10 Best Opening Tracks On Debut Rock Albums
2. Runnin’ With The Devil - Van Halen (Van Halen)
If you're going to kick off your recording career, then why not do it with one of the best hard rock songs of all time.
Eponymous brothers Eddie and Alex teamed up with Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth to give the world the band and the album Van Halen. In 1978, this group that would define the '80s rock scene put out their self-titled debut release and, oh brother, did it get off to a flying start.
A mysterious humming noise abruptly cuts to some strong bass notes, before that all-time great riff smacks you right in the face. Runnin' with the Devil had arrived and it was here to stay.
It's about a man who likes to live fast and carefree, doing whatever he wants when he wants. Lyrically, it's no Bob Dylan, but who cares when you get to scream the chorus at the top of your lungs in a dingy room full of people with long hair?
This song is also responsible for Eddie Van Halen's first guitar solo; the first of many the great man would leave us.
Considering how popular this song still is, we just had to put it this high up.