"the greatest four-record run in rock history"

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

The Return of Doug Saldana
Doug Sahm and Band
Texas Tornado
Groover's Paradise

I assume you're going by release date rather than by recording date (i.e. you're not including Mirror Man) in order to make that 4 - but even so, Strictly Personal wasn't exactly one of Don's crowning achievements.

I'd be more inclined to go by recording date (thus conveniently moving Mirror Man back before Trout Mask Replica) ans suggest TMR > Decals > Spotlight Kid > Clear Spot.

american fool
uh-huh
scarecrow
the lonesome jubilee

over much of what has been argued here.

1980 Dirty Mind Warner
1981 Controversy Warner
1983 1999 Warner
1984 Purple Rain Warner
1985 Around the World in a Day Paisley Park
1986 Parade Paisley Park
1987 Sign 'O' the Times Wea

The Name of this Band ... did not make P+J, but Xgau himself liked it (A-) and concluded his review:

Five years and not a misstep--think maybe they're gunning for world's greatest rock and roll band?

For consistent brilliance, I repeat the Ramones and add Tom Waits (any four starting with Swordfishtrombones, obvs).

Also, the Replacements -- Hootennany to Pleased to Meet Me. And has anyone said REM yet?

It's the weakest one of the four certainly - but it's still better than Strictly Personal or Mirror Man.

sabbath? nah, i thought of them, but sabbath 4 has too much cocaine and not enough supernaut

forgot i ranked cheap trick's too-much-big-star second so much higher than their way superior first in stairway. guess i was listening to clock strikes ten over and over again that day or something.

prince's self-titled second album is better than anything he did after purple rain (hell, i'll probably take it *over* purple rain).

and nick cave??? i have no words.

(i do like the fall nomination, though.)

john cougar (and my name is john. i reside in chicago) wins, though, i think.

that's CRAZY!

you're missing out all the good stuff!

yeah but...you're...you know...chuck eddy!

?

though it must be:
rubber soul
revolver
sgt. pepper
white album
(magical... excluded. a 2x7" EP on inital release)

BUT nothing ever tops the velvets...

Pavement's actually not such a bad choice, though Wowee Zowee is the weak link in the Slanted & Enchanted -> Brighten the Corners chain.

Bossa Nova spoils this for the Pixies.

You could make a case for Sonic Youth for Sister -> Dirty.

Beefheart I don't think works because either you pick up Spotlight Kid or Strictly Personal or Mirror Man, any one of which are deal breakers.

The Wonderful and Frightening World of...
This Nation's Saving Grace
Bend Sinister
The Frenz Experiment

is one hell of a quartet.

any fall run would HAVE to include either live at the witch trials or hex enduction hour by definition (if not both, but that's impossible, right? i don't have my calculator handy); avoiding all the mediocrities they made after this nation's savings grace would also be a priority.

you're missing out all the good stuff!"

I assume you're referring to Tom waits and Swordfishtombones / Raindogs / Franks Wild Years? Great albums, but unfortunately they're sandwiched between One From The Heart (pointless, disposable drivel) and either Big Time (superfluous and less than inspiring live album) or (if you're discounting live albums and only counting studio ones) Night On Earth (boring and tedious).

Without Confusion is Sex, I don't think this list stands up.

Killing Joke makes more sense if you count Ha! instead of Fire Dances.

But there are some others...

Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren

Yo La Tengo: Painful, Electro-Pura, Heart Beating As One, And Then Nothing...

White Stripes: De Stijl, White Blood Cells, Elephant, Get Behind Me...

Husker Du: Zen Arcade, New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig, Candy Apple Grey

Drive-By Truckers: Pizza Deliverance, Soutern Rock Opera, Decoration Day, Dirty South

Radiohead: OK Computer----Hail To The Thief (add The Bends for 5)

Time Fades Away, On The Beach, Tonight's The Night, Zuma

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.