Jump to content

Recommended Posts

I'm a sports guy, so I've always compared tracklistings to batting orders in baseball.

 

gotta have an upbeat leadoff track, or at least something that gets the listener's attention. Something to get on base.

 

3 and 4 holes are your big hitters.

 

Gotta a save a guy for the end of the lineup, a consistent track/hitter that will always do his job.

 

 

That is probably completely out there, but it makes sense in my mind.

Link to post
Share on other sites

i'm not sure but i've had a lot of love for track 6 over the years... probably started with Dino Jr's Pond Song and Get Me

 

some others: Handshake Drugs, Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell, Walk in the Fire, To Ramona, Purple Sneakers, Ashes of American Flags, Zurich Is Stained, etc

Link to post
Share on other sites
The first think I thought of was VU, as well. I was thinking "Heroin," though.

 

"Heroin" isn't the second track on the record. "I'm Waiting For The Man" is the second song on The Velvet Underground and Nico. That song is a perfect example of a great and important second song on a record. It just comes thundering along after Sunday Morning starts things in a quiet mood.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Tracks 1 and 2 always set the tone for the entire album, imo.

 

(Eg: Badlands -> Adam Raised a Cain; or London Calling -> Brand New Cadillac; or Beyond Belief -> Tears Before Bedtime; or Baba O'Riley -> Bargain; etc. ).

Link to post
Share on other sites
"Heroin" isn't the second track on the record. "I'm Waiting For The Man" is the second song on The Velvet Underground and Nico. That song is a perfect example of a great and important second song on a record. It just comes thundering along after Sunday Morning starts things in a quiet mood.

I wasn't thinking track number, though, just weighty tunes....

Link to post
Share on other sites

Track 1 should be the proverbial slap across the face sure, but it has and will always be Track 3 that is the most important.

 

"One" on U2's 'Achtung Baby'

"Sweet Thing" on Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks'

"Visions of Johanna" on Dylan's 'Blonde on Blonde' ("Maggie's Farm")

"Living for the City" on Stevie Wonder's 'Innervisions'

 

 

To name a few that come to the top of my head. I don't even think that 'important' and 'best' need to be the same. I think that slot three is the most crucial.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...