There are periods where an artist or a group reach a creative peak and release a series of consecutive albums that are all masterpieces. These are an artists' Golden Age. Just curious, but what do you consider the golden age records of your favorite artists. Must be consecutive and "Greatest Hits" not allowed.
My fav is Stevie Wonder from:
Music of the Mind Talking Book Innervision Forfillingness First Finale Songs In the Key of Life
Recently, Steve Earle has had an INCREDIBLE run in the past few years: Train a Comin' 1995 I Feel Alright 1996 El Corazon 1997 The Mountain 1999 Transcendental Blues 2000 Jerusalem 2002
And that doesn't even include: Guitar Town 1986 Copperhead Road 1988
Bob Dylan performed quite a run ... twice ... and this is just counting my favorites:
Run #1
Bringing It All Back Home Highway 61 Revisited Blonde on Blonde John Wesley Harding Nashville Skyline New Morning Nashville Skyline Self Portrait New Morning
Run #2
Before the Flood Blood on the Tracks Basement Tapes Desire
For jazz fans, I think Paul Taylor's 4 releases are phenomenal. His sax has as unique a sound as any I have heard. No better way to wind down after a particularly rough day.
A favorite of mine, Singer and song writer Melissa Etheridge-- her first five albums: 1. Melissa Etheridge, 1988 2. Brave and Crazy, 1989 3. Never Enough, 1992 4. Yes I Am, 1993 5. Your Little Secret, 1995
I think I could also come up with a good list for the Cowboy Junkies, but these of Melissa Etheridge just sort of jumped out at me when I saw the question. Happy Holidays. Craig
The first thing that came to mind was a band called "Wire" from the UK. They were a highly influential "underground" band that many punk, metal and "college artists" took to heart. Some referred to them as the "Pink Floyd of punk rock". Michael Stipe of REM once said that if it was not for Wire, he would have never wanted to be in a band.
Their first three albums are great and are probably my favorite of all time. The recordings really must be listened to in the order that they were released to fully understand the transition that took place within this band. Their album titles in order of release were as follows:
Pink Flag Chairs Missing 154
The band split up and splintered into different directions, which were QUITE varied from one another. I had written a small novel on the band and the various recording efforts that came out of the various members, but i'll spare you my "enthusiasm" for this group. I would also add that these recordings sound FAR better on vinyl than on CD as something must have gotten lost in the "mastering". That "raw edge" just doesn't come across on digital : ) Sean >
Hard to gainsay Audionut's list--as far as I'm concerned, that's as good as it gets. But in honor of Joe Strummer, how about this nomination for the late great Clash:
Boy October War Live/Under A Blood Red Sky (one of the most powerful live performances I've heard. The raw energy is captured quite vividly on this disc, although it is not a very good recording). The Unforgettable Fire The Joshua Tree
I would also like to second the mention of The Dave Mathews Band. I've just become acquainted with their music this year and they are nothing short of brilliant. I think he is an outstanding singer/songwriter. I love all of his albums and use them as part of my reference recordings when I test/audition gear, especially the album Crash.......John
The following statements are received wisdon and not open to dispute:
Steely Dan - all hi quality, but Countdown, Royal Scam & Gaucho a step above the rest. They're also non-consecutive so they don't rate an entry in this post. BTW, the best overall SD album is Fagen's "Nightfly" followed by Becker's "11 Tracks of Whack". It's a fact!
Led Zep - highly rated, but IV (symbols) and Houses of the Holy clearly superior to the rest. A tremendous 1-2 punch!
Clash - made only 1 masterpiece, London Calling. It's a fact!
Rolling Stones - Audionut, Ya-Ya is relatively weak, but the other four a so strong that they earn an "Advance to Park Place".
Neil Young - everybody knows that #s 8, 28, 37-39 and 43 are weak. Even Neil says so. It's a fact!
Mr. Dylan - Rar1, I agree with your first list. Maybe the strongest consecutive albums, ever. It's a fact!
Joni Mitchell - Viridian, my consecutive Joni list is #1 - Hejira & Don Juan and #2 Wild Things, Dog Eat Dog, Chalk Marks & Night Ride Home. To each his own.
Several people have posted that all the albums by an artists are masterpieces. WRONG!!! The only group that comes close is the original Little Feat, Time Loves A Hero is the weak link. It's a fact!
Onhwy61, I find your post highly objectionable. I don't know whether it was arrogance or ignorance which caused you to confuse your opinions with "fact".
That quality which makes a particular album or group of albums "great" is highly subjective and open to interpretation. The other posts have expressed their heartfelt opinions and I respect that. While I may agree or disagree with a particular post, I do not have the right to elevate my opinions above all others by calling them "fact". And neither do you.
One point I think we can all agree on is that it is an extraordinarily difficult task for an artist or group of artists to have 5 "great" albums in a row. Even the best will stumble from time to time.
Whew, have I ever been walking around in a fog. For years, I have been laboring under the delusion that the Clash's debut album, Steely Dan's "Pretzel Logic," and Joni Mitchell's "Blue" were all classics!
Can't argue with Joni, Gabriel, Steely Dan or the Beatles
Here's a stab at a few not mentioned yet
Genesis - Foxtrot, Live, Selling England, Lamb Lies Down, Trick of the Tail, Wind and Weathering, Seconds Out then it goes quickly downhill ala Phil Collins
Kinsekd, my tongue was firmly in cheek and that's a fact! Waltersalas, I have multiple copies of every Steely Dan album because I've worn them out from so much listening. I also have 3 copies of Mitchell's "Blue" for the same reason.
Also, when starting the post I never meant to set a standard of 5 consecutive masterpiece albums. Just 2 or 3 in a row is truly amazing.
The word fan is derived from fanatic and be definition fanatics have a hard time agreeing on anything.
The Yes Album Fragile Close To The Edge (this run might arguably continue through Going For The One, but I think the post CttE albums fall just short of masterpieces)
In Rock Fireball Machine Head Made In Japan
The Blue Mask Legendary Hearts New Sensations
Face To Face Something Else Village Green Preservation Society Arthur Lola v. Powerman and the Moneygoround (not counting the Percy soundtrack--which isn't bad at all) Muswell Hillbillies
Absolutely agree with Zeppelin. For King Crimson, did Islands precede Larks Tongue? If so, I would add that to the list. For Little Feat, I would include Time Loves a Hero. I would add Pink Floyd (everything from Meddle through Division Bell) and the Moody Blues (who really had quite the run (Days of Future Passed, In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream, Seventh Sojourn, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, Question of Balance -- not in order). Finally, the first two Santana albums were fantastic -- Santana and Abraxas. Good thread -- I'll have to check out Wire.
Moody Blues: 1. Days of Future Passed 2. In Search of the Lost Chord 3. A Question of Balance 4. On the Threshold of a Dream 5. To Our Children's Children's Children 6. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour 7. Seventh Sojourn
Probably the best consecutive albums every produced by ANY artist! (IMHO)
The first four by The Ramones (The best damn four in a row by anyone, anytime, ever)
The first five by The Clash (none of these were as good as any of the above Ramones albums, but there were no stinkers in this sequence either)
Everything by The Pogues (until Shane left)
Everything by The Rolling Stones (until Goat's Head Soup, whereupon The Stones proceeded to set a still unbroken record for the longest streak of totally crappy albums by any band!)
Truth be told, my fellow gonsters, the question as to who has released the most consecutive great rock dics has to come down to either Van Morrison or Bob Dylan. Both veterans are now in the midst of an astonishingly strong hitting streak.
I would like to add Radiohead: The Bends - OK Computer - Kid A. Not only are all three of these albums great, they all have a markedly different sound and show the progression of one of the most creative bands of recent years.
Cool thread. Thanks, Tom Ryan, for picking up the Band. I'd include Stage Fright to make it three in a row... not as highly regarded as Big Pink and The Band by most, but to me it's also a great album.
Good one, Bld63, on the R&B. Is that the chronological order for those Funkadelic albums?
Thanks Jayboard. I might have cheated a little as the list includes parliament and funkadelic albums (figured it was all the same p-funk/george clinton thing, my understanding is the reason for two recording entities was not only that funkadelic allowed more 'artistic' freedom but there were record company contractual issues). As far as chronological order I might have a couple transposed but I'm pretty sure these five were consecutive.
Days of the New - I, II & III Coldplay - Parachutes & A Rush of Blood to the Head Radiohead - The Bends, OK Computer Live - Mental Jewelry, Throwing Copper, Secret Samahdi
John Coltrane 1963-66. This was the period of the "Quartet," featuring McCoy, Jimmy, and Elvin. The ablums are "A Love Supreme," "Sun Ship," "Transitions," "Meditations." These are all on Impulse, and they are noted for composition, improvisation, and virtuosity. This is easily my favorite of Trane's periods.
Have to go along with the Dylan runs. Already mentioned, therefore no need to repeat them, except to say that if he comes out with another winner, then "Time Out of Mind," "Love and Theft," and whatever comes next will be a third or fourth great run.
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