What would you play first on your terrible radio station?

It's completely up to you what type of classic rock station it will be. Millions are waiting to hear; what's the very first song you would play to set the tone of what's to come. And if you'd like what direction would you take the station and why.

Can't You Hear Me Knocking

Long, extended cuts. Album sides. Entire live shows. Nothing is off limits.

Zep 'Rock and Roll'

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

"Highway Star" from Made In Japan.

Whole Lotta Love

'Introduction' by Chicago from their first album.

A song that starts with "Hey there everybody!!" is always a good beginning.

Rock and Roll Music - Chuck Berry

then

Rock and Roll Music - The Beatles

then

Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin

then

Rock & Roll - The Velvet Underground

1. Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry
2. Roll Over Beethoven by The Beatles
3. Roll Over Beethoven by Electric Light Orchestra

Freebird!!!

Hotel California

Raised on the Radio - The Ravyns
(Fast Times Soundtrack)

a signal that this ain’t your dads classic rock station...

Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple....

Maybe “A Hard Day’s Night.” Not only is it a great way to begin anything, but by reaching back to 1964 for the first song, it would show that my station would define classic rock more broadly than just playing the same Led Zeppelin, Eagles, and Lynyrd Skynyrd songs over and over again.

I'd go with "The Boss." Born to Run. It's got energy, youth, and there are going to have to play this one eventually, so why not first?

Crossroads by The Cream.

MC5 - kick out the jams (with the expletive deleted beginning intact)

Kick Out the Jams by The MC5. The unedited version. Yeah, I'd be in trouble with the FCC from the first song. This stations playlist would be as eclectic as my own tastes. From raucous and dangerous Rock and Roll to tamer stuff like Steeley Dan. Hell, I'm liable to play a little Rosanna by Toto. Keep 'em guessing, I say!

Its A Long Way There - Little River Band

Sunshine Of You Love - Cream

The Turtles - John and Julie

I'll be playing deep cuts and the such but have a a weekly B hour where people can call in singles and I'll play the B-side of that single

The reason for my choosing Larks' Tongues In Aspic, Part 1 as my first track is it would represent my intent. Expect the unexpected. Lazy listeners need not apply.

It would not be "Classic Rock." I would create a station that thrived on presenting Rock the way my favorite Jazz station presents Jazz. This might be through specialized programming that focuses on sub-genres, historical events and figures, as well as thoughtful programming to enlighten your day. My station would devote time to Funk and to Soul as well. I would find an overnight DJ that could wow the listener with long, deep cuts that they curate on the fly as mood and memory dictate. Sometimes the juxtaposition of two songs separated by years and or style can give new meaning to both. The history of the genre and the deep, meaningful songs you never hear in a Classic Rock format would be the staples of my programming. I would enlighten the listener.

The first song would be: The Wall by Kansas.

Since I love McCartney and the Band on the Run album, I'd pick "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" to show that there will be some deep cuts played on my station. Plus, nothing like climaxing after the first song...

Thick as a Brick - Side One

R.E.M. - It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Not my favorite song in the world, but it sets a good tone for a new station that hopefully won't become a regurgitation of all the generic classic rock stations of the past 25 years.

Wicked as it seems by Keith Richards

Start Me Up...

The Boys are back in town
Thin Lizzy

American Pie

The entire Who Do You Love suite from Quicksilver's Happy Trails album

Won't Get Fooled Again

Born to be Wild

More Than a Feeling and then Rock and Roll by the VU

Long Live Rock

We were the first band to vomit in the bar. . .

I still crack up every time I hear that line

Rush - Spirit of Radio.

I can remember hearing it for the 1st time when Tommy Vance started the Friday Rock Show with it one night.

I've changed my first song to Hot' Nasty by Black Oak Arkansas.

1. The Beatles - "Revolution"
2. Led Zeppelin - "Rock and Roll"
3. Rolling Stones - "Brown Sugar"
4. Pink Floyd - "Money"
5. The Who - "Won't Get Fooled Again"

We will rock you.

Stairway.

1. "the way i see it, Barry, this should be a very dynamite show" (Lumpy Gravy excerpt 1) into
2. Layla - Derek & The Dominos
3. "a little nostalgia for the old folks" (LG excerpt 2)
4. Fire - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5. "i hear you've been having trouble with pigs" (edited LG excerpt 3, missing the words "and ponies")
6. Pigs (Three Different Ones) - Pink Floyd

the opening barrage would set the tone for a "different" classic rock station where no one talks (per se) in-between the tunes, save for the news or weather bulletins.

the station's ad slogan would be "speaks for itself".

Montrose -Rock the Nation.

I'd probably play something like ''Water Of Love'' by Dire Straits'', or ''Sands Of Time'' by mid period Fleetwood Mac.

Do It Again......Steely Dan.

"Good Times Bad Times" - Led Zeppelin

“Rock and Roll Band” - Boston

Might do "Airbag" by Radiohead actually cause IT STILL SOUNDS REVOLUTIONARY!

Neil Young - Cortez the Killer (live rust version)
followed by...
Zombies - Care of Cell 44
Wings - Arrow Through Me
Nilsson - Many Rivers to Cross
King Crimson - Lizard

That would set the tone real well.

Smoking In The Boys Room - Brownsville Station

Free Bird.

"Tarkus" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer

#9

Seriously I would!

Back In Black definitely.

Kanas - Carry on My Wayward Son

Highway Star

I'd start it all off with "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones. I think that would send a clear signal to listeners about the kind of records they can expect to hear on a regular basis.

Procol Harum, As Strong As Samson, because I think it's the best song of the '70s.

American Woman

Baba O'Reilly but I'd back announce it Barbara O'Reilly

Baba O’Riley

I'd announce that the first song would be "Teenage Wasteland"...

...then surprise everyone with Pete Townshend's demo of the song actually called that.

Need to set the standard pretty high to get things started off right.

"Magic Carpet Ride".

The Doors - Break On Through (mono mix) ... to get the toes tapping.

Either

When the Levee Breaks

or

Won't Get Fooled Again


I'd sign off the first show with

The Abbey Road Medley (without "Her Majesty")

Gentle Giant-Playing the Game

Some OOP old Bob Seger and hope that him and Punch are listening.