Which bands have produced the best first two albums?

spacey


the only difference was
my hair was parted down the middle and he could play his guitar. :)

That's exactly the same with Mooch and I.


The hair part I mean.


Neither of us really "plays" guitar. Yes we can record guitar parts..... you get my drift.

But Ed.....I was referring to the hair on our heads.

You know Stanley was with him in the beginning don't you?
He was probably playing a Carl Thompson bass but I don't know.

bapu

Old55


Cream

We'll have to agree to disagree. I've always thought the first Fresh Cream was a bit of a fluffer. I put it in the same league as Jethro Tull's first album (whereas I do agree with James on dat won).


To me Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire were top notch stuff and Goodbye Cream may be one of the best farewell albums of all time (IMHO)

No biggie.  

spacey

You know Stanley was with him in the beginning don't you? 

Yeah, they were both in Return To Forever with Chick Corea.


In those days (and the last time I saw Stanley with George Duke, 2009 I think) he predominately played Alembics.

Old55

bapu

Old55


Cream

We'll have to agree to disagree. I've always thought the first Fresh Cream was a bit of a fluffer. I put it in the same league as Jethro Tull's first album (whereas I do agree with James on dat won).


To me Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire were top notch stuff and Goodbye Cream may be one of the best farewell albums of all time (IMHO)

No biggie.  

bapu

spacey

You know Stanley was with him in the beginning don't you? 

Yeah, they were both in Return To Forever with Chick Corea.


In those days (and the last time I saw Stanley with George Duke, 2009 I think) he predominately played Alembics.

Alembics?  Is that some sort of aerobic exercise game using small, furry animals?

craigb
Alembics?  Is that some sort of aerobic exercise game using small, furry animals? 

Ask Daryl, he's into small furry things.


Wait, that DID NOT come out right
(or did it?)

Bruce Springsteen

I'm not a fan of Axl but Guns N Roses first two albums were by far their best. After that the whining got too intolerable.

Nirvana

Stone Temple Pilots

CHB


Mike™

The funny thing about The CHB album. It prolly fist in this category and the duffer one as well 

Steely Dan

James Taylor--Sweet Baby James is even better than his first.  

Anubis


Chicago I and II.

Yeah ... really hard to disagree with this one ... very good choice! I still love listening to the double album all the way through!

space_cowboy

ricstudioc


The Tubes.

white punks on dope/mondo bondage 
dont touch me there/slipped my disco


wow what a great combo.
bring back the tubes

It was the only album of theirs that is a total kick ... and you can put it on full blast and LOUD from the first cut ... that introduction is fantastic too! But it has been said that it worked because of Dominic Frontiere.

but it doesn't fit the criteria.... 

sure it does, to a tee!!
so, another nomination would be:

Brand X, Unorthodox Behaviour, Morrocan Roll

batsbrew

but it doesn't fit the criteria.... 

sure it does, to a tee!!
so, another nomination would be:

Brand X, Unorthodox Behaviour, Morrocan Roll

If you want to believe that those were better than Electric Ladyland it's fine by me.
 

well, actually, no, i don't!

but i think JH's first two albums, was an example of a band that produced one of the best pairs of 'first two albums', that stand the test of time.


a 3rd album, and it's impact, was not part of the OP's original request.

in my mind, it's a real simple concept.
and not one to hung about.


as for brand x, two great 1st albums, they rock.

other honorable mentions:

VHI and II
The Doors & Strange days
My aim is true & This year's model
Chicago Transit Authority & Chicago
Santana & Abraxas
The cars & Candy-O
Texas Flood & Couldn't Stand the Weather
Aerosmith & Get your Wings
Rage against the machine & evil empire
Talking heads:77 & more songs about buildings and food

"what bands do you think produced the best first two albums?  So many seem to stumble after a great original effort"

The way I read it Bat...is what bands stumble after a couple of good releases.
You read it differently and that much is certain. Carry on.

batsbrew


other honorable mentions:

My aim is true & This year's model
 

Well remembered!  And if we're going back to that era, I'd also nominate Graham Parker and the Rumor: Howlin' Wind followed by Heat Treatment.

Nirvana
"Bleach" in '89
"Nevermind" in '91

and then the not very good one- "the slump" - "In Utero" in '93.
I personally don't think things would have gotten better them with a 4th.

And some of these bands listed to have "slumped" after a couple of good ones
starting out...like Steely Dan...??? 
Van Halen slumped after their first 2??
I sure don't understand... I guess ZZ Top should make the list too.

jamesg1213


The Police - Outlandos D'Amour and Regatta De Blanc.

I particularly like these. It was fun listening to these guys evolve musically, and I liked Ghost and Synchronicity as well.


Lots of good stuff mentioned here.
Abraxas, Piper/Saucerfull, Ambrosia, etc. When I finally get my vinyl and turntable out of storage, I plan on spending a lot of time listening to some treasures.

Another group might be these guys (later on now in a concert):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwbGjzF3mB0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=QLsjaSLWfwQ&NR

Spirit
Mahavishnu Orchestra
13th Floor Elevators
It's a Beautiful Day

I thought Journeys' first 2 album were great - Journey and Look into the future. I have to agree 100 % with the Tubes - Great albums : also Happy the Man and agree 100 % with Spirit- Moody Blues -

Every successful band that isn't listed here.

Warren Zevon

bapu

spacey

You know Stanley was with him in the beginning don't you? 

Yeah, they were both in Return To Forever with Chick Corea.


In those days (and the last time I saw Stanley with George Duke, 2009 I think) he predominately played Alembics.

Now we know why you got one?

batsbrew

but it doesn't fit the criteria.... 

sure it does, to a tee!!
so, another nomination would be:

Brand X, Unorthodox Behaviour, Morrocan Roll

The early stuff with Phil C was very nice and enjoyable. The later stuff was sad, and the many variations of this band that showed up later were not only sad, but a really bad reflection of the work that was done.
 
I'm also thinking that a bass player that was here was the difference, not the guitarist that continued the band. The show in '99 in SF was ok, and nice, but sad. It had some nice bits, but mostly? ... it was lacking!

Old55


Caravan

Actually nope on this one ... their very early first album was pop music that was not really that great, though it did have one long cut in it (Where but for Caravan Would I) ... but is nice to listen to as a document to the band growing up and how the Millers, the Hastings, the Sinclairs and everyone else grew up in Canterbury to play and sleep together like no one else! So to speak ... since almost all of these musicians are what made Canterbury what it became.
 
The next album has "For Richard" which is a massively wonderful piece that had an even better version orchestrated in the album with the "New Symphonia" -- a version that a lot of "progressive" idiots do not like and do not consider "progressive" when it shows how well defined musically this band is, and how its music is more defined by "composition" and classical music, than it is rock music! On one of the compilation albums they are without Pye, and they do a version of this by the flute alone ... which is also magnificent.
 
Excellent band ... and I still think that "For Those Who Grow Bapu in the Night" is one of the best albums ever!

Grand Funk.

Moshkiae

Old55


Caravan

Actually nope on this one ... their very early first album was pop music that was not really that great, though it did have one long cut in it (Where but for Caravan Would I) ... but is nice to listen to as a document to the band growing up and how the Millers, the Hastings, the Sinclairs and everyone else grew up in Canterbury to play and sleep together like no one else! So to speak ... since almost all of these musicians are what made Canterbury what it became.
 
The next album has "For Richard" which is a massively wonderful piece that had an even better version orchestrated in the album with the "New Symphonia" -- a version that a lot of "progressive" idiots do not like and do not consider "progressive" when it shows how well defined musically this band is, and how its music is more defined by "composition" and classical music, than it is rock music! On one of the compilation albums they are Pye, and they do a version of this by the flute alone ... which is also magnificent.
 
Excellent band ... and I still think that "For Those Who Grow Bapu in the Night" is one of the best albums ever!  

Isn't it "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night"?  That one and "All Over You, Too" are my favorites.  

Old55

Isn't it "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night"?  That one and "All Over You, Too" are my favorites.  

Had to twit the title or Bapu wouldn't appreciate the Caravan humor at all ... I was thinking about making sure he listens to that one song in "Better By Far" about the over sized toe ... which makes Lola sound like ... just a pop song! And it's funny ... " ... i want more ... "
 
Remember my brother told me it was good for my cold ... !!!
 
I like the "Plump", "Cunning Stunts" (careful with writing that and not mixing the words up!), "Blind Dog" ... tremendously and they are the 3 albums that get played the most  and I have not kept up with the later stuff as much as I should/could because in the 90's I had a hard time financially, and only now are things getting better enough to spend 5 bux on an used copy from Amazon!
 
I did get the DVD of them at the Nearfeat, I think, and it was magnificent and I have to tell you I had a bunch of tears in my eyes at the end ... it's like all my friends ... alive ... well  ... and playing ... and still doing it right , and well!

Moshkiae

Old55

Isn't it "For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night"?  That one and "All Over You, Too" are my favorites.  

Had to twit the title or Bapu wouldn't appreciate the Caravan humor at all ... I was thinking about making sure he listens to that one song in "Better By Far" about the over sized toe ... which makes Lola sound like ... just a pop song! And it's funny ... " ... i want more ... "
 
Remember my brother told me it was good for my cold ... !!!
 
I like the "Plump", "Cunning Stunts" (careful with writing that and not mixing the words up!), "Blind Dog" ... tremendously and they are the 3 albums that get played the most  and I have not kept up with the later stuff as much as I should/could because in the 90's I had a hard time financially, and only now are things getting better enough to spend 5 bux on an used copy from Amazon!
 
I did get the DVD of them at the Nearfeat, I think, and it was magnificent and I have to tell you I had a bunch of tears in my eyes at the end ... it's like all my friends ... alive ... well  ... and playing ... and still doing it right , and well!

I'll check out some them.  I have a DVD, but I can't remember where it was recorded.  On All Over You, Too they rerecorded some of the earlier songs with a new guitar player.  The guitar is emphasized a little bit, too.  The recordings are quite as intimate, but they liven things up and rock some, too. 

Always thought Steely Dan's first two albums were great. Also Joe Jackson.