Music History Events: Debut Albums
October 2, 1982 The word "jobsworth" appears for the first time in the London Times, having been popularized - if not coined - by singer-songwriter Jeremy Taylor.
December 5, 1981 Damaged, Black Flag's debut album, is released. It will go on to become one of the most influential albums in the hardcore punk genre.
October 4, 1981 The music variety show All Time Greats launches on BBC Radio 2 with "Up-Up and Away" by The 5th Dimension starting things off. The show, which is later re-named Desmond Carrington: The Music Goes Round, lasts 36 years.
March 3, 1981 U2 begin their first major tour of the US with two shows at a Washington, DC, club called The Bayou.
February 19, 1981 Phil Collins releases his debut solo album, Face Value.
December 5, 1980 U2 play their first show in the US when they perform at The Ritz Ballroom in New York City.
October 20, 1980 U2 release their debut album, Boy, produced by Steve Lillywhite. It doesn't yield any hits but "I Will Follow" becomes one of their most popular songs.
October 3, 1980 Diamond Head, one of the leading bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement, issue their debut album, Lightning To The Nations. Mega-DH fans Metallica cover five of the album's seven songs over the years: "Am I Evil?", "Helpless," "The Prince," "It's Electric," and "Sucking My Love." Other NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and Saxon eclipse Diamond Head in terms of popularity, but the Metallica covers speak to their influence and ensure their place in history.
August 29, 1980 UB40 release their seminal debut, Signing Off. It climbs to #2 in the UK, becoming the first reggae album to reach those heights. In 2010, to mark the group's 30th anniversary and Signing Off's far-reaching influence, the band performs the record in its entirety during a series of intimate concerts across the UK.
April 14, 1980 Iron Maiden release their self-titled debut album, with a twin-guitar attack and lyrics that pull from the worlds of mythology and horror. The song "Iron Maiden," which refers to the medieval torture device that band is named after, becomes a live stalwart, played before the encore at most of their concerts throughout their career.
November 19, 1979 Loverboy plays their first ever concert, opening for Kiss at The Coliseum in Vancouver.
May 8, 1979 The Cure release their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys. It opens with "10:15 Saturday Night," the track that earned them a record deal.
February 9, 1979 UB40 play their first live show, sharing the bill with another local group called the Au Pairs at The Hare & Hounds Pub in Birmingham. In 2011, a plaque went up outside the pub to mark the performance.
April 15, 1977 The Stranglers' debut full-length album, Rattus Norvegicus, is released. Produced by Martin Rushent, the album spawns one of punk's all-time classics, "Peaches."
September 23, 1975 For the first time, Bruce Springsteen plays a medley of Little Richard songs in the style of Mitch Ryder to close out a show. This would become known as the "Detroit Medley" and become a regular part of his show for about 10 years.
May 1, 1975 Bachman-Turner Overdrive begin their first UK tour at Glasgow Apollo; they are supported by Thin Lizzy.
March 1, 1974 Rush release their eponymous debut album. With drummer and creative catalyst Neil Peart yet to join the band, the sound is very different from the one that will become Rush's trademark. Still, the album's "Working Man" becomes a breakout song in blue-collar Cleveland, Ohio, after winning WMMS disc jockey Donna Halper's endorsement. One year later the band release Fly by Night, their first album to include Peart.
January 5, 1974 Bruce Springsteen performs "Rosalita" for the first time at a concert at Joe's Place in Boston. The song becomes a live favorite that Bruce often plays as an encore.
March 24, 1973 With Soul Train gaining in popularity, Dick Clark Productions airs a competing show called Soul Unlimited, which lasts just one episode as it caves to pressure from black leaders. Gladys Knight and Rufus Thomas are the guests.
March 1, 1973 Tom Waits releases his debut album, Closing Time, on Asylum Records to lukewarm sales but warm critical reception.
November 7, 1972 Bette Midler's debut album, The Divine Miss M, is released. It earns a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year and helps Midler win the trophy for Best New Artist.
November 1, 1971 Olivia Newton-John releases her first solo album, If Not For You.
May 28, 1971 Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (and before that, The Hollies), releases his first solo album, Songs For Beginners. The first single is "Chicago (We Can Change The World)," which he wrote about protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
April 30, 1971 The Doobie Brothers release their self-titled debut album. Despite a hardy promotional push from their label, Warner Bros., it goes nowhere, but their next effort, Toulouse Street, connects.
November 20, 1970 Tom Waits gets his first-ever paid gig, appearing as "Thomas Waits" and receiving $25.00 by opening for Michael Milner and Claire Hart.
August 11, 1970 Jimmy Buffett releases his debut album, Down To Earth, a folk-rock collection that includes "The Captain and the Kid" - a song written in honor of his late grandfather. The album sells just 374 copies.
June 13, 1970 Uriah Heep release their debut album, ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, in the UK. Critic Melissa Mills of Rolling Stone says she'll commit suicide if the group "makes it," but the negative critical reaction doesn't stop Heep from appealing to fans and moving on to have a long, successful career as a trailblazing heavy metal band.
July 25, 1969 Yes release their self-titled debut album, one of the first in the progressive rock genre.
June 3, 1969 Elton John's first album, Empty Sky, is released in the UK and initially sells 4,000 copies. It isn't released in America until 1975.
April 28, 1969 The self-titled, debut album by Chicago Transit Authority is released. For their next album, the group shortens their name to Chicago.More
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