Classic first albums.

We had this thread on another forum site I was on, and we discussed artists who released cracking debut albums, but never quite bettered on them. Examples IMO would be:

Bush - Sixteen Stone
Pearl Jam - Ten
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Sugar - Copper Blue

Can you think of any more?

 

The Band - Music from Big Pink

 

Derek and the Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

 

Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction

 

I'd say Please Please Me by The Beatles is a classic - it's surprisingly consistent for the time.

Other than that, I thought of self-titled debut albums by The Doors, Eagles and Brian Wilson.

 

Boston S/T......

 

Pretenders

 

Television - Marquee Moon

Some made albums later just as good but perhaps not better:

Iron Maiden S/T
Kate Bush - Kick Inside
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy

 

But, the OP does say that they have to be albums that have not been bettered since them. I think most people would say that The Beatles released a LOT of better albums than that first one.

 

The Stranglers Rattus Norvegicus (1977)

One of the tightest debuts of its era...

 

Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul - Men Without Women
Van Halen
Black Sabbath
Stevie Nicks - Bella Donna
Bad Company
The Allman Brothers Band

 

Kill 'Em All

 

Oh, I didn't read that attentively.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

While I think it's arguably debatable that they were never bettered, I think there are probably people who'd make a case for the following meeting the criteria:

King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King
R.E.M. Murmur
Roxy Music Roxy Music

And if we're counting debut solo albums from artists formerly (or concurrently) in bands, then I'd suggest:

Tori Amos Little Earthquakes
Phil Collins Face Value
Crosby, Stills and Nash Crosby, Stills and Nash

 

The Only Ones

 

Please Please Me - The Beatles (My favourite early Beatles album)
The Doors - The Doors (An absolute classic)
Plastic Ono Band - John Lennon (One of my all time favourite albums)
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (One of my all time favourite albums)
Are You Experienced - Jimi Hendrix
Piper's at the Gates of Dawn - Pink Floyd (Yet again one of my all time favourite albums)

 

Also this horse has been beaten.

 

The Wonder Stuff - 8 Legged...
Stone Roses
Duran Duran
Van Halen
American Hi-Fi
Velvets
Godstar - Sleeper
Hummingbirds - LoveBuzz
GNR
Beatles
The Libertines
Babyshambles - Down in Albion
Ben Kweller - Sha Sha
Smudge - Manilow
The Beat - Just Can't Stop It

 

Pink Floyd
Banshees
Heaven 17
Chameleons
Sisters Of Mercy

 

Stone Roses 1989 ST as well.

 

The Pop Group Y
Bark Psychosis Hex

 

Stone Temple Pilots - Core

 

New York Dolls - New York Dolls

 

Silverchair - Frogstomp

 

Purple is a much better album