# Best Rock Band Debut Album? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698 "2011-10-25T02:07:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/41 "2011-10-25T17:58:51Z")
Another vote for “Horses” by Patti Smith. Best first line of a first song of a first album: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine!” ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/42 "2011-10-25T18:01:34Z")
_Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1_ was fantastic, although there might be some question about whether it was actually a debut album, since the band members were all so well known as individuals. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/43 "2011-10-25T18:05:29Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > I vote for The Doors as well. This was what immediately came to mind when reading the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/44 "2011-10-25T18:08:12Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > I’d have to go with Led Zeppelin I. > > What say you? I can get behind this. Also, the Ramones freshman effort. And let’s throw in Gang of Four’s Entertainment. Truthfully, I can get behind most of the albums in this thread. There’s no clear winner to me, but if I had to pick, Led Zeppelin I would get my vote today. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/45 "2011-10-25T18:18:41Z")
Personally, I would say Led Zeppelin 1 and Jimi Hendrix’s Are you Experienced?. I want to say Jeff Beck’s Blow by Blow but he did have his previous band albums although Blow was semantically his first solo album. I never was much of a fan of Eddie Van Helen but I do think their 1st album had a huge impact on rock music, rock guitar playing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/46 "2011-10-25T18:49:27Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I enjoy REM’s music, and “Murmur” is truly a great album, but in all seriousness, if I had to pick ONE (1) American public figure, of any note, that I would describe as THE archetypical, original, primordial Hipster, Michael Stipe would be that person, hands down. Relevant beacuse…? ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/47 "2011-10-25T19:04:33Z")
Another vote for Boston. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/48 "2011-10-25T19:38:02Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > No one has mentioned **Appetite for Destruction** yet? Seriously? It totally blows away every one listed so far. > > I really don’t see what other album could compete with this one for best rock band debut album. Meh. Wouldn’t even make my top 20. Even just limited to hard rock/metal debuts from the '80s, I’d rank Iron Maiden’s first album above it. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/49 "2011-10-25T19:38:04Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Van Halen I This is my vote. How they managed to sound so refined and together is mind-blowing, most bands never pull something together that tightly. Runner-up to Boston for the similar technical achievement, but they had higher technical and studio skill base to work from, they weren’t just a bunch of newbie teenagers. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/50 "2011-10-25T19:46:00Z")
I would have to go with Boston as well. Van Halen I would be a close runner-up. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/51 "2011-10-25T19:48:02Z")
The Stone Roses. > [@I'm Not Dennis Bergkamp](#): > > So many candidates, but I’m going to go with [The Decline of British Sea Power](http://www.amazon.com/Decline-British-Sea-Power/dp/B000XJ5U2G/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319553571&sr=8-1-spell) by British Sea Power. It’s got uptempo rockers like “[Remember Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua4BiBV6i6o&ob=av2n)” along with sweeping epics like “[Lately](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmRSuTjLKaU).” (Those latter two are YouTube links.) It’s at times literate, explosive, angsty, and abandoned, which makes for a perfect rock album. > > Their follow-ups are good, but don’t compare to _Decline_. Good album. I really like Carrion. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/52 "2011-10-25T19:56:41Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > This is my vote. How they managed to sound so refined and together is mind-blowing, most bands never pull something together that tightly. Runner-up to Boston for the similar technical achievement, but they had higher technical and studio skill base to work from, they weren’t just a bunch of newbie teenagers. _Van Halen I_ had the amazing Ted Templeman (“C’mon Dave, gimme a break…”) producing, and he’d been around the block a few times by '77… ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/53 "2011-10-25T20:37:06Z")
> [@Barrington\_Trout](#): > > The Band Debut album is “Music from Big Pink.” Did you mean that? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/54 "2011-10-25T20:45:26Z")
**Are You Experienced?** hands down. If he’d never cut another disc, Jimi Hendrix would still be remembered as the man who revolutionized guitar for this album alone (and for the performances in its support). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/55 "2011-10-25T20:46:39Z")
> [@The\_Raven](#): > > _Van Halen I_ had the amazing Ted Templeman (“C’mon Dave, gimme a break…”) producing, and he’d been around the block a few times by '77… Good point. Might be a good spin-off thread about which masterpiece albums were achieved more by producer talent rather than band talent… ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/56 "2011-10-25T20:52:35Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > _Horses_ by Patti Smith is top drawer. > > Stone Roses self-titled first album is a superb debut, albeit not in the same league as Horses - just thought I’d mention it since they announced they’re re-forming for a couple of concerts v recently. I came in to say The Stone Roses. I won’t be going anywhere near the reform tour. I’m not sure if ‘Lazer Guided Melodies’ by Spritualized counts seeing as Jason Pierce had been half of Spacemen Three. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/57 "2011-10-26T00:46:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **The Doors** > [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > I vote Talking Heads: 77. > [@GovernmentMan](#): > > REM - Murmur > [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > King Crimson: **In the Court of the Crimson King** > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > **Elvis Costello, My Aim Is True**. > [@Labdad](#): > > Another vote for “Horses” by Patti Smith. Best first line of a first song of a first album: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine!” > [@StusBlues](#): > > **Are You Experienced?** hands down. If he’d never cut another disc, Jimi Hendrix would still be remembered as the man who revolutionized guitar for this album alone (and for the performances in its support). All worthy candidates, but I’ll go elsewhere and toss in a few less prominent options for consideration: Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Pavlov’s Dog - Pampered Menial Steely Dan - Can’t Buy a Thrill Television - Marquee Moon Jeff Buckley - Grace The Alan Parsons Project - Tales of Mystery and Imagination Blue Oyster Cult - Blue Oyster Cult Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere Propaganda - A Secret Wish Santana - Santana I’d find it hard to pick between all of the above, but I’ll go with Elvis Costello as there’s not a bad track on the album and it was a genuine harbinger of brilliance to come. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/58 "2011-10-26T01:50:29Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > The Pretenders. Great call. All the more magnificent as we’d only get one more from the original lineup. Chris Thomas and Nick Lowe twiddling the knobs as producers as well. I’d like to nominate _Vivid_ by **Living Colour**. A masterpiece! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/59 "2011-10-26T02:52:31Z")
Neil Young’s first album was _Neil Young_. _Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere_ followed it. You think nobody’s going to nitpick you on the Dope? Dream on. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698/60 "2011-10-26T03:46:45Z")
_Bad Company._ Bad Company. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-rock-band-debut-album/600698.md?page=4)