Artists whose first single was the best thing they ever did.

"Sweet Child o' Mine" was GNR's first single? I thought it was "Welcome to the Jungle".

Actually, according to Wikipedia, their first single was "It's So Easy".

Oasis

First single was Welcome To The Jungle... I fail at youtube link paste

The Beautiful South

Le Tigre: Deceptacon
PIL: Public Image

Status Quo

Flaming Lips, if "My Own Planet" (main song on their debut EP) counts as a single.

Soundgarden ("Hunted Down"/"Nothing To Say")

ESG, if "Moody" (main song on their debut EP) counts as a single.

Gang of Four, "Damaged Goods" (45 version)

Pylon, "Cool"

The Pack, "Vans"

Too many old-school rap artists to name.

Some of these have probably already been named; don't have time to search them. If so, I second them. (And I third "Radio Free Europe" while I'm at it):

Patti Smith "Piss Factory"/"Hey Joe"

Vanilla Ice, "Ice Ice Baby" (original version)

Pet Shop Boys, "West End Girls"

Killing Joke, "Change"/"Requiem"

The Knack, "My Sharona"

Poison, "Talk Dirty To Me"

Was (Not Was), "Wheel Me Out"

Onyx, "Ah, And We Do It Like This"

Jesus & Mary Chain, "Upside Down"

Age Of Chance, "Bible Of The Beats"

Test Dept., "Compulsion"/"Pulsations"

Soul Asylum, "Tied To The Tracks"

Big Daddy Kane - "Raw"

Dire Straits, "Sultans Of Swing"

Maybe: The Police, "Fall Out"

Amazed to learn that "Go Now!" was actually not the Moody Blues' debut single (merely their second), so not them, I guess.

Agree on Annie (and lots of other ones above)

Disagree on The Monkees (whose best track was "Steppin' Stone") (and lots of other other ones above.)

Gretchen Wilson, "Redneck Woman"

I have to say, Chuck, that I find the Flaming Lips choice very puzzling, to think that they never topped "My Own Planet" -- to each his own I guess!

Have yet to agree with any response

Mission of Burma

Amazed to learn that "Go Now!" was actually not the Moody Blues' debut single (merely their second), so not them, I guess.

And every single one of their 1967-72 singles >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Go Now" anyway.

Really disagree with the Beta Band nomination in the first post; much as I love Champion Versions, Los Amigos is better in my mind.

Staggered that Doves haven't been mentioned so far.

cuz Here It Comes" is not the best thing they ever done did?

God no; Cedar Room by lightyears.

Beyonce

Lily Allen

(Crazy In Love was Beyonce's first single, right?)

(solo, yes)

What about Work It?

C'mon xhuxk, "Bible of the Beat" was Age of Chance's greatest moment, but was their second single.

There's an "original version" of "Ice Ice Baby"?

"Upside Down"? "Everything Flows"? "Arnold Layne"? WTFever.

Gnarls Barkley

if musically means work it out then yes, if she means crazy in love then no

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubd2uUPT5ww

Bell Biv Devoe - 'Poison'

Speaking of Poison, their first single was "Cry Tough", xhuck. (xposts)

the streets

Flo Rida

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_aHlHc_Vb4

ignore the shit video please. and everything else they ever did.

Phoenix

I had the misfortune recently of seeing the Guillemots with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra recently at the British Council birthday and it was one of the most insipid jam offs ive ever seen.

yep i bet. some dire shit. that song never fails to give me goosebumps however. the bastards.

i think it's because it sounds like dexys. and nothing else they did does.

how have they ended up working with alex ward and loads of other improv weirdos? seems another example of average band being presented with how middle of the road they actually are after finding fame and thrashing around trying to get in the wire

I have no axe to grind for Guillemots but I think the Alex Ward connection goes back several years so I don't think it was a sudden post-"fame" credibility grab. Their drummer was in skronky theatrical hardcore band Camp Blackfoot with him in the 90s if memory serves.

(May be mixing my facts here as I have v. little interest in Guillemots; saw CB a bunch and miss them, however)

The Sound--"Heyday"

Slipknot - "Wait and Bleed"

In a similar vein, Linkin Park - "One Step Closer".

Also The Sugababes.