I was looking around the big wall of music in the WDHA studio over the weekend and started thinking of all the great debut rock albums that we have played over the years for you.
Specifically, those records that grabbed you from the very first song (side one/cut one) and held onto you all the way through.
Think Nuke LaLoosh in Bull Durham wanting to announce his presence with authority. BTW – this is probably my favorite scene in the movie…it’s also NSFW.
The cliché in the music business is that you have your entire lifetime to write and record your first album, and then about six months to get the material together for the follow up.
Feels like the first time
There is something special about an artist’s first record.
You often remember where you were and who you were with the first time you heard certain songs, and the way that music made you feel.
In going through some of my favorite debut albums of all time, I found myself going straight to records that grabbed you right from the start and simply wouldn’t let go.
Each of these records I’ve listed below fall right into that category.
But there’s more – every single one of these albums is strong from start to finish.
Maybe that goes back to the “lifetime to do your first album” theory, but these aren’t one-hit wonders with a load of filler tracks.
These are artists who have stood the test of time and continued to release incredible music throughout their respective careers.
The debut rock albums that aren’t here
Yeah, I know. Where’s Led Zeppelin’s debut? What about the Jimi Hendrix Experience? How could you leave (fill in the blank) out?
I took a long look at Van Halen’s debut and believe me, if “Eruption” had been side one/cut one, well that could very well have been the best opening track of all time.
Jimi Hendrix? God knows that Jimi did things in 1967 that we’re still trying to figure out more than 50 year later.
What about the Beatles? Without them, I’m pretty sure that rock music as we know it wouldn’t exist.
But quite honestly, I think you’re heard enough about the Beatles from me lately.
So let the debate(s) begin. Here is one man’s pick of the best debut albums that grabbed hold of you right from the very first song.
