10 First Albums To Buy From The Biggest Bands

If you just discovered one of the biggest bands in the world and wanted to buy an album to start with, which would it be? Some of these catalogues are so big it’s hard to know where to start. Join me as I run through 10 First Albums To Buy From The Biggest Bands and hear why I think these are the ones to start with.
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[@flaviopitanga65]

Awesome selection mate ❤

[@benedictdonald4338]

Sticky Fingers - The Stones Back In Black - AC/DC ZOSO - Zep Alive - Kiss Shout At the Devil - Motley Crue

[@carlosenriquesierra9044]

Just added most of them to mu buying list. Looking Forward to growing my cd collection. Great video!

[@BrendonSnyder]

That’s awesome Carlos! Glad to hear you found the video helpful.

[@arzabael]

Thats the ticket mate

[@dirkbag22]

I agree with all of them but Yes. But then, I grew up at the time when Fragile was released, and that was the first I'd heard and I've never heard a better Yes album. I wasn't overwhelmed by the 10 minute songs or the complex arrangements - it was all ear candy to me, so from my perspective it would have to be Fragile.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah I could have gone either way. Sometimes full on Prog is too much for newbies and so I thought a back door introduction via their biggest hit would be the way to go. But for Roundabout alone, Fragile would be a great start too.

[@dirkbag22]

@@BrendonSnyder It's true. That album - it's hard to comprehend, all these years later, how profound that album was. We hear it now, and it's like, "oh yeah, that's Fragile." But back in those days, the whole thing was played on FM radio. South Side of the Sky, The Fish and Heart of the Sunrise all STILL blow my mind after hearing them a million times. Also, same period, Uriah Heep's more easily accessible Demons and Wizards was also a darkened bedroom favorite, headphone and such a beautifully recorded album. And that was about the time Jethro Tull released Thick As a Brick, so we were not lacking in spectacular music back when I was 13 and 14 years old. Haha.

[@jazzpunk]

@@dirkbag22 We musta had the same albums...I bought both FRAGILE & DEMONS and WIZARDS because of the cover art. Never heard of either band. Dean's art sold me. Listened a lot under the Black Lights in my room. My parents must have been wonderin' about me. ;-)

[@paulweaver]

Excellent show brendon from 🇬🇧❤

[@darcyska]

I agree with almost all of these BUT I do have to say something about the Yes pick - I know you talked about how different it is from most of the catalogue, but that's the reason I would NOT get someone to grab it as an intro to the band. If I was trying to give someone one of the albums with the most varied sounds of the band, 'Drama' might be the more appropriate pick, but I think something like 'The Yes Album" is a great introduction to the band that showcases both the progressive and more track-oriented sound the band covers over a bunch of their albums.

[@jazzpunk]

I would definitely go with the Classic line-up (no DRAMA, thank you)...THE YES ALBUM is a good pick, though.

[@jasonpp1973]

I like to use the expression "All killer, no filler" to describe a perfect album.

[@ratter531]

Black Sabbath debut album Feb 13 1970

[@SpookyKid_SpaceAce]

Yea I was waiting for him to mention that

[@irishflink7324]

1. Machine Head - Deep Purple 2. Rainbow Rising - Rainbow 3. A New World Record - Electric Light Orchestra 4. Razamanaz - Nazareth 5. Let There Be Rock - AC/DC 6. Sweet Fanny Adams - Sweet 7. Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy 8. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac 9. Saints and Sinners - Whitesnake 10. A Night At The Opera - Queen

[@patrickschlosser8208]

Great list. I agree with everything. Only with Nazareth I would have chosen the album "Hair of the Dog". 😀

[@thomaswery3087]

exellent picks right with them all

[@SpackleTab]

Great vid! What about Jethro Tull's Aqualung?!

[@BrendonSnyder]

That’s a great one too! But my favorite Jethro Tull album is Stormwatch (1979).

[@jazzpunk]

You lost me with 90125...I bought FRAGILE in the day because of the cover. "Roundabout" blew me away. So different than the Led Zep, Grand Funk, Deep Purple, Sabbath, etc. that I was into.

[@BrendonSnyder]

As I said, it has to do with what you grew up on. You’re clearly older and grew up with the band in the 70’s. I’m younger and grew up with the band in the 80’s. Remember there is no wrong or right to this.

[@joet6434]

Nice list, Brendon, for those new to these bands. I personally would go with the second Zeppelin album, maybe Toys in the Attic for Aerosmith. Van Halen is spot on but their cover of You Really Got Me isn't better than the Kinks original, imo. For ACDC i would go with Powerage or maybe Let There be Rock but i understand why you went for their biggest selling record. AFD was the best album from GNR for me, they never managed to top it, a great debut. I look forward to your follow up video.

[@unclestinky6388]

The opposite might be an interesting concept - records that are not a suitable introduction to a great band. The album may not necessarily be bad, it just might not serve as a good introduction for some reason. Although it's understandable if you prefer to avoid a topic that is too negative.

[@georgeprice4212]

If a band has a Best Of/Greatest Hits collection, that would be a decent place to start.

[@georgeprice4212]

I just looked up 90125, and shockingly, it only hit #5 on Billboard! I thought it did hit #1!

[@BrendonSnyder]

True…but after a greatest his if you’re going to buy a full album to get a real feel for the band, that’s where I was going with the list. How do people get past just listening to the radio or greatest hits.

[@georgeprice4212]

@@BrendonSnyder With Me, I had a mom who knew that I was a major music fan! And, she knew that, at eleven years old, I wasn’t really ready for Country, so she basically bought me my first two AC/DC albums in the same year - one for my birthday (Highway To Hell), and one for Christmas (Back In Black). Benefits of being an only child. 😆

[@domenicklococo4956]

Led Zeppelin 2 was my first and favorite

[@jazzpunk]

I got Led Zep III 1st as a birthday present. Didn't know the band, the name sounded cool...and I picked III over the 1st two because of the artwork. ;-) In retrospect, I would have been happier with II or the debut. IV blew me away when I got it.

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

Brendon, really great Video for beginning your collection. Cool!! Looking forward the 2nd video.

[@DeadnWoon]

Speaking of who's the biggest ones and why... Like to me Gentle Giant were among the biggest ones. Pink Floyd's The Wall was much more hit-wise and versatile, for sure - if you don't care about the lyrics then the three fourths of Dark Side are kinda one big Breathe music-wise. Aerosmith's greatest achievement was certainly Big Ones, especially the 12-track cassette version. AC/DC's Razor's Edge had it all and on a funny note. Yes' Fragile as is already said here was obviously their most unique and fresh. Where's Uriah Heep (The Magician's Birthday) and Nazareth (Razamanaz) then? Those're my points.

[@gnavar4047]

Great episode. I only own 3 out of 10. Reason is that I don't like enough some of the bands you covered to buy one of their albums. For example, I don't own any Yes or Bruce Springsteen music. Your collection is amazing BTW.

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

Too bad you don’t live in Florida, I’ve got a ton of CDs I’m about to donate.

[@kennethhardbargeriii2798]

Those are All my favorites I'm glad you saved the best for last.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Just happened by year!

[@richardhenle2650]

It is tough though sometimes with bands that have a change in sound somewhat. I mean if someone asked me about U2 I'd say start with "Joshua Tree" while some will say "Achtung Baby" and then some diehard U2 fans from day one who feel they sold out, will say "Boy" or "Unforgettable Fire" the same with a band like REM I would go "Out of time" or my favorite "Automatic for the People" but die hard REM fans would probably say "Murmur". I think with bands/singers that have a change in sound you might want to kind of go in with a across the board best of to see their change in sound, like Aerosmith I would say many fans of "Rocks" or "Toys in Attic" are not into later 80's stuff like Permanent or "Pump", its always a tough one with sound changes recommended something to someone to start with.

[@ricardorivera8873]

Brendon, Appetite for Destruction was the 1st cd I ever bought back in 1988. I've been a fan since the Sweet Child O Mine video was released. After so many years, AFD remains a favorite of mine too. However, I don't recall much playing of either Think About You, Anything Goes or the AFD version of You're Crazy on the radio or in concert. I wish GnR would bring the songs back to life in concert. Thanks! Rick

[@BrendonSnyder]

Appetite was the first album I bought…but was cassette in 1987.

[@jamesbrown9910]

Foghat energized

[@jamesbrown9910]

Thank you

[@antonnee]

Cannot really argue much with the list. For Yes, I would've gone with Close to the Edge, maybe? Back in Black is solid but prefer Highway to Hell, my introduction to the band.

[@BrendonSnyder]

….then you’ll have to watch the next episode 10 Second Albums To Buy From The Biggest Bands!

[@antonnee]

I will. One of my favorite channels on this site.

[@herbie-f4x]

That woman caterwauling on Great Gig in the Sky makes me skip that song every time, a true perfect album without her vocals

[@BrendonSnyder]

On the Immersion boxset for Dark Side Of The Moon there is an early mix before they decided to add her vocals. It’s far superior in my opinion without them.

[@suicidality2744]

Clare Torry.

[@herbie-f4x]

@@BrendonSnyder Thanks I will see if I can locate one.

[@uruguayo6395]

Fun video.

[@johnswihart5429]

Brendon. Very good list. I always felt that the 1st van halen album was truly the beginning of hair metal in terms of guitar playing even though aerosmith rocks album was an influence for bands like ratt and guns n roses. Others would disagree but I'm sticking to it.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I agree with you! Yes, Van Halen created Glam Metal. They may have grown bigger than it and out of the title the same way Def Leppard and GNR did, but they started it. All the hallmarks of Glam Metal are on that first album.

[@thedreamcatcher72]

Great picks, I may have gone with Toys from Aerosmith because of walk this way for a newbie, but Rocks is my fav album of theirs. Cant believe you didn't include Def Leppard in there haha, looking forward to tomorrow's new finds vid as always. Cheers Brendon

[@tapanim6576]

🤘😎🤘

[@unclestinky6388]

It's an interesting concept

[@georgedubinin6288]

Hi Brendon, I love your videos. Would you consider doing a video about horrible/horribly-received songs on ultra-famous albums? Thanks

[@Dm-ui1fi]

Appetite for destruction always features in any list that you do 😂

[@BrendonSnyder]

Hell Yeah! It’s the greatest Rock album ever….IMO 👍

[@rotadyma]

It should be featured on the Greatest one album wonders video.

[@andrewmachado6988]

@@rotadyma The Use Your Illusion albums had some really good songs on both albums. I don’t get why those albums get so much hate.

[@rotadyma]

@@andrewmachado6988 I understand why you would think that but everything after Appetite is just not as good. Makes you wonder why a band peaks with its first album.???

[@domenicklococo4956]

I can’t listen to that Yes cd anymore. My least favorite

[@johnashby2901]

Great list! I totally agree. I own everyone of those.

[@antonnee]

Misunderstood the concept of the video. Thought it was the first album release by ten different bands.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah I can see how it could be taken that way.

[@DickGozinya-zl2bd]

Nobody EVER needs to listen to Bruce Springsteen! Alice Cooper - Killer Black Sabbath - Any of the first three records. There's not a bad song on any of them. Ted Nugent - Weekend Warriers KISS - Hotter than Hell

[@davidkornblatt851]

Really Rumours, an album that you have to be under a rock to avoid? Led Zeppelin iv and not Physical Graffiti which has more value for the buck? Oh I get it just the biggest HITS!

[@kevinogracia1615]

(cough) Yes, uh no. Your close to the edge. BTW... just because an artist's album has a lot of hits doesn't mean it's "great." Any ho... Peace on earth.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I disagree

[@rotadyma]

Totally agree Kevin. Amount of hits or albums sold doesn't make an album great. it just makes it well known. I am more of a deep cuts type of listener. If an album has a lot of overplayed radio hits, over time, it wears out for me. Case in point.......I haven't picked up the following CD's and put them in the player for at least 20 years. 1. GNR - Appetite 2. Bon Jovi - Slippery 3. Any Metallica from Master forward 4. Any Motley Crue other than the Self Titled release from 1994 5. Either of the first 2 Poison records 6. Any Def Leppard from Hysteria forward

[@kevinogracia1615]

I hear you.@@rotadyma

[@terrencereardon6374]

Guns and Roses is not number 1 anymore, Hootie and the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View sold 21 million in the US alone, three million more than GNR. I rather hear Hootie now than GNR as GNR is played out! AC/DC's Back in Black is WAY OVERPLAYED AND PLAYED OUT. I AM BURNED OUT ON AC/DC personally, burned out on Boston My First Albums For Any Big Band Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon (and buy Wish You Were Here whilst at it) Rush - Moving Pictures (also buy 2112 alongside) Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast Queen - A Night At the Opera Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV (aka Zoso, Runes, Four Symbols) The Beatles - Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band The Who - Who's Next Van Halen - 1984 (or self titled) The Eagles - Hotel California Yes - Close to the Edge Black Sabbath - Paranoid Bad Company self titled Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run KISS - Destroyer Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

[@BrendonSnyder]

What a bummer….GNR is far better and more classic IMO.

[@terrencereardon6374]

@@BrendonSnyder I know right! Hootie is now at 21 million sold for their debut as of 2021, GNR is 18 million.

[@TomJarmusz-bb5yy]

Running out of things??

[@BrendonSnyder]

Hey if you don’t like it don’t watch!