Resurrecting old thread because I heard a Boston song in a restaurant today, and I remember at the time it was released my music junkie friends couldn't stop talking about the production level of the album, almost eclipsing the musical content which as I recall was pretty progressive as well, if also pretty "commercial" (our term then for what I don't really know, Pop targeted at teenagers?) Hard not to agree about the high production level at the time. We all had "pretty good" hi fi's then and could tell when a recording sparkled versus sounding dirty, coarse, overheated, or compressed (although most rock fans who weren't producers would probably not use that term in the late seventies).
My question for you all, how does this recording stand up in terms of production values when played on your audiophile systems in 2015, in you opinion? Temped to try to find a good vinyl copy to see for myself. Never owned it because it was always on the radio at the time... |
Agree w/ above,
The Doors
Norah Jones
Van Halen
Black Flag
Motley Crue
KISS |
Bright Size Life - Pat Metheny
w/ Jaco Pastorius & Bob Moses |
Must be here already-Counting Crows, August and Everything After |
Kula Shaker - K
This has become one of my favorite albums. With the exception of the final cut and the long delay to get there, not a dull moment on it. |
Ghost,
Glad you like some of the stuff that moves me. Always cool to find a kindred musical soul.
It's strange, but I still remember exactly how I found the E solo records (and the trail that followed):
In the late 80s/early 90's, I lived at 8th and Broadway in NYC and used to browse the cut-out bins at the used record stores lining the south side of St Mark's Place. I saw "A Man Called E" priced at 88 cents and bought it on the vague recollection of a good write-up in Stereo Review (of all places!). I was completely blown away and ran back for Broken Toy Shop - also 88 cents. Blown away again. To this day, I'd number them among the best of the power pop/rock hybrid records that I own.
Some time later, I happened to notice that someone called Parthenon Huxley co-wrote a bunch of songs on the E debut and picked up "P Hux Deluxe" - another stunner in the same style. The subsequent EELS CDs have IMHO included some all-time favorites (Daisies of The Galaxy, Blinking Lights), some losers (the last three releases) and some in-between. P Hux has been the same deal - some great (VeG, Deluxe) some less great.
That one impulse purchase almost 20 years ago is still resonating today. EELs have a new one due next February and I'll be all over when it arrives (albeit with a preview on MOG, this time.)
Marty |
Marty-once again you w/something that works for me. I got A Man Called E when it first came out. Heard it on xpn out of phila. Thought he was a one hitter. Will have to check his other stuff that you posted. Thanks. |
Just a few more:
Joe Jackson - Look Sharp
Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings From Asbury Park
Marshall Crenshaw - Self Titled
and some more post band/solo debuts of note:
Paul Simon - Self Titled (He recorded a different debut album before joining Simon & Garfunkel, but this was the first commercial release)
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison
Graham Nash - Songs For Beginners
Meet John Doe |
Ben Howard's Every Kingdom is a masterpiece.
Alt J's first album an Awesome Wave is very near perfect as well, and the freshest sound I have heard in years! |
Christopher Cross...swept the Grammys that year if I remember correctly.
pepe |
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Depending on what you consider their first album, my vote is is for
The The - Soul Mining.
Runners -up:
Laurie Anderson - Big Science
Emerson Lake and Palmer - self titled
David |
Coldplay- Parachutes. Of course all their albums are pretty much perfect IMO. |
Pat Metheny "Bright Size Life" w/ Jaco Pastorius & Bob Moses! What a lineup! I second Lrsky on the Nancy Wilson! Also, one that many are unaware of, is Mozart debut album "twinkle little star", very few sold, as the advent of the victrola was not yet. He was ahead of his time! |
Laura Marling - Alas I cannot swim. Unbelievable debut album for someone so young. |
Yet another Mumford supporter. Best debut that I can recall in well over a decade.
I'll also add The Feelies eponymous first record to the list. |
Swamp - agreed on the next two from Joss Stone! I've not listened to her fourth. I'd have to also call out her guest appearance on the Jeff Beck, Live at Ronny Scotts (GREAT video) is...well,....memorable (oh my, oh my...very memorable)! Made you yearn for more than just the single song. What a voice! Also great on that same DVD is Imogen Heap doing "Blanket".
...back to debuts...
Has anyone already mentioned Kate Bush, The Kick Inside ?! - she was 19 and most of the songs were written when she was much younger. |
Tatw- I gotta' agree. Mumford and Sons is one killer debute! |
+1 for Joss Stone. Unfortunately she had a serious sophomore and junior slump. Senior effort much better...not up to her debut, but still, much, much better. |
How could I forget?! Joss Stone, The Soul Sessions. Classic!! |
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In reading some of the responses, something occurred to me.
The albums I have loved, are rarely commercial successes.
The Nancy/Cannonball Album, while still in print 50 years (almost, 49 actually) past it's release date, couldn't have been the kind of success that Roberta Flack's album was--it was lightning in a bottle.
And, not just that one--other than a Michael Bublé--who, now enjoys world wide fame, most are second tier performers, with regard to commercial success?
I'm talking Renee Olstead, Sophie Millman, Melody Gardot...all female singers, but still, hardly commercial successes in the realm of some mentioned here.
What is it? Do I just have wierd taste??
Anyway, great picks here...I'm picking up some of them.
Good listening,
Larry |
If first solo albums are allowed then we absolutely need to include Lauryl Hill "The miseducation of Lauryl Hill". Picked up 5 grammy awards and deservedly so. |
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04-06-11: Montejay
Hi Jafant,
Days of Future past was not their debut album.
Regards,
Actually....it was. The Pre-DOFP albums were NOT the band that is identified with the Moody Blues. That group (led by Denny Laine of Wings fame) was more of a blues band. DOFP incorporated Justin Hayward and John Lodge for the first time which formed the band that is identified with the name 'The Moody Blues'. So DOFP could certainly be considered their debut album. |
Edorr, thanks for pointing that out to me. I searched Bjork's discography on Wikipedia before making the above post. Should know better than to rely on WP. I'll order Gling Glo tonight. |
Timrhu, even if we dismiss real Bjork's first album, her first serious recording is "Gling Glo" her one and only ever Jazz outing, which precedes "Debut". If you have not heard it I recommend you try to get your hands on a copy. Great stuff. |
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Buffalo Springfield - (Eponymous) - Who can ever forget "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing." As true now as it was then.
Neal |
I know "Surrealistic Pillow" was not the Airplane's first album. Is it the first featuring Grace Slick? If so, I say it is the "real Airplane's" debut. |
Tracy Chapman Self-titled |
I'm going to add Bjork - Debut. Although not technically her first album which was released when she was eleven-years-old, we can't really count that one. I love her music as a solo artist. |
Another couple of great debut albums;
Lloyd Cole and The Commotions - Rattlesnakes
Mink DeVille - Cabretta |
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Coffee's mention of Eels reminded me of E and his solo debut "A Man Called E". Much less mannered than Eels (so maybe less interesting to some), but utterly pure pop/rock songwriting in the vein of The Beatles. Along with his other solo effort, "Broken Toy Shop", a great record of this type.
Always wondered how these remained so obscure even after Eels achieved their cult success. BTW, Mark O. Everett (the man called E) had a fantastic songwriting partner who peforms under the name Parthenon Huxley or P. Hux. Great solo stuff there, too including another great debut from his short lived band, Veg. That one rocks a bit harder than most from P. Hux and is on my list of outstanding debuts, too.
Marty |
I started to write em down then read the list and you guy listed so.many great except The Blue Nile "Walk across the rooftops" one of.my 5 top lps of all time. Pistols, Clash, Eel's, etc. |
Love the sounds coming out of London at the moment. I second your opinion of James Blake and I have been a champion of the XX. Also check out Warpaint and Tame Impala: both are playing the Coachella Festival this weekend. |
04-05-11: Bongofury
Burial, Untrue. The best late night soundscape EVER made.
Actually, thats his second. Burial (self titled) being the first. Both meet your description though and it's great to read it mentioned here. All his stuff is amazing. Check out Mirror/Ego Text 010 with Four Tet + Thom York. Wicked. |
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This debut album features the classic "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". It also include gems like "Angelitos Negros," "Our Ages or Our Hearts," and "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye."
Roberta Flack's fantastic voice and amazingly mature performance is supported by personnel such as John Pizzarelli on guitars and Ron Carter on bass.
Finally, the numbers:
"First Take" - 5 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, 2 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles and Adult Contemporary charts, #4 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart. |
Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley, so titled, was her coming out album--and IMHO, she's yet to top that.
She was a kid really, from where, Dayton??? Certainly Ohio as I remember.
'Save Your Love For Me', 'The Masquerade Is Over', and all the instrumentals with Cannonball's group as every other song.
THAT, Capital album was a classic for all ages.
Good listening,
Larry |
Lots of great debuts here. But Ill never forget the day one of my pals tossed Boston-Boston in the cassette deck. It totally dominated our cruising playlist for a long.....long..........long time. |
Can't believe nobody mentioned:
Crosby, Stills & Nash - S/T
Rickie Lee Jones - S/T
Pretenders - S/T
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True
Steely Dan - Can't Buy A Thrill
Velvet Underground & Nico - S/T
Most underrated: Genesis - From Genesis To Revelation
Lot of great albums in this thread! Cheers,
Spencer |
Big Pink is the debut album. Amazing sound. |
Onhwy61
I think Music from Big Pink is the debut Band album |
I don't know about "perfect" but there are some pretty damned amazing debut albums listed here. Let's add Fresh Cream to the list. |
Onhwy61- you have some great stuff listed. Nice depth. Especially like Flying Burrito Bros. |
Mr. Ghosthouse, you are absolutely right and that's the album I was thinking of. |
So far as I know, "Music From Big Pink" was The Band's debut. However, their self-titled album ("the brown album") is a great examle of a sophomore release that, to my mind, was even stronger than their debut. |
