Arguments have been made and challenged for years on this very topic… “the top debut albums of all time”. Let the discussions, debates, and arguments continue as I put my two cents into my personal favorites. Maybe you have a list that might be totally different than mine. All I know is I grew up with all the cool bands.

Check out my top 5 debut albums below:

• Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle

  Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by Guns N’ Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987. I just remember a rock and roll curve ball tossed into music… I don’t think everyone was ready for this band. Rock was putting out sweet songs and then a bunch of bad boys decided to joined the club.

• Boston - Boston

  One of my picks for the best debut is Boston’s first album which was released in 1976. It’s the perfect album to combat the Disco scene that was running rampant in America. I also remember reading the liner notes on the album in bold letters,” No computers used on this album.” The sound was incredible to the ears. All great songs with no fillers.

• The Pretenders

   The debut studio album by The Pretenders, released in 1979 is another debut album on my list. It’s a combination of rock and roll, punk, and new wave music. And honestly, this album made the band famous. The album features the singles “Stop Your Sobbing”, “Kid”, and “Brass in Pocket”. Also, some non-radio-friendly tune called ‘Tattooed Love Boys.”

• The Cars

  New wave, Power Pop, and Synth-Rock were the labels used to describe the Car’s debut album. It had 8 incredible singles released out of 9 tracks on the album.  Even now it’s like they released their greatest hits all on the first try.  “Just What I Needed,” is an obvious highlight, as are such familiar hits as “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” “Don’t Cha Stop,” “Bye Bye Love,” “All Mixed Up,” and “Moving in Stereo”. They are all engraved in my teenage mind during a steamy scene in the popular movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

• Led Zeppelin - I

  It’s funny how Rolling Stone Magazine panned review was pretty lackluster for Led Zeppelin’s debut album. They claimed it had “Weak, unimaginative songs, and the Zeppelin album suffers from his having both produced it and written most of it.” Which they followed up by giving the album a 3 out of 5 stars. Looking back now we know why we don’t give critics awards. Jimmy Page said the album only took 36 hours to make. 

   

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