Taking off from Mikes thread, what bands do you think produced the best first two albums?  So many seem to stumble after a great original effort (though most get back on track starting with their third album).
 
I'm sure I'll add to the list once I have to really think about it, but I'll start off with Boston where the second album was even better than a stellar first!
 
(Ok everyone, let's all watch Jan's post count go up!  LOL! )

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OK, SO THERE WERE ACTUALLY THREE IN A ROW.

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Led Zep - I & II

+1, Ya, Ja, Da, I agree

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The Jimi Hendrix Experience

1967 Are You Experienced 1967 Axis: Bold as Love 1968 Electric Ladyland

OK, SO THERE WERE ACTUALLY THREE IN A ROW.

Not really....Electric Ladyland was Jimi at his peak. So I believe it to be better than the first two. JMO?
It was his #1 album.

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A couple that bucked the trend (IMO) -

Jethro Tull's first album was OK, but the 2nd 'Stand Up' is a masterpiece.

Del Amitri's first album is pretty awful, the 2nd, 'Waking Hours' is brilliant.

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jamesg1213


A couple that bucked the trend (IMO) -

Jethro Tull's first album was OK, but the 2nd 'Stand Up' is a masterpiece.

+3001


I sometimes forget that JT had an album before Stand Up

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Ozzy's first two album were respectively great and even better, imho.

Maiden - same thing - respectively good and totally, uh, killer...

Sabbath also had a great run w/ their first 4 albums.

The first 4 Nine Inch Nails album - I like each one more than the previous one.

Alice Cooper - in his case, we should omit the first 2 albums, besides being cool oddities and a few bars of interesting stuff here and there. It's from the 3rd album on that they started making music.

Soundgarden was pretty much the same - it wasn't until Badmotorfinger that they started to write music - even if I dug some of those old songs...

I realize that I can probably think of more bands w/ a relatively average or poor first LP who went on to create a few amazing records afterwards. 

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Ozzy's first two album were respectively great and even better, imho.

Maiden - same thing - respectively good and totally, uh, killer...

Sabbath also had a great run w/ their first 4 albums.

The first 4 Nine Inch Nails album - I like each one more than the previous one.

Alice Cooper - in his case, we should omit the first 2 albums, besides being cool oddities and a few bars of interesting stuff here and there. It's from the 3rd album on that they started making music.

Soundgarden was pretty much the same - it wasn't until Badmotorfinger that they started to write music - even if I dug some of those old songs...

I realize that I can probably think of more bands w/ a relatively average or poor first LP who went on to create a few amazing records afterwards. 

+2.0 on Ozzy's 1st 2 albums....Randy Rhoads just helped taking it to a whole new level.
 

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I can't remember back that far..... the time period seems to be wrapped in some sort of smoky haze.....

But I do recall quite a few good first albums then the second was terrible.... no inspiration..... and the third never happened. 


but that's not the topic of this thread .... just some mindless ramblings that came to mind. 

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First albums are often great because the band has all those good songs stored up waiting to go..the 2nd can be struggle because they tour the 1st one for two years and the writing gets relegated to hotel rooms, and 'life on the road' songs replace inspiration.

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+2.0 on Ozzy's 1st 2 albums....Randy Rhoads just helped taking it to a whole new level.
 

I think I remember reading somewhere that Rhoads wasn't entirely happy w/ Diary of a Madman because he didn't have time to re-record a few things which he intended to replace but were left as is on the album due to lack of time.


Still, it's one of my all-time favorites. First vinyl I ever bought and I went on to buy numerous copies afterwards. I must have bought it at the very least 5 or 6 times. 


The solo to Over the Mountain is what made me want to play electric guitar.

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First albums are often great because the band has all those good songs stored up waiting to go..the 2nd can be struggle because they tour the 1st one for two years and the writing gets relegated to hotel rooms, and 'life on the road' songs replace inspiration.

I think that's why Led Zep II was so good. They were playing half that album when I saw them in late '68. I distinctly remember hearing Heartbreaker (who can forget that guitar breakdown) and Moby Dick, Living Loving Maid & What is. And they were polished then. 

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Cure
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Although I have every Cure album, I have Seventeen Seconds & Faith on a single CD that gets a lot of play in the car.  I find that they, like Tangerine Dream, seem to recreate themselves every few years but most of the "new" styles I like.  It almost seems like completely different, yet good, bands during each time period.
 
 

jamesg1213


First albums are often great because the band has all those good songs stored up waiting to go..the 2nd can be struggle because they tour the 1st one for two years and the writing gets relegated to hotel rooms, and 'life on the road' songs replace inspiration.

Exactly why I made the thread.

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Exactly why I made the thread.

Yeah, I was just elaborating on your first post really. Waffling on as usual


Dire Straits were a prime example of that dreaded 2nd album malaise, the debut was a stunner, but 'Communique' is largely forgotten I think.

Oasis managed two very successful and critically acclaimed albums (Definitely Maybe and What's the Story Morning Glory) then tailed off dramatically with the third.

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space_cowboy


Cure
Three Imaginary Boys
Seventeen Seconds

Although I have every Cure album, I have Seventeen Seconds & Faith on a single CD that gets a lot of play in the car.  I find that they, like Tangerine Dream, seem to recreate themselves every few years but most of the "new" styles I like.  It almost seems like completely different, yet good, bands during each time period.
 
 

jamesg1213


First albums are often great because the band has all those good songs stored up waiting to go..the 2nd can be struggle because they tour the 1st one for two years and the writing gets relegated to hotel rooms, and 'life on the road' songs replace inspiration.

Exactly why I made the thread.

I saw the Cure at Numbers in Houston in mid 81 maybe.  Might have been 2-300 people in audience.  It remains one of my favorite concert experiences because you could totally tell that they would be huge.  

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i think jimi's 1st album is pretty brilliant.

you can completely ignore electric ladyland, and albums one and two still stand.

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hmm, not easy, i'd go for Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse and Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk and Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness and Blessed are the Sick...

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Rush - Rush & Fly By Night
Heart...anything....
Yes...anything
Kansas This list could be quite extensive...

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looking for best 1st album release, and then followup...

i'd say heart's second album was not as strong as the first...
and rush's 1st album was hardly ground breaking,
yes could possibly in the running, 1st album was great, 2nd was even better......
kansas?
hm.

jury's out on I, tho song for america was REALLY strong

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i think jimi's 1st album is pretty brilliant.

you can completely ignore electric ladyland, and albums one and two still stand.

Not trying to give ya hard time...but it doesn't fit the criteria....not when the 3rd album
is better...at least I thought the OP wanted the bands that after their first two- couldn't hang.
 
At least you have an entry...the only band I could think of was Free "Fire and Water" but it was
their 3rd album..sheesh.
 

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+1 to Iron Maiden: Iron Maiden/Killers - Paul Di'Anno was a much better singer for Maiden than Brucie. I'd argue that Blaze Bayley was better than Bruce too. 
 
I'll go with:

• Motörhead: Motörhead/Overkill
• Rainbow: Rainbow/Rainbow Rising
• Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material/Nobody's Heroes
• The Stranglers: Rattus Norvegicus/No More Heroes

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The BAND

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Thought I'd weigh in on this one. First 2 Bad Co. albums (Bad Co. and Straight Shooter). I don't think any album of theirs after that was worth the cost of the vinyl.

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Well, that certainly brings FREE into the mix....

J

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