Prog debuts!

I nearly forgot one of my favorites! 

^ And Black Sabbath too!

There are many very good debut albums even though I tend to prefer bands after the warm up phase. From the well known ones I usually thought of Tubular Bells as my favourite debut album, but here I was reminded of jewels such as Rock Bottom and Mercator Projected.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Sir Prog-a-lot wrote: "Velvet Darkness" is Allan Holdsworth's solo (and very prog) debut. It was an official release by CTI Records, with whom Holdsworth had a valid contract that the label could release everything recorded. It's true that Holdsworth did not acknowledge it in the interviews, reportedly because he didn't know that "rehearsels" would have been released as an album, but it did not change the reality. "Velvet Darkness," as the first record by Allan Holdsworth as a solo artist, is listed everywhere as his debut, including this site's database.  The album itself is not bad at all; on the contrary, it had a raw energy like none of his later albums, and those acoustic tracks are fantastic. Where did you get the information that there was a valid contract? I heard there were no legal documents. Anyway, if Allan does not recognize this as part of his discography then neither should anyone else. Allan called "Velvet Darkness" a bootleg. Yeah, it's not bad, but not his official debut.

The late Allan Holdsworth, at the time an already renowned guitarist who collaborated with many bands, was introduced to Creed Taylor, the founder of CTI Records, through fellow musician George Benson. This connection led to Holdsworth signing a recording contract with CTI Records in spring 1976. According to the general rule of that time, the label had the right to release everything the signed artist records for the duration of the contract within the context of a recording contract, including, for instance, the releases of live recordings if there were any. Engineer Rudy Van Gelder originally recorded the tracks for the album "Velvet Darkness" on 24–26 May and 18 June, 1976, at his Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey; it has been used to record many albums released by jazz labels such as Blue Note, Prestige, Verve, Impulse!, and CTI Records. Holdsworth subsequently claimed in the interviews that the album recording was done during a rehearsal session and that CTI Records released the tapes without getting permission from him or the other musicians who participated on the record. Reportedly, royalties were never given to any of the participating musicians for their efforts. CTI Records indeed faced financial problems at the time and even filed for bankruptcy in 1978. As a result, Holdsworth saw the album like a bootleg. However, Allan Holdsworth never took any legal action.

As CTI Records was a label known for its high-quality jazz recordings and for promoting artists who pushed the boundaries of jazz music, the fact that "Velvet Darkness" was released and distributed by a reputable label as CTI really indicated that "Velvet Darkness" as a release had official backing and support from the music industry at that time. Also, "Velvet Darkness" saw several reissues, both on CTI Records and other labels like King Records (Japan) and Talking Elephant (UK). Therefore, "Velvet Darkness" is not a bootleg but an officially released album, and hence it is listed on all reliable sites as Allan Holdsworth's first solo record.

Sir Prog-a-lot wrote: "Velvet Darkness" is Allan Holdsworth's solo (and very prog) debut. It was an official release by CTI Records, with whom Holdsworth had a valid contract that the label could release everything recorded. It's true that Holdsworth did not acknowledge it in the interviews, reportedly because he didn't know that "rehearsels" would have been released as an album, but it did not change the reality. "Velvet Darkness," as the first record by Allan Holdsworth as a solo artist, is listed everywhere as his debut, including this site's database.  The album itself is not bad at all; on the contrary, it had a raw energy like none of his later albums, and those acoustic tracks are fantastic.

Where did you get the information that there was a valid contract? I heard there were no legal documents. Anyway, if Allan does not recognize this as part of his discography then neither should anyone else. Allan called "Velvet Darkness" a bootleg. Yeah, it's not bad, but not his official debut.

I would add FM's Black Noise

AFlowerKingCrimson wrote: Family - Music In a Doll's House (at least as much of prog as PF's PATGOD)

Tag it prog or not, "Music In a Doll's House" is actually the proggiest album by Family.

Grumpyprogfan wrote: Allan Holdsworth - I.O.U.

"Velvet Darkness" is Allan Holdsworth's solo (and very prog) debut. It was an official release by CTI Records, with whom Holdsworth had a valid contract that the label could release everything recorded. It's true that Holdsworth did not acknowledge it in the interviews, reportedly because he didn't know that "rehearsels" would have been released as an album, but it did not change the reality. "Velvet Darkness," as the first record by Allan Holdsworth as a solo artist, is listed everywhere as his debut, including this site's database. 
The album itself is not bad at all; on the contrary, it had a raw energy like none of his later albums, and those acoustic tracks are fantastic.

Logan wrote: One could argue that the "Prog debut" of a band is not the first album necessarily, but the first album by a band that is Prog.

The Dark Elf wrote: cstack3 wrote: Question:  Which was the Genesis debut?   "From Genesis to Revelation" or "Trespass"?  The latter is surely the stronger LP!  Also, many of these bands had "proto-debut" LPs.   For example, "The Cheerful Insanity of Giles, Giles & Fripp" clearly led into ITCOTCK! Great discussion everyone!!  Paul, thanks for the amazing list!  As far as a "proto-debut" LP, I would include Jethro Tull's This Was from 1968. It may have been the first album under that band name, but it was more of a collaboration in blues-rock and jazz with Mick Abrahams and Ian Anderson sharing the spotlight. It wasn't until 1969's Stand Up that we get the truer prog direction of the band.