Aerosmith is a household name and one of the best selling hard rock bands of time, but their success didn't come easy. Tracing backing to their humble beginnings, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry were both brought up New Hampshire. Upon forming the band, five bandmates frequented neighboring Boston to their shows. Much like other prominent rock bands that we know today, Aerosmith too were only known locally. After three years of touring they became a well known rock act in New England, and managed to get the attention of Columbia Records.
The bands debut album, Aerosmith (1973), had their signature song, "Dream On" also with seven other good songs, but it failed to make an impression. The album wasn't reviewed on Rolling Stone, or by other music critics. But what did happen was that bandmates were mocked for their facial appearances; Steven Tyler was compared to Mick Jagger and Joe Perry was compared Keith Richards of Rolling Stones.
I think record companies are criminals
- Jon Bon Jovi
In the eyes of a major recording company, the album was a disaster. Columbia was hesitant of perpetuating a long term partnership with Aerosmith, but they failed to realize one thing: it was same that Bruce Springsteen, who was also affiliated with Columbia, released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen's debut album, on the other, was reviewed by critics, and was well received. Rolling Stone magazine label it as the 37th greatest debut album ever.
Main attribution for Springsteen early success was due to the fact that Columbia made a big effort to popularize it, despite having songs which weren't as good as Aerosmith's. The record company spent hundred times as much money on Bruce Springsteen as they did on Aerosmith.
Aerosmith, however, never gave up. They pushed on with adversity and went on to release some of the greatest songs and albums in the history of rock n' roll. Toys in the Attick and Rocks are considered to be some of their best works in the 1970s.
