First four albums...

[Who Shot Sam?]

Not to be a pedant, but didn't E put out a solo album before Beautiful Freak? For all intents and purposes he is Eels - the band has always been a bit of a revolving door. I would agree that those are four excellent albums.

[King Hoarse]

Of course Ron's first four are all fabulous, how could we not include them?

Same reason as Bowie I guess.

I don't think he really hit his stride until the eponymous one. It's just not that he hadn't found his sound; most of the Grand Opera Lane just isn't up to scratch, although I think In This Love, Trains, Tell You and the original version of Speaking With The Angel are classic Ron.

And again, I don't think of Leonard Cohen as a rock'n'roll artist, but of course if we widen the challenge a bit, those first four are hard for anyone to beat.

I considered Eels too, but they aren't 'debuts' really, and I haven't been able to find the second e album Broken Toy Shop. Ignoring that one, though, they're contenders.[/quote]

[Mike Boom]

Aren't those first two the same album? I was under the impression that it was called Raincoat in UK and Rod Stewart Album in US.

In any case, you can probably include 1972's Never A Dull Moment on there as well so it still works.

Quite right young man, thats cut and paste for ya, should have been Never A Dull Moment.

Otis, your probably right about Movement , but Ive always really liked it, though I guess its not quite up with the others.