Pick a Day

Music History Events: Debut Albums

January 10, 1985 Chris Isaak releases his debut album, Silvertone. The LP is named after his three-piece backup band.

October 15, 1984 The Judds, a mother-daughter duo from Kentucky, upend the "Urban Cowboy Movement" with their throwback debut album, Why Not Me. It yields three #1 Country singles: "Girls' Night Out," "Love Is Alive," and "Why Not Me."More

June 12, 1984 Howard Jones' debut album, Human's Lib, is released in the US.

May 29, 1984 Comic rap group the Fat Boys release their self-titled debut album. By the end of the '80s, they have four Gold albums (including their debut) and star in the movie Disorderlies.

May 7, 1984 Roger Waters releases his first solo album, The Pros And Cons Of Hitch Hiking. His band, Pink Floyd, fractured the previous year.

December 11, 1983 Whodini release their debut album, one of the first rap LPs on a major label (Jive). The song "Magic's Wand" inspires their name, which is a play on the name of magician Harry Houdini.

October 14, 1983 Cyndi Lauper, formerly a member of the group Blue Angel, issues her first solo album, She's So Unusual. With the MTV hits "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and "Time After Time," it becomes an '80s touchstone.

July 25, 1983 Metallica release their debut album, Kill 'Em All, three months after parting ways with guitarist Dave Mustaine.More

July 5, 1983 Suicidal Tendencies release their self-titled debut album. The album spawns the band's biggest hit to date, "Institutionalized."

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.