First Track on A Debut Album, A Partial List

Turn It To Ten

Via Whet on Twitter, a fun Friday morning thought experiment – what are some of the best opening songs on a debut album?

I happen to have made a list of debut albums a while ago, and add to the playlist periodically when I think about it. Not definitive, by any means, even of albums I have in my music library, mostly because I’m a slacker at heart. 

I also didn’t include some lead-off songs that I don’t really care for – like The Beatles “I Saw Her Standing There”, Neil Young’s “The Emperor Of Wyoming”, M.I.A.’s “Ba-Na-Na [Skit]”, etc. I also fudged, and didn’t include debut EPs1 

Anyway, here’s one hundred songs I’m playing this morning, sorted alphabetically by album:

Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph
Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph

  1. KinksBeautiful Delilah (alternate mix)
    The Anthology 1964 – 1971
  2. Guns N’ RosesWelcome To The Jungle
    Appetite For Destruction
  3. Jimi Hendrix ExperiencePurple Haze
    Are You Experienced?
  4. The B-52’sPlanet Claire
    The B-52’s
  5. The Go-Go’sOur Lips Are Sealed
    Beauty and the Beat
  6. Doors, TheBreak On Through
    Best Of The Doors
  7. Black SabbathBlack Sabbath
    Black Sabbath
  8. Richard Hell & The VoidoidsLove Comes In Spurts
    Blank Generation
  9. Ozzy OsbourneI Don’t Know
    Blizzard Of Ozz
  10. Dylan, BobYou’re No Good
    Bob Dylan
  11. U2I Will Follow
    Boy
  12. Cure, TheBoys Don’t Cry
    Boys Don’t Cry
  13. Buffalo SpringfieldFor What it’s Worth
    Buffalo Springfield
  14. Steely DanDo It Again
    Can’t Buy A Thrill
  15. Cars, TheGood Times Roll
    The Cars
  16. Clash, TheJanie Jones
    The Clash
  17. Waits, TomOl’ 55
    Closing Time
  18. PixiesCaribou
    Come On Pilgrim
  19. Randy NewmanLove Story (You And Me)
    Creates something new under the sun
  20. CultureThey Never Love In This Time
    Cumbolo
  21. Damned, TheNeat Neat Neat
    Damned Damned Damned
  22. BjörkHuman Behavior
    Debut
  23. OasisRock ‘n’ Roll Star
    Definitely Maybe
  24. Dr. FeelgoodShe Does It Right
    Down By The Jetty
  25. PJ HarveyOh My Lover
    Dry
  26. PortisheadMysterons
    Dummy
  27. DJ ShadowBest Foot Forward
    Endtroducing…..
  28. Wu-Tang ClanBring Da Ruckus
    Enter The Wu-Tang
  29. Gang Of FourEther
    Entertainment!
  30. Phair, Liz6’1″
    Exile in Guyville
  31. Drake, NickTime Has Told Me
    Five Leaves Left
  32. ScorpionsSpeedy’s Coming
    Fly To The Rainbow
  33. Arcade FireNeighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
    Funeral
  34. FunkadelicMommy, What’s A Funkadelic?
    Funkadelic
  35. Sun Kil MoonGlenn Tipton
    Ghosts Of The Great Highway
  36. Flying Burrito BrothersChristine’s Tune
    The Gilded Palace Of Sin
  37. Postal ServiceThe District Sleeps Alone Tonight
    Give Up
  38. Buckley, JeffMojo Pin
    Grace
  39. Springsteen, BruceBlinded By The Light
    Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.
  40. Dr. JohnGris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
    Gris-Gris
  41. Steve EarleGuitar Town
    Guitar Town
  42. The CongosFisherman
    Heart Of The Congos
  43. Richard ThompsonRoll Over Vaughn Williams
    Henry The Human Fly
  44. Eno, BrianNeedles In The Camel’s Eye
    Here Come The Warm Jets
  45. AC/DCIt’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)
    High Voltage
  46. Daft PunkDaftendirekt
    Homework
  47. Smith, PattiGloria
    Horses
  48. English BeatMirror In The Bathroom
    I Just Can’t Stop It
  49. Ian MatthewsDesert Inn
    If You Saw Thro’ My Eyes
  50. NasThe Genesis
    Illmatic
  51. King Crimson21st Century Schizoid Man Including Mirrors
    In The Court Of The Crimson King
  52. Iron MaidenProwler
    Iron Maiden
  53. Strokes, TheIs This it
    Is This Is It?
  54. Prine, JohnIllegal Smile
    John Prine
  55. Teardrop Explodes, TheHa Ha I’m Drowning
    Kilimanjaro
  56. MetallicaHit The Lights
    Kill ’em All
  57. La’s, TheSon Of A Gun
    The La’s
  58. Led ZeppelinGood Times Bad Times
    Led Zeppelin 1
  59. Beastie BoysRhymin & Stealin
    Licensed To Ill
  60. TelevisionSee No Evil
    Marquee Moon
  61. Martin Carthy with Dave SwarbrickHigh Germany
    Martin Carthy
  62. New Pornographers, TheSlow Descent Into Alcoholism
    Mass Romantic
  63. TrickyOvercome
    Maxinquaye
  64. Moby GrapeHey Grandma
    Moby Grape
  65. Modern LoversRoadrunner
    Modern Lovers
  66. Flatlanders, TheDallas
    More A Legend Than A Band
  67. CAKEComanche
    Motorcade Of Generosity
  68. ByrdsMr. Tambourine Man
    Mr. Tambourine Man
  69. R.E.M.Radio Free Europe
    Murmur
  70. Band, TheTears Of Rage
    Music From Big Pink
  71. Costello, ElvisWelcome To The Working Week
    My Aim Is True
  72. WhoOut In The Street [Stereo]
    My Generation
  73. Sex PistolsHolidays In The Sun
    Never Mind The Bollocks
  74. New York DollsPersonality Crisis
    New York Dolls
  75. Uncle TupeloGraveyard Shift
    No Depression
  76. Alexander “Skip” SpenceLittle Hands
    Oar
  77. Jackson, MichaelDon’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
    Off The Wall
  78. The Only OnesThe Whole Of The Law
    The Only Ones
  79. PoliceRoxanne
    Outlandos d”Amour
  80. Eric B. & RakimI Ain’t No Joke
    Paid In Full
  81. WireReuters
    Pink Flag
  82. Pink FloydAstronomy Domine
    The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
  83. Poi Dog PonderingLiving with the Dreaming Body
    Poi Dog Pondering
  84. Pretenders, ThePrecious
    Pretenders
  85. Nine Inch NailsHead Like A Hole
    Pretty Hate Machine
  86. Lynyrd SkynyrdI Ain’t The One
    Pronounced ‘Leh-‘Nerd ‘Skin-‘Nerd
  87. Jesus and Mary ChainJust Like Honey
    Psychocandy
  88. DevoUncontrollable Urge
    Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
  89. QueenKeep Yourself Alive
    Queen 1
  90. RamonesBlitzkrieg Bop
    Ramones
  91. Jay-Z Feat. Mary J. BligeCan’t Knock The Hustle
    Reasonable Doubt
  92. PoguesTransmetropolitan
    Red Roses For Me
  93. RainbowMan On The Silver Mountain
    Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
  94. Judas PriestOne for the Road
    Rocka Rolla
  95. Rolling StonesCome On
    The Rolling Stones Singles
  96. Roxy MusicRe-Make/Re-Model
    Roxy Music
  97. Roy BuchananSweet Dreams
    Roy Buchanan
  98. Run-D.M.C.Hard Times
    Run-D.M.C. – Greatest Hits
  99. RushFinding My Way
    Rush
  100. Captain Beefheart & His Magic BandElectricity
    Safe As Milk
Footnotes:
  1. like the Pixies EP, Come On Pilgrim, for instance []

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