Roy Thomas Baker passed away last week at the age of 84. For most of the planet he will be known as the guy who produced the song “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. The most streamed song in music history or something like that.
For Pencil Storm readers he will most fondly be remembered for producing the track “I Want Be Man” from the Cheap Trick record One on One.
But personally, I would like to acknowledge Roy for being the man behind the desk for perhaps the greatest debut record in rock history: The Cars.
Before going further, I am going to explain my parameters for what constitutes the best debut record:
1) It is their first record on a legitimate label.
2) If you only owned the debut record, you would completely understand the band.
For example: Meet The Beatles is a great record. But if that was the only Beatles record you owned, you wouldn’t know The Beatles. Same for Greetings From Asbury Park. Or Rush. Or Bob Dylan’s first eponymous record. Or whomever…..
Or a little closer to home, Cheap Trick’s debut record is a five-star debut by any standard. But you wouldn’t truly understand the band no matter how many times you listened to “Daddy Should Have Stayed In High School.” It’s too quirky. Too dark to paint the full picture. Hard to imagine this band having hits like “I Want You To Want Me” or even - gulp - “The Flame.”
So are the rules clear? I hope so. And these are just off the top of my head while I am ignoring customers at Colin’s Coffee. Feel free to make your own list or mock me at your leisure. Here we go.
The Cars - The Cars
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker, this is the only record you need to own by The Cars. It is even better than their greatest hits because you don’t have to suffer through fake Cars hits like “Hello Again,” “You Might Think” and “Magic.” No thanks to Mutt Lange doing his best Roy Thomas Baker impersonation. It’s close, but Mutt cannot hide the gross Def Lep Hysteria stacked vocals. Uck.
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
I recently finished Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell’s excellent new memoir and among other things, it gives you an appreciation for how hard and how long Petty and Co had to grind before “making it.” They were playing five sets a night, six nights a week for years in Florida before making the move to California. Even then, Campbell was flat broke up until their third record Damn The Torpedoes started generating some decent royalty checks. Their first deal with Shelter Records paid them a pittance, and Petty eventually sued the label and was released from his original contract. But despite this business bump in the road, producer and label President Denny Cordell was essential in mentoring and funding the band until they could get their act together. The proof is in the debut record which along with many Petty classics contains the track “American Girl.” One could argue that this single song is more essential than the rest of the entire catalog of Tom and the Heartbreakers.
Guns N’ Roses - Appetite For Destruction
We will never know how great it could have been with Paul Stanley producing, but still a solid effort anyway.
Tracy Chapman
Maybe this is the best debut ever? Where did this masterpiece come from? Every cut is killer but dropping an acapella version of “Behind The Wall” as the fourth track is just breathtaking. Yeah, this is the best debut record ever. I recently read an extensive interview in the NYT with Tracy talking about this album and its recent reissue on vinyl. Outside of the “Fast Car” performance with Luke Combs on the Grammys, she hasn’t toured or recorded in a decade but she still plays guitar every day. And she doesn’t stream music. She only listens to physical copies.
The Ramones
Maybe not as strong as the next couple of records, but if you have this one, you know the Ramones. Gabba Gabba.
Little Richard - Here’s Little Richard
Richard was punk-rock before they had a name for it. “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop, a-lop-bam-boom” is without question the greatest lyric to ever kick off a debut record. In fact, probably the greatest lyric ever written.
The Pretenders
“Precious,” Ray Davies’ “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Brass in Pocket” and “Tattooed Love Boys” cover a lot of ground. The original line-up when their buzz was just perfect.
Green Day - Dookie
I know they did other records before this but back to the rules, the major label debut hits the bullseye.
Nirvana - Nevermind
Same as Green Day. And first record with Dave Grohl on drums. That sorta matters a lot.
Van Halen
The first four songs are: “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Eruption,” Ray Davies’ (again! a subtle pattern begins to emerge) “You Really Got Me,” “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love.” There you go. Vintage VH from the jump. Sure, they moved to more commercial territory with Sammy Hagar but if we consider 5150 a debut it could be an honorable mention.
Honorable Mentions!
AC/DC- High Voltage
If we ignore the 1975 Australian-only release and jump to the international 1976 version it would definitely be on the list. But you know, rules…..It’s a long way to the top of this list if you want to rock n roll.
KISS
Sonically it doesn’t hold up but what about the tunes? “Strutter,” “Deuce,” “Black Diamond” and “Cold Gin” are still in the KISS set-list to this day. And the cover…..Have you seen the cover?
REM - Murmur
This record is kinda murky, kina like my feelings about Murmur being on this list. Sure, they went on to record stuff like “Shiny Happy People” but a lot of what folks love about REM are on display on their debut. Not my best pick. F it, I’m going with it anyway.
The Clash
Same as REM.
Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols.
Can it be a debut if it is also their final record?
Okay, got to get back to serving coffee. I will leave you with Roy introducing Cheap Trick in the video below. Below that, the amazing “All The Kids Are Right” by Local H, also produced by Roy. And we must end with “I Want Be Man.” A song that should have been bigger than “Bohemian Rhapsody” if there was a single ounce of justice in this cruel world. RIP Roy. It was a great run.