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Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 10:06
by dm
I can think of of a few:-

Queen
David Bowie
Hawkwind
Rush
Adam and the Ants
UFO
Iron Maiden
Yes
Motorhead (On Parole)
Rainbow

you guys?     ‘Guess I’ll just sit back and wait for the “most pointless thread ever” type remarks’. 

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 18:02
by mallard
The first two albums from Status Quo were musically far different from the rest of their work.

 

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 16:57
by zebthecat
Ministry

Al Jourgensen's synth-pop phase didn't last long at all.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 15:49
by zebthecat
the coming of gary" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 15:05
zebthecat wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:45
Mike Oxsaw" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:40 Good call on Floyd, Yes & Genesis. On Queen (1), the hints of their later stuff was there, but quite well hidden. Early Purple was much more "restrained"/bluesy than their later stuff.

I give you The Sex Pistols. Never mind the Bollocks was indeed the dog's dangly bits. After that???
 
Effectively nothing at all.
I am guessing but it appears that Glen Matlock wrote most of their riffs.
he admitted Pretty Vacant is a straight rip off of SOS by ABBA
.
Never knew that. The verse chord progression is suspiciously close to the chorus of SOS.

Another famous one was Nirvana lifting the main riff of Come as you are from The Eighties by Kiling Joke. Dave Grohl admitted it in the end.
Mind you Geordie had nicked it, probably unconciously, from Life goes on by The Damned and Captain Sensible probably nicked it from elsewhere in turn.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 15:05
by the coming of gary
zebthecat wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:45
Mike Oxsaw" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:40 Good call on Floyd, Yes & Genesis. On Queen (1), the hints of their later stuff was there, but quite well hidden. Early Purple was much more "restrained"/bluesy than their later stuff.

I give you The Sex Pistols. Never mind the Bollocks was indeed the dog's dangly bits. After that???
 
Effectively nothing at all.
I am guessing but it appears that Glen Matlock wrote most of their riffs.
he admitted Pretty Vacant is a straight rip off of SOS by ABBA
.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 14:43
by dm
Completely forgot about Porcupine Tree. Their first album On the Sunday of Life was quite different to what came after.  Damn good album though. 

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 12:25
by Bungo
dm wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 10:06 I can think of of a few:-

Rush


 
 
 
The change of drummer had more impact on Rush than almost any member change in any band. The first album was clearly a band still finding their feet and really wanting to be Zeppelin. Peart arrived and the change of direction was immediate and apparent.

Still haven't made my mind up about next year's renewed activity. I liked the way they previously stopped on top, but fair play if they still want to play their songs live.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 12:20
by Lee Trundle
zebthecat wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 12:07
Lee Trundle" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:51 Huey Lewis and The News.  Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
Do you like Phil Collins? 
I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins' presence became more apparent. I think Invisible Touch was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums.

(glad someone got it!)

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 12:11
by violator
New Order

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 12:07
by zebthecat
Lee Trundle" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:51 Huey Lewis and The News.  Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
Do you like Phil Collins? 

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 11:51
by Lee Trundle
Huey Lewis and The News.  Their early work was a little too new wave for my tastes, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 11:45
by zebthecat
Mike Oxsaw" wrote: 26 Nov 2025, 11:40 Good call on Floyd, Yes & Genesis. On Queen (1), the hints of their later stuff was there, but quite well hidden. Early Purple was much more "restrained"/bluesy than their later stuff.

I give you The Sex Pistols. Never mind the Bollocks was indeed the dog's dangly bits. After that???
 
 
Effectively nothing at all.
I am guessing but it appears that Glen Matlock wrote most of their riffs.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 11:43
by WHU(Exeter)
Pulp. Their early stuff was quite dark and gothy sounding

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 11:40
by Mike Oxsaw
Good call on Floyd, Yes & Genesis. On Queen (1), the hints of their later stuff was there, but quite well hidden. Early Purple was much more "restrained"/bluesy than their later stuff.

I give you The Sex Pistols. Never mind the Bollocks was indeed the dog's dangly bits. After that???

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 11:22
by Takashi Miike
Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 10:14
by Far Cough UKunt
Not just one album but early Genesis was more progressive than their later albums  especially after Peter and Steve Hackett left.

Re: Bands whose first album was quite different from subsequent material

Posted: 26 Nov 2025, 10:13
by Lee Trundle
Faith No More
Editors

Both likely down to their lead guitarists leaving the band.