Non One-Hit-Wonders who never topped first LP

[steve(thelil)]

I'm talking about quality, not sales.

And not looking for "flukes" as much as artists who produced great first albums right out of the gate.

Elvis Costello - As great as later stuff is, to me My Aim Is True is astonishing.

I thought I could come up with more right off the top of my head. The top of my head is not the
reliable resource it used to be.

But at least maybe I got it started.

[sozamora]

Lenny Kravitz.

Let Love Rule was his best work by far.

I'm not a fan. The only Kravitz song I remember liking 'It Ain't Over Til It's Over. It's a Curtis Mayfield ripoff, but it was a decent ripoff. Everything else I've heard from him - admittedly, only the stuff that gets played on radio and TV - is just too overworked and uninspired.

[sozamora]

This is actually a question, not a statement. I've only heard 'Music from Big Pink' and 'The Band' by The Band. Did anything they released after that (not counting the soundtrack to The Last Waltz) compare to those two albums?

[steve(thelil)]

This is actually a question, not a statement. I've only heard 'Music from Big Pink' and 'The Band' by The Band. Did anything they released after that (not counting the soundtrack to The Last Waltz) compare to those two albums?

I think they recorded many songs at the same level of excellence as on their first 2 LPS, but I don't think any of their subsequent albums had the same consistancy.

[stonemonkts]

[stonemonkts]

[stonemonkts]

[sozamora]

Sadly, yes.

[steve(thelil)]

Oh wow!

You are WAY off on that one.

Both Candy-O and Hearbeat City were very, very strong albums.

FWIW I purposely phrased it "....who NEVER TOPPED their first LP" rather than "who never EQUALLED their first LP"

I don't know if that affects your opinion.

Maybe a similar case is Jimi Hendrix. He made a bunch of fine records, but for me, none are BETTER than Are You Experienced.

[stonemonkts]

Yeah when I cited The Cars it was in the spirit of they-were-never-better-than-this.

[Gentle Giant]

[drumsolo]

They got more popular but never came close to equaling this album imo partially due, I'm sure, to drug overdoses of 2 of the 4 members after only 2 records. This is such a kick-ass record and way more edgier than you might think if you've only listened to Brass in Pocket or their records starting with Learning to Crawl.

[darryl]

DEVO

[steve(thelil)]

They got more popular but never came close to equaling this album imo partially due, I'm sure, to drug overdoses of 2 of the 4 members after only 2 records. This is such a kick-ass record and way more edgier than you might think if you've only listened to Brass in Pocket or their records starting with Learning to Crawl.

Brass In Pocket sounded edgy the first couple of hundred times you heard it. Hard to hear edginess in a song that's been played to death. And I think it's a great song.

[jtx]

I think this is a great topic, so trying to see if I can get it going again.

Here's my contribution:

[BeBop]

I agree with Devo and Elvis Costello. Most of the others I don't know well enough. In the rock world, I think Led Zeppelin's first was as good as the band got...though other albums surely came close.

In jazz, Louis Smith.

[bluenoter]

[Image: The Police — Outlandos d'Amour (1978)]

Stone---

I've never heard that one, but IMO, it doesn't matter. Ever hear a Police album called Synchronicity (1983)? It's pretty good.

[jtx]

Stone, I agree on Fiona Apple, too. The Police, not totally sure. I've always been a sucker for Ghost in the Machine and Reggatta de Blanc. But their first LP is indeed incredible, especially when you factor in the album production costs (£1,500).

And, of course, Ghost in the Machine is one of the best album covers ever.

[Steve Reynolds]

Wire: Pink Flag
REM: Murmer (although the earlier EP, Chronic Town, might be even better