Mickey Newbury - Harlequin Melodies (1968)

"Are My Thoughts With You" by Mickey Newbury


Townes Van Zandt established his career first as a dive bar singer-songwriter moving through the Texas circuit along with other troubadours of his ilk.  His fortunes changed when fellow songwriter Mickey Newbury suggested Van Zandt travel to Nashville where he was set up with producer Jack Clement to record.  Mickey Newbury released his debut album Harlequin Melodies also in 1968 with RCA Victor.

Here is the discography surrounding Mickey Newbury's debut album:

Lonely Place (1965 single)
There's a Time to Die (1965 single)
Any Way You Want Me (1966 single)
After the Rains (1966 single)
Dreamin' in the Rain (1967 single)
Weeping Annaleah (1968 single)
Harlequin Melodies
Got Down on Saturday (Sunday in the Rain) (1968 single)
The Queen (1968 single)

"Got Down on Saturday (Sunday in the Rain)" by Mickey Newbury


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Townes Van Zandt - For the Sake of the Song (1968)

"For the Sake of the Song" by Townes Van Zandt


When Steve Earle made his decision to become a singer-songwriter, he was influenced by his appreciation and love of the music of Townes Van Zandt.  So much so, that Earle moved to Houston to seek out Van Zandt.  For a time, Earle survived on couches and local bars and eventually met his hero and became his mentee of sorts.

Here is the discography surrounding Townes Van Zandt's debut album:

Waitin' Around to Die (1968 single)
For the Sake of the Song

"Waitin' Around to Die" by Townes Van Zandt


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Steve Earle - Guitar Town (1986)

"Guitar Town" by Steve Earle


Steve Earle drummed on the Afghan Whigs' debut recording, but he's not to be confused with the more prominent country singer-songwriter Steve Earle, who recorded his debut album Guitar Town two years prior in 1986.

Here is the discography surrounding Steve Earle's debut album:

The Mexican Demos (1979 demo)
Pink & Black (1982 EP with The Dukes)
Nothin' but You (1983 single)
Squeeze Me In (1983 single)
What'll You Do About Me? (1984 single)
A Little Bit in Love (1985 single)
Hillbilly Highway (1986 single)
Guitar Town
Guitar Town (1986 single)
Someday (1986 single)
Live from Austin, TX (1986 live album)
Goodbye's All We've Got Left (1986 single)
Early Tracks (1987 compilation album)

"Someday" by Steve Earle


"Down the Road" by Steve Earle


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Afghan Whigs - Big Top Halloween (1988)

"But Listen" by Afghan Whigs


The first years of Guided by Voices recordings are self-produced and independently released, so it's a fairly insular history early on.  However, their debut recording, the Forever Since Breakfast EP, was not home-produced and was released on I Wanna Records.  It was produced by Wayne Hartman who built a small body of recordings by working with Ohio-area bands.  Guided by Voices were from Dayton, and he also produced the 1988 debut album Big Top Halloween by Afghan Whigs who hailed from Cincinnati.

Here is the discography surrounding Afghan Whigs's debut album:

Big Top Halloween

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Guided by Voices - Devil Between My Toes (1987)

"Old Battery" by Guided by Voices


In the Roman Coppola directed "Someday", the director films The Strokes hanging out in a bar with the likes of Duff McKagan and Slash of Guns N' Roses fame and members of indie band Guided by Voices with whom they also competed in a contentious match of Family Feud.  Guided by Voices released their debut album Devil Between My Toes independently in 1987 on their own Schwa Records.

Here is the discography surrounding Guided by Voices's debut album:

Forever Since Breakfast (1986 EP)
Devil Between My Toes

"Crux" by Guided by Voices


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The Strokes - Is This It (2001)

"The Modern Age" by The Strokes


RCA Records A&R man, Steve Ralbovsky, signed Kings of Leon among many other artists in his career including the kings of the 2000s New York rock scene, The Strokes.  The two bands also shared a photographer in Colin Lane, and a similar career trajectory that started with major promotion of their early recordings first in the United Kingdom before heading back to the United States.  The debut album by The Strokes, Is This It, released in 2001.

Here is the discography surrounding The Strokes's debut album:

The Strokes (2000 demo)
Live at Arlene's Grocery (2000 live bootleg)
Live at Brownie's (2000 live bootleg)
Live at WFMU Radio Station (2000 live bootleg)
The Modern Age (2001 EP)
The Peel Sessions (2001 John Peel Sessions)
Hard to Explain (2001 single)
Live on KCRW (2001 Radio Session)
Is This It
Last Nite (2001 single)
The Strokes (2001 promo)
Live on Osaka on Air (2002 live bootleg)
Live at Zepp (2002 live bootleg)
Live in Amsterdam (2002 live bootleg)
Live in Reykjavik (2002 live bootleg)
Someday (2002 single)
This Is Legal Radio Sessions (2002 radio sessions compilation)

"Someday" by The Strokes


"Last Nite" by The Strokes


"New York City Cops" by The Strokes


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