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Top 10 Opening Tracks from 1980s Rock Albums
Introduction
The 1980s was a decade that saw the rise of rock music, with the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, and Bruce Springsteen dominating the airwaves. But what about the opening tracks of these iconic albums? Are they just as memorable as the songs that followed? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the top 10 opening tracks from 1980s rock albums that left a lasting impact on the music industry.
# 10 – “Tell Me What You Want” – Zebra
We open up our Top 10 Opening Tracks from 1980s Rock Albums list with a surprise pick, unless you’re a Zebra fan. The three-piece outfit from Louisiana, who made a name for themselves in the nightclubs of Long Island in the late 1970s, finally signed a big-time record contract with Atlantic Records in the early 1980s. Their Zeppelin-style progressive rock sound had cultivated a loyal following that the record companies could no longer ignore.
# 9 – “Hell’s Bells” – Back In Black – AC/DC
AC/DC released five albums in the 1980s, so there were five songs to choose from if we wanted to include one of the most legendary rock bands of all time on this list. It came down to a choice between “Hell’s Bells” and “For Those About to Rock.” We went with the opening track from their legendary comeback album Back in Black, which featured Brian Johnson’s debut as the lead vocalist for the band.
# 8 – “The End of the Innocence” – The End of the Innocence – Don Henley
The End of the Innocence, Don Henley’s third solo album, was released in 1989. The album’s opening and title track featured Bruce Hornsby on piano. The melding of Hornsby’s piano skills with Henley’s golden vocals created a song that was simply breathtaking. It stands out as one of the most beloved songs of the 1980s and, in my opinion, it is the best solo song Henley has ever released.
# 7 – “Higher Love” – Back in the High Life – Steve Winwood
I remember when the song “Higher Love” first came out in 1986. The CD era had pretty much gotten underway but was still in its early years. What I remember most about this song was how incredible it sounded. It might have been the best sounding recording I had ever heard up to that point. Of course, the song itself was completely captivating, full of substance, and just another wonderful showcase of the talents of Steve Winwood. The song also won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Steve Winwood also won another Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for the song.
# 6 – “Only a Memory” – Green Thoughts – The Smithereens
“Whenever we can give The Smithereens some love on this site, we’re going to take it. U2 was a very unique-sounding band when they first arrived on the scene in the early ’80s. This was just one of those once-in-a-lifetime songs that you hear for the first time and are completely knocked out by. U2’s debut album Boy was released in October of 1980. ‘I Will Follow’ was the second single released from the album in the UK, but the first single released in the US. It was the album’s opening track.”
# 5 – “Panama” – Fair Warning – Van Halen
Van Halen released six albums in the 1980s. The decade began with Women and Children First, released in 1980, followed by Fair Warning in 1981, Diver Down in 1982, and then the final Van Halen album with David Lee Roth, titled 1984, in 1984. Choosing a standout track wasn’t easy. Starting with ‘And the Cradle Will Rock…’ from Women and Children First, they had great opening songs on every album that epitomized these classic rockers. But in the end, we went with the opening track from our favorite Van Halen album of all time, Fair Warning, and that, my friends, was the killer track “Panama”.
# 4 – “Mean Street” – Fair Warning – Van Halen
“Van Halen released six albums in the 1980s. The decade began with Women and Children First, released in 1980, followed by Fair Warning in 1981, Diver Down in 1982, and then the final Van Halen album with David Lee Roth, titled 1984, in 1984. Choosing a standout track wasn’t easy. Starting with ‘And the Cradle Will Rock…’ from Women and Children First, they had great opening songs on every album that epitomized these classic rockers. But in the end, we went with the opening track from our favorite Van Halen album of all time, Fair Warning, and that, my friends, was the killer track “Mean Street”.”
# 3 – “Welcome to the Jungle” – Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses
Guns N’ Roses’ album Appetite for Destruction was released in 1987. Interestingly, at first, this album did very little in terms of becoming a worldwide hit. Eventually, the album caught on like wildfire. Once people became aware of Guns N’ Roses, the band pretty much turned the rock and roll world upside down. No rock and roll band had made such an impact with their debut album, perhaps since U2 at the start of the decade. “Welcome to the Jungle” was an outstanding way to start off this album. I’m sure everybody remembers that video. This is as classic as the ’80s got.
# 2 – Born in the U.S.A. – Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
We close out our Top 10 Opening Tracks From 1980s Rock Albums list with one of the most memorable tracks the Red Rocker has ever released. Yes, that’s Sammy Hagar we’re talking about, baby—one of our favorite rock stars of all time. Ask any Sammy Hagar fan to name their favorite Hagar tune, and “I Can’t Drive 55” will always probably be up there in the top two or three. Has there ever been a song released that defined the need for speed like Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55”? Sorry, David Lee Roth, we know “Yankee Rose” was a great tune, but you already got some love with Fair Warning. It’s time for Sammy to shine, and he shines at number one. Ouch, that’s got to hurt, Diamond Dave.
# 1 – “I Can’t Drive 55” – VOA – Sammy Hagar
We close out our Top 10 Opening Tracks From 1980s Rock Albums list with one of the most memorable tracks the Red Rocker has ever released. Yes, that’s Sammy Hagar we’re talking about, baby—one of our favorite rock stars of all time. Ask any Sammy Hagar fan to name their favorite Hagar tune, and “I Can’t Drive 55” will always probably be up there in the top two or three. Has there ever been a song released that defined the need for speed like Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55”? Sorry, David Lee Roth, we know “Yankee Rose” was a great tune, but you already got some love with Fair Warning. It’s time for Sammy to shine, and he shines at number one. Ouch, that’s got to hurt, Diamond Dave.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 1980s was a decade that saw the rise of rock music, with the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, and Bruce Springsteen dominating the airwaves. The opening tracks of these iconic albums left a lasting impact on the music industry, and it’s clear that some of these songs will always be remembered as some of the greatest rock songs of all time.
FAQs
Q: What is the best opening track from the 1980s?
A: According to our list, the top 10 opening tracks from the 1980s are:
1. “I Can’t Drive 55” – VOA – Sammy Hagar
2. “Born in the U.S.A.” – Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
3. “Welcome to the Jungle” – Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses
4. “Mean Street” – Fair Warning – Van Halen
5. “Panama” – Fair Warning – Van Halen
6. “Only a Memory” – Green Thoughts – The Smithereens
7. “Higher Love” – Back in the High Life – Steve Winwood
8. “The End of the Innocence” – The End of the Innocence – Don Henley
9. “Hell’s Bells” – Back in Black – AC/DC
10. “Tell Me What You Want” – Zebra
Q: Who is the Red Rocker?
A: The Red Rocker is Sammy Hagar, a rock star known for his powerful vocals and hit songs like “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Yankee Rose”.
