Aerosmith released their eponymously titled debut album today in 1973. It hardly made a ripple in the wider musical pond outside of their hometown of Boston, barely cracking the top 200 album chart, but it wasn't for a lack of quality. Quite the opposite, there were too many quality albums on the chart by established or more creative artists that year.
1973 was a tremendous year for rock and roll and a band either had to bring a new sound or already be known to get noticed above the din of excellent albums on offer. Aerosmith was neither at the time as their debut broke no new ground and was essentially blues rock by the numbers.
Consider the competition that year. Pink Floyd dropped a little record called "Dark Side of the Moon". Led Zeppelin released "Houses of the Holy" while "IV" was still on the chart. The Stones offered "Goats Head Soup", Marvin Gaye had "Let's Get it On", The Allman Brothers gave us "Brothers and Sisters", and Joe Walsh released "The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get".
To this point I haven't even mentioned an album outside the top ten. Add in offerings from Stevie Wonder, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Eric Clapton, New York Dolls, Yes, Chicago, Bob Dylan, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, Mott the Hoople and Steely Dan and you get an idea of what Aerosmith was up against.
This is not to say that Aerosmith's debut was bad. It's a good album released at the wrong time. In fact, once Aerosmith became more popular the album was re-released in 1976 and it reached #21. The only charting single, "Dream On", hit #59 in 1973 and #6 in 1976.
Aerosmith is arguably the greatest American rock band and if you don't know this album I recommend giving it a spin. The band is remarkably tight for a freshman effort and Steven Tyler's voice is as strong as it ever would be. The album spawned two classics in "Mama Kin" and "Dream On" and contains a terrific cover of Rufus Thomas' "Walkin' the Dog".
Whoa Nellie's TIMH on Steven Tyler is here: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/anything-else/2016/03/69171/happy-bi...
Track One, Side One:
