[Music] Which artist had the best ever single album career?

[Stato]

Thinking about Trotskyism because of the discussions on the 'Tory Meltdown' thread has reminded me that one of the greatest bands of the eighties, The Redskins sadly made just one album during their career. There was a live album put out some years later, but during their time together, they released just one album: "Neither Washington, Nor Moscow":



I can't immediately think of anybody who made just one album* that was better. I feel sure that NSC will give it a go. Over to you.

* (You can discount any post career cobbling together of singles, live albums etc. One studio album released while the act was together / alive).

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Could you argue Never Mind the Bollocks? All the albums after were soundtracks or cobbled together stuff. It sounds pretty tame rock and roll these days but its impact is imeasurable.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The Stone Roses

*edit* - unless you count The Second Coming, which you shouldn't

 

[Stato]

Could you argue Never Mind the Bollocks? All the albums after were soundtracks or cobbled together stuff. It sounds pretty tame rock and roll these days but its impact is imeasurable.

You certainly could. NMTB came out in 1977. Even if you count the Great Rock'n'Roll Swindle soundtrack as a second album, it didn't come out until 1979 after they already split. It's a strong contender, certainly more culturally significant. Though for repeated listening pleasure I'd stick with the Redskins.

 

[Mellotron]

I'm not saying it's the answer, but an honourable mention for Grace by Jeff Buckley.

Only one "proper" album, and it was very influential.

 

[Guinness Boy]

The Stone Roses

Should literally be the only answer. If I had a time machine it'd be a toss up between last week's lottery numbers and preventing the making of The Second Coming.

 

[Stato]

The Stone Roses

If only.

 

[The Lemming Stomper]

 

[Guinness Boy]

I'm not making a claim for 'best' but if we're talking baggy then Flowered Up's A Life With Brian and World of Twist's Quality Street were played non stop by me and a few others in the early 90s. And that was despite Flowered Up's best moment, 'Weekender', being released after the album. Like much of the 90s you had to be there though, preferably at a gig in a slightly altered state.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

 

[bhafc99]

It’s pretty obscure, and admittedly takes the thread’s point off for a complete tangent, but a ‘one album’ artist that’s always intrigued me is Mary Margaret O’Hara.

Did Miss America, and then never anything again (apart from contributing a couple of tracks to a film soundtrack years and years later).

I know her voice and style are marmite, and a lot of people just don’t get it, but I think it’s a truly outstanding and haunting album, and it’s a crying shame she called it quits after just the one go.

 

[AK74]

Blind Faith.

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, Ric Grech is quite a line-up.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

View attachment 167262

I got introduced to GordonIsAMoron at a party in Manchester once. His real name was Bernard

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Blind Faith.

Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, Ric Grech is quite a line-up.

On a similar Clapton theme, I think Derek and the Dominoes only ever released one studio album, and it’s a classic

 

[Randy McNob]

Should literally be the only answer. If I had a time machine it'd be a toss up between last week's lottery numbers and preventing the making of The Second Coming.

But then you would never have Love Spreads which is a classic and arguably their best tune

 

[studio150]

Death In The Guitarfternoon - Larry Wallis

 

[stewart12]

Jeff Buckley was the one that immediately sprung to mind

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

The Sex Pistols and Jeff Buckley are two great shouts.

I'll chuck in the La's.

The winner is the sex pistols though, no?

 

[jakarta]

It’s pretty obscure, and admittedly takes the thread’s point off for a complete tangent, but a ‘one album’ artist that’s always intrigued me is Mary Margaret O’Hara.

Did Miss America, and then never anything again (apart from contributing a couple of tracks to a film soundtrack years and years later).

I know her voice and style are marmite, and a lot of people just don’t get it, but I think it’s a truly outstanding and haunting album, and it’s a crying shame she called it quits after just the one go.

Apparently completely head mental, hence the brief career...

 

[stewart12]

Lauryn Hill and Them Crooked Vultures are honourable mentions to me