What are some of the more inauspicious debuts to you? By this, I mean albums by people where you go-"I don't even really consider that them". Or, an album that is just so obviously a starting point it didn't really tell you squat about how good a band was going to be. Some of these records are OK and others are abominable (see Genesis).
Here are some of mine off the top of my head in no order:

Genesis-Genesis To Revelations
Yes-Yes
Rush-Rush
Y Kant Tori Read (Tori Amos)
Judas Priest-Rocka Rolla
UFO-UFO
Deep Purple-Shades Of Deep Purple
Billy Joel-Cold Spring Harbour
Thin Lizzy-Thin Lizzy
Golden Earring-Just Earrings
The Cult-Dreamtime
Pantera-Metal Magic (this would frighten any fan who didn't know about the Hair Metal era!)
Ministry-With Sympathy (and another great example-I believe some Ministry fans might hunt down Al Jourgensen for this one, but it's actually good 80s synth-pop)
Alice Cooper-Pretties For You

"Alanis"--Alanis Morissette

I know I posted something similar recently, but I'll say again that I consider this a very good album, one that I consider on par with his next few releases.

Empty Sky - Elton John. Not a bad album by any means, but the follow-up was a significant leap forward.

Del Amitri - Del Amitri (from 1985). Sounds like a completely different group.

Creedence Clearwater Revival's self-titled debut.

It's not a "bad" album by an means. It just suffers in comparison to their next five albums (Bayou Country, Green River, Willy and the Poor Boys, Cosmo's Factory, and Pendulum), which were stronger and more consistent. Then, of course, they self-destructed on their seventh and final album (Mardi Gras).

Big Brother & the Holding Co. (Maintstream album)

Talk Talk's first album

Simple Minds - Life In A Day

New Order - Movement (don't get me wrong i quite like this album, but it really isn't their sound yet)

Stoney and Meatloaf

XTC - White Music. Not a bad album for what it is, but I always thought they were trying a little too hard to sound quirky. I don't think they really started hitting their stride until Drums & Wires (3rd album) and Black Sea (4th album).

Ambrose Slade - Beginnings
Slade's debut showed no hint of the glam rock stompers to come, it was pretty standard rock covers fare.

This is an easy one:


1 or 2 songs that would be great as "SUPERDEFORMED" productions (I'm thinking "Quiet Her"), but mostly MOR dreck.

Sony has wisely disabled embedding on the following clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcV-_9QDhP4

The Beatles - My Bonnie (backing up Tony Sheridan)

The Moody Blues - Go Now
:> good album, great single (w/Denny laine on Vox), not typical MB's

Tangerine Dream - Electronic Meditation
:> put this one on when you want to clear a room. I dig it though and put it on as
:>I hand out candy at Halloween