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The 5 Most Underrated Opening Tracks on 1970s Classic Rock Albums
An American Songwriter feature makes the case for five opening tracks from classic 1970s rock albums that the writer believes were unfairly overshadowed by their more famous album-mates. The piece argues these songs deserve greater recognition, as they were often eclipsed by hit singles or standout tracks elsewhere on the same record, despite being strong pieces of songwriting in their own right.
The selections span 1974 to 1978 and include Led Zeppelin's "Custard Pie" from Physical Graffiti, overshadowed by "Kashmir"; Dire Straits' "Down To The Waterline", eclipsed by "Sultans Of Swing"; Deep Purple's title track "Burn", whose riff Ritchie Blackmore reportedly improvised on the spot; Little Feat's funky "Rock & Roll Doctor" from Feats Don't Fail Me Now; and Steely Dan's "Black Cow" from Aja, overshadowed by "Peg" and "Deacon Blues".
In short
- Feature lists five underrated 1970s classic rock album-opening tracks
- Songs by Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Little Feat and Steely Dan featured
- Writer argues these openers were overshadowed by bigger hits on same albums
Explained simply
Classic rock is a broad label for guitar-led rock music that became popular from the late 1960s onwards. Albums in the 1970s were often heard as complete records, but a few hit singles or fan favourites could come to define them.
The bands named here each had albums with songs that became especially well known. Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti is often associated with “Kashmir”, while Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing” and Steely Dan’s “Peg” and “Deacon Blues” also drew attention away from other tracks on their respective albums.
The five songs come from albums released between 1974 and 1978 and reflect the range of rock at the time, from hard rock to funk and jazz-influenced arrangements. Their place in the discussion depends on how listeners weigh an album’s opening track against its better-known songs.