New Wave Outpost Forum

Did you ever think about this...

A band's worked all their life to break it big. They get signed. They record. They lay down great material. And for their debut album (disregarding singles for the moment), they've got to pick not just that one song but that one great riff or hook that will herald their presence on the scene. I have to believe some great thought goes it because there's some really great career-opening riffs like...

U2 - I Will Follow - Boy
The Cars - Let The Good Times Roll - ST
New Order - Dreams Never End - Movement
Chameleons - Don't Fall - Script of the Bridge
Yaz - Don't Go - Upstairs at Eric's
Gang of Four - Ether - Entertainment

Other favorite openings?

"Radios in Motion" by XTC (from "White Music")

Oasis - Rock 'n' Roll Star

then there's the complete opposite, like I Wanna Be Adored by Stone Roses, which takes quite awhile to get going, only eventually getting around to presenting the awesomeness within.

Some of my very favorite opening riffs (not all "career making" or debuts):

Devo - "Mongoloid"
Fay Ray - "Modern Lovers"
Richard Hell & The Voidoids - "Blank Generation"
Siouxsie aand the Banshees - "Nicotine Stains"
Clash - "London Calling"

I always found that "New Life" from Depeche Mode's Speak & Spell was quite befitting.

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The very first thing that comes to mind is Mother We Just Can't Get Enough, The New Radicals off of Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. I'll post some more later when I get back.

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The Korgis - "Young 'n Russian" Great bassline.

In those days you had to have a powerful first track unless you issued a single prior to the album's release. Lazy radio programmers used to listen to the first cut and if they liked it, they gave the album a chance. If they didn't - the album usually went into the round file or became easy giveaways at live broadcasts.

Searing opening riff for "The Phone's off The Hook (But You're Not)"
from X's debut album. Classic.

[quote][i]Originally posted by SuNomi[/i]
<br>Searing opening riff for "The Phone's off The Hook (But You're Not)"
from X's debut album. Classic.
[/quote]
Nice! I came [i]this[/i] close to listing that as well. [:p]

Agreeing with Blir
Ether from Gang Of Four's "Entertainment".

I do not remember myself listening to an album so many times since a couple of years ago when I turned into JD and The Cure.

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I know it's on many people's "sick of" lists but I'm going to give a nod to Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science".

And how about "Planet Claire" from "The B-52's"?

I love openning Riff in U2's "An Cat Dubh"

"Saigon...still in Saigon..., Been here a week now, waiting for a mission, getting softer. Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Charlie squats in the bush, he gets stronger."

Great call geoffolehane on the korgis "young and russian" a very under rated band.
How bout "regular boys" from measure to measure from "Icehouse" gotta love Fripp.

I'm jes sayin'
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First ones that come to mind are:

Alphaville - Forever Young Album - A Victory of Love
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome to the Pleasuredome (like 15 minutes long, the first song!)

-Tobes
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The Jam's openers on IN The City: "In The City," and from This Is the Modern World: "This Is The Modern World!"



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