Contests

LISTEN LIVE

PLAYLIST: Best Side A/Track 1s

Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album was released 49 years ago today (January 12.)  Besides being one of the best albums of all time, Led Zeppelin also has one of the…

Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album was released 49 years ago today (January 12.)  Besides being one of the best albums of all time, Led Zeppelin also has one of the best opening tracks of all time, too.

The opening track sets the tone for an entire album, and when Jimmy Page hits those thunderous two notes to kick off “Good Times Bad Times,” it never fails to make your pulse skip a beat.

In honor of Led Zeppelin and its killer side A/track 1, we assembled a playlist of some of our other favorite opening tracks.  Enjoy!

Best Side A/Track 1’s Playlist – Tracklisting

Led Zeppelin – “Good Times Bad Times”
Bruce Springsteen – “Thunder Road”
U2 – “Where The Streets Have No Name”
Aerosmith – “Toys In the Attic”
Rolling Stones – “Gimme Shelter”
Iggy & The Stooges – “Search and Destroy”
Velvet Underground – “Sunday Morning”
Ramones – “Blitzkrieg Bop”
Patti Smith – “Gloria”
Boston  - “More Than A Feeling”
ZZ Top – “Gimme All You Lovin’”
Queen – “We Will Rock You”
New York Dolls – “Personality Crisis”
Van Halen – “Runnin’ With The Devil”
AC/DC – “Highway To Hell”
The Who – “Baba O’Riley”
David Bowie – “Five Years”
Black Sabbath – “War Pigs”
Beach Boys – “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
The Clash – “London Calling”

Erica Banas is a rock/classic rock blogger that loves the smell of old vinyl in the morning.

Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights