The Shape of Things from Jeff Beck's Truth
You're Phone's off the hook, but You're Not by X on Los Angeles
Gloria by Patti Smith off of Horses

also, I can't let this one go by:

Paul Kossoff - Back Street Crawler - Tuesday Morning
Is there a hotter guitar riff intro than this one?

Yes there are:
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
Black Dog
Had to Cry Today
Sunshine of Your Love
Train Train
etc...

Five very valid arguments to my claim. I guess I was just expressing my love for Kossoff's style. The beauty of musical debate.

I'll nitpick a little - the original post made the question extra challenging by asking not only what were some great album-opening songs, but that they were on that band's FIRST album.

So, while I love "Gimme Shelter," it was not on the Stones' first album.

Whoops, did not notice that part. So that particular Sweet Jane I mentioned should also be excluded. Carry on (and I do not mean to include that as a qualifying song either )

21st Century Schizoid Man
Conquistador
Do It Again

Carry on (and I do not mean to include that as a qualifying song either )

Carry On qualifies. Déjà Vu was the first CSN&Y record. Good call, one of the best.

Tough to beat Chicago "Introduction". How about Bad Company "Can't Get Enough" or SRV "Lovestruck".

The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored

My bad, didn't see that it said first album...oops. Altough it could be classed as Coverdale and Hughes first Purple album.

[Edited on 6/14/2018 by peach-head]

Same here, noticed that after posting about Long Red