Album 1, Side 1, Track 1

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Who peaked with the first song off their debut album? Either in an "It's all downhill from here" way or an "Only 2 or 3 subsequent songs can equal, but not surpass, the genius of this one" way?

I've got:
Patti Smith
Quarterflash
Michael Penn
Babe Ruth (thanks, Chuck!)

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

You can't be serious about putting Patti Smith in this category. You must have meant Scandal featuring Patty Smyth. "Goodbye To You" is the lead track on their first album, and it is a far superior song to their only other hit, "The Warrior".

― Marshall Stax (Marshall Stax), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

interpol "untitled"

― purple patch (electricsound), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Dammit, Marshall, you see right through me!

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 23:37 (twenty-one years ago)

The Vapours own this thread.

― Sasha (sgh), Wednesday, 11 August 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

arguably : Oasis -- Rock and Roll Star, Orbital -- Belfast (amazing career, but the track is just that damned good).

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 12 August 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Some people will argue Aphex Twin "Xtal"

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Thursday, 12 August 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Electric Coconut - Popcorn

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 12 August 2004 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Air Miami's "I Hate Milk". Great song, but everything else they did was krap.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 12 August 2004 00:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Which Quarterflash song is that? I think I like Harden My Heart over Take Me To Heart.

Many would say Damon and Naomi, with ETA.

― derrick (derrick), Thursday, 12 August 2004 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Michael Penn?? There are actually better songs than "No Myth" on March, let alone on later albums! "No Myth" was a fantastic first single, but it was not the best record on that album, nor was it Penn's zenith. Commercially, maybe. Artistically, no.

― phil d., Thursday, 12 August 2004 01:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Possibly Roxy Music, although more in the "only a few songs can equal but none can surpass" way. The first two albums are strong throughout, but Remake/Remodel is a hell of an opening salvo. "In Every Dream Home a Heartache" might squeak through and get them out of the category.

― Jack Bross, Thursday, 12 August 2004 02:11 (twenty-one years ago)

led zeppelin

― jake b. (cerybut), Thursday, 12 August 2004 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Derrick-"Harden My Heart," I agree

phil d-I've only heard one other MP album, granted, but the magnitude of some of the crap on March scared me off later stuff. I do, however, like the Burning Canyons song lots. Which others are good?

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Frank Black's 'Los Angeles'.

This whole thing is kind of affected by whether the artist had already released singles before their debut album.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:37 (twenty-one years ago)

ehh - i think i agree with roxy music, but only because "remake/remodel" is so good. the first 2 are really great, and for your pleasure is more consistent IMHO, but as far as highest heights, seems like "remake/remodel".

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Although it pains me to say so...
Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Thursday, 12 August 2004 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Off that same Michael Penn album, I think "Brave New World" is the best track, at least to me. The next album had "Long Way Down (Look What The Cat Dragged In)" and "Free Time," both great tunes. And "Seen the Doctor," which actually might be better than "No Myth." Re-signed has "Try" and "All That That Implies," both excellent. I confess I haven't heard much from MP4.

I guess much of how people react to Michael Penn relates to how they react to Jon Brion, because it's kind of a package deal, much like with Mrs. Michael Penn.

― phil d., Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:08 (twenty-one years ago)

GNR

― g haad, Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Violent Femmes!

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Speaking of Jon Brion: Aimee Mann? ("I Should've Known")

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Never equalled:

Boston
King Crimson
The Doors
Can
Scorpions
The Damned
Patti Smith (thanks for reminding me, doc!)
Ramones
Pat Benatar
Moby Grape
Modern Lovers
A few controversial choices, but note that a few of these folks (Can, King Crimson, etc.) are favourites of mine that went on to do lotsa great stuff NEARLY as good as that initial track.

Equalled but never bettered:

The Cars
Roxy Music
Pink Fairies
Pretenders
Beck
Black Flag
B-52s
Uriah Heep
Buffalo Springfield
The Saints
The Go-Gos

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

the cars equalled album1side1track1 with tracks 2 and 3

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Stone Roses in the latter category.

― Jimmybommy JimmyK'KANG (Nick Southall), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:31 (twenty-one years ago)

The New Pornographers.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

no WAY - "letter from an occupant"

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Danny Wilson - "Mary's Prayer," from Meet Danny Wilson (at least I think that was track 1)

― Joseph McCombs, Thursday, 12 August 2004 13:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I disagree with these: Can (they didn't really hit their stride until Damo joined), The Doors (I can see the argument for it, but like other songs better), Ramones (ditto), B-52s ("Rock Lobster" is better), and the Pretenders ("Brass in Pocket").

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

The Beatles!

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yeah, I always forget about the Beatles. Are you saying "I Saw Her Standing There"? British vs. American confuses me. If so, they win the award for Album 1 Side 1 Track 1 Words 1-4.

But what's all this Ramones talk? How soon we forget "Poison Heart"!

Good call with Beck and Modern Lovers, um... Myonga. You're welcome.

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

The Smiths, of course.

― Alba (Alba), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, the whole Godspeed Etc! story can be reduced to the first 6 minutes and 47 seconds of the album F#A# infinity.

― Roger in Mokum (Roger T), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

the beatles' is my favorite album 1 track 1 song 1 of all time, but i dont think its their best song.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Most days it's my favorite song of theirs, though they have enough in the same vicinity I could see not including them here. But, you know, what the hell? I doubt they'll care.

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:43 (twenty-one years ago)

That asshole Paul, for one, might be thrilled.

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

hed be like, "oh yeah, thats a good mccartney/lennon" one.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

"The world will finally know--I'm the cute one AND the rocker!"

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Massive Attack (only not really)
MINISTRY

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 12 August 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The Ocean Blue - Between Something and Nothing

― kickitcricket (kickitcricket), Thursday, 12 August 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

most of these bands released singles or eps first, though

― chris andrews (fraew), Thursday, 12 August 2004 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Slowdive

― Mr. Tony Plow (Leee), Thursday, 12 August 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I take back what I said about Beck; I forgot how much I like Midnite Vultures.

― dr. phil (josh langhoff), Thursday, 12 August 2004 22:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Beatles, yes. It may not be their best song but it's close.

Also Sex Pistols, Kinks, Arthur Conley, Bo Diddley, maybe Basement Jaxx . . .

― Burr (Burr), Friday, 13 August 2004 16:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Entombed
Ulver
My Dying Bride
Katatonia (arguably)

and:

2 Unlimited
Cappella

― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 13 August 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

Steely Dan, "Do It Again"

I still don't think they ever topped this, altho I'm learning to love other songs in their catalogue.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:01 (twenty-one years ago)

peg, rikki, my old school, REELIN IN THE YEARS, even hey nineteen >>> do it again

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Archers of Loaf are the definitive example of this.

― The Good Dr. Bill (Andrew Unterberger), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

based on very limited information, ill agree to that, dr bill.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:19 (twenty-one years ago)

the grateful dead - "the golden road (to unlimited devotion)"

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

peg, rikki, my old school, REELIN IN THE YEARS, even hey nineteen >>> do it again

If you say so!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:16 (twenty-one years ago)

and i do

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Although I wouldn't personally agree, I have heard this argued about Fugazi and "Waiting Room."

― Taxi Dancing in the Soft Prison (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Then it's official!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

right now, i just like the faster dan songs better, myonga. nothing against "do it again" at all. "reelin in the years" and "peg" are just totally exhilarating.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Since no-one else has said it yet, Belle and Sebastian "The State I Am In".

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

13th Floor Elevators
A Flock of Seagulls
Mission of Burma

― bill neil (inabillity), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

mission of burma peaked way before album 1, side 1, track 1. they peaked with 7-inch-single 1, side 1.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

that's what I meant.

― bill neil (inabillity), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Archers of Loaf are the definitive example of this.
-- The Good Dr. Bill (fadeout9...), October 14th, 2004.

(you can't see it but I have just scrolled to the Archers portion of my playlist and am now making increasingly desperate double-arm-flailing gestures towards about a half-dozen songs, most prominently "Underdogs of Nipomo" and "Harnessed in Slums")

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Sunday, 28 May 2006 16:39 (nineteen years ago)

*gasp*

"Web in Front" isn't even one of top 15 AoL songs, much less the best one.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 28 May 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

I wouldn't go that far, but I'll definitely agree that it's not in their top 5. when I first heard it, I thought it had to be the best thing they (or anyone else) had ever done, but then I started checking out the albums and was consistently stunned by the quality therein.

― bernard snow (sixteen sergeants), Monday, 29 May 2006 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

motley crue never topped 'live wire'

― keyth (keyth), Monday, 29 May 2006 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

The Pixies, "Caribou". (Yes, I am aware nobody else is going to agree with this.)

Counting singles, "Emma's House" by the Field Mice and "Tally Ho" by the Clean.

I mean, there are probably a lot of bands that only released one thing, or only one thing that was especially worthwhile, so their first song is the best by default, but I'm not counting them.

― Pessimist (Pessimist), Monday, 29 May 2006 17:10 (nineteen years ago)

'stranglehold', if you count the post-amboys stuff as a separate career

― dave q (listerine), Monday, 29 May 2006 17:26 (nineteen years ago)

GOLDIE!

― Kornél Kovács (Kornél Kovács), Monday, 29 May 2006 17:45 (nineteen years ago)

Andrew W.K.

― max (maxreax), Monday, 29 May 2006 18:09 (nineteen years ago)

Animotion.

― Eazy (Eazy), Monday, 29 May 2006 18:18 (nineteen years ago)

Rihanna

― Dr. Rodney's Original Savannah Band (R. J. Greene), Monday, 29 May 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

Joy Division.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Monday, 29 May 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Although I hesitate to say he 'peaked' with it, "Welcome to the Working Week," the first song off of My Aim is True has always been my favorite Elvis Costello song, all 1:16 of it.

― gooblar (gooblar), Monday, 29 May 2006 19:10 (nineteen years ago)

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