# Famous, respected musicians who only had 1 good album **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712 "2014-10-18T16:06:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/21 "2014-10-19T00:38:25Z")
[Emitt Rhoads?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emitt_Rhodes) ---
**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:** [October 19, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/22 "2014-10-19T01:14:10Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Fdiscography shows all the duds that didn’t chart. > [Peter Frampton discography - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Frampton_discography) I remember before he hit big with _Frampton Comes Alive_, the Wherehouse was selling his first couple of albums for a penny. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/23 "2014-10-19T01:30:50Z")
Okay, I got one that isn’t really fair: **Carole King - Tapestry** She’s had more hits than I can count and is deservedly one of the most respected songwriters, and singer-songwriters ever. But can you name another album that is hers? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/24 "2014-10-19T01:32:39Z")
Okay, here is another shot - **Dr. Dre - The Chronic** ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/25 "2014-10-19T01:34:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Frampton Comes Alive that’s the only one Peter Frampton is known for. The others albums went in the cut out bin. > > I had more than more than my stomach full of that talk box gimmick. One album is all I could stand. > > discography shows all the duds that didn’t chart. > [Peter Frampton discography - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Frampton_discography) (shudder) I’d never heard of “I’m In You” and wish I never did. Good God, is that a creepy title and cover, like Rod Stewart meets Austin Powers. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/26 "2014-10-19T03:16:06Z")
The Buzzcocks have the rest of their catalogue overshadowed by _Singles Going Steady_, and it’s not even a proper album. But maybe it was different if you were there. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/27 "2014-10-19T03:39:21Z")
Cheap Trick. Cheap Trick’s first album was incredible. If you go to their concert, you will discover that most of their songs are from their first album. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/28 "2014-10-19T04:14:28Z")
Does AC/DC count? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/29 "2014-10-19T04:50:42Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > The Buzzcocks have the rest of their catalogue overshadowed by _Singles Going Steady_, and it’s not even a proper album. But maybe it was different if you were there. Yeah, but most of that album is taken off _Love Bites_ and\* Another Music From A Different Kitchen\*, both of which were pretty much indispensable albums, so not strictly fair. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/30 "2014-10-19T04:54:21Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Cheap Trick. > > Cheap Trick’s first album was incredible. If you go to their concert, you will discover that most of their songs are from their first album. and Dream Police? One on One? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/31 "2014-10-19T04:55:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Okay, I got one that isn’t really fair: **Carole King - Tapestry** > > She’s had more hits than I can count and is deservedly one of the most respected songwriters, and singer-songwriters ever. But can you name another album that is hers? “Wrap Around Joy”. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/32 "2014-10-19T05:21:12Z")
AISA ETA: Eponymous, obviously. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/33 "2014-10-19T05:26:41Z")
Big Country - The Crossing ---
**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:** [October 19, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/34 "2014-10-19T05:46:38Z")
Gerry Rafferty - City to City ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/35 "2014-10-19T06:05:31Z")
Boston. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/36 "2014-10-19T10:41:26Z")
Jeff Buckley - Grace ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/37 "2014-10-19T22:03:09Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Okay, here is another shot - **Dr. Dre - The Chronic** I don’t really see it. 2001 went sextuple platinum and was nominated for several Grammy Awards. It seems like you’d have to be pretty selective not to call it good. ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/38 "2014-10-19T22:49:04Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > and Dream Police? One on One? Yeah, I was going to say that. I know Dream Police, I can name several songs on it, but couldn’t tell you anything about their first album. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/39 "2014-10-19T22:54:59Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Boston. Their first album sold 17 million copies, their second one 7 million. A big drop off, but still respectable. Third Stage didn’t even do too badly at 4 million. Thier output (what there is of it since Tom Sholz is quite a perfectionist) since then has sucked, but they had at least two decent albums at 24 million copies total. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712/40 "2014-10-19T23:02:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Frampton Comes Alive that’s the only one Peter Frampton is known for. \*Fingerprints \*won a Grammy for best instrumental pop album, so that must count for something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-respected-musicians-who-only-had-1-good-album/701712.md?page=3)