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Special countdown · KEXP · 2024

The Best Opening Tracks of All Time

The countdown (2024) from KEXP in Seattle, WA ranks 738 songs, with “The First Song” by Band of Horses at number one. The list features 432 different artists; David Bowie has the most entries with nine songs.

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Part of KEXP's 2024 Fall Fundraising Drive; listeners voted for their favorite album-opening tracks of all time (exact air dates not stated on the page). The source also prints each song's parent album, which is not recorded here (only artist and song title per this archive's format). A handful of obvious spelling/formatting typos were corrected (e.g. "The Go-Gos" to "The Go-Go's", "Crushd" to "Crushed", "subterranean homesick blues" to "Subterranean Homesick Blues", inconsistent "Beyonce"/"Beyoncé" spellings normalized to "Beyoncé"). Rank 697's title had a stray embedded quotation mark removed ("Cracker Island" Ft. Thundercat" to "Cracker Island Ft. Thundercat"). Rank 482's title ends with the source's own truncation ("Theme From Flood/Birdhouse in..").

# Song ListsBest
738 The First Song Band of Horses 1 #738
737 Magnificent (She Says) Elbow 2 #28
736 Suicide Blonde INXS 17 #8
735 Turn to Stone ELO 1 #735
734 Eyes Be Closed Washed Out 1 #734
733 Last Exit Pearl Jam 3 #68
732 Cruel To Be Kind Nick Lowe 22 #281
731 Radio Song R.E.M. 26 #10
730 Ladykillers Lush 14 #21
729 Musicology Prince 1 #729
728 Cuz I Love You Lizzo 2 #8
727 I Ain't No Joke Eric B & Rakim 1 #727
726 Gosh Jamie xx 1 #726
725 Harborcoat R.E.M. 1 #725
724 Sometimes Pearl Jam 1 #724
723 Now It's On Grandaddy 10 #36
722 You Love Me DeVotchKa 1 #722
721 Sunshine Smile Adorable 2 #104
720 California (All The Way) Luna 3 #418
719 Hard Way Home Brandi Carlile 2 #371
718 Shadow Wild Nothing 1 #718
717 Good Morphine 1 #717
716 Everything Hits At Once Spoon 3 #166
715 23 Blonde Redhead 1 #715
714 Blood Bitch Cocteau Twins 1 #714
713 She's So High Blur 2 #91
712 Web In Front Archers of Loaf 6 #23
711 Buffalo Stance Neneh Cherry 3 #36
710 Hit the Lights Metallica 2 #649
709 Angst in My Pants Sparks 3 #73
708 Young Men Dead Black Angels 2 #273
707 Tell 'Em Sleigh Bells 6 #34
706 Cretin Hop The Ramones 8 #232
705 Cooking Up Something Good Mac DeMarco 1 #705
704 Re-Make/Re-Model Roxy Music 2 #497
703 Interstate 8 Modest Mouse 1 #703
702 Anywhere Out of the World Dead Can Dance 1 #702
701 Flip Your Wig Husker Du 3 #284
700 Mahgeetah My Morning Jacket 6 #324
699 Fear Not of Man Mos Def 1 #699
698 Brain of J Pearl Jam 2 #75
697 Cracker Island Gorillaz 6 #4
696 In The Flowers Animal Collective 1 #696
695 Faded Ben Harper 19 #80
694 Romance Fontaines D.C. 1 #694
693 Middle Rocket from the Crypt 1 #693
692 Sunspots Bob Mould 1 #692
691 You Are (The Government) Bad Religion 1 #691
690 O My Soul Big Star 1 #690
689 Future Legend David Bowie 1 #689
688 Mothers of The Sun Black Mountain 1 #688
687 More Than a Love Song Black Pumas 6 #9
686 Title Track Death Cab for Cutie 1 #686
685 Mirror in the Bathroom The English Beat 54 #38
684 Coming Home Leon Bridges 8 #10
683 Control Janet Jackson 1 #683
682 Zombie Fela Kuti 1 #682
681 Ritual Union Little Dragon 2 #82
680 Line Up Elastica 2 #42
679 Is There a Ghost Band of Horses 9 #41
678 Playa Playa D'angelo 1 #678
677 Overgrown James Blake 1 #677
676 Let's Stay Together Al Green 8 #112
675 Shining Star Earth, Wind & Fire 2 #675
674 Better Git it In Your Soul Charles Mingus 1 #674
673 Chain of Fools Aretha Franklin 5 #331
672 Girl From The North Country Bob Dylan 7 #104
671 Sisyphus Andrew Bird 4 #25
670 Ivo Cocteau Twins 2 #16
669 Shattering the Hourglass Deep Sea Diver 1 #669
668 Missing U Robyn 1 #668
667 Intro/Gasoline Dreams Outkast 1 #667
666 Clandestino Manu Chao 1 #666
665 Pray You Catch Me Beyoncé 1 #665
664 Smoke Signals Phoebe Bridgers 1 #664
663 I've Been Waiting For Tomorrow The The 1 #663
662 It Isn't Meant To Be Tame Impala 1 #662
661 Here's Your Future Thermals 1 #661
660 Vaxxine Visqueen 2 #466
659 Tired of Sex Weezer 2 #659
658 The Hungry Wolf X 7 #62
657 Gloria U2 41 #51
656 Sun King The Cult 5 #65
655 I Am The Sea The Who 1 #655
654 No Wow / Telephone Radio Germany Kills 1 #654
653 Horchata Vampire Weekend 7 #19
652 Reuters Wire 1 #652
651 Sister Havana Urge Overkill 31 #16
650 Nervous Mary The Breeders 1 #650
649 1969 The Stooges 15 #581
648 Thickfreakness The Black Keys 1 #648
647 The Once Over Twice X 3 #66
646 School Supertramp 3 #646
645 The Sign Lizzo 1 #645
644 Waiting on The Stairs Pela 1 #644
643 Alison Slowdive 4 #417
642 Geyser Mitski 1 #642
641 Illegal Smile John Prine 3 #632
640 Facet Squared Fugazi 1 #640
639 Out To Get You James 1 #639
638 Sweetness & Light Lush 3 #27
637 Fine Time New Order 10 #9
636 No One Has Mudhoney 1 #636
635 We Die Young Alice In Chains 2 #635
634 The High Road Broken Bells 15 #7
633 Tie Your Mother Down Queen 6 #326
632 Don't Make Me a Target Spoon 1 #632
631 Personality Crisis New York Dolls 15 #346
630 Wake Up Mad Season 1 #630
629 She Cries Your Name Beth Orton 6 #184
628 Wordy Rappinghood Tom Tom Club 1 #628
627 The Adults Are Talking The Strokes 5 #1
626 Jailbreak Thin Lizzy 8 #134
625 First Wave Intact Secret Machines 1 #625
624 Take a Bow Muse 1 #624
623 Cecillia Ann The Pixies 1 #623
622 The Fear Pulp 1 #622
621 Atrocity Exhibition Joy Division 1 #621
620 Who Can It Be Now? Men At Work 20 #36
619 Girl U Want Devo 26 #48
618 Wargasm L7 1 #618
617 Nebraska Bruce Springsteen 1 #617
616 It's Good to Be Here Digable Planets 1 #616
615 She's In Parties Bauhaus 6 #347
614 Speed of Life David Bowie 1 #614
613 Boys Don't Cry The Cure 73 #1
612 Acts of Man Frightened Rabbit 1 #612
611 In ár gCroíthe go deo Fontaines D.C. 2 #611
610 Rock N' Roll Handsome Boy Modeling School 1 #610
609 Leaving The Light Genesis Owusu 7 #19
608 I Was a Lover TV on the Radio 1 #608
607 Both Hands Ani DiFranco 1 #607
606 Back in the Saddle Aerosmith 14 #63
605 Somebody To Shove Soul Asylum 37 #35
604 Welcome To The Working Week Elvis Costello 8 #604
603 Los Angeles Frank Black 5 #69
602 Texture Catherine Wheel 1 #602
601 Bright Yellow Gun Throwing Muses 6 #86
600 The Mother we Share CHVRCHES 10 #5
599 We Are All Made of Stars Moby 13 #31
598 Making Plans For Nigel XTC 40 #29
597 Pop Song '89 R.E.M. 23 #32
596 Della's Gone Johnny Cash 1 #596
595 Owner of a Lonely Heart Yes 14 #54
594 The Revolution Will Not Be Televised Gil Scott-Heron 2 #594
593 Big in Japan Tom Waits 2 #593
592 Legalize It Peter Tosh 2 #583
591 L.E.S. Artistes Santigold 4 #57
590 Blue Bell Knoll Cocteau Twins 3 #80
589 Life On A Chain Pete Yorn 17 #10
588 Right Here Right Now Fatboy Slim 3 #23
587 Are You Gonna Go My Way Lenny Kravitz 66 #3
586 Superwise Goodness 2 #91
585 The Humpty Dance Digital Underground 4 #85
584 Crumbling Castle King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 1 #584
583 Cover Me Up Jason Isbell 4 #60
582 I Don't Blame You Cat Power 1 #582
581 Be Above It Tame Impala 1 #581
580 Sailin' On Bad Brains 1 #580
579 Radiation Vibe Fountains of Wayne 21 #435
578 Ether Gang of Four 1 #578
577 Up on the Sun Meat Puppets 2 #368
576 Robot Stop King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 1 #576
575 A Salty Salute Guided By Voices 1 #575
574 What's In It For Me The Walkmen 1 #574
573 A More Perfect Union Titus Andronicus 3 #573
572 Bodhisattva Steely Dan 6 #314
571 A Lot's Gonna Change Weyes Blood 1 #571
570 One More Year Tame Impala 1 #570
569 Ask Her For Aderall Hold Steady 1 #569
568 Pure Comedy Father John Misty 2 #48
567 My Silver Lining First Aid Kit 6 #5
566 Time of the Preacher Willie Nelson 1 #566
565 Big Fontaines D.C. 1 #565
564 Silence Portishead 1 #564
563 Sweet Adeline Elliott Smith 1 #563
562 Montezuma Fleet Foxes 1 #562
561 Fruits of My Labor Lucinda Williams 1 #561
560 Funtimes in Babylon Father John Misty 1 #560
559 Day of the Deadringers Mclusky 1 #559
558 It's a Long Way To The Top (If You Want to Rock & Roll) AC/DC 1 #558
557 Cochise Audioslave 27 #19
556 Feel Big Star 1 #556
555 Romeo Had Juliette Lou Reed 5 #555
554 Heads Gonna Roll Jenny Lewis 4 #19
553 Peacebone Animal Collective 1 #553
552 Elevator Operator Courtney Barnett 3 #75
551 Lark Angel Olsen 1 #551
550 Daftendirekt Daft Punk 1 #550
549 Black Man in a White World Michael Kiwanuka 4 #48
548 Movin On Up Primal Scream 21 #64
547 Teenage FBI Guided By Voices 15 #80
546 Introvert Little Simz 1 #546
545 Be (Intro) Common 1 #545
544 Ambitionz Az A Ridah 2Pac 1 #544
543 Don't Know Why Norah Jones 4 #21
542 Honey Moby 2 #542
541 Mis-Shapes Pulp 3 #12
540 Pay Your Way in Pain St. Vincent 3 #50
539 Weak in Your Light Nation of Language 1 #539
538 Things That Scare Me Neko Case 1 #538
537 Twin Cinema The New Pornographers 3 #50
536 Spiting Off The Edge Of The World Yeah Yeah Yeahs 3 #80
535 Hardcore UFOs Guided By Voices 1 #535
534 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap AC/DC 16 #19
533 Need You Now Cut Copy 1 #533
532 Autobahn Kraftwerk 5 #110
531 In the Air Tonight Phil Collins 21 #62
530 Theme From Shaft Isaac Hayes 3 #530
529 Accidents Will Happen Elvis Costello 8 #529
528 Country Death Song Violent Femmes 11 #178
527 Destination The Church 1 #527
526 Trompe Le Monde The Pixies 1 #526
525 No Ordinary Love Sade 3 #348
524 Trip Like I Do The Crystal Method 1 #524
523 Come With Us The Chemical Brothers 1 #523
522 Out on the Weekend Neil Young 1 #522
521 Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago Soul Coughing 5 #360
520 Gold Lion Yeah Yeah Yeahs 23 #12
519 Oh My Lover PJ Harvey 1 #519
518 Death with Dignity Sufjan Stevens 1 #518
517 Singapore Tom Waits 1 #517
516 Either Way Wilco 2 #516
515 Hey Mami Sylvan Esso 1 #515
514 The Concept Teenage Fanclub 7 #6
513 Happiness Is Easy Talk Talk 1 #513
512 Ol' 55 Tom Waits 3 #70
511 Concrete Jungle The Wailers 1 #511
510 I Confess The English Beat 35 #10
509 It's Gonna Be a Long Night Ween 1 #509
508 Sacrilege Yeah Yeah Yeahs 5 #30
507 10:15 Saturday Night The Cure 9 #43
506 Everlasting Light The Black Keys 2 #441
505 Tender Blur 17 #40
504 Intro Alt J 1 #504
503 Is This Love? Bob Marley 22 #142
502 The Wrong Way TV on the Radio 1 #502
501 Mambo Sun T. Rex 1 #501
500 Rain in Soho The Mountain Goats 1 #500
499 Art of Almost Wilco 2 #318
498 Flume Bon Iver 3 #258
497 Next Exit Interpol 1 #497
496 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Black Sabbath 2 #195
495 I Wanna Get High Cypress Hill 1 #495
494 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon and Garfunkel 13 #25
493 Midnight Marauders Tour Guide/Steve Biko A Tribe Called Quest 1 #493
492 Astronomy Domine Pink Floyd 1 #492
491 I'm Dancing in The Show Tonight Ween 1 #491
490 In the Evening Led Zeppelin 6 #339
489 Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now) Cracker 17 #14
488 A Message To You Rudy The Specials 34 #54
487 Surrender Cheap Trick 18 #88
486 It Could Be Sunshine Love and Rockets 1 #486
485 Silver Echo and the Bunnymen 3 #485
484 Little Fluffy Clouds The Orb 25 #42
483 Spirits In The Material World The Police 20 #57
482 Theme From Flood/Birdhouse in.. They Might Be Giants 1 #482
481 Common People William Shatner 3 #21
480 Brill Bruisers The New Pornographers 3 #31
479 She Drives Me Crazy Fine Young Cannibals 42 #4
478 Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio The Ramones 14 #192
477 Born of Frustration James 32 #3
476 I Wanna Destroy You The Soft Boys 1 #476
475 The Headmaster Ritual The Smiths 12 #29
474 Happy Hour The Housemartins 27 #6
473 The Modern World The Jam 4 #126
472 1984/JUMP Van Halen 1 #472
471 Rise Above Black Flag 3 #256
470 Neat Neat Neat The Damned 4 #12
469 Marching Bands of Manhattan Death Cab for Cutie 1 #469
468 Stop Black Rebel Motorcycle Club 12 #18
467 Counting Backwards Throwing Muses 4 #353
466 Burn The Cure 5 #57
465 Fight Fire With Fire Metallica 1 #465
464 I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) Whitney Houston 2 #464
463 Let Me Drown Soundgarden 2 #463
462 Turn It On The Flaming Lips 18 #461
461 Satan is My Motor Cake 7 #65
460 A Little Respect Erasure 41 #4
459 The Beast & Dragon, Adored Spoon 1 #459
458 Dance to The Music Sly and the Family Stone 2 #458
457 Take Me Away Ween 1 #457
456 Firesuite Doves 1 #456
455 Court and Spark Joni Mitchell 2 #455
454 Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken Camera Obscura 3 #433
453 Without You Without Them Boygenius 1 #453
452 Politik Coldplay 2 #452
451 Hot Thoughts Spoon 4 #13
450 360 Charli XCX 2 #35
449 My My, Hey Hey, Out of The Blue Neil Young 1 #449
448 Change Big Thief 1 #448
447 Little Plastic Castle Ani DiFranco 18 #42
446 Dead of Night Orville Peck 2 #23
445 The Nights of Wine and Roses Japandroids 1 #445
444 Diving Women Japanese Breakfast 1 #444
443 Sense King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 1 #443
442 Freak Scene Dinosaur Jr. 7 #5
441 The Wagon Dinosaur Jr. 3 #29
440 Rotten Apple Alice In Chains 1 #440
439 Re-Hash Gorillaz 1 #439
438 I Love You, Honeybear Father John Misty 1 #438
437 The State I'm In Belle & Sebastian 3 #28
436 The Shining Badly Drawn Boy 1 #436
435 Rolling in the Deep Adele 18 #1
434 Black Cow Steely Dan 2 #434
433 Hold On Alabama Shakes 17 #3
432 Mansard Roof Vampire Weekend 2 #432
431 Summer's Cauldron XTC 1 #431
430 At Least That's What You Said Wilco 1 #430
429 Overcome Tricky 1 #429
428 Supermodel SZA 1 #428
427 LOZ Intro My Morning Jacket 1 #427
426 The Tornado Loves You Neko Case 7 #15
425 100% Sonic Youth 19 #23
424 Down on the Street The Stooges 3 #424
423 Don't Stand So Close to Me The Police 49 #11
422 Shadow of the Season Screaming Trees 3 #386
421 Lisztomania Phoenix 17 #1
420 Kill Your Television Ned's Atomic Dustbin 22 #22
419 Silence Kid Pavement 1 #419
418 Do You Love Me Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 3 #11
417 Computer World Kraftwerk 2 #264
416 Hurricane Bob Dylan 11 #44
415 I Put a Spell on You Nina Simone 2 #415
414 Badlands Bruce Springsteen 19 #76
413 Blowin' in The Wind Bob Dylan 7 #42
412 Push It Along A Tribe Called Quest 1 #412
411 Dreaming Blondie 21 #219
410 Rebel Yell Billy Idol 58 #8
409 Subterranean Homesick Blues Bob Dylan 14 #196
408 Do It Again Steely Dan 13 #186
407 Glorious The Breeders 1 #407
406 Don't Go Yaz 27 #37
405 Drive My Car The Beatles 3 #26
404 Controversy Prince 3 #154
403 One Beat Sleater-Kinney 1 #403
402 Dirty Computer Janelle Monae 1 #402
401 Vicious Lou Reed 17 #401
400 Imagine John Lennon 54 #1
399 Tiny Dancer Elton John 22 #17
398 Girls on Film Duran Duran 46 #18
397 Hotel California The Eagles 65 #3
396 You Are The Sunshine of My Life Stevie Wonder 2 #396
395 Regret New Order 33 #9
394 Slow Burn Kacey Musgraves 3 #33
393 2122 Geese 1 #393
392 State of the Nation Deltron 3030 1 #392
391 Sweet Loaf Butthole Surfers 1 #391
390 Gospel for a New Century Yves Tumor 1 #390
389 Odessa Caribou 3 #59
388 Frank Sinatra Cake 19 #44
387 Misunderstood Wilco 3 #387
386 The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton The Mountain Goats 1 #386
385 Leave Home The Chemical Brothers 1 #385
384 The Fox Sleater-Kinney 1 #384
383 The Dripping Tap King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 1 #383
382 Dead and Bloated Stone Temple Pilots 7 #138
381 Never Ending Math Equation Modest Mouse 1 #381
380 I Zimbra Talking Heads 15 #380
379 Walk on By Isaac Hayes 2 #379
378 The Rainbow Talk Talk 1 #378
377 Ode To My Family The Cranberries 25 #15
376 Sleeping Lessons The Shins 2 #376
375 Honey White Morphine 17 #99
374 Yankees and The Braves Ep. 4 Run the Jewels 1 #374
373 I Wanna Be Your Lover Prince 3 #336
372 Float Janelle Monae 5 #4
371 Supervixen Garbage 3 #75
370 Oh, Love Comes To Town Talking Heads 4 #370
369 A Love Supreme Pt 1: Acknowledgement John Coltrane 2 #369
368 Celebrity Skin Hole 38 #4
367 Alone Again Or Love 4 #317
366 You Only Live Once The Strokes 14 #14
365 Rainy Day Woman #12 & #35 Bob Dylan 11 #358
364 Follow The Leader Eric B & Rakim 1 #364
363 Something I Learned Today Husker Du 1 #363
362 Stayin' Alive Bee Gees 4 #130
361 And She Was Talking Heads 52 #21
360 Fisherman's Blues The Waterboys 12 #57
359 Halfway Home TV on the Radio 1 #359
358 Blue The Jayhawks 21 #43
357 Suzanne Leonard Cohen 5 #352
356 Blew Nirvana 1 #356
355 Help, Im Alive Metric 10 #8
354 Testify Rage Against the Machine 30 #16
353 Thieves Ministry 3 #353
352 Let's Go The Cars 13 #123
351 Needle in the Camel's Eye Brian Eno 1 #351
350 The Cutter Echo and the Bunnymen 34 #22
349 Out There Dinosaur Jr. 1 #349
348 Who Loves The Sun The Velvet Underground 1 #348
347 Dreams Never End New Order 1 #347
346 Caribou The Pixies 1 #346
345 Stereo Pavement 4 #271
344 Icky Thump The White Stripes 32 #2
343 Born in the U.S.A. Bruce Springsteen 23 #43
342 Beds are Burning Midnight Oil 80 #3
341 Love Vigilantes New Order 38 #1
340 Godless The Dandy Warhols 2 #340
339 Rush Big Audio Dynamite 5 #57
338 Janie Jones The Clash 17 #129
337 Band on The Run Paul McCartney and Wings 4 #139
336 Help! The Beatles 24 #38
335 Hold My Life The Replacements 15 #335
334 Timebomb Old 97's 5 #334
333 Sweet Leaf Black Sabbath 7 #101
332 Round Here Counting Crows 36 #20
331 Hidden Place Björk 1 #331
330 Natural Mystic Bob Marley 2 #330
329 The Magnificent Seven The Clash 28 #158
328 In Undertow Alvvays 2 #279
327 Coyote Joni Mitchell 5 #148
326 The Genesis Nas 1 #326
325 People of the Sun Rage Against the Machine 11 #25
324 Concerning the UFO... Sufjan Stevens 1 #324
323 Schizophrenia Sonic Youth 2 #13
322 Norman Fucking Rockwell Lana Del Rey 1 #322
321 Hunter Björk 1 #321
320 And It Stoned Me Van Morrison 5 #320
319 What Went Down Foals 3 #22
318 Your Ex-Lover Is Dead Stars 1 #318
317 Lonely Boy The Black Keys 22 #2
316 Sound & Color Alabama Shakes 6 #27
315 Arcarsenal At the Drive In 1 #315
314 Random Rules Silver Jews 1 #314
313 Burn The Witch Radiohead 8 #11
312 Right in Time Lucinda Williams 4 #216
311 Wakin on a Pretty Day Kurt Vile 3 #311
310 E-Pro Beck 28 #4
309 Untitled ("Vaka") Sigur Ros 1 #309
308 Oh Baby LCD Soundsystem 1 #308
307 Give Life Back to Music Daft Punk 1 #307
306 Nikes Frank Ocean 1 #306
305 In The Morning Built To Spill 1 #305
304 Miss You The Rolling Stones 19 #110
303 Angel of Death Slayer 19 #5
302 Countdown to Armageddon Public Enemy 1 #302
301 It's Thunder It's Lightning We Were Promised Jetpacks 1 #301
300 Jenny Was a Friend of Mine The Killers 6 #65
299 You Are a Runner, and I Am My Father's Son Wolf Parade 1 #299
298 Igor's Theme Tyler, the Creator 1 #298
297 Packt Like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Box Radiohead 1 #297
296 Hello There Cheap Trick 1 #296
295 Zero Yeah Yeah Yeahs 7 #16
294 Silent Shout The Knife 1 #294
293 I Feel You Depeche Mode 25 #11
292 Dark Entries Bauhaus 2 #292
291 The Golden Age Beck 2 #291
290 I Feel The Earth Move Carole King 3 #290
289 All I Really Want Alanis Morissette 17 #34
288 Run The Jewels Run the Jewels 1 #288
287 Mass Romantic The New Pornographers 1 #287
286 Open The Cure 1 #286
285 Come Talk To Me Peter Gabriel 10 #41
284 (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay Otis Redding 9 #40
283 Roadrunner The Modern Lovers 8 #22
282 Like a Prayer Madonna 5 #249
281 The Rainbow Connection Kermit the Frog 2 #281
280 One Step Beyond Madness 40 #4
279 Holidays In The Sun The Sex Pistols 8 #11
278 Don't Stop Til You Get Enough Michael Jackson 5 #278
277 Faith George Michael 4 #277
276 Lovely Day Bill Withers 4 #12
275 Night Shift Lucy Dacus 2 #239
274 Turtles all the way Down Sturgill Simpson 2 #274
273 Young Men Dead Black Angels 2 #273
272 The Spirit Of Radio Rush 10 #24
271 Do I Wanna Know Arctic Monkeys 21 #2
270 Windfall Son Volt 8 #84
269 Unknown Legend Neil Young 4 #269
268 HeartBeats The Knife 6 #95
267 New Day Rising Husker Du 1 #267
266 In The Meantime Helmet 1 #266
265 N.W.O. Ministry 20 #13
264 Protection Massive Attack 10 #95
263 New Year The Breeders 1 #263
262 Thank You for Sending Me Angel Talking Heads 3 #262
261 Message in a Bottle The Police 61 #24
260 Carry On Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young 10 #260
259 Sexx Laws Beck 19 #26
258 Station to Station David Bowie 5 #258
257 Dirty Boots Sonic Youth 2 #257
256 The Crane Wife 3 The Decemberists 4 #256
255 Expert in a Dying Field The Beths 2 #255
254 Kissing the Lipless The Shins 4 #254
253 Dominion/Mother Russia Sisters of Mercy 2 #253
252 Blackstar David Bowie 5 #30
251 Into My Arms Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 6 #18
250 Sign O The Times Prince 30 #8
249 Hanging on the Telephone Blondie 22 #190
248 Lucky Star Madonna 1 #248
247 Super Disco Breakin' Beastie Boys 2 #247
246 Kill The Poor Dead Kennedys 1 #246
245 You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire Queens of the Stone Age 1 #245
244 Planet Claire The B-52's 33 #104
243 Say Hello 2 Heaven Temple of the Dog 12 #240
242 Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) Concrete Blonde 15 #128
241 Feel Good Hit of the Summer Queens of the Stone Age 1 #241
240 Stuck Between Stations Hold Steady 7 #140
239 Don't Fucking Tell Me What to Do Robyn 1 #239
238 Myth Beach House 7 #19
237 American Requiem Beyoncé 1 #237
236 Paprika Japanese Breakfast 6 #13
235 Barracude Heart 15 #24
234 A Sort of Homecoming U2 19 #57
233 What You Need INXS 52 #7
232 Gotta Get Up Harry Nilsson 1 #232
231 Young Americans David Bowie 37 #122
230 Needle in the Hay Elliott Smith 3 #230
229 The Modern Leper Frightened Rabbit 3 #229
228 Closer To Fine The Indigo Girls 28 #38
227 Middle of the Road The Pretenders 32 #82
226 The Act We Act Sugar 2 #226
225 Bellbottoms Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 2 #225
224 Super Bon Bon Soul Coughing 26 #75
223 A Hard Day's Night The Beatles 18 #64
222 Lost at Birth Public Enemy 1 #222
221 Block Rockin' Beats The Chemical Brothers 42 #19
220 Beautiful Day U2 66 #2
219 The One Thing INXS 44 #10
218 Ana Ng They Might Be Giants 32 #53
217 Know Your Rights The Clash 15 #27
216 We Will Rock You Queen 7 #32
215 Guns In The Sky INXS 10 #215
214 Time To Pretend MGMT 25 #18
213 White Light / White Heat The Velvet Underground 6 #213
212 Rich Yeah Yeah Yeahs 1 #212
211 Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground The White Stripes 37 #15
210 Sychronicity I The Police 15 #210
209 Vacation The Go-Go's 18 #8
208 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Michael Jackson 2 #208
207 Roundabout Yes 18 #19
206 At The Bottom of Everything Bright Eyes 1 #206
205 One Hundred Years The Cure 1 #205
204 Seasons (Waiting On You) Future Islands 11 #4
203 Sleep To Dream Fiona Apple 23 #40
202 If I Should Fall From Grace With God The Pogues 3 #202
201 Safe From Harm Massive Attack 9 #163
200 More Than This Roxy Music 38 #36
199 Leave Them All Behind Ride 3 #40
198 Terrible Love The National 4 #38
197 Smooth Operator Sade 1 #197
196 Start Me Up The Rolling Stones 19 #7
195 Crazy in Love Beyoncé 6 #67
194 Drive R.E.M. 45 #3
193 I Want You To Love Me Fiona Apple 5 #14
192 Zooropa U2 3 #31
191 Talking About A Revolution Tracy Chapman 18 #54
190 What's The Frequency Kenneth? R.E.M. 44 #2
189 Finest Worksong R.E.M. 20 #67
188 I Will Follow U2 69 #9
187 Mr. Self Destruct Nine Inch Nails 1 #187
186 Blackened Metallica 2 #70
185 Suite: Judy Blue Eyes Crosby, Stills, and Nash 13 #21
184 Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash 8 #57
183 Tax Man The Beatles 5 #183
182 Fill in The Blank Car Seat Headrest 3 #17
181 Caring Is Creepy The Shins 5 #181
180 Rock-N-Roll Star Oasis 17 #84
179 Serve the Servants Nirvana 2 #179
178 To Bring You My Love PJ Harvey 2 #34
177 Jackie Sinéad O'Connor 2 #177
176 The Song Remains the Same Led Zeppelin 9 #176
175 Respect Aretha Franklin 17 #16
174 Ace of Spades Motorhead 38 #3
173 Welcome to my Island Caroline Polachek 3 #29
172 Deceptacon Le Tigre 2 #172
171 Since I Left You The Avalanches 4 #8
170 In The Flesh Pink Floyd 1 #170
169 Girls And Boys Blur 35 #16
168 Astral Weeks Van Morrison 6 #168
167 Just Like Honey The Jesus and Mary Chain 24 #2
166 The Obvious Child Paul Simon 7 #49
165 American Idiot Green Day 50 #1
164 Goin' Against Your Mind Built To Spill 4 #70
163 Box of Rain The Grateful Dead 12 #78
162 Ceremony New Order 13 #4
161 Red Rain Peter Gabriel 38 #28
160 Refugee Tom Petty 10 #3
159 Back in the U.S.S.R. The Beatles 16 #80
158 Farewell Transmission Songs: Ohia 3 #158
157 Zoo Station U2 14 #42
156 Race For The Prize (Sacrifice Of The New Scientists) The Flaming Lips 1 #156
155 Precious The Pretenders 8 #68
154 Jolene Dolly Parton 7 #65
153 Dog Days Are Over Florence And The Machine 14 #1
152 Mojo Pin Jeff Buckley 1 #152
151 Magic Man Heart 13 #32
150 Like Eating Glass Bloc Party 2 #88
149 La Femme D'Argent Air 2 #149
148 Cinnamon Girl Neil Young 13 #101
147 Free Fallin' Tom Petty 23 #33
146 Search And Destroy The Stooges 3 #146
145 Big Exit PJ Harvey 3 #6
144 Cult of Personality Living Colour 47 #42
143 Our Lips Are Sealed The Go-Go's 28 #32
142 Enter Sandman Metallica 73 #5
141 Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder 2 #141
140 Sunday Morning Velvet Underground & Nico 1 #140
139 Go Pearl Jam 22 #8
138 Rocks Off The Rolling Stones 12 #115
137 Lust For Life Iggy Pop 67 #1
136 Highway to Hell AC/DC 42 #14
135 Seven Sunny Day Real Estate 6 #135
134 Dig Me Out Sleater-Kinney 2 #134
133 Intro M83 1 #133
132 Wildflowers Tom Petty 5 #132
131 2+2=5 Radiohead 3 #49
130 Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space Spiritualized 3 #18
129 21st Century Schizoid Man King Crimson 6 #129
128 Rio Duran Duran 39 #18
127 Bring Da Ruckus Wu-Tang Clan 1 #127
126 Space Oddity David Bowie 84 #8
125 Teeth Like God's Shoeshine Modest Mouse 1 #125
124 Get Innocuous LCD Soundsystem 1 #124
123 Wesley's Theory Kendrick Lamar 1 #123
122 Cherry Coloured-Funk Cocteau Twins 2 #122
121 Rhymin And Stealin Beastie Boys 3 #121
120 See No Evil Television 4 #120
119 Them Bones Alice In Chains 9 #39
118 Randy Described Eternity Built To Spill 1 #118
117 All I Want Joni Mitchell 6 #117
116 One of These Days Pink Floyd 5 #116
115 Is This It The Strokes 3 #115
114 Black Sabbath Black Sabbath 2 #114
113 Mysterons Portishead 1 #113
112 The Kiss The Cure 4 #38
111 The Queen Is Dead The Smiths 18 #7
110 Crucify Tori Amos 30 #34
109 Pink Moon Nick Drake 9 #87
108 Bitter Sweet Symphony The Verve 71 #1
107 Planet Telex Radiohead 2 #107
106 The District Sleeps Alone Tonight The Postal Service 6 #106
105 Shout Tears for Fears 60 #5
104 Break on Through (To The Other Side) The Doors 2 #88
103 World In My Eyes Depeche Mode 34 #5
102 In Between Days The Cure 72 #3
101 Modern Love David Bowie 53 #12
100 The Boy in The Bubble Paul Simon 4 #13
99 Black Celebration Depeche Mode 6 #99
98 Hells Bells AC/DC 17 #48
97 I Am One The Smashing Pumpkins 18 #97
96 Rid Of Me PJ Harvey 5 #4
95 More than a Feeling Boston 26 #27
94 6'1 Liz Phair 2 #94
93 Rehab Amy Winehouse 20 #4
92 Uncontrollable Urge Devo 7 #92
91 Summer Babe (Winter Version) Pavement 3 #91
90 Good Times Roll The Cars 13 #90
89 Begin The Begin R.E.M. 17 #89
88 I Will Dare The Replacements 35 #50
87 Loser Beck 77 #2
86 Violet Hole 22 #12
85 The Plan Built To Spill 2 #85
84 Bone Machine The Pixies 5 #45
83 1999 Prince 29 #36
82 Tom Sawyer Rush 23 #8
81 Under the Pressure The War On Drugs 11 #3
80 Let It Happen Tame Impala 14 #5
79 Dramamine Modest Mouse 3 #79
78 3rd Planet Modest Mouse 2 #78
77 Battery Metallica 8 #21
76 Second Hand News Fleetwood Mac 1 #76
75 Intro The xx 1 #75
74 Daft Punk Is Playing At My House LCD Soundsystem 10 #54
73 The King of Carrot Flowers PT 1 Neutral Milk Hotel 1 #73
72 Born Under Punches Talking Heads 2 #72
71 Gloria Patti Smith 29 #52
70 Up the Beach Jane's Addiction 1 #70
69 Excursions A Tribe Called Quest 1 #69
68 Fight Test The Flaming Lips 14 #19
67 Tangled Up in Blue Bob Dylan 21 #6
66 Colossus Idles 2 #66
65 Changes David Bowie 62 #54
64 Runnin' With The Devil Van Halen 14 #5
63 Maggot Brain Funkadelic 2 #63
62 Psycho Killer Talking Heads 71 #6
61 Bombtrack Rage Against the Machine 6 #52
60 Human Behaviour Björk 29 #20
59 Devil's Haircut Beck 39 #29
58 Never Let Me Down Again Depeche Mode 51 #7
57 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Beatles 6 #57
56 War Pigs / Luke's Wall Black Sabbath 1 #56
55 Sunday Bloody Sunday U2 116 #2
54 Straight Outta Compton NWA 3 #54
53 15 Step Radiohead 2 #53
52 The New Year Death Cab for Cutie 3 #20
51 One More Time Daft Punk 9 #44
50 Radio Free Europe R.E.M. 62 #1
49 Disorder Joy Division 5 #49
48 So What Miles Davis 6 #48
47 Fake Empire The National 14 #34
46 Black Dog Led Zeppelin 23 #23
45 Wouldn't It Be Nice The Beach Boys 7 #45
44 Only Shallow My Bloody Valentine 11 #44
43 Blitzkrieg Bop The Ramones 43 #3
42 Army of Me Björk 23 #36
41 Seven Nation Army The White Stripes 70 #1
40 Like a Rolling Stone Bob Dylan 48 #2
39 Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pink Floyd 36 #7
38 Untitled Interpol 1 #38
37 Jimmy James Beastie Boys 4 #37
36 Rusty Cage Soundgarden 9 #36
35 Running Up That Hill Kate Bush 59 #4
34 Once Pearl Jam 8 #19
33 Waiting Room Fugazi 16 #15
32 Teenage Riot Sonic Youth 27 #19
31 Good Times Bad Times Led Zeppelin 15 #31
30 Angel Massive Attack 6 #30
29 Blister in the Sun Violent Femmes 78 #1
28 Thunder Road Bruce Springsteen 21 #1
27 Whole Lotta Love Led Zeppelin 66 #16
26 Burning Down the House Talking Heads 83 #8
25 Stop! Jane's Addiction 46 #6
24 My Name Is Jonas Weezer 13 #24
23 I Wanna Be Adored The Stone Roses 47 #10
22 Purple Haze Jimi Hendrix 21 #17
21 Age of Consent New Order 27 #3
20 Come Together The Beatles 25 #20
19 Gimme Shelter The Rolling Stones 34 #4
18 Immigrant Song Led Zeppelin 22 #18
17 Five Years David Bowie 18 #17
16 I am Trying to Break Your Heart Wilco 7 #16
15 Airbag Radiohead 10 #15
14 Head Like a Hole Nine Inch Nails 65 #1
13 What's Going On Marvin Gaye 9 #13
12 Sure Shot Beastie Boys 34 #12
11 Welcome to the Jungle Guns N Roses 26 #3
10 Baba O'Riley The Who 21 #1
9 Dance Yrself Clean LCD Soundsystem 11 #3
8 Cherub Rock The Smashing Pumpkins 49 #8
7 Debaser The Pixies 47 #3
6 Plainsong The Cure 3 #6
5 Where the Streets Have No Name U2 77 #5
4 London Calling The Clash 88 #1
3 Let's Go Crazy Prince 12 #3
2 Everything In It's Right Place Radiohead 10 #2
1 Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana 134 #1

About this countdown

The Best Opening Tracks of All Time was voted by KEXP’s listeners (Seattle, WA) in 2024. Positions are shown exactly as the station ranked them; artist and song names have been standardized so that every entry links to that song’s complete chart history across all stations. Because it is a themed or special countdown, it is archived here but not counted in the combined rankings.

Source: KEXP, "Best Opening Tracks of All-Time".

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