Iconic Songs from a Debut Album

[Surly1]

Since it is Memorial Day, I feel a trip down memory lane is appropriate. Looking back, what are songs from an artist's first album that have turned into classics - songs most everyone is familiar with.

I'll start with Light My Fire from the Doors debut. It highlighted the strengths of each of the 4 principals with Morrison's vocals and 2 classic solos, accompanied by John Densmore's drums.

Another would Be Yellow from Coldplay's debut.

 

[Centerstream]

Paradise By The Dashboard Light from Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

One of the best debut albums ever.

 

[Zanzman]

One of the best debut albums ever.

My first thought

 

[Centerstream]

Guns N' Roses debut album, Appetite for Destruction has three: Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child o' Mine and Paradise City.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

 

[TerpWomenFan]

Guns N' Roses debut album, Appetite for Destruction has three: Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child o' Mine and Paradise City.

Great choice.

 

[Jackcatscal]

It's Not My Cross to Bear, from the first album by The Allman Brothers band. Searing guitar solos.

 

[TerpWomenFan]

 

[TerpWomenFan]

 

[TerpWomenFan]

 

[Jackcatscal]

Willin', from Little Feat's first album.

I been warped by the rain
Driven by the snow
I'm drunk and dirty, don't you know
And I'm still... willin'
And I was out on the road late at night
I seen my pretty Alice in every headlight
Alice, Dallas Alice...

(I just read that band leader Lowell George wrote this song while he was a member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention.)

 

[Jackcatscal]

I cheated. I asked ChatGPT what the most famous songs from first rock albums were. Here's what she (He?) responded.

1. Led Zeppelin - "Good Times Bad Times" (from "Led Zeppelin")
2. The Rolling Stones - "Route 66" (from "The Rolling Stones")
3. AC/DC - "High Voltage" (from "High Voltage")
4. Guns N' Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle" (from "Appetite for Destruction")
5. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (from "Nevermind")
6. The Clash - "Janie Jones" (from "The Clash")
7. The Who - "My Generation" (from "My Generation")
8. Queen - "Keep Yourself Alive" (from "Queen")
9. Pearl Jam - "Alive" (from "Ten")
10. Radiohead - "Creep" (from "Pablo Honey")

 

[Surly1]

Now why do you think
Jack snuck down the hill?

Always loved this. Raydio & Shalamar in the late 70's.

 

[Centerstream]

I cheated. I asked ChatGPT what the most famous songs from first rock albums were. Here's what she (He?) responded.

1. Led Zeppelin - "Good Times Bad Times" (from "Led Zeppelin")
2. The Rolling Stones - "Route 66" (from "The Rolling Stones")
3. AC/DC - "High Voltage" (from "High Voltage")
4. Guns N' Roses - "Welcome to the Jungle" (from "Appetite for Destruction")
5. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (from "Nevermind")
6. The Clash - "Janie Jones" (from "The Clash")
7. The Who - "My Generation" (from "My Generation")
8. Queen - "Keep Yourself Alive" (from "Queen")
9. Pearl Jam - "Alive" (from "Ten")
10. Radiohead - "Creep" (from "Pablo Honey")

None from The Beatles?????? IMO, the Greatest Rock band ever.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Iconic? I don't think so. She had yet to find her genre and her voice, but there is the raw emotion to this coming out as the song went on - the raw emotion that would become a large part of her identity. It's Tina Turner Help Me Make It Through The Night from her debut album Tina Turns The Country On:

 

[MdStang]

The Black Crowes debut.

 

[MdStang]

Dire Straits

 

[SCNCHuskie]

“My Generation” was on The Who’s debut album.

“Piano Man” was on Billy Joel’s first released album on Columbia, although he technically had a debut album called Cold Spring Harbor, which is technically his debut album. It was actually recorded and the test pressing was printed at the wrong speed making it sound like an Alvin and the Chipmunks album.

 

[MdStang]

Steely Dan

 

[Ouremblem]

Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird”.

 

[jbc021592]

Britney would like a word… “…BOMT”.

 

[rvwsleep]

"Babe I'm gonna leave you" from Led Zepplin 1 is my choice. Though "God Times Bad Times" was the first single released from that album.

 

[rvwsleep]

From The Beatles first album , which was "Please Please Me".
I'll take "I Saw Her Standing There".
Here's a live version from 1963 !! (Is that possible ? 60 years ago ??)
6 tenths of a century. Unbelievable.

 

[Inthepaint]

"Babe I'm gonna leave you" from Led Zepplin 1 is my choice. Though "God Times Bad Times" was the first single released from that album.

I would go with “Dazed & Confused “ but there’s no wrong song from that album