Debut solo albums by big band singers

Every morning the birthday section of the local newspaper prints the names of famous people who were born on that particular day, and there is almost always a prominent musician among them. In some cases, the publisher finds it necessary to mention the name of the band, as the musician is probably not known to many people who might know the group.

Yesterday the newspaper featured Steve Vai, an esteemed but not widely recognized guitarist. For whatever reason, none of the bands Vai worked with accompanied his name, although that information might have helped music fans identify him more clearly.

Their most famous collaboration was through rock legend Frank Zappa, but Vai worked with many notable artists over the next several decades. My first introduction to Vai came through David Lee Roth, after I bought the former Van Halen singer’s first solo album. Eat them and smile.

Steve Vai had a huge role on that album, but it still ended with a lukewarm reception. Most Van Halen fans, like myself, were disappointed in Roth’s first solo effort.

He wasn’t the first major band singer to release a solo debut album that fell short of expectations, and here are ten others.

Mr bad boy by Freddie Mercury

The Queen frontman took a disco approach on his first release without his three companions, so fans of old records like A Night at the opera Y Direct heart attack they were destined to be a little disappointed. The album has some tracks that have aged well, such as “Man Made Paradise” and “Living On My Own”.

Self-titled by Ian Hunter

After the last two delicious Mott the Hoople records, Hunter managed to score a hit of his own with “Once Bitten Twice Shy.” Few of the other songs here, however, meet the standards his band had set.

The night flies by Donald Fagen

“New Frontier” was a huge success and most of the songs have endured, but as a whole this collection pales in the face of Steely Dan’s discography.

bliss by Ric Ocasek

Sounds like something his band The Cars could have done, just clinging too much to a new wave sound that was already fading.

I I can’t stay still by Don Henley

People who loved the Eagles rock and country alike probably regretted it when the singing drummer filled his first record with mostly nondescript pop tunes like “Dirty Laundry.”

Self-titled by Eric Carmen

Carmen played power pop like “Go All the Way” with the Raspberries, only to do a full eighty by himself on songs like “Never Gonna Fall In Love Again”.

Intriguing dreamer by Steve Walsh

The energetic Kansas stage leader went off on his own to release an album with just seven songs, one of which was a cover of Elvis Presly’s “That’s All Right.”

Daltrey by Roger Daltrey

Busy starring in rock opera Tommy and singing most of the songs for The Who, Daltrey probably had limited time to devote to this solo release.

Pictures at eleven by Robert Plant

He would enjoy a lot of solo success later on, but this initial release was like a leading zeppelin.

Nominal value by Phil Collins

“In the Air” was a great success, but the record deviated too much from the work Collins did with Genesis in the early years.

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