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Best "Rock/Pop" Debut Album?

I've been thinking about this for a while and recently rifled through my catalogue to look at some contenders. The criteria I used for selecting the best debut album is based on both impact to the genre and overall musical quality. For example some of the great Rock/Pop bands of the last 45 years didn't exactly come out of the gate swinging grand slams. For example, as great as the Beatles, Stones and even The Who were or are, they're first offering was largely based on covers of American blues and doesn't represent them hitting full stride. Same full stride scenario could also be said for great bands such as Zeppelin, Tull, Aerosmith, Talking Heads, Prince, CSN&Y etc.

Without further ado here is my list:

1. Yes - "Fragile" (Unbelievable debut album. Ushered in a classical sensibility to Rock music that hadn't been tapped into as deeply prior to their arrival on the scene. The muscianship and composition on Fragile is stunning. I put this album as number 1 on my list because of the incredible muscianship and maturity of this first offering)
2. Steely Dan - "Can't Buy A Thrill" (Damn near a flawless debut album. The Dan's influence was huge and made it difficult for critics to even figure how to categorize their style of music)
3. Chicago "Chicago Transit Authority" (Wham they came out of left field and combined horns, percussions and hot guitar licks the likes of which the music scene hadn't witnessed before. Right out of the gate their debut album sounded like it was a veteran work of art)
4. Nirvana - "Nirvana" (What can you say about this debut? It was a solid musical offering with a huge impact on music. Their debut was an invitation to the Grim Reaper for Old School and Hair Spray rock bands. It's influence is still being felt to this day)
5. The Doors - "The Doors" (Unbelievably good debut album. Light My Fire is one of the best Rock songs of all time IMHO. Right out of the gate The Doors brought a style and sound all their own)
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martykl
3,578 posts
 
Warren,

I distinctly remember hearing Disreali Gears on the 8-track player in my older brother's car on summer camp visiting day in the summer of 1967 or 1968. From that moment until reading your post, I always thought it was their debut album. Live and learn.

Marty
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
yes, Boston sounds good today, but back then, the folks who were ther music mavens blew them off....even the movie FM looks radical today. ...i was at a party and the song 'spill the wine' by eb and War came over the radio. most of the folks there did not speak english, but jeez..that song never sound better and people were dancing and going nuts. it was good then (71), but today, it sounds like the gods inspired them.
slothman
311 posts
 
Perhaps some of the "Boston bashers" were changing the radio dial back in 1976 in favor of some of these infectious gems which were recieving equal airplay?:

Theme From "S.W.A.T", Rhythm Heritage
Convoy, C.W. McCall
Disco Duck, Rick Dees

In light of these ground breaking performances I suppose Boston did come off as rather stupid - what was I thinking back then? I'm so embarrased. Pardon me for the off-topic response...
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Perhaps not. Even though I was only in 6th grade at the time, I recall it being damned hard to find anything I wanted to hear on the radio in 1976. (Kind of like now, come to think of it.) Some other tunes that felt like an absolute plague then were "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and "Silly Love Songs". Something I remember more fondly from the previous year was when "Walk This Way" debuted as a single, and I was taping it to cassette off the radio when the DJ got so overwhelmed with enthusiastic response from callers that he actually spun the song twice in a row back to back. For some reason that impressed the hell out of me at my age then, and I've never heard the same thing happen again before or since.
slothman
311 posts
 
Hey Zaikesman, all this 70's era nostalgia suddenly reminded me of another debut that I feel must be mentioned...arguably one of the greatest debut albums of the '70s and certainly one that I no problem admitting owning and listening to. "You wanted the best and you got it! The hottest band in the land...KISS!!!!!"
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