What Are The Greatest Debut Rock Albums Of All Time? | Talking About Records

Very few artists are in rock history come out of the gates swinging with their finest work. It typically takes time for a band to mature and grow into who they ultimately become. But not these bands. In this episode of Talking About Records we discuss the greatest debut rock albums of all time.
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[@denisel81]

Foreigner’s first album. Nearly every song dominated the radio play lists.

[@NTXVinyl]

Absolutely.

[@ChrisDons_TheLounge]

I’m a 1978 kid too! That G&R debut was ridiculous when it came out! Still one of my favorite albums!

[@NTXVinyl]

Yes!!!

[@jcruisioso5975]

Agree.

[@FotogInkArt]

I was 18 when GNR hit. I feel sorry for rock fans who dont get to live through a debut like that. GAME CHANGER . To say it was my soundtrack is an understatement. Living in Detroit , the rock scene exploded and

[@NTXVinyl]

Hahaha I love it! Cheers

[@rashedala-uddin8157]

The Crossing, by Big Country. A cover to cover masterpiece - all aces. 💙

[@brucegibson7665]

Very well done, really no argument here. In the top 10 conversation I might suggest Tom Petty and ZZ Top over the Cars/Boston.....but again all solid picks. Cheers!

[@NTXVinyl]

Great suggestions!

[@jamesdunseth2869]

Velvet Underground & Nico Television - Marquee Moon Wire - Pink Flag Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures Ride - Nowhere

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID!

[@johnmac70]

I totally agree with Zeppelin & Sabbath. I had not owned that Hendrix album until recently and he has never been on a top list for me, but I have to agree. I’m going in a different direction with the next two, I’m going with REM’s Murmur and the White Stripes S/T. I also have to throw Toadies Rubberneck in the mix. I own Appetite and it’s a great album.

[@NTXVinyl]

I can see all of those working. All so great.

[@billy1881]

TOP 5: 1. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced 2. The Doors - S/T 3. Gn’R - Appetite for Destruction 4. Pearl Jam - Ten 5. The Strokes - Is This It Honorable Mentions: Rage Against the Machine - S/T Led Zeppelin - S/T Jeff Buckley - Grace Ramones - S/T Television - Marquee Moon

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID

[@JoshManship-qi1sq]

Great video. I suppose these are my favourites if I had to choose: Piper at the gates of dawn, Kill em all, Appetite, Core, Sabbath.

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks for watching!

[@jrsanders5]

Also worth adding to the list: - The Doors - The Doors - Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures - The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium - The Smiths - The Smiths - Rage Against the Machine - R.A.T.M. - Weezer - "Blue" Album

[@dannyb.3924]

Great choices my friend! I loved the slight expansion of your list as Boston and The Cars are in my Top Five Debut Albums. One can't go wrong with any of your choices. Solid picks across the board.

[@NTXVinyl]

Rock on!

[@jmfloyd23]

My top 5 Boston, Boston The Cars, The Cars Van Halen, Van Halen Jimi Hendrix Experience Led Zeppelin

[@MikeD0414]

I was 17 and working at the record store in the mall when Guns N Roses came out. Game changer for sure at that time! Aerosmith, The Doors, Pearl Jam, Lenny Kravitz - Let Love Rule, and Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker.

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID PICKS!

[@jpwhite1977]

Hard to argue with your list GI! Here’s a few more greats that came to mind: 1. Music from Big Pink - The Band 2. Dire Straits (Self Titled) 3. Outlandos d’Amour - The Police 4. High Voltage - AC/DC 5. Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash - The Replacements Edit: how could I forget QOTSAs self titled debut!

[@robo3174]

My top 5 (although I can list many, many more) in no particular order because they are all great debut albums from different periods: 1. Elvis Presley (Self-titled) 2. The Beatles - "Please, Please Me" 3. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Are You Experienced" 4. Chicago Transit Authority 5. Bad Company (Self-titled)

[@NTXVinyl]

Nice! Haven't seen many people mention Elvis' debut, surprisingly.

[@VinylLatte]

Solid top 5, albeit on the safe side. My picks would be: 1. Velvet Underground & Nico - S/T 2. The Clash - S/T 3. Rage Against The Machine - S/T 4. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures 5. Pearl Jam - Ten Cool video and concept. Thanks for putting this together!

[@NTXVinyl]

My pleasure! And great list yourself

[@VinylLatte]

@@NTXVinylthanks mate, enjoy your weekend!

[@mikeshipley1140]

That's a good list! My personal top 5, in no particular order: Boston - Boston The Cars - The Cars Van Halen 1 Guns and Roses - Appetite for Destruction Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

[@NTXVinyl]

All so great

[@napoleanfaeces5740]

Not the best, but definitely my favourites Rush - Self Titled The Strokes - Is This It Dire Straits - Self Titled Men At Work - Business As Usual The Doors - Self Titled

[@TheFraudiophile]

I would add: Jeff Buckley - Grace Counting Crows -August and Everything After The Killers - Hot Fuss

[@NTXVinyl]

GRACE!

[@kennethkrause6366]

Great list, but here's mine, Boston, foreigner, bad company, areosmith,April wine!

[@ataribowlingcgc4465]

Very solid list, but I would need to put Ritchie Valen's debut album in the top 5 over Van Halen. That is one of the most influential albums of all time. Some others I'd consider for top 10: Joy Division Unknown Pleasures My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead S/T The Velvet Underground S/T

[@VinylNerdDesign]

Boston - Boston Cheap Trick - Cheap Trick The Clash - The Clash Cars - Cars Elvis Costello - My Aim is True

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

Elvis Costello for sure I was going to write the same thing.

[@davebrzeski]

No one has mentioned 'Dreamboat Annie', by Heart. A classic example of a band that never topped their first album, even though they got much more popular for their 80s stadium rock. G 'n' R are definitely not for everyone. I can't stand them. Best UK punk debut is 'Inflammable Material', by Stiff >ittle Fingers. Another band who never topped their first album. This could make another thread: Bands who never quite managed to reach ghe heights of their first effort. In my opinion, both Dire Straits, and UB40 became increasingly bland after their first outings.

[@daronaldrich882]

A good list. Mine would be: Boston, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, The Doors.

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID!

[@coolfurillo8169]

Elvis Presley - S/T Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced? The Velvet Underground & Nico The Doors - S/T Led Zeppelin - S/T Black Sabbath - S/T Ramones - S/T Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID

[@raggeragnar]

Going a little ahead here , I must say that for me , it’s Nevermind the bollocks , here’s the Sex pistols. The lyrics , the riffs and the sheer attitude does the trick for me.

[@NTXVinyl]

Great pick! A different punk album made my top 5

[@raggeragnar]

@@NTXVinyl: I see what you meant with another punk album. It’s awesome. If I could switch Van Halen to my Sex Pistols , and G n R for your back-up Black Sabbath , my list would be : Jimi Hendrix Led Zeppelin Ramones Sex pistols Black Sabbath We’re not very far apart , really. How about that ?

[@NTXVinyl]

Solid!!!

[@keithstover2899]

Give me Queen I. Heaviest Queen ever.

[@NTXVinyl]

It's been ages since I've heard that one. Great pick!

[@christenuta3743]

I like 2 out of the 5 on your list. Axl Rose's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me, I can't change the radio station fast enough when G & R comes on.

[@NTXVinyl]

He isn't for everyone. :)

[@NormanWorm]

1-“My Aim is True” - Elvis Costello 2-“Please Please Me” - The Beatles 3-“The Kick Inside” - Kate Bush 4-“The Velvet Underground & Nico” - Velvet Underground 5- (tie)“Elvis Presley” - Elvis Presley 5 - (tie) “Music From the Bug Pink” - The Band

[@TheCollectorCave]

I don't know if I can choose 5 so for me I'll say Zeppelin I (not my favorite from them, I like Physical Graffiti).They changed music with that album, just like Elvis and the Beatles did before them. I was born in 76' and like you I do remember when G&R came out. EVERYONE in school was talking about Paradise City. And while I'm not really into grunge anymore, Nevermind was mind blowing when it came out. Top five is tough as most bands I listen to, their first album is not my favorite!

[@NTXVinyl]

I’m with you on Graffiti. My fav Zep as well Don’t forget….Bleach came first (in regards to Nirvana)

[@TheCollectorCave]

@@NTXVinyl Oh gosh you're right!! My grunge roots have certainly been uprooted lol! Haven't listened to some of that stuff in YEARS. It used to rule my life back in the day!

[@stoneyj.5538]

Montrose. Also Texas Flood by SRV

[@Dandre01]

I would have to say, not in any particular order: Van Halen Boston Led Zeppelin Cars These all changed the sound of what I was hearing at the time.

[@NTXVinyl]

SOLID LIST

[@surfratt4851]

I think you've hit all the nails just as I would have done it.

[@NTXVinyl]

hell yeah!

[@wayneduffey9513]

I agree on Hendrix, VH and G’n’R, but I would replace the others with the first Montrose record and the first Black Sabbath album. I’m not much of a fan of punk and although a great album, Zep 1 was a ripoff of Truth by Jeff Beck and quite a bit of stealing old blues songs and calling them their own.

[@NTXVinyl]

I've been shocked how many people have mentioned the Montrose album. I need to give that another listen

[@ScottTice1971]

Yes, G&R is tops for me. Best debut ever!

[@ScottTice1971]

Solid top 10 brother. I agree on all of your picks.

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks man!

[@jcruisioso5975]

Tough.... Aerosmith Kansas Derek & Diminoes Foreigner 1 Abbey Road Aqualung Led Zep Ram Vh 1, Queen1,Heart lil Queen, Boston, Every picture, Sticky Fingers, Bluesbreakers Beano, FMac self titled , ABB Filmore, lots more. Apologies if not 1st record Rock on!

[@NTXVinyl]

Solid! But yeah….many of those are not debuts 😎

[@Jamko1970]

Van Halen all the way! Changed rock guitar…

[@NTXVinyl]

Hell yeah it did

[@You_Do_Have_The_Power_33]

The Doors, Pretty Hate Machine, GnR.. takes too long to think of any beyond that..

[@NTXVinyl]

Thinking can be hard 🤣

[@You_Do_Have_The_Power_33]

@@NTXVinyl Beyond those 3 I was able to think of what I would consider solid debuts like The Killers, but I don’t know if that one would be enough to make a real top 5 list. I feel like The Doors & GnR are for sure, and I noticed I was the only one to mention PHM, and that one was really solid for me….

[@chopayrussell9660]

Boston...Boston Lynyrd Skynyrd... Pronounced Black Crows...Shake Your Money Maker Cars....Cars Steely Dan...Can't Buy a Thrill

[@NTXVinyl]

All classics!

[@festersuncle6298]

Pearl Jam are terrible. Nirvana could easily replace Guns N Roses. The Who My Generation.....#1

[@NTXVinyl]

Yeah that Pearl Jam band is awful. And Bleach over Appetite? No chance

[@crypttonite]

VH deny, dpes not hold up to time. Gets old.

[@NTXVinyl]

Could not disagree more ✌🏻