Bands/Artists Who Knocked It Out of the Park on Those First Two Albums-Pick # 17
Join Pete Pardo as he lists his favorite first two albums out of the gate from some of his favorite bands. List yours in the comments each day as well!
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@OutOnTheTiles
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Zeppelin of course
@geraldheath3527
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Great pick sir mine is Blue Cheer Vincibus eruptum and Outsideinside very influential in my eyes as take care of yourself sir
@lostcauseforkl
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
17 Vivid, Time's Up (Living C)
@SpaceRadio103.6FM
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Coroner – R.I.P. & Punishment For Decadence
Cryptopsy – Blasphemies Made Flesh & None So Vile
Gwar – Hello & Scumdogs of the Universe
Vio-lence – Eternal Nightmare & Oppressing the Masses
Testament – The Legacy & The New Order
Monstrosity – Imperial Doom & Millennium
King Diamond – Fatal Portrait & Abigail
Entombed – Left Hand Path & Clandestine
Cynic – Focus & Traced In Air
Diablo Swing Orchestra – The Butchers Ballroom & Sing Along Songs for the Damned and Delirious
@glennandadriansrocktalk
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Such great records!! I haven't been making picks but I've been following along, love this series.
@CathyLahn
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Absolutely agree, Pete! Although my faves are mostly of the heavy music area, CHICAGO's debut (CTA) was one of the most involving and cool (throughout) from my childhood. And "I'm a Man," here, is the very best version…ever!
Terry Kath was a genius.
Chicago II was also great, as was III.
Great pick (even though we've known of your passion for these LPs for a long time)
Looking good, btw! You're in our thoughts daily.
✨👍
@donproctor3168
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Taj Mahal and The Natch'l Blues
@jimmymic64
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Just ordered their first album due to your advise 😊
@peterock4210
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
My pick on day one of this series….Chicago!!! CYA & Chicago II.
@beetlebum7760
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
#17. JUDEE SILL – Judee Sill (1971) / Heart Food (1973)
„Although Sill's music was not commercially successful, a number of later songwriters have been fans of her work, including Andy Partridge, Liz Phair, Warren Zevon, Shawn Colvin, Steven Wilson, Robin Pecknold, Daniel Rossen, Bill Callahan and Terra Spencer.
Nick Lowe said that "Jesus Was a Crossmaker" was an influence on his Brinsley Schwarz song "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding". In 2004, the British music critic Barney Hoskyns wrote that had Sill been "as male and pretty" as Nick Drake, another songwriter who did not find success while he was alive, her music would now be as popular. Hoskyns wrote that songs such as "The Pearl", "The Phoenix" and "Soldier of the Heart" were "as beautiful as Drake's but far more schooled and complex"“ (Wikipedia)
18. R.E.M. – Murmur (1983) / Reckoning (1984)
19. THE SMITHS – The Smiths (1984) / Meat Is Murder (1985)
20. MARK LANEGAN – The Winding Sheet (1990) / Whiskey for the Holy Ghost (1994)
21. TINDERSTICKS – Tindersticks (1993) / Tindersticks (1995)
22. ELVIS PRESLEY – Elvis Presley (1956) / Elvis (1956)
23. KATHRYN JOSEPH – Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I've Spilled (2016) / From When I Wake the Want Is (2018)
24. OASIS – Definitely Maybe (1994) / (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (1996)
25. BLACK BOX RECORDER – England Made Me (1998) / The Facts Of Life (2000)
26. THE DUKE SPIRIT – Cuts Across The Land (2005) / Neptune (2008)
27. ERYKAH BADU -Baduizm (1997) / Mama‘s Gun (2000)
28. CHRIS ISAAK – Silvertone (1985) / Chris Isaak (1987)
29. NINA NASTASIA – Dogs (2000) / The Blackened Air (2002)
30. THE BAND – Music From Big Pink (1968) / The Band (1969)
31. MARISSA NADLER – Ballads of Living and Dying (2004) / The Saga of Mayflower May (2005)
@garykelly9475
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Day 14/15 so I missed out yesterday and it's time for a twofer. Actually it's a way to get a few listed by dint of cheating or applying HM status.
Day 14 possibly laying claim to have released a prog album prior to ITCOFCK. Not Moddy Blues, but
Procol Harum- Procol Harum, Shine on Brightly. their most famous song came out the same year but failed to make the UK album. Never mind, Conquistador, Repent Walpurgis, Cerdes and my favourite PH track A Christmas Camel more than suffice. And the follow up has the title track and the mammoth epic In Held 'twas I.
The HM is directly linked- Robin Trower- Twice Removed From Yesterday, Bridge of Sighs. We all know how different this trio is to PH and his emergence as a guitar hero ably assisted by Jimmy Dewar on bass and amazing voice
Day 15- so the same again- the only problem was the order main and the HM
ELP- ELP, Tarkus. Widely ridiculed and reviled in equal measure in modern times, but in the 70's they were everything to me. No the music hasn't aged well and they could have done with stronger better management and made better decisions to remain one of the biggest bands on earth. No question they came out full of intent on the debut, and leaving Pictures aside, Tarkus is the follow up, creating one of prog's signature statements. Many think side 2 weak. I don't, apart from Only Way/Hymn which goes nowhere fast despite a fine beginning, and I love Bitches Crystal and Time and a Place. Amazing how ELP get slaughtered for joke/fun tracks when every other band gets a free pass
Day 1 Wishbone Ash- Wishbone Ash, Pilgrimage
Day 2 John Miles- Rebel, Stranger in the City
Day 3 Dire Straits- Dire Straits, Communique
Day 4 Queen- Queen, Queen II
Day 5 Rainbow- Richie Blackmore's Rainbow, Rising
Day 6 Elbow- Asleep in the Back, Cast of Thousands
Day 7 Judie Tzuke- Welcome to the Cruise, Sports Car
Day 8 Blue Nile- Walk Across Rooftops, Hats
Day 9 FM- Indiscreet, Tough it Out
Day 10 Oceansize- Effloresce, Everyone into Position
Day 11 UK- UK, Danger Money
Day 12 Judas Priest- Rocka Rolla, Sad Wings of Destiny
Day 13 Cats in Space- Too Many Gods, Scarecrow
@phillipj.6163
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Day 15) Robin Trower – Twice Removed From Yesterday/ Bridge of Sighs
@richardkarbowski5224
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Today my picks are Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble and Salisbury by Uriah Heep. The first album is great and I absolutely love the title track on Salisbury. Once again, these albums established their sound, and the next few albums after these are even better.
@LloydHall-b9h
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
I have to agree with you, Pete. These are definitely the best to Chicago albums.
@67gs400
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Right on the money Pete!
@danielfuentes3226
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Pick # 19 Artist who knocked it out of the park on those two albums."Jefferson Airplane Takes Off"(1966);"Surrealistic Pillow"(1967) by Jefferson Airplane.
@webbvandiver9139
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Hey SoT usual suspects! Woke at 9:15…just missed it. Love Pete’s picks today. Chicago’s first 7 records are all great imo…the Terry Kath era. He was a virtuoso on gtr! Love Danny Seraphine’s drumming and don’t sleep on Peter Cetera’s bass lines. Enjoy the day friends stay cool 🤘🏻
@tylerpatterson4787
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Today my pick #15 is Weezer Blue Album and Pinkerton, both amazing albums, good alt rock, power pop
@aaronsteelman4732
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Great pick. Forgot to include Chicago with my list.
@Bamainjc
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Excellent choice. Peter Cetera is one of the most underrated bass players ever. He is phenomenal on those early albums.
@jimekberg
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
1. Black Sabbath – Debut & Paranoid
2. Metallica – Kill 'Em All & Ride the Lightning
3. Mercyful Fate – Melissa & Don´t Break the Oath
4. Pentagram – Pentagram & Day of Reckoning
5. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin & ll
6. Slayer – Show No Mercy & Hell Awaits
7. The Obsessed – The Obsessed & Lunar Womb
8. Early Man – Closing In & Death Potion
9. Queens of the Stoneage – Debut & Rated R
10. November – En ny tid är här… & 2:a November
11. Ramones – debut & Leave Home
12. Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla & Sad Wings of Destiny
13. The Stooges – The Stooges & Fun House
14. Mötley Crue – Too Fast for Love & Shout at the Devil
15. Orchid – Capricorn & The Mouths of Madness
16. Saint Vitus – Saint Vitus & Hallow's Victim
17. King Diamond – Fatal Portrait & Abigail
18. Raven – Rock Until You Drop & Wiped Out
19. James Gang – Yer' Album & Rides Again
20. Budgie – Budgie & Squawk
21. Rush – Rush & Fly by Night
22. Tank – Filth Hounds of Hades & Power of the Hunter
23. Exodus – Bonded by Blood & Pleasures of the Flesh
24. Candlemass – Debut & Nightfall
25. Van Halen – Van Halen & ll
26. Uriah Heep – …Very 'Eavy …Very 'Umble & Salisbury
27. Michael Schenker Group – Michael Schenker Group – MSG
28. Queen – Queen & ll
29. Girlschool – Demolition & Hit and Run
30. MC5 – Kick Out the Jams & Back in the USA
31. Kiss – Kiss & Hotter Than Hell
Metal Church – Debut & The Dark
Ozzy – Blizzard of Ozz & Diary of a Madman
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd & Second Helping
Buffalo – Dead Forever… & Volcanic Rock
Mountain – Climbing! & Nantucket Sleighride
ZZ Top – ZZ Top's First Album & Rio Grande Mud
More – Warhead & Blood & Thunder
Black Crowes – Shake Your Moneymaker & The Southern Harmony and Music Companion
Ratt – Out Of The Cellar & Invasion Of Your Privacy
Danzig – Danzig & Danzig II: Lucifuge
Doors – The Doors & Strange Days
Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden & Killers
Aerosmith – Debut & Get your Wings
@TABL3SIX
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Steve Vai – Flex-Able & Passion and Warfare
@29adnilrummut05
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
pick # 17. megadeth – killing is business … and business is good! & peace sells … but who’s dying?
@andrewcarr5923
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Dire Straits – Dire Straits – 1978/ Communique – 1979
The first two from the British rock band fronted by singer, songwriter and excellent guitarist Mark Knopfler, standout tracks include "Down to the Waterline" "Six Blade Knife" " Sultans of Swing" / "Once Upon a Time in the West" "Where Do You Think You're Going" and the brilliant " Lady Writer"
@kingdude1999
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Don't forget Lynyrd Skynyrd – with their first album had Gimme Three Steps & Freebird & then their second album – Second Helping had Sweet Home Alabama & Don't Ask Me No Questions
@Ed-cc7do
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
1. Suede – Suede 2. Dog Man Star – Suede. Bernard Butler was easily the greatest British guitarist of his generation- I’ve noticed that Americans who know their onions are familiar with Suede but many, tragically, don’t.
@davidadams4647
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Led Zeppelin 1 ,and Led Zeppelin 2
@EliphasDesni
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
September – Zadnja avantura & Domovino moja
@thekivster
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Chicago ii is kind of a disappointment for me because pf the greatness of the first album. I miss the big jams from the first one.
@carl-johanfougstedt199
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
My pick for day 15 is Bon Jovi ( Bon Jovi + 7800 Fahrenheit ). I´ve listened to some later Chicago albums and I´ve liked them a lot., but I´ve never investigated this early era Chicago.
@neil1390
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
Thanks for all that you do,Pete .All the best from London,UK
@ziggyzagzi8017
July 15, 2026 at 11:00 pm
J-15th: the CARS
Another veritable greatest hits album for a debut, when I heard Just what I Needed on the radio I got the 8-track ASAP. Andthey followed it up with more spectacular tunes on Candy-O.
Those voices mixed with that sound were quite exciting and unique. Love Elliott Easton's lead guitar flourishes.