# Enduring musical artists whose first albums were never bettered **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410 "2011-06-14T10:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/41 "2011-06-14T17:07:01Z")
Peter Frampton _Frampton Comes Alive!_ was his best album. Never came close to improving beyond it. Christopher Cross got 5 grammys for his debut album _Christopher Cross_. Never worth a crap after that. His second album sold ok, but nothing like the first. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/42 "2011-06-14T17:08:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I don’t think the sales prove which album is best. I was saying I hadn’t heard this consensus that Murmur is the best album, and mentioned the sales as a data point. There are some very good songs on Murmur (I especially liked Pilgrimmage), and I got very into Lifes Rich Pageant four or five years ago. I think Automatic for the People is better than either. I have to concur. So far as there is a consensus, AFTP usually edges out Murmur as the best album, in my experience with R.E.M. fans and music message boards in general. Even just doing a random google search right now for “best R.E.M. album,” most sites I found have AFTP on top. Personally, I’m not much of an R.E.M. fan, but I do prefer _Murmur_. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/43 "2011-06-14T17:10:59Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > by the same token I would really like to restrict consideration to solo artists or groups who have had an enduring career, rather than one hit wonders. IOW, by the same token, not The Tokens. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/44 "2011-06-14T17:14:44Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > I must say that _Are You Experienced?_ remains, for me, the essential Jimi Hendrix album. I can’t disagree with your argument, but … 5/12/1967: _Are You Experienced?_ released 9/18/1970: Jimi Hendrix dies Maybe I’m working from the wrong definition of “enduring.” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/45 "2011-06-14T17:18:40Z")
The Go-Go’s: _Beauty and the Beat_. Of course, they’ve only put out 3 original albums since then, but they’re still touring. I’ll get some argument, but I also think Blondie’s first eponymously-titled album is their best. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/46 "2011-06-14T17:28:47Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > The Go-Go’s: _Beauty and the Beat_. Of course, they’ve only put out 3 original albums since then, but they’re still touring. I’m actually seeing them tonight 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/47 "2011-06-14T17:30:23Z")
I’d argue Suzanne Vega never equaled her first album, but her style changed so much from album to album that’s something that’s really a matter of taste. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/48 "2011-06-14T17:34:15Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I’ll get some argument, but I also think Blondie’s first eponymously-titled album is their best. Yes - you would get some argument. Parallel Lines. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/49 "2011-06-14T17:36:05Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I’d argue Suzanne Vega never equaled her first album, but her style changed so much from album to album that’s something that’s really a matter of taste. This is getting too easy. Her only 2 hits were off her second album - including her signature song. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/50 "2011-06-14T17:40:41Z")
The best example of this I can think is [Blue Rodeo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Rodeo) They have put out 12 albums and are rock and roll\* icons in Canada, but their debut album, “Outskirts,” is still their best (in my opinion), with one of my all-time favourite songs on it, [Try.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vw3jUZo9FQ) \*They’re not exactly rock, but I don’t really know how else to define them. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/51 "2011-06-14T17:45:34Z")
The Cars (1978) ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/52 "2011-06-14T17:50:00Z")
For me the following artist have a debut album which is also their best: Tori Amos - _Little Earthquakes_ (I don’t count Y Kant Tori Read, I think of them as a seperate act) Daft Punk - _Homework_ John Lennon - _John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band_ (depends on whether you count the experimental trilogy with Yoko) Nas - _Illmatic_ I was going to say Eminem but then remembered _The Slim Shady LP_ was not his debut. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/53 "2011-06-14T17:54:14Z")
Joe Jackson - _Look Sharp!_ - 1979 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/54 "2011-06-14T17:54:51Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > I’m actually seeing them tonight 🙂 Cool! I’ve got tickets for the Vancouver show. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/55 "2011-06-14T17:58:33Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > Yes - you would get some argument. Parallel Lines. I don’t think it stands up as well as _Blondie_. _Parallel Lines_ sounds like it was recorded in the Seventies. _Blondie_ still sounds as fresh as it did in 1976. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/56 "2011-06-14T18:06:36Z")
Cowboy Junkies – _The Trinity Session_ (1988) ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/57 "2011-06-14T18:11:18Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > The Cars (1978) +1 ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/58 "2011-06-14T18:15:10Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Cowboy Junkies – _The Trinity Session_ (1988) 2nd album ---
**Author:** ![ghostman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@ghostman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghostman)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/59 "2011-06-14T18:17:57Z")
Ozzy - Blizzard was perfect… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/60 "2011-06-14T18:20:24Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Peter Frampton _Frampton Comes Alive!_ was his best album. Never came close to improving beyond it. It was far from his first album, though–he made four studio albums prior to _Comes Alive_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410.md?page=4)