RushFanForever Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) I've realized that some music acts nailed everything on their debut album and perhaps never reached that same musical pinnacle again. This can mean just being a 'one album wonder' and/or subsequent releases, but nothing else tops the debut. Here's a list I've compiled. Moby Grape (1967)Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (1968)Alexander "Skip" Spence - Oar (1969)Blind Faith (1969)The Fifth Avenue Band (1969) Dave Mason - Alone Together (1970)Derek & The Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)Troyka (1970)Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1973)Boston (1976)Crack The Sky (1976)Patti Smith - Horses (1976)FM - Black Noise (1977)Television - Marquee Moon (1977)The Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)Christopher Cross (1979)The Knack - Get the Knack (1979) Pretenders (1980)Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five - The Message (1982)Tracy Chapman (1988) Chris Whitley - Living With the Law (1991)Massive Attack - Blue Lines (1991)Pearl Jam - Ten (1991)Arc Angels (1992)Rage Against The Machine (1992)Counting Crows - August And Everything After (1993)Jeff Buckley - Grace (1994)Alanis Morrisette - Jagged Little Pill (1995)Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) Remy Shand - The Way I Feel (2002) Edited April 7, 2020 by RushFanForever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBlaze Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 My first 3 thoughts that aren’t listed already: Living Colour (1988) - VividMy favorite debut of all-time The Cars (1978) - The CarsA lot of classic tunes that most people immediately know The Outfield (1985) - Play DeepSome might say it sounds dated, I say it sounds awesome even today 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas King Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Jimi Hendrix ExperienceThe DoorsVan HalenLynyrd SkynyrdGunnersOasisDioRage Against the MachineStevie Ray VaughanChicagoKing CrimsonDead KennedysThe Clash The Strokes Joy Division Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha p Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) QueenSabbathKissOzzyDioBon JoviY & TVan Halen Edited April 7, 2020 by alpha p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod in Toronto Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Iron Maiden, AC/DC, The Police. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apetersvt Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Guns n' Roses 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Eyes Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Meet Van Halen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6e7uctAww 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ST3V Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Damn Yankees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangy Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 i agree with a lot of these. others i wonder if they are considering the OP asked "and have never reached that musical pinnacle again." ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpha p Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 i agree with a lot of these. others i wonder if they are considering the OP asked "and have never reached that musical pinnacle again." ? That would apply to my selections of Dio, Y & T and Van Halen....they all came close (Last In Line, Black Tiger and Fair Warning) but never quite matched their debuts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 My first 3 thoughts that aren’t listed already: Living Colour (1988) - VividMy favorite debut of all-time The Cars (1978) - The CarsA lot of classic tunes that most people immediately know The Outfield (1985) - Play DeepSome might say it sounds dated, I say it sounds awesome even today The Cars for sure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbine Freight Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Montrose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 In addition to several that have been mentioned, these are albums where I think a band's best work is on their debut The Doors Stone Temple Pilots Vandenberg Audioslave 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Na na na Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) . Edited April 7, 2020 by Na na na Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 My favourite debuts are by these bands: The DoorsThird Eye BlindStone Temple PilotsPearl JamBruce SpringsteenIron MaidenTaking Back SundayThe UsedThe Juliana TheoryMetallicaTestamentIced Earth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Na na na Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) Frankie Goes To Hollywood Edited April 7, 2020 by Na na na Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick N. Backer Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Meet Van Halen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6e7uctAww Here's the important point: as great as that debut is, it STILL isn't their best work. People should ponder that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 (edited) Heat-Dreamboat AnnieQueenBostonHuey Lewis and the NewsElvis-Costello My Aim is trueSpock's Beard-The LightKansasGraham Parker and the Rumour-Howlin' WindEnchant-Blueprint of the WorldThe CarsThe DoorsPearl JamFlower Kings-Back in the World of AdventuresThe RaspberriesTotoNight Flight Orchestra-Internal AffairsMetalilica-Kill Em All i'm sure there are tons more. Mick Edited April 7, 2020 by bluefox4000 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segue Myles Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Heat-Dreamboat AnnieQueenBostonHuey Lewis and the NewsElvis-Costello My Aim is trueSpock's Beard-The LightKansasGraham Parker and the Rumour-Howlin' WindEnchant-Blueprint of the WorldThe CarsThe DoorsPearl JamAlice in Chains-DirtFlower Kings-Back in the World of AdventuresThe RaspberriesTotoNight Flight Orchestra-Internal AffairsMetalilica-Kill Em All i'm sure there are tons more. Mick Dirt wasn't Alice In Chains first album ������ i deleted that and it never happened. Mick Haha! To be fair, their debut album is amazing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Heat-Dreamboat AnnieQueenBostonHuey Lewis and the NewsElvis-Costello My Aim is trueSpock's Beard-The LightKansasGraham Parker and the Rumour-Howlin' WindEnchant-Blueprint of the WorldThe CarsThe DoorsPearl JamAlice in Chains-DirtFlower Kings-Back in the World of AdventuresThe RaspberriesTotoNight Flight Orchestra-Internal AffairsMetalilica-Kill Em All i'm sure there are tons more. Mick Dirt wasn't Alice In Chains first album ������ i deleted that and it never happened. Mick Haha! To be fair, their debut album is amazing true. i like dirt a good bit more though. hence why i made the mistake, lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjbear05 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 KraftwerkBob Seger (as The Bob Seger System)The MC 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluefox4000 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Dire staits is another. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted April 7, 2020 Share Posted April 7, 2020 Meet Van Halen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X6e7uctAww Here's the important point: as great as that debut is, it STILL isn't their best work. People should ponder that. Right. It's not like with Boston who arguably had the most influential and impactful debut rock album ever (literally EVERY song on that debut were spun regularly on rock radio back in the day) and then struggled mightily to follow it up. On the other hand, Van Halen sustained their momentum after their debut and was one of the biggest American rock bands in the land for many years, even during the Hagar years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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