So here’s the album: An argument for the importance of the opening song

Love at first sight. The first bite of a cheeseburger. The first thing you smell when you get in the back of an Uber. In short: first impressions matter. To no surprise, the same sentiment applies to songs and albums. In this digital age with the expectation of instantaneous results, that first chord or kick can really make or break the listener if it doesn’t hit the right way-which is exactly why that opening song on an album holds so much weight. I know most people are not listening to full albums anymore, and that’s another topic for another blog post, but for those that still do (real ones) the first song is an introduction to the band, their sound and the overarching message they’re trying to convey over the span of the album.

These songs can truly create a connection with the listener from the start and set the tone for the rest of the album. A perfect example of this is Daft Punk’s “One More Time,” from their 2001 album, Discovery. Which, regardless of how many times you’ve heard it, still reels you in for an almost tangible, infectious dance experience that carries throughout the entire album with tracks like “Digital Love,” “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” and “Voyager.” Almost all of the songs on this album would and could stand on their own, but you are more equipped to appreciate them after the tone has been set by “One More Time,” and you can truly transcend by the time “Face to Face” comes around on the tracklist. This is not to say that there wouldn’t be other songs that could fit the mold of the opening track, but the decision to start with such force and fury lets the listener know this artist is serious about their craft and this is going to be a journey worth taking.

There’s also beauty in letting the album unfold, opposite the ideology expressed in the aforementioned Daft Punk album. Stevie Wonder’s “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” from the album that needs no introduction, Songs In The Key Of Life, is the quintessential example. This slow start allows the listener to settle in, get comfortable both physically and mentally, and begin to appreciate the greatness that their ears are set to endure. There’s something to be said about patience with an album. Allowing your emotions to stew as opposed to letting them fly full fledged from the jump. This slowed-down approach can let you sit with your thoughts a little more, think about what the music means to you; how it makes you feel. This isn’t for everyone, I understand, but there is something really special about coming out the other end of an album with newfound perspective somewhere in the scope of your life.

All this is to say that there is not a set equation or playbook for how to start an album, but more so an intrinsic feeling from the artist that is to be expressed across an LP that starts with the message and mantra expressed on track one. A reason to continue to track two, three, and so on. The great artists do this masterfully on every album. Prince did this so many different ways across the 80s with tracks like “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” (Prince); “1999,” (1999); “Let’s Go Crazy,” (Purple Rain); and “Sign O’ The Times,” from the album of the same name. To the greats, it’s almost like a challenge to set the stage for the rest of their masterpieces to play out for the listener. And for the listener, it’s like reading a book you didn’t read the synopsis on or a movie you didn’t see the trailer for: you’re setting yourself up for every emotion outside of expectation. This can make someone a fan for life or just a few seconds.

Just like there is no set equation or playbook for how to start an album, there is no set equation playbook for how to end an article about how to start an album and with that I will just leave you with a playlist I crafted of my favorite 50 album openers. This playlist ranges from the likes of Cher to Chief Keef and almost everything in between. They are not in ranked or alphabetically assigned-it’s strictly put together off vibes. This seemingly erratic range of musicians and albums is due in large part because while music is subjective and people have their specific tastes, I find that the overarching message and mantra of the music overpowers what instruments are playing or what lyrics they’re singing. The ears know no bounds when you free your mind, or something inspirational like that. Anyway…let me know what you think are some of your favorite album openers in the comments and look out for the article where I discuss album closers in the future!