# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/101 "2011-06-15T13:42:08Z")
The Velvet Underground & Nico ---
**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 15, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/102 "2011-06-15T13:58:03Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > [QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] The majority of the songs from both the first and second albums were written prior to her signing with a record label. I think she chose the best songs from her coffee house performances for her first album and left a lot of second tier songs for “Solitude Standing.” SS may have been more popular, but that was almost entirely because of Luka and I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people who liked the rest of the first two albums didn’t like Luka and vice versa. In my humble opinion “Suzanne Vega” was a superior album overall. De gustibus non disputandum and all that ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/103 "2011-06-15T14:17:00Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The first Crosby, Stills and Nash album is just about perfect. I love their next two albums but nothing touches the first. I’d personally go with _Four-Way Street_ as the best CSN&Y album. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/104 "2011-06-15T14:33:04Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Blood Sweat & Tears: **The Child Is Father to the Man**. The second album had the hits, but the debut was the great one. I think one almost has to regard the BS&T of _Child Is Father to the Man_ and the BS&T of the subsequent albums as essentially different groups. They may have shared a name and a decent number of instrumentalists, but the Al Kooper-fronted group of _Child_ has a completely different sound from the David Clayton-Thomas-fronted group that had hits such as “Spinning Wheel” and “Lucretia McEvil”. I like them both, but for very different reasons. I’ll concur that _Child_ is better than any albums by the ‘other’ BS&T. ---
**Author:** ![samjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@samjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samjones)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/105 "2011-06-15T14:55:09Z")
> [@Pixel\_Dent](#): > > I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people who liked the rest of the first two albums didn’t like Luka and vice versa. In my humble opinion “Suzanne Vega” was a superior album overall. I think it’s fair to say that alot of people liked Luka and alot of people liked Tom’s Diner too. I’m not sure that the phrase “alot of people” applies to anything else Suzanne Vega ever did. Wait, that reminds me! Lisa Loeb! ---
**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:** [June 15, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/106 "2011-06-15T16:22:48Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Um…am I supposed to _know?_ I posted on this. Honestly. Where did it disappear to? 😕 What I said was something like that I agreed completely that the first It’s a Beautiful Day album is by far their best and that I can’t understand those who make a claim for Marrying Maiden. Along with a joke to not take the brown acid because it messes up your mind. So yes, I really believe that those who think the first BS&T album, which was good, is better than the second, which had better song choices, far better arrangements, and the perfect singer for that one album in David Clayton-Thomas, must have taken the brown acid at Woodstock. Or maybe I did. Something happened at the keyboard last night. I wish I knew what. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/107 "2011-06-15T16:28:50Z")
Cheap Trick’s first was their best in my opinion. ---
**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 15, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/108 "2011-06-15T17:38:03Z")
I’d never heard of those earlier albums. I only became aware of Frampton after Comes Alive came out. In it’s time Comes Alive was a huge hit. I remember hearing it on the radio constantly in junior high school. It’s pretty dated now. > [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Wind of Change (1972) > Frampton’s Camel (1973) > Somethin’s Happening (1974) > Frampton (1975) > Frampton Comes Alive! (1976) > > And to my ears, that voice box guitar gimmick makes much of the _Comes Alive_ actively annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/109 "2011-06-15T18:33:51Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Wind of Change (1972) > Frampton’s Camel (1973) > Somethin’s Happening (1974) > Frampton (1975) > Frampton Comes Alive! (1976) > > And to my ears, that voice box guitar gimmick makes much of the _Comes Alive_ actively annoying. I once read a great interview with Joe Walsh in which he talked about showing Peter Frampton how he used Bob Heil’s high powered Talk Box on the _Barnstorm_ self-titled album and \*The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get \*on “Rocky Mountain Way”.Apparently, Frampton had received one as a Christmas gift. Walsh joked that he had no idea Frampton could base his whole career around it and that he probably made more money than he ever did. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/110 "2011-06-15T18:42:44Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, it looks like Born To Run is his _third_ album, with the second being _The Wild, the Innocent, & the E Street Shuffle_. Somehow, I’ve never heard that one. Many people haven’t, which is somewhat strange since it is where one of Bruce’s signature songs comes from (especially live) “Rosalita” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/111 "2011-06-15T18:43:29Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > So yes, I really believe that those who think the first BS&T album, which was good, is better than the second, which had better song choices, far better arrangements, and the perfect singer for that one album in David Clayton-Thomas, must have taken the brown acid at Woodstock. I just don’t feel most of the songs on the first Clayton-Thomas album have held up all that well. It’s got three very good songs in “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die,” and “Smiling Phases,” but beyond that it’s mostly filler IMHO. _Child_ is much better top-to-bottom. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/112 "2011-06-15T19:09:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > By strict definition, a song is sung. I use “song” in a looser sense, but it’s come up on this board several times in the past that there are some people who prefer to use “song” in the strict sense, requiring the human voice and therefore, usually, lyrics. An instrumental “song” is a tune or simply an instrumental. You’re right, of course, but in the context of the album in question, I find “instrumentals” and “tunes” to be inadequate at best, so I persist with the notion of non-verbal/non-vocal “songs”, which bother me less despite being technically incorrect. . ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/113 "2011-06-15T19:27:15Z")
Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight Belly - Star Tindersticks - Tindersticks Rasputina - Thanks for the Ether Magazine - Real Life Orange Juice - You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever The Apples in Stereo - Fun Trick Noisemaker ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/114 "2011-06-15T19:31:37Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > John Prine. More than a dozen albums in 40 years, but the songs that everyone seems to know (and cover) are on his debut. That one immediately came to mind for me. Fantastic album, but no good follow through. ☹ ---
**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:** [June 15, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/115 "2011-06-15T19:52:06Z")
The Specials, _The Specials_ The Beat, _I Just Can’t Stop It_ Tears For Fears, _The Hurting_ Go West, _Go West_ Living Colour, _Vivid_ Morrissey, _Viva Hate_ Joy Division, _Unknown Pleasures_ ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/116 "2011-06-15T22:42:20Z")
> [@samjones](#): > > Agreed. I’m amused at how people insist that their favorite musician’s first album is far and away the best even though the musician is clearly better known for at least one song on some other album. > > And “Running Up That Hill” _is_ what KB is best known for - at least in America. The Wuthering Heights thing never really worked here. Running Up That Hill was practically a mid-80’s anthem. I’m not sure if _Running Up That Hill_ has been covered more times than _The Man With The Child In His Eyes_, but the [covers of it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_Up_that_Hill#Cover_versions) have been huge hits, especially Placebo’s version - potentially eclipsing _Wuthering Heights_ in her legacy. > [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > Glad you popped in **gaffa**. When I wrote the OP I was thinking “I bet **gaffa** won’t agree with this.” 🙂 > > I think it’s true that most hard core fans share your opinion - I suppose I’m more of a casual fan. Every fan poll I’ve seen has _The Dreaming_ and _Hounds of Love_ trading places in the number one and two spots. ---
**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:** [June 15, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/117 "2011-06-15T23:23:56Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Every fan poll I’ve seen has _The Dreaming_ and _Hounds of Love_ trading places in the number one and two spots. Isn’t it time for everyone to admit that if fans can make an argument that two or more other albums are better than the first, that artist shouldn’t be in the running here? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/118 "2011-06-15T23:28:34Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Isn’t it time for everyone to admit that if fans can make an argument that two or more other albums are better than the first, that artist shouldn’t be in the running here? 🙂 Agreed. I posted here because she was mentioned in the OP: > [@](#): > > Kate Bush - I have loved most of what Kate Bush has done, but I personally don’t think that any album surpassed “The Kick Inside.” My personal favorite of her albums is _Hounds of Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/119 "2011-06-16T10:39:18Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight > Belly - Star > Tindersticks - Tindersticks > Rasputina - Thanks for the Ether > Magazine - Real Life > Orange Juice - You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever > The Apples in Stereo - Fun Trick Noisemaker > [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > The Specials, _The Specials_ > The Beat, _I Just Can’t Stop It_ > Tears For Fears, _The Hurting_ > Go West, _Go West_ > Living Colour, _Vivid_ > Morrissey, _Viva Hate_ > Joy Division, _Unknown Pleasures_ While I love a few of these, they are not enduring artists, in fact, at least one of them (Ian Curtis of Joy Division) is long dead.☹ ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/enduring-musical-artists-whose-first-albums-were-never-bettered/585410/120 "2011-06-16T13:19:06Z")
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