Best debut singles. [Archive] - Comic Book Resources Forums

Jonathan Bogart

03-25-2005, 04:07 PM

I've been thinking lately about how some of my favorite songs aren't necessarily that band's best or most representative or most famous song, but just their first. There's sometimes a freshness, spontaneity, or just plain rawness that isn't always there in the mature, better work.

Here, let me just list some examples:

The Talking Heads' "Psycho Killer"
R.E.M.'s "Radio Free Europe"
The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey"
The Who's "I Can't Explain"
The Kinks' "You Really Got Me"
The Rolling Stones' "Not Fade Away"
The Clash's "White Riot"
Patti Smith's "Gloria"
Them's "Gloria"
U2's "I Will Follow"
The Eagles' "Take It Easy"
Marianne Faithfull's "As Tears Go By"
Elvis Presley's "That's Alright Mama" b/w "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
Radiohead's "Creep"

One that I won't include is the Sex Pistols. "God Save the Queen" has nothing on their second single, "Anarchy in the U.K."

So what are yours?

(Psst. Anyone wanna bet that DDM will nominate "Hong Kong Garden"? I'll agree with him, for once.)

Reptisaurus!

03-25-2005, 04:27 PM

Wasn't "Heartbreak Hotel" Elvis' first single? That was an amazing piece of performance.

Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the best thing they ever did, IMO.

Ditto, (strangely) the Foo Fighters "This is a Call."

Biggie's "Big Papa" and Nas' "One Love" (which I think were their two first singles) were both pretty amazing.

I think "I Am One" was the first Smashing Pumpkins single... And my favorite of their songs.

Live's "Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)" really , really affected me when I was in high school, but the whole first album was great, really.

I dunno if "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" was Marvin Gaye's first single or not. But it should've been.

Ditto the Supremes and "Baby Love."

Ummm.. Afghan Whigs "What Jail is Like" was pretty awesome, although that was pre-major label.

Jonathan Bogart

03-25-2005, 04:50 PM

Wasn't "Heartbreak Hotel" Elvis' first single? That was an amazing piece of performance.
It might have been his first single for RCA, or whatever major label picked him up (can't remember). His first single for Sun was "That's Alright Mama."

Core

03-25-2005, 05:33 PM

Good topic, Jonathan. A lot of the time there really is something fresh and striking about the first release by a new group, something that is missing in later albums. Some of the time I can attribute the difference to changes in my habits as a listener; after all, there can really only be one first time you hear a group, so it's not surprising that some of that virginal magic disapears over the years. Other times, I can safely say that the band just loses some of its original hunger and takes a direction that just doesn't sit well with me.

I think the first single Pearl Jam released was "Even Flow," which is still one of my favorite tunes by them.

"Break On Through" by The Doors would have to make this list.

I'll second Mark's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" vote, as well as Jonathan's mention of the Eagles' first single.

GnR's "Welcome to the Jungle" was also quite righteous as a debut number.

The Black Crowes first single was a cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that I thought was quite distinctive for the time.

Cody H

03-25-2005, 05:37 PM

The Black Crowes first single was a cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that I thought was quite distinctive for the time.Wow, I had no idea that was a cover. Going back to the topic though, I'd say "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette is up there, along with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.

DDM

03-25-2005, 06:27 PM

Wow, I had no idea that was a cover. Going back to the topic though, I'd say "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette is up there, along with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.

Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" is not her debut single; she had several albums under her belt before she recorded Jagged Little Pill. "You Oughta Know" is her first American hit single, but she tried getting her name in the charts in the late 80's as a Debby Gibson clone.

howyadoin

03-25-2005, 06:34 PM

The Black Crowes first single was a cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle" that I thought was quite distinctive for the time.Weird. I never knew it was a single at all. Did they do a video for it?

The first single I remember from Shake Your Moneymaker was "Jealous Again", I think.

Core

03-25-2005, 06:44 PM

Weird. I never knew it was a single at all. Did they do a video for it?

The first single I remember from Shake Your Moneymaker was "Jealous Again", I think.

Yeah, they made a video for it. It wasn't very memorable as far as videos go, mostly just a bunch of shots of them setting up and playing a show. I'm pretty sure it was released and got airplay before "Jealous Again" did, but I could be mistaken.

howyadoin

03-25-2005, 06:47 PM

Yeah, they made a video for it. It wasn't very memorable as far as videos go, mostly just a bunch of shots of them setting up and playing a show. I'm pretty sure it was released and got airplay before "Jealous Again" did, but I could be mistaken.Has there always been a martini glass in your avatar?

Core

03-25-2005, 06:51 PM

Has there always been a martini glass in your avatar?

Yep. I snaged the image off that Modern Drunkard mag site. I have a couple in which I colored in the olive. Which do you think looks best?

FunkyGreenJerusalem

03-25-2005, 06:51 PM

Love Me Do - the Beatles

Novocaine for The Soul - The Eels.

Tell What I want - spice girls

Leslie Lee III

03-25-2005, 07:15 PM

Ditto, (strangely) the Foo Fighters "This is a Call."

Wasn't their first single "I'll stick around."

50 Cent - In Da Club
Interpol - PDA
A Perfect Circle - Judith

Sage Shinigami

03-25-2005, 07:26 PM

Hi, My Name is- Eminem

Whatever OutKast and Kanye's first singles were.

Cody H

03-25-2005, 07:58 PM

Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know" is not her debut single; she had several albums under her belt before she recorded Jagged Little Pill. "You Oughta Know" is her first American hit single, but she tried getting her name in the charts in the late 80's as a Debby Gibson clone.That's true, the infamous "Alanis" albums which received airplay here in Canada years before she came to the international forefront with Jagged Little Pill. Although I'm aware of them, they completely slipped my mind in my previous post. It's usually in my best interest to forget them though.

Phrozen

03-25-2005, 08:16 PM

"Cowboys from Hell" ~ Pantera, I think this was the first single released though it might of been "Cemetary Gates" both are great though

clayholio

03-25-2005, 08:43 PM

I'd have to back Eminem's first single. Not only was it stupidly catchy, but it also was literally an introduction to Eminem. Very clever.

Radiohead's "Creep" was also good.

I also really liked Fountains of Wayne's first single, "Sink to the Bottom." It seems that every time they have an album, they're a one-hit wonder all over again. Anyways, "Sink to the Bottom" is a great pop song on a really good pop album.

howyadoin

03-25-2005, 08:51 PM

Yep. I snaged the image off that Modern Drunkard mag site. I have a couple in which I colored in the olive. Which do you think looks best?I think the one you're already using is the best, actually - more subtle.

howyadoin

03-25-2005, 08:52 PM

Wasn't their first single "I'll stick around."Nope. "This is a Call" came out at least a couple months before.

TitoJones

03-25-2005, 09:18 PM

Hi, My Name is- Eminem

Whatever OutKast and Kanye's first singles were.

Outkast---Player's Ball
Kanye West---To the Limit......I think

For me the ones that come to the top of my head
No Doubt---Don't Speak
Snoop Dogg---The track he did with Dre on the 'Deep Cover' soundtrack
2Pac---Same Song

Alex

03-25-2005, 09:52 PM

Im looking at some of these picks and thinking, for some
"Man, that was a good song, but they got way better"

zombie

03-26-2005, 08:52 AM

For me the ones that come to the top of my head
No Doubt---Don't Speak

Didn't "Just A Girl" or "Spiderwebs" come out before that?

Actually, I remember seeing a video for a song that was older than those two...I can't remember what it was called.

leonaozaki

03-26-2005, 10:09 AM

The Rolling Stones, "Not Fade Away"

While I agree that their cover of "Not Fade Away" is fantastic, wasn't their cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On" their first single?

Way back when I owned "The Singles Collection: The London Years," it was the first track, which would sort of lead me to believe it was their first single. Also the October 2002 issue of MOJO notes that "Come On" was their first single as well, I believe.

rob

TomGun13

03-26-2005, 11:36 AM

I would say Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones was a kick a$$ first single.

Jonathan Bogart

03-26-2005, 11:45 AM

While I agree that their cover of "Not Fade Away" is fantastic, wasn't their cover of Chuck Berry's "Come On" their first single?
You're right. "Not Fade Away" was their first hit single. Crap.

Rob Imes

03-26-2005, 01:01 PM

DDM

03-26-2005, 01:58 PM

Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie & the Banshees (Love In A Void was the SATB first intended single, but the song has too much emotional baggage; therefore, Hong Kong Garden was chosen instead. Love In A Void became the B-side for the German only single, Mittageisen (Metal Postcard).
Mad Eyed Screamer by The Creatures
Stop Your Sobbing by The Pretenders

DDM

03-26-2005, 01:59 PM

Didn't "Just A Girl" or "Spiderwebs" come out before that?

Actually, I remember seeing a video for a song that was older than those two...I can't remember what it was called.

I believe No Doubt's first single is Trapped in a Box from their first ablum. Tragic Kingdom is the band's second album.

zombie

03-26-2005, 02:29 PM

I believe No Doubt's first single is Trapped in a Box from their first ablum. Tragic Kingdom is the band's second album.

*googles*

Ah, you're right. And the song I was thinking of was "Oi To The World".

Spike-X

03-26-2005, 03:10 PM

Love Me Do - the Beatles

You really think this is their best song, or are you just jerking our chains?

Jonathan Bogart

03-26-2005, 03:45 PM

You really think this is their best song, or are you just jerking our chains?
Who said it had to be their best songs? I said in the original post that the bands often had better songs later, but there's something about the first single that often really appeals to me.

Radiohead has done better work than "Creep" by a factor of hundreds, but it's still a great debut single.

Spike-X

03-26-2005, 05:38 PM

Ah. Sorry, I misunderstood.

Grant

03-26-2005, 06:37 PM

Was "Virginia Plain" the first Roxy Music single? I'd throw that on there.

I like "Warsaw" by Joy Division too. Not sure if that came before "Digital" which was an early song.

I like Nine Inch Nails "Head Like a Hole" a lot.

"Summer Babe" wasn't the first Pavement single but I think it was the first one to really catch on.

"Loser" by Beck still holds up pretty well.

meethraa

03-26-2005, 06:42 PM

I still like Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" (assuming that IS her debut)

Adam Crocker

03-26-2005, 07:11 PM

Was "Walk on the Wild Side" Lou Reed's first single?

I wish. However, I looked up Reed on AMG and it seems that the song "I Can't Stand It" off of his much forgotten 1971 self-titled solo debut is. I haven't heard the song myself so I can't comment.

Was "Heroin" the Velvet Underground's first single? If yes, those would have been great debut singles.

Sadly it was not, then again such a challenging song would never fly as a single back in the sixties. The song "Sunday Morning" was written due to complaints from producer Tom Wilson that the album lacked a "good singles" (which meant anything remotely commercial). So it was written to order, oddly enough in the relaxed atmosphere following an all nighter on Sunday morning at 6 a.m.

Still it is a very good first single. Originally Nico was going to sing it, but Lou Reed, as ego-driven as he was, contrived to get himself to sing it by bringing the band into the studio before Nico arrived and annoucing that he was going to sing it. (Tom Wilson and manager Paul Morrissey weren't happy, but couldn't handle Reed.) It's funny to think that this song's sound could come from the Velvet Underground. It's very gentle and Reed's voice, usually associated with the laid back, weary city-cool sound of him on the rest of the songs, is eerily female sounding. Yet it just lulls you with it's pretty melodies (aided by the chiming sound of the celeste which John Cale added at the last minute because saw it lying in the corner) while hiding the fact that it's words about utter paranoia--and over ten years before "Every Breath You Take" no less.

And I really like the understated guitar in it. It's very laid back and almost country-ish.

Adam Crocker

03-26-2005, 07:14 PM

That said I agree with Bogart on "Pyscho Killer," "Radio Free Europe," "Just Like Honey," "You Really Got Me," and "Gloria." Ditto "White Riot" even though I prefer the album version (Mick Jones stated that the Clash cut a different single because they liked the idea of non-album singles) on the original UK album which strips out the sirens and alarms, but replaces them with an even rawer, more viscious rendition of the song than the single.

However, I must disagree with you on "God Save the Queen." While I do prefer "Anarchy in the U.K." I regard "God Save the Queen" as a superlative punk single and nearly the former's equal.

I'll also add...

Maybellene by Chuck Berry
New Rose by the Damned
30 Seconds Over Tokyo by Pere Ubu
Repetition by the Fall
Transmission by Joy Division - Did a bit of research on this one since the JD singles comp starts out with "Warsaw," "Leaders of Men," "Digital," and "Autosuggestion" but to my knowledge most of these were released on various compilations including the Ideal For Living EP making "Transmission" the band's first proper single. And that's pretty cool considering what a devastatingly powerful song that "Transmission" is.
In the City by the Jam
Yalla Yalla by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley
Mr. Tambourine Man by the Byrds

And Grant is right. "Virginia Plain" was Roxy Music's first single, and it is awesome.

CitizenKing

03-26-2005, 09:15 PM

I'm goina add MC5's "I Can Only Give You Everything" as a good debut single.

Would Black Sabbath's cover of "Evil Woman" coutn as a great debut since it was a cover?

Jonathan Bogart

03-26-2005, 11:02 PM

Would Black Sabbath's cover of "Evil Woman" count as a great debut since it was a cover?Sure, if you think it's good. Haven't heard it myself (though I want to now).

What was Elvis Costello's first single? "Alison"? If so, it might also be his best song.

Jonathan Bogart

03-26-2005, 11:04 PM

And Grant is right. "Virginia Plain" was Roxy Music's first single, and it is awesome.
I could have sworn "Pyjamarama" was their first single, and "Virginia Plain" their first hit. Either way, it works.

Ooh, one more: the Smiths' "Hand in Glove."

DDM

03-27-2005, 08:19 AM

I still like Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" (assuming that IS her debut)

"Leaving Las Vegas" is Sheryl's debut single.

Adam Crocker

03-27-2005, 08:55 AM

I could have sworn "Pyjamarama" was their first single, and "Virginia Plain" their first hit. Either way, it works.

According to AMG "Virginia Plain" was released in 1972 following the release of their debut album, and then "Pyjamarama" followed in early '73. Though since you mentioned it I did some double checking and Virginia Plain (http://www.connollyco.com/discography/roxy_music/) was indeed their first single, being released in August 1972, and "Pyjamarama" coming out in March 1973.

Ilash

03-27-2005, 01:59 PM

"Maybe I'm Amazed" - Paul McCartney
"My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison

Funny that these are probably the two best songs of Paul and George's solo careers, and were also their first solo singles. (I assume they were their first singles. Unless Paul's was the bland "Another Day.")

John Lennon's first single was "Give Peace a Chance," which is more of a sing-along than a song. I prefer his second single, "Cold Turkey." And his third single was even better: "Instant Karma."

Julian Lennon's first single was "Valotte," I seem to remember. That's really the only Julian song I ever listen to.

According to the Allmusic site, The Zombies first LP came out after the success of the "She's Not There" single. I think that song and "Time of the Season" are their best-known songs.

It's too bad that Jimi Hendrix's first single was "Hey Joe" (I assume). My favorite song of his is "Are You Experienced?" which was the title-track of his first album. Not sure if it became a single.

Was "Walk on the Wild Side" Lou Reed's first single? Was "Heroin" the Velvet Underground's first single? If yes, those would have been great debut singles.

Nice try but as great as Maybe I'm Amazed is, it was not Paul's first solo single. That honour goes to Another Day. In fact, Paul didn't release anything from his first album as a single until after the success of the live version of Maybe I'm Amazed from Wings Over America prompted him to release the original.

I love My Sweet Lord but Isn't It A Pity is even better.

My pick for best debut single is definitely Can't Explain by the Who (as long as you discard the two singles they released as the High Numbers). Also, what were the first Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple singles. For Zep, I'd imagine it was either Communication Breakdown or Good Times Bad Times, which are both excellent rock and roll songs. Was Purple's first single Hush because that's one great song. For that matter should you count the different versions of Purple as the same band when Mark II (debut single the excellent Black Night I Believe) and Mark 1 were so radically different? Same thing with the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Genesis.

howyadoin

03-27-2005, 02:54 PM

Also, what were the first Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple singles.Far as I know, Zeppelin didn't release singles at all till later in their career.

monkeysweat

03-27-2005, 03:10 PM

"Hit Me Baby (One More Time)" - Britney Spears.

....what?

monkeysweat

03-27-2005, 03:12 PM

Biggie's "Big Papa" and Nas' "One Love" (which I think were their two first singles) were both pretty amazing.
I think Biggie's first was "Juicy".

Spike-X

03-27-2005, 03:56 PM

"Hit Me Baby (One More Time)" - Britney Spears.

....what?
It is quite a good pop song. Just listen to Travis' acoustic cover.

Ilash

03-27-2005, 04:37 PM

Far as I know, Zeppelin didn't release singles at all till later in their career.

Oh, I had a funny feeling that was the case. So then what was their first single?

Jonathan Bogart

03-27-2005, 06:13 PM

I'd been under the impression that Zep never released a single, and that their manager (who had ties to organized crime) was the reason they were able to get away with this. They were definitely the showcase band for the "album rock" format, which pretty much changed music consumption in America for good. Singles are now nearly irrelevant from a moneymaking perspective.

Thank you, Led Zeppelin!

Grant

03-27-2005, 06:47 PM

Was Marshall Crenshaw's "Someday, Someday" a debut single? That's a good one.

Dennis K

03-27-2005, 07:54 PM

I can remember the first time I ever heard Crazy Train on the radio; it was one of those "Holy Sh*t!" moments.

jessecuster

03-28-2005, 09:00 AM

The Charlatans(its soo weird to call them "UK") - The Only One I Know
Oasis - Supersonic
Blur - She's So High
Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon
Kula Shaker - Tattva
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Where'd You Go
Living Colour - Cult of Personality

Less Than Jake - a band that released singles after they became popular but All My Best Friends are Metalheads still remains a favorite of mine by them.

For sheer randomness at some point the Grateful Dead released a Truckin'/Sugar Magnolia split. The only other single they relased was Touch Of Grey however.

Core

03-28-2005, 09:11 AM

Living Colour - Cult of Personality

Good call. The guitar riff alone on that song kicked much ass compared to most other songs getting airplay at the time. It made it even more depressing when they later released that "Glamour Boy" song.

Eliot Johnson

03-28-2005, 03:33 PM

Even though "Creep" is relatively bland considering most of Radiohead's music, it's still a nice song. However, nothing compares to when Playa Fly burst onto the underground scene as a solo artist and shocked rap fans across the south with "Triple Bitch Mafia."

The Taylor Boys put out a nice debut single, "Catraggly," too.

Jonathan Bogart

03-28-2005, 03:36 PM

Stone Roses - Sally Cinnamon
Huh. I thought their debut was "I Wanna Be Adored." Or was that just what broke them big?

jessecuster

03-29-2005, 05:15 AM

Not according to AMG. I Wanna Be Adored was never even released as a single. The 2nd single from the s/t was Elephant Stone

Jonathan Bogart

03-29-2005, 11:59 AM

Not according to AMG. I Wanna Be Adored was never even released as a single. The 2nd single from the s/t was Elephant Stone
Okay, I looked it up, and according to AMG's biography (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47B16DE49AF7520CE9D3145DDBC72FC0BD144 FB9C0A00425AC8B83041814375EE51E98D8FEDA322EC3DE3FC 31A65310D1CAEE53B0DE6C383587EAA1705843&sql=11:sxkcikv6bbo9~T1) of the band, their first single was "So Young." I've found that AMG's discography lists, especially of singles, are rarely all that trustworthy.

Adam Crocker

03-29-2005, 12:44 PM

Oh fudge, I forgot to list the Buzzcocks' hilarious Orgasm Addict. Definitely one of the all time great singles, but then again as hormonally charged young man who's not getting any (and can still easily remember being a teenager) it speaks to me like no other song. ;)

Reptisaurus!

03-29-2005, 01:53 PM

Wasn't their first single "I'll stick around."

Maybe.

I know that "This is a Call" was the first song-that-got-put-on-the-radio, but it might not have technically been released as a single.

And, shamefully, I missed the most obvious one.

Aerosmith's "Dream On." One absolutely dead brilliant song, followed by 20 + years of mediocrity.

berk

03-29-2005, 01:58 PM

I haven't checked to confirm my memory, but I think The Undertones' first single was "Teenage Kicks", probably my favourite song by them.

Jonathan Bogart

03-29-2005, 07:37 PM

I haven't checked to confirm my memory, but I think The Undertones' first single was "Teenage Kicks", probably my favourite song by them.
Ooh, good one.

jessecuster

03-30-2005, 08:46 AM

Okay, I looked it up, and according to AMG's biography (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47B16DE49AF7520CE9D3145DDBC72FC0BD144 FB9C0A00425AC8B83041814375EE51E98D8FEDA322EC3DE3FC 31A65310D1CAEE53B0DE6C383587EAA1705843&sql=11:sxkcikv6bbo9~T1) of the band, their first single was "So Young." I've found that AMG's discography lists, especially of singles, are rarely all that trustworthy.

Truth is, I don't care which song it was I offer it up anyways. The singles through AMG you are referring to, I assume are actually sold in stores, as opposed to singles that recieved airplay. This is probably the difference here.