Rolling Stone’s Facebook Fans Name Top 10 Debut Albums
Watch clips from each pick, including LPs by the Strokes, Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam
-
10. The Strokes, ‘Is This It’
Over the weekend, we asked Rolling Stone's Facebook fans to name their all-time favorite debut albums. Coming in at Number 10 is the most recent album on the list, the Strokes' 2001 record Is This It. Here's a live performance of the record's second track "The Modern Age."
-
9. The Clash, ‘The Clash’
Next up is the Clash's 1977 debut, which helped kickstart the punk movement in the U.K. The tracklisting for the record varies signficantly between the U.S. and U.K. editions, so it's hard to say which one you were talking about. This song, "(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais," appears on the American version.
-
8. The Velvet Underground, ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’
Coming in at Number Eight is the Velvet Underground's highly influential 1967 release The Velvet Underground and Nico. This is "I'm Waiting For the Man," a song from the album that would eventually become one of songwriter Lou Reed's most famous compositions.
-
7. Van Halen, ‘Van Halen’
Van Halen's first album from 1978 is a hard rock classic, and inspired a legion of young guitarists to spend countless hours attempting to master Eddie Van Halen's inventive solo techniques. The record came in at Number Seven, and is represented here by a spirited live performance of "Running With the Devil" filmed sometime in 1983.
-
6. Boston, ‘Boston’
Boston's first record from 1976 is currently the second-best-selling debut album in the history of United States, so it wasn't a huge shock that so many of our readers voted for it. Here's the music video for "More Than a Feeling," the rock radio staple that inspired over 17 million people to buy the album.
-
5. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ‘Are You Experienced’
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's astonishingly assured debut from 1967 comes in at Number Five. Here's a lovely live performance of "The Wind Cries Mary," a track that appeared on the American edition of the record.
-
4. The Doors, ‘The Doors’
The Doors' dark, groovy 1967 debut comes in Number Four. Here's a particularly intense live recording of the record's first single "Break On Through (to the Other Side)."
-
3. Pearl Jam, ‘Ten’
Pearl Jam's 1991 grunge epic Ten comes in at Number Three on the list. Here's a gorgeous live recording of the intense power ballad "Black" from MTV's Unplugged series.
-
2. Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin I’
It's hardly a shock to see Led Zeppelin's 1969 debut come in so high on this list. Here's a section from a live performance of "Dazed and Confused," the album's sprawling centerpiece.
-
1. Guns N’ Roses, ‘Appetite For Destruction’
Guns N' Roses' 1987 debut Appetite For Destruction won this poll by a decisive margin, accounting for over 10 percent of votes. This isn't such a surprise given that it also happens to be the top-selling debut of all time in the United States. Here's the video for "Paradise City," one of the record's monster hit singles.