Bands/artists who never topped their debut album.

[BikerDude]

Counting Crows
Sex Pistols (never made another album)
Big Star
Rage Against the Machine
Elvis Presley
Nine Inch Nails
The Doors (maybe LA Woman or Morrison Hotel are very close but the debut is the shit)
Pretenders
The Clash (that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Give em Enough rope is good also)


"You have a lifetime to write your first album, and a year to write your second." -- Elvis Costello

 

[Jake T]

Lynyrd Skynyrd

I'm sure everyone will disagree with these two, but I really like their rawness and originality:

Nazareth
Atlanta Rhythm Section


Agree with:

The Doors
Boston
The Cars
King Crimson
Bad Company


Disagree with:

Led Zeppelin (as much as I love their first album, IV topped it IMO)
Montrose (Paper Money had more variety IMO)

 

[recgord27]

Dire Straits

 

[Magic]

Ill add

Ozzy Osbourne with Blizzard of Ozz

Living Colour with Vivid

The Byrds with Mr. Tambourine Man

 

[Black Dahlia]

You're probably right, but I think they came damn close with Third Stage.

Like the debut album, there's not a bad song on that record either.

Agreed! Those two are very close... it's a shame Third Stage doesn't get the airtime that the debut does.


Fastway could prob be counted here.

The debut was heard everywhere... least where I went to school. I know they released other
albums since, but couldn't match the debut.

 

[Starchild]

The Killers
White Lion
Muse
Sex Pistols

 

[That 70s Guy]

The Knack

 

[LOU/REALM]

Def Leppard
Starz
Icon
Ratt [ the mini album ]
Axe
New England
Moxy
Crimson Glory
Vain
Love./Hate

 

[Aero]

The Killers

I'm glad you mentioned this one. The Killers showed so much promise with that first CD. They had taken the old New Wave sound with the 80's synths and updated it for today's audience.

They had 4 legit hits on that debut album, but then for some reason abandoned the New Wave sound to go make something inspired by Springsteen's music.

I don't think they'll ever reclaim that magic they once had.

 

[SanguineRemedy]

Def Leppard
Starz
Icon
Ratt [ the mini album ]
Axe
New England
Moxy
Crimson Glory
Vain
Love./Hate

What a list!

Pleasure to know there's another Crimson Glory fan around here.