Artists with a mediocre debut album who later became great

[czeskleba]

Okay, this is the other side of the coin from Juan's thread a few days ago about "artists with great debuts they never equalled".

This time around, what are some examples of artists who produced mediocre-to-downright-bad debut albums, but subsequently went on to produce brilliant work on their later releases?

My choices would be:

Bob Dylan (self-titled): Only two Dylan compositions, mixed with a buncha folkie standards. Not bad, but certainly gives no indication of what he was capable of or what was coming.

Husker Du (Land Speed Record): The loudfast punk they were doing at this time was pretty inaccessible to begin with, and that is made worse by the fact that this album is incredibly poorly recorded... sounds like it was done by someone holding a walkman in the bathroom of the bar they were playing at. Whoever mastered the CD version couldn't even be bothered to index the tracks individually, there's just side one and side two.

[mcow1]

I'm sure there is plenty but off the top of my head the only one IMO that fits is ELO first album I found boring and if memory serves (as I no longer own a copy) was really a Roy Wood band

[Beagle]

Talk Talk

[joelee]

Replacements

I agree about PJ Harvey. We all complain when an artist loses their edge. With PJ Harvey losing a little edge brought out her strengths.

[Jimbo]

John Mellencamp. In fact, it took him several albums and 2 labels to hit his stride. Even the first couple of albums on Riva were spotty, he didn't record a solid album until American Fool.

[Matt]

I don't think these are bad albums, but I never thought of them as anything special. Nice to hear because you hear the beginnings of the great music they'd eventually record (playing becomes better, songwriting often gets a lot better, and you hear certain themes that are later explored much more deeply).

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Prince - For You
Rolling Stones
Simon & Garfunkel - Wednesday Morning 3 AM
Sonic Youth - Confusion Is Sex

[CM Wolff]

Bruce Springsteen - Greetings from Asbury Park. A mediocre album - great songs poorly produced. You could see his potential, but....

[Scott Wheeler]

This one is easy. My favorite group, Yes. Have any of you even heard their first album?

[jligon]

I agree with Nirvana but I have to say, I love Dylan's first album.

To some extent, The Kinks.

Aretha Franklin's first LP for Atlantic was amazing but I think she had a few clunkers before that.

Stevie Wonder, who obviously started very young, didn't really hit his stride until the early 70's (can't believe he was only in his early 20s).

Sly & the Family Stone didn't really find their form until after their debut.

[John Carsell]

Originally posted by mcow1
I'm sure there is plenty but off the top of my head the only one IMO that fits is ELO first album I found boring and if memory serves (as I no longer own a copy) was really a Roy Wood band

There was a few good moments on that 1st ELO album namely 10538 Overture and Mr. Radio, but their second album ELO II, IMO is still one of their greatest achievements.

[Craig]

Jefferson Airplane
Big Brother and The Holding Company

[Pat]

Originally posted by Jimbo
John Mellencamp. In fact, it took him several albums and 2 labels to hit his stride. Even the first couple of albums on Riva were spotty, he didn't record a solid album until American Fool.


Yes, the first album by Johnny Cougar, Chestnut Street Incident was mediocre! He did go on to gather some attention as John Cougar Mellencamp and John Mellencamp finally!
;)

[Drew]

Scott:

I'm a pretty big Yes fan, so yes (no pun intended) I've heard the first Yes album (not to be confused with The YES Album) and their second album (Time and a Word). I don't think the music is THAT bad, but its not what Yes was really about, but then again, was the 80's Yes what they were really all about? (yes/no?) :D

Have to excuse me, I'm watching the David Lynch movie Mulholland Drive on DVD as I right/write/wright this so you have to be patient, yes, Yes, YES?

I'm not sure about the early Pink Floyd. I'm not impugning the artistry of Syd Barrett but the musicianship improved later on (IMHO).

But the example that I'm most familiar with would be my favorite band, Rush. Their first album was average blues/rock licks robbed from Aerosmith/Led Zep, IMHO (yes Yes YES!)

Then their first drummer (John Rutsey) left, and they sent on their own path with Neil Peart. (YEAH!)

[Ronald]

Tori Amos. "Y Kant Tori Read" is really bad and out of character. Her later releases are much better.

Why would anyone spend $75 for this release is beyond me.

[wes]

Hmmmm......I really love Nirvana's "Bleach" album....I actually listen to it more than their other stuff...Maybe it's because I have the tape in my car, and I'm always driving......There's some great power punk/metal riffs on the album....Lyrics are a little under developed, but there's some great energy there......


-Wes

[Scott Wheeler]

Drew

I think I gave the wrong impression. I like the first two Yes albums as well. In fact I think Time and a Word is very good. I just think that when you listen to the first Yes album and then compare it to Close to the Edge, Fragile or the Yes Album it is no contest. I just heard today that Rick Wakeman has just rejoined Yes. That makes my root canal that I just got a great deal less painful.

[czeskleba]

Originally posted by Juan Borras
Here are three more: Funkadelic, The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd

Their first albums were victims of the drug culture: Good luck getting into any of them without toking, popping or shooting your way into an altered state.

As I said in the other thread, Pink Floyd's first album is the only one I like. And I've never tried any hallucinogens, for what it's worth. As for the later stuff, I've had people tell me I might like DSOTM if I heard it stoned...

[pjrashid]

I think the Who started mediocre...then got really great...then went mediocre again(after Moon's death).

[mcow1]

Originally posted by Juan Borras

Here are three more: Funkadelic, The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd

Their first albums were victims of the drug culture:
Juan

The first Dead is one of my favorites. I don't know how this one relates to the drug culture with songs like Sitting On Top Of The World, Good Morning Little Scoolgirl and some other Pigpen done blues along with the classic Morning Dew. Now the next two albums, Aoxomoxoa and Anthem For The Sun could have a drug relation.:D

[czeskleba]

Originally posted by pjrashid
I think the Who started mediocre...then got really great...then went mediocre again(after Moon's death).

It's interesting how opinions differ. I've always considered the Who's first album to be their best one.