For musical artists, releasing a self-titled album is somewhat of a rite of passage. Often, artists put out eponymous albums as their way of introducing themselves to the world. Other times, musicians release their namesake album toward the middle or end of their careers.
In either case, many of these albums are firmly cemented in musical history. In this post, we’ve rounded up eight of the most popular self-titled albums that rose to the top of the charts. Take a look.
The Doors, The Doors
Los Angeles-based rock band, The Doors, released their debut, self-titled album in 1967. Some of their most famous singles appeared on this album, including “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” and “Light My Fire.”
The Beatles, The Beatles (also known as The White Album)
By the time The Beatles came out in 1968, the band members were already bonafide superstars. The album quickly landed the number-one spot on charts around the world, due to songs like “Blackbird” and “Back in the U.S.S.R.”
Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was released in 1969, and while it wasn’t as commercially successful as the band’s follow-up albums, it features tracks adored by classic rock lovers. “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “Good Times Bad Times” are two standouts.
Boston, Boston
Boston achieved massive success with their debut album, released in 1976. The LP is one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 17 million copies sold in the United States alone. Their iconic single “More Than a Feeling” is now considered one of the top songs in classic rock history.
Van Halen, Van Halen
Van Halen took the hard rock scene by storm when they released their debut self-titled album in 1978. It reached as high as #19 on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than 10 million copies since, on the backs of singles like “Runnin’ with the Devil” and their cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”
Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
In 1985, Whitney Houston released her Grammy-nominated debut album and showed the world just how powerful her voice was. The LP hit number one in several countries, featuring the hit singles “Saving All My Love for You” and “How Will I Know.”
Metallica, Metallica (also known as The Black Album)
Rock legends Metallica put out their eponymous album in 1991, and it’s sold more than 16 million copies in the years since. Metallica includes several of the band’s most famous songs, including “Enter Sandman” and “Nothing Else Matters.”
Weezer, Weezer (also known as The Blue Album)
Weezer introduced themselves to the world in 1994 with The Blue Album. More than 25 years later, it has become an alternative rock classic. “Undone — The Sweater Song” and “Say It Ain’t So” are two of its catchiest tracks.
Although the rise of digital music streaming services has slowed the pace of worldwide album sales, many talented artists continue to release self-titled albums that will undoubtedly become future classics.
For more music-related content, visit the Melodyful blog.
