An interesting top-100 list: best debut albums

dirocyn

dirocyn

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crankmeister said:
As stated prior to the list:

What makes a killer debut album? First off, a sense of a band or artist arriving fully formed, ready to upend the game right at that very second. With that in mind, albums got knocked down a few slots if the artist went on to far greater achievements; conversely, we gave a little extra recognition to debuts that were so great you almost can’t fault the artist for not making anything as good for the rest of their career. EPs and mixtapes were not considered, and we skipped solo debuts by artists who were already in well-known bands, which is why you won’t see John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Paul Simon, or The Chronic. And please don’t @ us until you make sure your favorite band’s classic first album is actually, in fact, their first album. You’d be surprised: The road to unimpeachable greatness is often paved with forgotten false starts.

I don’t know the album you speak of (I’m sure I know a couple songs from it), but the fact that every member of CSN(Y) came from already well-established musical acts seems to disqualify them from consideration. Meaning, it’s not a true debut.

But I’m going to add it to my Apple Music library on your recommendation.

There are numerous great first albums from breakaway artists, but they aren’t proper debuts.

And there are far more 20th century albums on the list than 21st.
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This explains several notable omissions: Cream, CS&N, and Audioslave, and the Traveling Wilburies.

I would quibble about the omission of country music and jazz; these were also popular music.
 
crankmeister

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dirocyn said:
Hank Williams Sings(1949).
Bill Monroe: Knee Deep in Bluegrass (1958) was his first album although note he'd been releasing singles since 1940.
Willie Nelson: And then I Wrote(1962).
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Yeah, Willie’d be a good one.

I always thought of early country as being pretty regional, folksy, not the same pop appeal comparatively. But it’s hard not to look at some of the big names that emerged and see what their first albums did for them in hindsight. Dolly, Willie, or whoever. I’ve never been drawn to country, I’ve learned some other names like Bobby Bear and Townes van Zandt relatively recently, but I couldn’t name a single studio album from any of them other than Willie’s Teatro.

Jazz is tough because there’s so much crossover between artists with all the quartets, quintets and whatnot, so much collaboration and studio guests. Plus, jazz generally transcends pop music.
 
dirocyn

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crankmeister said:
Yeah, Willie’d be a good one.

I always thought of early country as being pretty regional, folksy, not the same pop appeal comparatively. But it’s hard not to look at some of the big names that emerged and see what their first albums did for them in hindsight. Dolly, Willie, or whoever. I’ve never been drawn to country, I’ve learned some other names like Bobby Bear and Townes van Zandt relatively recently, but I couldn’t name a single studio album from any of them other than Willie’s Teatro.

Jazz is tough because there’s so much crossover between artists with all the quartets, quintets and whatnot, so much collaboration and studio guests. Plus, jazz generally transcends pop music.
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Country was the main pop music before rock. WSM-AM (Nashville) had a very powerful transmitter, and the Grand Ol Opry was heard nationwide. Leo Fender was a fan of country & western. And country music was huge in film and TV.

I agree about jazz, people worked their way up through other people's bands, it makes it tough to say when they had a debut. Plus, lots of them were well known before albums were a thing.
 
Scott Baxendale

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Machew said:
Sorry to be a downer... We have had multiple blowups at work and it my have rubbed off.

I'm sure there is lots of good music in the list. But to see the Ramones on top bugged me. I dont really know their criteria though.
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I think the criteria here is the same for any of these best of lists, it’s just the opinion of the person making the list. Purely subjective.
 
92 Fiesta Red 62

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I didn’t scroll all the way through, because they’re %#^*! website is wonky on my phone, but I’ll say here’s some of my fav debut albums:

Arc Angels: Arc Angels (eponymous)
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: Texas Flood
Fabulous Thunderbirds: (eponymous, aka “Girls Go Wild”)
ZZ Top: ZZ Top’s First Album
The Black Crowes: Shake Your Money Maker
The Rolling Stones: Introducing England’s Newest Hitmakers (US title)
The Screamin’ Armadillos: Dirty Texas Groove
Dwight Yoakum: Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.
 
PonyB

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crankmeister

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33db said:
Because it's a garbage leftist rag now.......
Here are the top articles on RS at the moment...

George Soros Denies Knowing or Donating to Alvin Bragg ​

Trump Indicted ​

First Look: Daniel Radcliffe Moderates Trevor Project Roundtable on Trans Day of Visibility ​

Many Top NYC Attorneys Loathe Trump — But Don’t Like Bragg’s Chances ​

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Always going there, you are.

Oddly devoid of musical headlines, but hardly “leftist” to report on actual current events.

Rolling Stone’s biggest competitor at this point is AARP magazine.
 
PonyB

PonyB

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I think Joni Mitchell's Song To A Seagull ought to be considered.
Alice Cooper's Pretties For You as well.
 
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