Iconic Songs from a Debut Album

[Spaceman213J]

What throws me off a bit with this is the word 'iconic'. Some of these songs are great, but I'm not sure if they are really iconic. Also, it used to be that artists were forced to do covers and released only singles. Once they got famous and some power, then they would put out an album.
If you want a truly iconic song from a debut album, than I'd go with Johnny Cash and "Walk the Line". He had a number of singles released before that, but "Walk the Line" and "Cry, Cry, Cry" were on his debut album. I think no one would argue that "Walk the Line" isn't an iconic song.

For another more modern song I'd put Radiohead's "Creep" on the list. There are a lot of people who might not be able to tell you who wrote and recorded it originally, but most would know some version of the song.

 

[Bigboote]

"Iconic" "Generational" -- We on the Boneyard just like to throw words around. Kind of like Vizzini and "Inconceivable."

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Iconic" "Generational" -- We on the Boneyard just like to throw words around. Kind of like Vizzini and "Inconceivable."

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

 

[From France]

Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (from "Nevermind")

Nitpick maybe, but NM was their second album; Bleach was their debut, but nowhere near as massive an album for them as NM. I was in grad school in Seattle during the grunge days, so i was steeped in grunge.

I must disagree, Bleach was an excellent debut album and "blew" was just one of the prooths

 

[From France]

Here's a medley of songs from their first album

Without Mamma Cass, they would have been nothing, I think she is the only one who survived the end of the band, she had the voice but she didn't had a superstar body

 

[From France]

One of my old time favorites with Sonic Youth is Neil Young, so :

 

[From France]

Et si vous aimez la musique française, il y a ça :

 

[From France]

Completely ou of the topic, but for me (and Kris Kristoferson) one of the most courageous song :



Don't let the bastards get you down

 

[From France]

but to respond to the criterias, here's a song from her first album :

 

[Scud49]

Four Seasons, 1962 - from their debut album - "Sherry".

 

[Scud49]

The Shirelles - huge hit from their first album "Will You Still Love me Tomorrow"

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm not sure about iconic, but this song was EVERYWHERE for a while.

 

[nwhoopfan]

This one was huge when it came out as well.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Based on the number of covers of this song there are floating around You Tube, I'd say it's definitely iconic. Not bad for a 15 or 16 year old kid.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Even younger when she took the world by storm.