Some artists release a self-titled album as their first album - this introduces them, and I have no problem or question about that.

I do wonder, though, why some artists release self-titled albums years into their career - is this a sign of the album somehow being a "definitive" album for them, or just that they couldn't think of a title that summed it up?

Which self-titled albums do you consider to be the definitive statement of the artist, and which just seem odd in some way?
[Edited 5/2/06 7:56am]

Definitely that Led Zeppelin album.

After the introductory phase, self titled albums are usually sure signs of a lack of lyrical inspiration. When Prince wrote "Purple Rain" you can bet your mother and your pet dogs' life he wasn't sitting around thinking, "Hmmm... now what am I going to call this album?"

I always wonder why and artist would self title an album years into their career.

Heart is one. They defined themselves in the 80's when they were a 70's rock and roll band.

Erasure is another one. Though I have to say all of their music started sounding the same after their self titled came out.

Duran Duran's Wedding album is another odd choice...though I think it was redefining their carreer as it was the 2nd self titled.

But hands down for out and out wierdness is SEAL. Nuff siad.

I think it's more of a marketing thing. Buyers don't have to remember two pieces of information when they are buying the record. So what better way to "refresh" your career trajectory than to pretend like your self-titled is a fresh start?

Originally, Liz Phair's 4th album was going to be called Happy Tragic Thing, but at the last minute it was switched to Liz Phair. If that's who the real Liz is, give me the sexy, potty-mouthed, stoner, indie wordsmith that formerly inhabited her body.

Because Divas love Self-Titled albums

bublebath said:

Wouldn't this be her true self-titled?

Diana Ross wins for most self-indulgence in eponymous albums.

Doesn't she have like 5 different albums titled "Diana Ross" or some shit?

VoicesCarry said:

And Barbra Streisand for annoying usage of her name in the title.

GangstaFam said:

Simply Streisand
Streisandiful
Who's That Streisand?
Streisand Throat

bublebath said:

Don't forget ol gurl Whitney

VoicesCarry said:

Are those for real?

GangstaFam said:

No, but I'm sure they were considered

VoicesCarry said:

Bye Bye Babs!

Donna Summer, Just One Self-Titled Diva?

What about Dusty?
Dusty (1964), A Girl Called Dusty (1964), Just Dusty (1968), and of course Dusty in Memphis (1969)

bublebath said:

Definately not her definitive album....It's ironic since it's the least "Donna Summer" album she released. She only co-wrote two tracks and one of those, the rather stunning "Love Is Just A Breath Away" is heavily MJ/Quincy influenced.

I'm happy someone brought this up because I always thought it was wack when people just name their cds after their name. It shows no imagination or creativity what so ever! To answer your question, I think it's laziness and lame!

One of my all-time favorites has to be Sebastian Bach's Bring 'Em Bach Alive!.

GangstaFam said:

that's pretty darn funny. did you see him on the 40 best metal songs count down? he's looking pretty good again.

dancerella said:

I think that he's going to be part of this VH1 show called "Supergroup" with Ted Nugent, the guitar player from Anthrax and a few others.

interestingly,Madonna's first album was originally titled "Lucky Star",but they decided to call it simply "Madonna".Here is the original artwork...

VinnyM27 said:

At an early stage,this album was titled "The Woman In Me",but David Geffen decided that it would be her self-titled album.

superspaceboy said:

Yeah - as a Seal fan from day 1 (Adamski's Killer) I never quite understood this, but I kind of like it. In some ways I wish Human Being was just called Seal like the first two, especially since the follow up was called Seal IV:



Incidentally, I read on the official Seal forum that he is currently working on Seal V, with a release "imminent".

booyah said:

Laziness.

Not to mention all Chicago craplbums

In this case, laziness most definitely

VoicesCarry said:

the real deep throat????

DavidEye said:

I fuckin' love that cover!