Album Opening Songs

These tracks underscore, time and again, how foundation-shifting changes played out in their music.

They provide a road map as the band transcended foundational influences to redraw the rules of hard rock.

How many albums must a man release before he knows how to pick the best opening song?

They left behind an intriguing and sometimes confounding legacy.

Even casual fans are likely familiar with these tracks, since a trio of them went to No. 1.

Six decades of smashing guitars, swinging microphones and kicking off records. Which album starters are the best?

These tracks were as varied and unpredictable as the former Beatles star's solo career.

With such a small sample size, every choice takes on added significance.

As Mick Jagger once sang: "Kick on the starter, give it all you got."

The list is small but mighty.