- Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones on Let It Bleed (1969). A band that always, just always, blew their best shot first. So many T1S1s but this stands out. It’s got everything from that opening voodoo guitar to a school choir.
6- Just A Little Lovin’ by Dusty Springfield on Dusty in Memphis (1969). This was Dusty’s declaration as an artist – a soulful seductive tune full of a promise that’s soon fulfilled.
7- Astral Weeks by Van Morrison on Astral Weeks (1968). An absolute game-changer that really flicked a switch in modern music. Magic, ethereal, with ambiance: jazzy.
8- You Ain’t Going Nowhere by the Byrds on Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968). Heralding the arrival of crossover country rock this also introduced the grievous angel Gram Parsons to the world. And it had Dylan, too.
9- Immigrants Song by Led Zeppelin on III (1970). Like the Stones, this band made every opener a winner but this one is just majestic. Play it and weep.
10- Intro/Rock’n’Roll Animal by Lou on Rock’n’Roll Animal Live (1974). Possiibly the scariest thing ever recorded. Forget any of that poser metal, this is truly dark, underworld rock.
11- Changes by David Bowie on Hunky Dory (1971). Bowie was all about changing and this opener said it with rock’n’roll flash. Originally a parody of a nightclub song, it warns the world “look out you rock and rollers”.
12- Gloria by Patti Smith on Horse (1975). One of those opening lines that is urgently compelling: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine.” Works up to an orgasmic finish.
13- Janie Jones by The Clash on The Clash (1977). Great intro song from one of London’s best bands of the late 70s. All guitars, drums and “he’s in love with rock’n’roll, whoa/he’s in love with getting’ stoned, whoa’’.
14- Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix on Are You Experienced (1967). This is a gem with a guitar riff that tops the class (played by Jimi with his thumbs!). On the US release Purple Haze was the opener, talk about choice.
15- White Room by Cream on Wheels On Fire (1968). A seriously brilliant drug song which has something to do with a railway station waiting room. Captured an era and includes stunning wah-wah guitar from Eric Clapton.
16- Green Onions by Booker T and the MGs on Green Onions (1962). A 12-bar blues tune with shimmering Hammond organ that just screams Memphis. Soundtrack for a town.
17- Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana on Nevermind (1991). A classic guitar riff that is picked up by David Grohl’s sledgehammer drums and then the band rolls over it like an armoured division. Next step Kurt Cobain’s vocal. Don’t look back.
18- Radio Free Europe by R.E.M. on Murmur (1983). R.E.M. usually buried their best but this time they hit it in one. Typically quiet opening before going all Georgia peach pop.
19- Do You Remember Rock’n’Roll Radio? by the Ramones on Ramones (1980). A particularly stunning piece of rock/pop genius that is a wall of sound. Never sleeps and always gives.
20- Chuck E’s In Love by Rickie Lee Jones on Rickie Lee Jones (1979). A tune that has a carbon-dated time and place that you can match to loving or wasting. The 70s were a long time ago.
21- Go by Pearl Jam on Vs. (1993). Grunge is like this. Little bit of tease and then music gathers weight before Eddie Vedder’s vocal runs to keep up. Always a small step behind but wow!
22- Misunderstood by Wilco on AM (1995). Wilco was another band that almost always left their best to later but on this disc they cut straight to the chase. A real lost youth anthem.
23- White Light/White Heat by the Velvet Underground on White Light/White Heat (1968). New York’s finest blaze a culture and a city with music that hardly touched down. Not ever.
24- Break On Through (To The Other Side) by the Doors on The Doors (1966). A lovely but understated drum skiffle picked up by the organ before Jim Morrison bites into the beat and chews and spits. Driving music.
25-Wouldn’t It Be Nice by the Beach Boys on Pet Sounds (1966). Pure power pop from Brian Wilson and the gang. A superb scene setter for one of the greatest pop discs of all time.
Don’t miss: Get The Punch in your inbox every day
Get The Punch on Facebook
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
RT @alaindebotton: So many of our problems would be alleviated if we had 3 or 4 exceptional friends living within a 2 minute radius.
It's terribly unfashionable to admit but my Cityrail train just left on time again
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
Interest rate barney barely even rates as interesting
Stop all the cheering, cut off the champagne. Prevent the pollies from barking and silence the drums.…
Life slips away while you’re filming it on your phone
Some friends of mine had lunch on Saturday with a mate who spent so much time artfully composing photos…
Other stuff to be angry about today (with chorizo pic)
That dopey Spaniard. Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been banned for two years,…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: City vs country: What would you change your life for?
Dieter Moeckel says:
We made the tree change from Darwin to Wonbah more than 15 years ago. After fencing, a road, and couple of dams our money was gone. Super is enough to live comfortably. We have geese growing old and stringy the only one that made it to the pot committed Kamakazi by flying into a tree; the chooks are… [read more]From: I’d rather have a piece of toast than listen to crap lyrics
Erick says:
Led Zeppelin are responsible for my all-time favourite mixed metaphor: "There you sit, sit and stare, like a book on a shelf rusting." (Misty Mountain Hop) I laugh every time I hear it. Hmmm, I believe I've decided what to play on the way to work today. [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops
Well, puck me with a fitchfork. The F-word is apparently an acceptable part of Australian speech. That’s… Read more
Most commented