MUSIC | DEBUT ALBUMS | LISTS

20 Great Debut Albums That Made Music History

Here is a list of bands whose debut albums forever changed the industry

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Change is such a gradual thing that it is hard to often pinpoint a moment when something becomes something completely different.

This is as true in the music industry as it is everywhere else. Rock and roll exploded in the 50s, giving way to the classic rock of the late 60s and early 70s.

In the 80s, pop music took center stage which then relinquished its spot to the alternate rock of the 90s. At the same time, hip-hop became relevant and with the Millennium came fresh, new artists.

During all that time, it is possible to point artists or albums that really represented the change happening in the music we listened to.

There were plenty of albums that contributed to this change, but I decided to focus on the debut albums of certain artists or bands. There is something special about a debut album that can make a huge impact.

Here are twenty important debut albums that help set the stage for the music that followed. Trying to rank them would be like comparing apples to oranges. Instead, with respect to the history of the events, I have listed them by release date.

1. Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley (1956)

Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Bill Hayley all were instrumental in ushering in the new rock and roll sound of the 1950s.

None were more popular and more influential than Elvis Presley.

His self-titled debut blended rhythm and blues with rock and exposed many to rock and roll for the first time.

With songs like “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Tutti Frutti,” it was the first rock and roll album to hit #1 in the Billboard charts. It would stay #1 for 10 weeks.

[embed]

2. Here’s Little Richard by Little Richard (1957)

Little Richard was one of the pioneers of rock and roll.

His debut album, Here’s Little Richard was released in March of 1957, and songs such as “Tutti-Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally” would become instant hits. The album would hit #13 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.

[embed]

193. Please Please Me by the Beatles (1963)

There is no denying the influence that the Beatles had on rock and roll. That reason alone makes their debut album significant.

The album was a huge success for the Beatles. It topped the UK albums charts for 30 weeks, setting a record for a debut album that last 50 years.

The album, and the Beatles, set off a wave known as the “British Invasion” in the U.S., and the world of music was forever changed.

[embed]

4. The Velvet Underground and Nico by The Velvet Underground (1967)

With their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, the Velvet Underground introduced a new kind of rock.

The sustained notes and extreme distortion was ground breaking and would eventually give rise to punk music.

Some of the biggest hits off the album were “Sunday Morning,” “I’m Waiting for the Man,” and “Femme Fatale.”

[embed]

5. Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1967)

No rock star utilized the electric guitar better than Jimi Hendrix. His work would forever change the instrument was used in rock and roll.

His 1967 debut album Are You Experienced showed that distortion and feedback need not be avoided when playing great music. In fact, it was a technique used expertly. Psychedelic hits like “Purple Haze,” and “Foxey Lady” changed the direction of rock and roll.

[embed]

6. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin (1969)

Released in 1969, Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album would eventually help define the classic rock of the early 1970s. Their debut album sold over 10 million copies.

Led Zeppelin’s sound was a blend of blues, hard rock, and heavy metal. Some of their biggest hits from this album include “Communication Breakdown,” “Dazed and Confused,” and “Good Times Bad Times.”

[embed]

7. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath (1970)

Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album was probably the first true heavy metal album. Their iconic opening title track cemented a branch of rock and roll that would never be the same.

“The Wizard,” “N.I.B.,” and “Wicked World” are some other important songs from that album.

[embed]

8. Ramones by the Ramones (1976)

Just as Black Sabbath was the first true heavy metal album, The self-titled debut album by the Ramones in 1976 was the first true punk album.

Moving away from some of the earlier complicated sounds of early 70s rock, the music by the Ramones was fast and aggressive, while being somewhat minimalistic.

[embed]

9. Boston by Boston (1976)

The debut self-titled album released by Boston in 1976 sold over 25 million copies. It was one of the best selling debut albums of all time.

Boston’s sound was a little more melodic than some of the rock bands from the earlier part of the decade. It helped define what would be known as arena rock. Their sound was unique and gave of glimpse of what the eighties would have in store for music lovers.

Some of the biggest hits off the album were “Peace of Mind,” “Foreplay/Long Time,” and “More Than a Feeling.”

[embed]

10. The Clash by The Clash (1977)

The Ramones gave us the first punk album but The Clash redifine the genre. They combined the raw, aggressive music with a political message.

Punk music with themes against racism and abusive authority was just what the world needed at the time. Aptly named, The Clash’s music was angry and loud.

The socially conscious debut album included tracks such as “Janie Jones” and “London’s Burning,”

[embed]

11. Madonna by Madonna (1983)

Nobody represented the pop music of the 1980s better than Madonna. Here music was popular, came with a social message, and crucial to many in the 80s, it was highly danceable.

But the most important thing about Madonna’s self-titled album was that it helped break the male-dominance of rock and roll. The album, popular in dance clubs, had hits such as “Holiday,” “Borderline,” and “Lucky Star.”

[embed]

12. Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston (1985)

Like Madonna, Whitney would become a cultural icon. Together, they defined what an 80s pop diva was. Houston’s self-titled debut would sell over 25 million copies.

The album’s success was critical and showed that the music industry was perhaps ready to allow a African American female to be at the top of the industry

The album would produce three #1 singles: “Saving All My Love for You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All.”

[embed]

13. Licensed to Ill by Beastie Boys (1986)

As hip-hop increased in popularity, a surprise success story were the Beastie Boys.

Blending punk with rap, the 1986 Licensed to Ill was the first rap album to hit #1 in the charts. It sold over 10 million copies and songs like “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” brought new fans to the genre.

[embed]

14. Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses (1987)

So many bands paved the way for the late 80s success of Guns N’ Roses. AC/DC, Ratt, Van Halen and Mötley Crüe left the fans of heavier rock wanting more and more.

Enter Guns N’ Roses’ debut album in 1987, Appetite for Destruction. It would sell over 30 million copies. Some of the hits included “Sweet Child o’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” and my favorite, “Welcome to the Jungle.”

[embed]

15. Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A. (1988)

As the world started discovering that people could be fans of rock and hip-hop simultaneously, N.W.A. emerged on the scene with their debut album, Straight Outta Compton in 1988.

This album was important because it defined gangsta rap coming from the West Coast. It featured Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella bringing to the forefront topics such as racism, police brutality, and life on the streets of Compton.

[embed]

16. Ten by Pearl Jam (1991)

Alternative rock known as grunge music arose in the the Northwest of the U.S. in the early 90s. Bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains all helped define the new sound.

No debut album was more influential to the scene than Pearl Jam’s 1991 album, Ten. Over 13 million copies of the album were sold.

The songs on the album were raw and emotional. Some of the biggest hits included “Alive,” “Even Flow,” and “Black.”

[embed]

17. Definitely Maybe by Oasis (1994)

Oasis debut album Definitely Maybe introduced the world to 90s Britpop.

It blended the melody of early soft rock but had a punk-like attitude. It bridged the gapped between the grunge music that the Gen Xers were latched onto and the pop music of the late 90s that seemed to be the property of the Millennials.

Some key songs from the album were “Supersonic,” “Live Forever,” “Cigarettes And Alcohol,” and “Rock ’N’ Roll Star”

[embed]

18. Is This It The Strokes (2001)

The Strokes’ debut album Is This It was the flagship album for a new genre called “garage rock revival” that was happening in the early 2000s.

This indie rock movement was reminiscent of the grunge movement and perhaps a rebellion against the more polished Britpop of the late 90s.

Some key songs from the album include “Last Nite,” “Hard to Explain,” “Someday,” “Take It or Leave It,” and, of course, the title track, “Is This It.”

[embed]

19. 19 by Adele (2008)

Adele’s debut album 19 introduced us to her her powerful, soulful voice.

The song writing and music was incredible for her age. Of course, the title of the album was her age at the time of the release. Incredibly, many of the songs on the album were written when she was 16.

She would sell 8 million copies worldwide and win a Grammy in 2009 for Best New Artist. Adele represented the rising popularity of female singer/songwriters in England at the time.

Some big hits from the album include “Chasing Pavements” and “Hometown Glory.”

[embed]

20. When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish (2019)

Gen Z was now firmly in charge of record sales, or at least streaming counts, and nobody debuted better than Billie Eilish.

Her album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? with its whispered vocals and angsty themes found lots of appeal with the streaming audience.

She would be the first artist born in the 21st century to win a Grammy, which she won for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album.

[embed]

I hope you enjoyed this journey down the history of rock, pop music and hip-hop. I enjoyed making this list.

20 items is probably a record for me in terms of length of one of my lists. I desperately tried to pare it down, but found that I couldn’t and give the subject the justice it truly deserved. I started the list at 10 albums, but quickly increased it to 12, then 14, 15, 16, 18, and finally arrived at 20 albums.

Still, I ended up leaving off a lot of important and wonderful debut albums. I could have listed 20 more.

So, what do you think? Any of the albums on this list that you think do not belong? What other influential debut albums could have made this list?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading!

If you like my listicles, you can find the complete list of them here, organized by subject: The Unabridged List of All of my Listicles

For other articles by Curt: Music Vault: 14 Iconic Hair Metal Albums Memory Lane: 8 Gone-But-Not-Forgotten Products At the Movies: 14 Great Baseball Flicks 70s Rewind: 12 Musical Artists with the Most #1 Hits 8 Musical Artists with the Most #1 Hits of the 1960s Sci-Fi TV: The 10 Most Iconic Spaceships 60s Music Rewind: 12 of the Biggest Hits Honoring a Legend: The 8 Best Chuck Norris Flicks The 59 Names Mentioned in “We Didn’t Start the Fire” 10 Actors Who Have Released Hit Singles Life After Sports: 12 Athletes Who Were Surprisingly Good Actors Music Vault: The 10 Top Selling Albums of the 1960s Life as a Stagehand: 8 Interesting Encounters with Some Big Stars 10 Famous Writers Who First Published After Turning 50 Music Vault: The 12 Best Selling Albums of the 1990s 80s Rewind: The Ten Top Selling Albums of the Decade At the Movies: The 12 Most Iconic Spaceships 12 Things I Saw In Berlin The Day The Wall Was Opened Music Vault: The 10 Best Selling Albums of the 1970s The Top 10 Box Office Grossing Movies from 1966 60s Rewind: The Top 10 Songs from 1966 1976 Throwback: Top 10 U.S. Billboard Hot Songs