"the greatest four-record run in rock history"

Stevie Wonder - Talking Back Innervisions/ Fulfillingness First Finale/ Songs in the Key of Life

Or, maybe the Velvets (boring I know)

Stevie Wonder - Talking Book/ Innervisions/ Fulfillingness First Finale/ Songs in the Key of Life

5th Fairports' album is better than the 1st (reissued one at least) (xpost)

Also hard not to include the Beatles, though which four? -- I'd take Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Magical Mystery Tour as the best string.

Also Can: Monster Movie ---> Ege Bamyasi

And I'd give Roxy Music 5, for each album through Siren.

Todd Rungren almost it pulled off - "The Ballad of Todd Rundgren" ---> "Todd" - but not quite.

First four Steeleye Span albums = all good.

Incredible String Band, if you count "Wee Tam" and "The Big Huge" as separate albums - but I don't.

Somebody should nominate Chic, too, by the way. And Donna Summer.

Beefheart - Safe as Milk to Lick My Decals Off

... so that's a yes!

you rated it pretty highly in Stairway!

Also (unpopular choice?), Pavement.

CCR is correct, as is Dylan (but which four will inspire no end of argument).

Getting slightly outside "rock," how about Randy Newman?

I had an editor ween me quickly from using the word "arguably" in a review. It's reduntant, since the fact that you're saying it already means it's being argued. Besides, anything and everything can be "argued."

"Brick" is arguably the worst packaged Talking Heads boxed set since the last one.

Anyway, CCR wins.

springsteen: born to run/darkness on the edge of town/the river/nebraska

Cats and Dogs, Thank You, Sweet Sixteen, Accelerator, Veterans of Disorder, Pound For Pound (choose any four in order!)

Bad Attitude
Oblivion
Rainbow People
Heading To The Light

Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (CD) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (Mispress) (2xLP) Tresor
Berlin / Late Night (12") Pow Wow Records
Beyond / Dark Matter (12") ULR One
Dark Matter (12") Undertow Records
Waveform Transmission Vol. 1 (CD) Pow Wow Records
Beyond... / Dark Matter (12") Two Thumbs
Confidentials 5-8 (12") Axis
Cycle 30 (12") Axis
Growth (12") Axis
The Extremist (12") Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (CD) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (LP) Tresor
The Purpose Maker (12") Axis
Confidentials 1-4 (12") Axis
Mix-Up Vol. 2 (12") Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Mix-Up Vol. 2 (12") Sony Techno (S3)
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) Purpose Maker
Shifty Disco EP (12") International Deejay Gigolo Records
The Dancer (12") Purpose Maker
The Other Day (Promo) (12") Axis
The Other Day EP (12") Axis
Very EP (12") Axis
Force Universelle EP (12") Purpose Maker
Inner Life / Medusa (12") React
Kat Moda EP (12") Purpose Maker
Kat Moda EP (Mispress) (12") Purpose Maker
More Drama (12") Axis
Our Man From Havana (12") Purpose Maker
Steampit EP (12") Purpose Maker
Steampit EP Mispress (12") Purpose Maker
The Other Day (CD) Sony Techno (S3)
The Other Day (CD) React
The Other Day (CD) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
Tomorrow (12") Axis
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (Detroit Cut) (2xLP) Tresor
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (Re-release) (2xLP) Tresor
From The 21st (CD) SMEJ Associated Records
Purpose Maker Live Series (12") Purpose Maker
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) Neuton
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) React
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) 541
Purpose Maker Compilation (2xLP) Purpose Maker
The Art Of Connecting (CD) Hardware
Vanishing Act EP (12") Purpose Maker
Waveform Transmission Vol. 3 (CD) Tresor
Apollo EP (12") Axis
If / Tango (12") Purpose Maker
Preview (12") Tomorrow
Skin Deep EP (12") Purpose Maker
Circus (12") Purpose Maker
Lifelike (CD) Music Man Records
Lifelike (CD) SMEJ Associated Records
Lifelike (CD) Labels
Lifelike EP (12") Axis
Lifelike EP (12") Music Man Records
Metropolis (CD) Tresor
Metropolis (12") Axis
Purpose Maker Compilation (CD) So Dens
The Art Of Connecting (CD) Nextera
The Other Day (CD) So Dens
4 Art / UFO (12") Axis
At First Sight (CD) Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)
AX-009 A/B (2x12") Axis
AX-009 A/B (Mispress) (2x12") Axis
Conquest (12") Axis
Jet Set (12") Purpose Maker
Metropolis 2 (12") Tresor
The Electrical Experience (12") Purpose Maker
Time Machine (12") Axis
Actual (2x12") Axis
Actual (CD) Axis
At First Sight (CD) 541
At First Sight (2xLP) React
At First Sight (CD) React
At First Sight (CD) True People
At First Sight (2xLP) True People
At First Sight (CDr) React
Late Night (Archiv #04) (12") Tresor
Time Machine (CD) Tomorrow
Alarms (Ben Sims Remixes) (12") Axis
Condor To Mallorca (Ken Ishii Remixes) (12") Axis
Kana (12") Purpose Maker
Medium (2x12") Axis
Medium (CD) Axis
See The Light Part 1 (12") Axis
See The Light Part 2 (12") Axis
See The Light Part 3 (12") Axis
The Divine EP (12") Purpose Maker
Twilight Scenario (12") NSC Records
Absolutespecial (7") Axis
Axis Copper Edition (12") Axis
Contactspecial (7") Axis
Exhibitionist 12" Sampler (12") React
Exhibitionist EP (12") Music Man Records
Expanded (12") Axis
From The 21st Pt. 1 (12") Axis
From The 21st Pt. 2 (12") Axis
Highlightspecial (7") Axis
The Tomorrow Time Forgot (12") Axis
Three Ages (CD+DVD) MK2 Music
Three Ages (CD) MK2 Music
Three Ages / Present Age (Part One) (12") MK2 Music
Connectionspecial (7") Axis
Contact Special (CD) Axis
Illuminationspecial (7") Axis
Infinitespecial (7") Axis
Scenariospecial (7") Axis
Suspense / Dramatized (12") Axis
Syntheticspecial (7") Axis
The Bells (DVD Single) Axis
Three Ages / Keaton's Theme (Part Three) (12") MK2 Music
Three Ages / Roman Age (Part Two) (12") MK2 Music
Time Mechanic EP (12") Axis
Transformationspecial (7") Axis

like...STEP TO ENCHANTMENT for example

Qs and comments.

I def. prefer Get Happy to My Aim is True. My Aim is True has a lot of home runs, but some songs sound slight and/or underdeveloped.

If the Rolling Stones best 4 is not beggar's --?exile, then what? Now --> Aftermath?

Are we saying CCR is CCR --> Willy (doubt it) or Bayou --> Cosmo's (a strong candidate)?

I am a big pavement fan and I'd say they have a great argument for best three-record run, but not four.

Which Randy Newman ? s/t --> Good Old Boys (Is 12 songs being reissued soon?)

Nope that's just right..first four are by FAR the best!

other than that, StanM says what I'd say: those first four Nick Cave solo joints are to my mind the most incredible four-album run ever

She's The Boss -> Primitive Cool -> Wandering Spirit -> Goddess In The Doorway.

I know this is overgrumpy but there should be a diff thread for Good-to-Great Four Album Runs and this one for The Greatest Four-Album Run In History

Is this not the "name four albums in a row without missing one?"

Ha ha, yeah Jandek. He might make my top 500? I'm sure Matt DC is joking about solo Jagger.

Regarding the Sound Opinions show, they do a great job talking about music, but not sure they can pull off justifying Songs in the Key of Life, The Hot Rock, 808s And Heartbreak, Candy Apple Grey, Mummer, or all the Blur albums!

Greg doesn't defend the bloaty Songs in the Key or 808s, but does a decent job with The Hot Rock (S-K are lower in my own list). Jim justifies Led Zep III but doesn't really need to. I like all these artists, but Blur? Come on! I liked them at the time, but don't listen to them anymore because their sum is lesser than their parts. You just can't justify ranking them over The Jam, The Kinks, erm The Beatles (I assume they are counting the TV soundtrack Magical Mystery Tour to count them out?).

idiocy - magical mystery tour is my favorite beatles record

don't be so hard on yourself

this is a long drive...
the lonesome crowded west
the moon and antactica
good news for people...

modest mouse- long drive, lonesome crowded west, moon & Antarctica, good news

― all my friends are vampires (art), Friday, October 30, 2015 8:35 AM (4 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

this is a long drive...
the lonesome crowded west
the moon and antactica
good news for people...

― nicky lo-fi, Friday, October 30, 2015 12:50 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

cosigned - and they're all double albums!

Born Sandy Devotional/In The Pines/Calenture/The Black Swan

Brave Words/Submarine Bells/Soft Bomb/Silver Bullets

Smeared/Twice Removed/One Chord To Another/Navy Blues

L'Echappee Belle/Immobile/Faux Mouvement/Autour De Lucie

Realistic/Apartment Life/Long Distance/In The Clear (not forgetting Guestroom)

Gala/Spooky/Split/Lovelife

Don't know if these all qualify for *greatness* but I love 'em.

In on the Killtaker / Red Medicine / End Hits / The Argument

Some would say Fugazi had a 6-album run but I never quite got into their first two. Good, but I don't love them. I'm ignoring Instrument Soundtrack too.

If Gala counts I'd start with Kaleidoscope World for the Chills.

Ry Cooder's first four albums (Ry Cooder, Boomer's Story, Into the Purple Valley and Paradise and Lunch).

Alice Cooper: Love It To Death/Killer/School's Out/Billion Dollar Babies

A River Ain't Too Much To Love - Woke on a Whaleheart - Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle - Apocalypse.

I could happily push this to five by including Supper if it wasn't for the inclusion of Driving.

Orbital 2, Snivilisation, In Sides, The Middle of Nowhere.

Tubeway Army, Replicas, The Pleasure Principle, Telekon.

The Shape of Jazz to Come / Change of the Century / This Is Our Music / Free Jazz

Head / Goat / Liar / Down

Ten Spot / Funeral at the Movies / Get Your Goat / Pony Express Record

For Respect / Don Caballero 2 / What Burns Never Returns / American Don

Amber, Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5

Streetcleaner / Pure / Selfless / Songs of Love and Hate

The Shape of Jazz to Come / Change of the Century / This Is Our Music / Free Jazz

Some of my favorite rock LPs right there.

Tri Repetae, Chiastic Slide, LP5, Confield

y'all are being absurd so fine

peng/transient random-noise bursts/mars audiac quintet/emperor tomato ketchup
congregation/gentlemen/black love/1965
painful/electr-o-pura/i can hear the heart beating as one/and nothing turned itself inside out

prob beggars banquet thru exile tho

have we named all the rock bands yet

re: Modest Mouse, 'Good News' kinda stinks. now if 'Building Nothing Out of Something' counts ... (which it shouldn't)

We haven't mentioned Status Quo yet.

The Punch Line/What Makes a Man Start Fires?/Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat/Double Nickels on the Dime

Tbh my Jandek post was kind of in jest because we'd jumped the 'name 4 album's shark by then. Many xpost.

a thousand leaves / *SKIP NYC GHOSTS & FLOWERS* / murray street / sonic nurse / rather ripped

album by a band / another album by the same band / next album by the same band / album after that

Little Feat
Sailing' Shoes
Dixie Chicken
Feats Don't Fail Me Now

Menstrual Samples
Let There Be Shit
Fuck Frenzy
Ecstasy Of Death

Little Feat
Sailing' Shoes
Dixie Chicken
Feats Don't Fail Me Now

― henry s, Saturday, October 31, 2015 3:05 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

co-sign. i might go Sailin' Shoes thru The Last Record Album, though.

X-Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun, More Fun in the New World.

Top THAT run!

nobody else repping for santana, smdh

From Me To U/Back Like Cooked Crack 1/Back Like Cooked Crack 2/ What The Game's Been Missing

Morning glory, be here now, masterplan, sosg

I know jazz should be probably judged a bit differently than most other popular music, but it's kinda hard to beat Herbie Hancock's record: 14 great albums in 12 years, starting from his solo debut:

Takin' Off
My Point of View
Inventions & Dimensions
Empyrean Isles
Maiden Voyage
Blow-Up
Speak Like a Child
The Prisoner
Fat Albert Rotunda
Mwandishi
Crossings
Sextant
Head Hunters
Thrust

And even after Thrust his studio albums were still pretty good, it's only Feets Don't Me Fail Now, Herbie's 20th LP (and that's not counting various live albums), that's his first mediocre record. That's quite a feat!

Fat Albert Rotunda
Mwandishi
Crossings
Sextant

YES

Tuomas otm!!

I've only heard one Herbie Hancock album :(

and I'm surprised no one has nominated

Road to Rouen
Diamond Hoo Ha
Here Come the Bombs
Matador

Gaz doesn't post here.

I'm currently working my way through the classic late-'60s-to-mid-'70s era of jazz funk/fusion and I, too, agree with Tuomas's assessment.

My own answer to the question posed by this thread depends in part upon whether we count Mt. Vernon and Fairway as a separate album.

Cream's four albums (Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire, Goodbye--their entire discography) each have numerous brilliant songs. Ditto Chuck Berry's first four: After School Session, One Dozen Berrys, Chuck Berry Is on Top, Rockin' at the Hops. And there must be a bigger Elvis P. fan than I am who can figure out his best four-album run.

I'd argue for From Elvis in Memphis, Back in Memphis, That's the Way It Is, Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old), but it's tough to do straight runs in Elvis's catalog because he put out like three albums a year, and two of the three were either live records or compilations with a couple of new tracks thrown in.

1980: Chipmunk Punk
1981: Urban Chipmunk
1981: A Chipmunk Christmas
1982: Chipmunk Rock

Really an unbelievable run in just two years. Even the Beatles can't touch this.

Another Flippin' Party / Anytime Is Party Time / Music Hall Party / Non-Stop Honky Tonk Party

(xxpost) I'd work around that stuff with anyone. For Elvis, I was thinking Elvis Presley/Elvis/For LP Fans Only/A Date with Elvis, which would entail skipping the Christmas album (which I know is highly regarded itself). You also get a lot of Sun stuff scattered across those albums.