Reviewing debut albums for #5debutalbums7579 crystallised the idea that Virgin Records was a trusting, hot house environment for roots reggae, punk and post punk. Their motivation may have been profit but they sure gave a lot of bands a chance they may have otherwise have missed. ✊️

#5debutalbums7579 The Slits - Cut (1979) Any reservations about non-classic musicianship are swept aside by the enthusiasm, creativity, dub roots & versatile drumming that stitches everything together. True (post) punk spirit leads to an album that is way more than the sum of its parts. 🎵 New Town🎵

#5debutalbums7579 The Members - At The Chelsea Nightclub (1979) Lilting, reggae tinged pop punk. A daring, lengthy instrumental kicks things off but soon we're pogoing down the front. Never topped this and the scene moved on. Best track - The Sound Of The Suburb #VinylCommunity #NowPlaying

#5debutalbums7579 The Police - Outlandos D'Amour (1978) Playing well within their capabilities The Police produce a straightforward pacy debut in tune with the times. A little bit of filler here and there but Sting's songwriting is already top notch. A star act is born. #VinylCommunity

Solid start! 👌

#5albums78 @official_police Outlandos D'Amour (1978) Playing well within their capabilities The Police produce a straightforward pacy debut in tune with the times. A little bit of filler here and there but Sting's songwriting is already top notch. A star act is born. #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 The Rich Kids - Ghosts Of Princes In Towers (1978) Mick Ronson does his best to corral the pop sensibilities of Midge Ure with more punky elements. The 70's in one album. Great energy, but some of the lyrics are a bit jarring. The title track is a belter. #VinylCommunity

This album is provoking a few great memories out there.

#5debutalbums7579 Graham Parker - Howlin Wind (1976) You can see why a nominally old wave artist like GP was accepted by the punk movement and press. Angry and bitter hints of Van Morrison and old time rock and roll. Superb debut from the fully realised Rumour. #VinylCommunity

Great perspective 👏 .

Great choice!

#5debutalbums7579 The Vibrators - Pure Mania (1977) Early punk adopters and had enough about them to keep going for decades. Short and sharp sneering songs of pure rock & roll. They may have adopted punk but, oh my, they loved it. 1-2-3-4!! #NowPlaying

#5debutalbums7579 The Undertones - The Undertones (1979) Joyful, uplifting pop punk. How they managed to produce such optimism from late 70s Northern Ireland is beyond me, but thank Peel they did. Their stubbornly teenage outlook eliminates any pretensions. Innocent but knowing. Superb. #NowPlaying

Home stretch for #5debutalbums7579 Stretch Elastique (1976) Best known for track two, Why Did You Do It? this is an album of exceptionally competent adventures into blues, funk, AOR and more, as they search for a defining sound. Perhaps this was their downfall in a pigeon hole world. #NowPlaying

#5debutalbums7579 The Specials - The Specials (1979) Perfectly capturing their blistering live act, The Specials debut crystalises a moment in time and a youth movement at the same time. The foreboding shadow of political violence pervades the kitchen sink love songs. #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (1979) The ripples of punk took a while to reach Northern Ireland but when they did they were tsunamis. Caustic, cathartic - the youth finally had a voice. Truly, an alternative Ulster. Excellent. #NowPlaying #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 #albumoftheday Radio Stars - Songs For Swinging Lovers (1977) Another glam band that morphed into pop punk. Some of their subject matter has dated hideously, but other than that, it's a pacy romp through their live set. Early punk pacesetters. Best track - Is It Really Necessary?

#5debutalbums7579 Secret Affair - Glory Boys (1979) Proud and uplifting mod music with great use of brass. Crowd friendly choruses, clear production, & Motown influences (and covers). The Jam may have opened the door but Secret Affair marched through on their own terms. #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 Swell Maps - A Trip To Marineville (1979) Sounding like Devoto-era Buzzcocks in places but interspersed with more experimental free-form noodlings. It's enthusiastic if somewhat chaotic lo-fi post punk. A band not giving a tinker's cuss what anyone thinks about them. #NowPlaying

Yep, you should hold on to that, for sure.

Exactly 💯

#LoveItOrListIt The Eagles - Hotel California (1976) Actually already listed, but I thought I'd give it a last chance to escape Ebaying. It's probably the most classic Classic Rock album out there. The singles are great, but the rest? I don't know, should it stay, or should it go? #VinylCommunity

I almost said that!

#5debutalbums7579 The Mekons - The Quality Of Mercy Is Not Strnen (1979) Abrasive, avant garde music sprouting from the punk explosion. There was nothing like this before and the world became a little better with The Mekons making their contrarian presence felt. #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Blank Generation (1977) Seminal punk catalyst lands his first album that sounds, unsurprisingly, more like Television than The Ramones. The 2 singles are visceral epiphanies, but there's much more here to enjoy. #VinylCommunity

Trust me! 😁

#5debutalbums7579 @pilofficial.bsky.social PIL - First Issue (1978) I've always imagined that this innovative LP was improvised in the studio. It could have been a disaster but the mix of dub, noise and vocal invective works brilliantly. A brave, groundbreaking debut. #NowPlaying #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 B-52s - The B-52s (1979) Just realised that the male singer sounds exactly like Ian Curtis and now I can't unhear it. Scratchy, sci-fi influenced surf pop. Kitsch but loveable. Is it me though - are some of the vocals really flat? #VinylCommunity

#5debutalbums7579 #albumoftheday Joe Jackson - Look Sharp! (1979) Before their careers took very different directions and trajectories, Joe was up there with Costello in the sharp-lyricked English new wave artist stakes. Saw him live around this time. Fantastic! Best track - Got The Time #NowPlaying

#5debutalbums7579 The Gladiators - Trenchtown Mix Up (1976) Well established singles and backing vocals artists, The Gladiators finally released their debut and it's a cracker. From their bassy cover of Marley's Soul Rebel to the light and cheeky Chatty Chatty Mouth, every track is a gem #NowPlaying