Strongest singer/songwriter debut album?

[Tyler]

Was musing about this over my lunch break...

I'd have to nominate John Prine's S/T myself...

At least 4 songs that are absolute modern standards (Hello in There / Sam Stone / Paradise / Angel From Montgomery), a couple of great counter-culture topical songs (Illegal Smile / Your Flag Decal Won't Get You In To Heaven Anymore)...

Most singer/songwriters would love to have one song as good as those 6 at any time in their career, and Prine dropped 'em all on his debut album. Even the "filler" is good.

So, who can top it?

[bovine knievel]

This is pretty damn good and has left its mark on the Outlaw Country sound.

[rlipps]

Both of the above mentioned are great, great albums and I'd be hard pressed to come up with a better one.

[Shakespeare]

leonard cohen. his debut is an absolute classic, and probably his finest album.

id say maybe nick drake, but i dont think five leaves left is his best. some people might.

[beantownbubba]

I was gonna propose Carole King's Tapestry but it turns out that it was her 2d album, which I either never knew or forgot.

Jackson Browne's Saturate Before Using might be better than the others already mentioned but even if it's not, it certainly belongs in the same company.

Hadn't thought about Five Leaves Left but it seems to me to be a good suggestion even if one thinks that, e.g., Bryter Later is better. I think Late for the Sky is better than Saturate but only one of 'em is a debut album.

[Penny Lane]

are we talking about debut in general or debut as a solo artist? would someone like Ryan Adams count? or somebody completely new? nice thread, tyler!

[Beebs]

nice thread, tyler!

X2

Interested to see what folks come up with but I think you may have nailed it from the get go with Prine.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

I don't know if it's the "strongest" but I'd say it's hard to go wrong with this one:



Side 1
"Rita Ballou" – 2:49
"L.A. Freeway" – 4:43
"She Ain't Goin' Nowhere" – 3:27
"A Nickel for the Fiddler" – 2:45
"That Old Time Feeling" – 4:10

Side 2
"Texas - 1947" – 3:10
"Desperados Waiting for the Train" – 4:31
"Like a Coat from the Cold" – 3:18
"Instant Coffee Blues" – 3:15
"Let Him Roll" – 4:05

[Penny Lane]

Warren Zevon (do we count that first album?)

[Tyler]

I thought about that... I don't think I can honestly count WZ's S/T, it really was his second album.

For these purposes I don't think I allow Ryan Adams either.

I don't think that *playing* on albums before releasing a solo album would disqualify, but being a primary writer for a band does.

The concept I had in my mind was for albums that really just came out of the blue.

[Tequila Cowboy]

Here are a couple that belong:







edited for accuracy (thanks beantown)

[4sooner]

Steve Forbert-Alive On ArrivAL
Again not that it's better, just that it belongs in the discussion

[Tequila Cowboy]

Oh and another:

[Tyler]

Oh and another:

That's one that's never quite clicked for me. I'm a big fan of his in general, but more-so the more recent stuff.

[Tequila Cowboy]

That's one that's never quite clicked for me. I'm a big fan of his in general, but more-so the more recent stuff.

I absolutely loved it from day one. WXRT in Chicago played it hard, he played three sold out shows in Chicago over a three month period and I saw them all. Then I forgot about him for twenty years. He has done better since but it was a strong debut.

[beantownbubba]

Sweet Baby James was his second album. I know 'cause i was gonna nominate it but i looked it up first.

What distinguishes Forbert in this august company is that the rest of his career has not followed up on the quality and promise of the first (obviously that's just my opinion).

And before anyone asks, Joni Mitchell's first album was Song to a Seagull which I confess to not being familiar w/, but i'm guessing is not up there w/ Blue or even Ladies of the Canyon.

Yeah, I agree that Wasteland was a really fine debut.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

What distinguishes Forbert in this august company is that the rest of his career has not followed up on the quality and promise of the first (obviously that's just my opinion).

He's playing here next weekend. I've always wanted to see him and have always admired his work but in all likelihood I'm going to have to pass on his show. I haven't heard all of his new record (Over With You) but from what I understand it's supposed to be pretty damn good.

Another of my favorites and like Old No. 1, there's not a single song on it that I skip. By the way, I'm also aware that this is technically not Buffett's first record but it was his debut on a major label. Down To Earth (released on Barnaby Records) was actually his first album. It's a strong showing but not in the same category as A White Sport Coat & Pink Crustacean.

[Penny Lane]

I would go with John Prine or Jeff Buckley. Those are tough to beat.

If I was a Hendrix fan, I'd say JH, too..

[beantownbubba]

If I was a Hendrix fan, I'd say JH, too..

I guess we're now in the land of metaphysics. Or something. If a guy sings and writes songs is he a singer/songwriter? I vote no.

[RolanK]

Patti Smith - Horses is a pretty strong album.

[John A Arkansawyer]

Warren Zevon (do we count that first album?)

I thought about that... I don't think I can honestly count WZ's S/T, it really was his second album.

For these purposes I don't think I allow Ryan Adams either.

I don't think that *playing* on albums before releasing a solo album would disqualify, but being a primary writer for a band does.

The concept I had in my mind was for albums that really just came out of the blue.

So we can't count this one, either? I mean, talk about out of the blue:



Then I think I have to go with Horses, or maybe My Aim Is True, or just possibly this:

[tinnitus photography]

what constitutes a singer/songwriter?


someone who sings and writes songs?




some alternative choices:

[Iowan]

[4sooner]

Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ belongs here.

[harleywood]

Hard to beat Van Morrison's Astal Weeks IMO (so hence close the thread as its been topped!)

Whether is could strictly be classified as is first outing or as singer/songwriter is debatble.

Its depth as an album is endless. Magic stuff.

[LBRod]

When I saw the thread Jackson and Steve immediately came to mind.
More recently this is a gem. All songs written by Eilen.

[Steve French]

Patti Smith: Horses. Well its my favourite anyways

[Steve French]

you say singer songwriter and it calls to mind a very specific type of music (that I generally do not enjoy) chicks with acoustic git-boxes singing love (or lost love) songs. That Joni Mitchell thing. And yes, people love it, but I don't generally.

Having said that, are we counting Gillian Welch? because she rules.

[LuthierJustin]

Warren Zevon (do we count that first album?)

I thought about that... I don't think I can honestly count WZ's S/T, it really was his second album.

For these purposes I don't think I allow Ryan Adams either.

I don't think that *playing* on albums before releasing a solo album would disqualify, but being a primary writer for a band does.

The concept I had in my mind was for albums that really just came out of the blue.

So we can't count this one, either? I mean, talk about out of the blue:

I was going to put this one earlier, I love that album, Winter is amazing

[oilpiers]

Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ belongs here.

This thread is too eclectic for me.I thought of Springsteen. If Astral Weeks was in fact Van's first album, it is his second, that would clearly be the runaway winner. Because the only album I have ever heard that comes close to it is Springsteens second album, which is admittedly inspired by Astral Weeks.