Great album openers get the listeners to keep on listening. They can do this in any number of ways. Some openers set the tone by easing us in. Others jump right in and blow our minds from the very beginning. A great album opener isn’t an easy thing to create. More than a great song, it’s all about the sequence. Track 1 has to be the perfect starter. This month, I’m highlighting my favorites. #AlbumOpeningSongs
I could’ve picked any number of album openers from this Canadian trio. But “The Spirit of Radio” is probably the one that’s most endearing to me as a fan. Before I owned my Permanent Waves cassette, I was borrowing one from the town library. Slightly turned off and amused by the beige plastic back and slightly turned on by the front album cover. Where would this album take me? It was off in a hurry to show me prog rock could be accessible. That instrumental prowess matters. That music doesn’t have to be super complicated. Sometimes nothing gets you going like a good guitar solo. Enter “The Spirit of Radio”.
“The Spirit of Radio” was the stuff of a young boy’s fascination and admiration with hard rock. I mean, it just rocked really hard. One of Alex Lifeson’s best moments in the studio, in my opinion. But then it has an unexpected moment where a reggae refrain seeps in and disrupts the carnage, like some comic relief. Only Rush could do this. And since this is Rush playing, everyone, of course, is firing on all cylinders. Geddy is on a rampage on his bass guitar – and singing at the same time when performed live. And Neil is bullying his drums into submission. Not just an incredible album opener, a phenomenal setlist opener, eye opener and mind opener.
“For the words of the profits were written on the studio wall, concert hall, and echoes with the sound of salesmen.”