Which Beck single begins with the sound of a needle touching vinyl?

Beck's single “Where It's At” begins with the sound of a needle touching vinyl. The brief record-player effect immediately establishes the song's collage-like, analog atmosphere before its beat, organ riff, and spoken samples arrive.

Released in 1996 as the first single from Odelay, “Where It's At” was produced with the Dust Brothers, John King and Michael Simpson. The track blends alternative rock, hip-hop, funk, electronic production, and found sound. Its famous refrain about “two turntables and a microphone” reflects the song's DJ-minded construction.

Listeners sometimes associate the opening needle sound with a sampled record, but the song contains several distinct sources and studio-built elements. Its spoken material includes excerpts connected to the obscure 1969 educational record Sex for Teens, while the “two turntables” phrase draws on Mantronix's “Needle to the Groove.” The song won Beck a Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.