10 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Albums - Ranked!
9. Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
The 1984 self-titled debut album comes in next.
Despite it being an important moment in the band’s ascent to stardom, the album failed to capture the raw energetic sound of the live performances the band was known for. This in part can be attributed to the fact that founding members guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons did not play on the album, both having left the band for other projects.
Slovak’s unique funk-rock blend of melodic guitar riffs and explosive solos had helped make the band famous on the underground LA scene, and despite the band stating on many occasions the importance of recording guitarist Jack Sherman’s contribution, both Flea and Kiedis maintain that the original demo recordings with Slovak were the true embodiment of their early work.
The album has been noted as being one of the first true funk-rock-rap albums and despite its position on this list, it’s a record any Chili Peppers fan should hear.