Greatest debut al*** of all time

This was an extraordinary record when it first hit the shops in the mid-80s. Popular music had sunk to an all time low as we had the monotony of disco scene and a bunch of electronic groups who thought that best thing we could all do was jump off the nearest cliff.

When out of the blue, came an elpee by a group with a sense of humour - inspired by Thatcher's Britain and daytime TV, HMHB released the Trumpton Riots epee and Back in the DHSS. The four lads who shook the Wirral had arrived. Thoughts of dole queues in England were put in to perspective when we learn that the economic depression had reached the pleasant idyl of Trumptonshire and unemployment was rising in the Chigley end of town; the move by Chippy Minton's anarchists to overthrow the Mayor of Camberwick Green was documented for the first time.

However, it didn't end there. Imagine if you dare coming home from work to find your entire family standing petrified at the front of the house and then you discover a man, who introduced himself as Stanley Rouse, had left an Albert Hammond bootleg in the house.

Ah, group that dismissed the notion of clubbing in one great song, as Nigel Blackwell announced that it wasn't much fun for the seal.

The folk song reborn and as the late great Sir John Peel said "HMHB are a National Treasure".

True they have gone on to make even better elpees, but the debut was stunning. Sorry that breaks your rule.

Other great debut albums, well most recently



As Basia Bulat is still to release her new record then this does qualify. Like no other record I have heard, the uniqueness of Basia and the sheer quality of every song made this a winner. Every chord has purpose and it is all sung with a smile. Basia admitted to not having heard much contemporary pop music before writing her songs and she is not deeply experienced in the ways of the world. All of this helps make this a tremendous record with no dilution brought about by experience; it is from naivety that it draws its originality and it is all the better for it.

And a British debut album that I really rate is



Great songs and a sense of energy (and humour).

Going back a few years how about




the debut by Garbage. Another record full of great songs and atmosphere.

Going right back to the dawn of modern pop, I have to mention



Without question the Floyd's finest elpee and a remarkable record. The songs of Syd Barrett dominated and it is shame it didn't include the singles as tracks on the original, but I think Syd felt if the Beatles could leave Strawberry Fields off their albums then he could leave See Emily Play off his. Nonetheless, a truly great debut album.

I'm sure there are many more .....

Yawn!

1957, what a shock, music for 'us" youngsters at last..

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Yawn!

I take it you don't like Garbage or the Zutons then

Buddy Holly - now he was OK. I remember Ron Atkinson interviewing a Real Madrid player and congratulating him on scoring the winning goal with a Buddy. The Spanish striker didn't seem to understand Ron's innovative cockney rhyming slang,

Here's annuver great debut elpee



Ponders End Allotments Club
Better get Your Shoes On
Dry Party
Ballad Of The Rich
Deceived
One Fing 'N'Annuver
It's So Very Hard
Woortcha (early version of 'Gertcha')
I Am A Rocker
Old Time Song
Old Dog And Me
Scruffy Old Cow

Again, it is arguable if their debut or the amazing Live at Abbey Road on which Charles Hodges and David Peacock are joined by Albert Lee and Albert proves beyond any shadow of doubt he is as good as it gets when it comes to lead guitar.

I don't think Mike Oldfield ever bettered 'Tubular Bells', but mostly I prefer albums from later in a band's career as they get more comfortable with recording and also had time to improve their musicianship.

Jeff Buckley's first album 'Grace' was excellent, but the reason it was never bettered was tragic rather than creative, with his death prior to completing his second album.

Perhaps bands who have either played live a great deal before recording, or who are more based on the originality of their songs have the advantage with first albums.

There have been some great debut albums but to choose one that was never bettered in a bands career eliminates the best candidates IMO.
Regards,
Steve.

Unfamiliar with Chas&Dave but would agree that Albert Lee is a great guitar player, top 10.

Debut albums:
Eagles
ZZ Top
REM- Murmur
Dire Straits
Keb Mo
The Strokes- Is this it?

Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell, superb debut all the following albums were inferior clones.

Has to this one...


Still not dated, and sadly, never matched by them again.

Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones
Mark Cohn - Mark Cohn

I don't think any of those have been surpassed by subsequent efforts.

Mr Fantasy by Traffic



Tangerine Dream by Kaleidoscope



Third World War by Third World War



Gryphon by Gryphon

Dire Straits and Elvis's
debute albums.

Or perhaps this fine effort...

Introducing the Hardline According To Terence Trent d'Arby

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers L.A.M.F.

The Best of Muddy Waters (which was his first LP)

Swamp Dogg Total Destruction to Your Mind

just a few to tempt

Gregg

Never bettered:-



Mind you they did only make the one album.

'Endtroducing...' DJ Shadow

or

'Illmatic' by Nas

quote:

Originally posted by Analogue Rules OK:
Dire Straits and Elvis's
debute albums.

suzan vega
tracy chapman
ella and armstrong 1956
elvis
steve earle guitar town
crime of century supertramp the first i bought of theirs

This has no peer:

I opened this thread at the last posting - can't beat munch's suggestion, so I'll give it a

+1

Peter

OFGS - Just read the first post which states the debut can't be one bettered by subsequent albums which is a bit self defeating.

So, I'll have to retract my previous nomination:

-1 !!

Peter

That'll teach me not to jump in at the end of a thread!!

The most obvious one has been suggested twice earlier - Rickie Lee Jones.

But then again, who's to say that the proverbial fat lady has sung - there may be a better one to come (doubt it though!0

Peter

Cowboy Junkies
Joe Jackson

Montrose by Montrose

quote:

Originally posted by northpole:

The most obvious one has been suggested twice earlier - Rickie Lee Jones.

But then again, who's to say that the proverbial fat lady has sung - there may be a better one to come (doubt it though!)

In my view, as fine as her debut is, there already is a better one:

The Evening of My Best Day



Actually, I think we have two different issues here ... one is great debut albums, period, which RLJ's first certainly is. The other question is which artists/bands peaked with their first album.

But there are so many great musicians who started with a great debut, and then proceeded to equal or top it ... Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, and many, many others.

All best,
Fred