Concluding my list of best debut albums (with quite a few caveats)…
Sinéad O’Connor – The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
I almost didn’t include today’s album because I thought 1990’s I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got was likely my favorite Sinéad O’Connor album. Or if not that one, probably 2000’s Faith and Courage.
Those are both great albums. But when I re-listened to The Lion and the Cobra, O’Connor’s bracing debut, I decided that yeah, this is definitely the one.
Not only does this album announce her as a fierce and original talent, it showcases the broad range of her skillset. It features danceable pop funk, New Wave edginess, an ethereal sea shanty, delicate balladry, and gripping confessional epics. And it introduces one of pop music’s most extraordinary singing voices through both whispers and screams.
Through nine essential tracks, O’Connor took us on a musical and emotional journey that established her as a unique artist, one unafraid to speak her mind or expose her vulnerability. It’s a therapy session you can dance or cry to.
That wraps up my look at great debut albums. I really enjoyed revisiting these records, some of which I hadn’t played all the way through in years.
In Dublin in a rainstorm
And sitting in the long grass in summer
Keeping warm
I’ll remember it
Every restless night
We were so young then
We thought that everything we could possibly do was right
Then we moved stolen from our very eyes
And I wondered where you went to
Tell me when did the light die
You will rise
You’ll return
The Phoenix from the flame
You will learn
You will rise
You’ll return
Being what you are
There is no other Troy
For you to burn
And I never meant to hurt you
I swear I didn’t mean those things I said
I never meant to do that to you
Next time I’ll keep my hands to myself instead
Oh, does she love you?
What do you want to do?
Does she need you like I do?
Do you love her?
Is she good for you?
Does she hold you like I do?
Do you want me?
Should I leave?
I know you’re always telling me that you love me
But just sometimes I wonder if I should believe
Oh, I love you
God, I love you
I’d kill a dragon for you, I’ll die
But I will rise
And I will return
The Phoenix from the flame
I have learned
I will rise
And you’ll see me return
Being what I am
There is no other Troy
For me to burn
And you should’ve left the light on
You should’ve left the light on
Then I wouldn’t have tried and you’d never have known
And I wouldn’t have pulled you tighter
No, I wouldn’t have pulled you close
I wouldn’t have screamed, “No, I can’t let you go”
If the door wasn’t closed
No, I wouldn’t have pulled you to me
No, I wouldn’t have kissed your face
You wouldn’t have begged me to hold you if we hadn’t been there in the first place
Oh, but I know you wanted me to be there, oh, oh, oh
Every look that you threw told me so
But you should’ve left the light on
You should’ve left the light on
And the flames burned away
But you’re still spitting fire
Make no difference what you say
You’re still a liar
You’re still a liar
You’re still a liar
Meet Me In Montauk 
I am admittedly less familiar with Sinead’s debut album, but it’s hard to beat the wonderful I Do Not Want….
she had such an incredible voice
I thought I would see Billy Joel on your debut list??
He misses the criteria on a couple of fronts. One, he’s among my favorite artists, and two, I like other albums of his more than his debut.
Ahhh I see. Guess it would be different if The Stranger was the first 🙂