The Best Four-Album Run in Rock: Roundtable

The one factor more durable than beginning a sizzling streak is sustaining one. Rock historical past is crammed with artists who failed to enhance upon and even match the promise of a very profitable album.

After all, rock’s true legends have confirmed themselves to be able to repeatedly surpassing themselves, sharpening and refining their abilities whereas conquering thrilling new inventive territory. We requested seven UCR writers to select the perfect four-album streaks in rock historical past, and this is what they selected:

The Who: Tommy (1969), Who’s Subsequent (1971), Quadrophenia (1973), The Who by Numbers (1975)

It is virtually surprising to think about the bottom lined by the Who in the middle of their profession, who began out as a comparatively typical English mod-rock band whose sound mirrored that of acts just like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. However by 1969, Pete Townshend determined to essentially let his freak flag fly with the rock opera that’s Tommy, a launch that now stands as a turning level within the historical past of rock ‘n’ roll songwriting. That was the tip of the iceberg, although. This was adopted by the stunningly highly effective Who’s Subsequent (1971), the marginally extra convoluted but nonetheless sturdy Quadrophenia (1973) and the surprisingly private and complicated The Who by Numbers (1975). If there was one factor proved by this run of albums, it was that Townshend was one of many period’s most proficient and imaginative songwriters and there was virtually nothing Roger Daltrey could not sing. (Allison Rapp)

Stevie Marvel: Speaking E book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974) and Songs within the Key of Life (1976)

Stevie Marvel had launched a collection of youthful, very uneven albums earlier than 1972’s Music of My Thoughts hinted at greatness. Then got here Speaking E book, a crystallization of Marvel’s self-contained genius – and the start of among the finest four-album runs in music historical past. Innervisions, with its very grownup themes, was the place he turned a person in full: Marvel had begun to delve deeply into the failure of the ’60s after which constructed a path out of that crushing disappointment. He received private with 1974’s extra intimate Fulfillingness’ First Finale, opening his coronary heart as he’d earlier opened minds. Then got here his undisputed masterpiece, 1976’s Songs within the Key of Life. These had been tales advised like no different might, with such boundless pleasure, grit, honesty, funk and fireplace. He’d tentatively titled this mission Let’s See Life the Approach It Is, and – as all the time – that is simply what Marvel did. (Nick DeRiso)

The Beatles: Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band (1967), The Beatles (1968)

You will not discover one other four-album run in historical past that altered the course of common music just like the Beatles’ Rubber Soul by means of the White Album. Rubber Soul marked a quantum leap in songwriting for the Fab 4 and 4 rock ‘n’ roll at giant, incorporating unique instrumentation and shifting the style’s focus from singles to albums. Revolver pushed the envelope even additional, delving into acid rock, chamber pop, raga rock and the nascent psychedelic motion. An impossibly excessive bar for another band to clear, however it was only a warmup for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Membership Band, an album so steeped in hyperbole it feels drained to checklist its achievements. Nonetheless: It turned rock ‘n’ roll right into a excessive artwork type, epitomized the counterculture and have become a standard-bearer for idea albums (though its idea is flimsy at greatest). Simply when it appeared just like the Beatles had achieved all the pieces they probably might, they returned with their self-titled album — a sprawling, messy, joyful, anguished, introspective masterpiece that displayed all 4 musicians’ personalities throughout blues, music corridor, ska, heavy metallic and extra. The Beatles did not simply pull off these kinds higher than their friends; they proved they had been attainable within the first place. (Bryan Rolli)

The Rolling Stones: Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile on Fundamental St. (1972)

Just like the Beatles’ historic run in the course of the mid- and late-’60s, the Rolling Stones’ equally momentous four-album streak – coincidentally began simply because the Beatles’ was ending – outlined an period by means of its development. And just like the Fab 4, the Stones ended their 4 basic data with a sprawling double album that exposed the scattered items left of their wake. Beggars Banquet was a back-to-basics response to 1967’s psychedelic splatter Their Satanic Majesties Request, blues for the post-Summer time of Love comedown; by 1969’s Let It Bleed, they had been saying goodbye to the ’60s altogether with a set of scarred songs about the last decade’s darkish aspect. Sticky Fingers is extra hopeful, soul music spun by means of the Stones’ filter, however it’s on 1972’s Exile on Fundamental St. the place the band reached its zenith. Darker than any document they’ve ever made, the two-record assortment was made amid habit and artistic wrestle – no shock they’d by no means sound this uncooked and important once more. It is the end result of a four-year and -album run that hasn’t been matched since. (Michael Gallucci)

Queen: Sheer Coronary heart Assault (1974), A Night time on the Opera (1975), A Day on the Races (1976), Information of the World (1977)

Queen spent their first few years determining precisely who they had been. By the point 1974’s Sheer Coronary heart Assault arrived, they had been able to announce their presence to the world. The LP discovered the band combining its early progressive influences with pop constructions. “Killer Queen” was the breakout single, as Freddie Mercury and firm all of a sudden discovered themselves as worldwide stars. They had been simply getting began. Subsequent got here A Night time on the Opera, a masterpiece that discovered the band at its bombastic greatest. No different rock group was daring sufficient to attempt something as grandiose as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the sprawling operatic tune that continues to be beloved by generations. 1976’s A Day on the Races saved the hits coming, with “Any person to Love” and “Tie Your Mom Down” rating amongst Queen’s largest tracks. The fourth and last album on this unimaginable run was 1977’s Information of the World, a robust LP that noticed the band stripping away their glam sheen for a few of the hardest hitting rock songs of their catalog (together with “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”). That’s 4 unimaginable albums in 4 years, a run that’s virtually unattainable to match. (Corey Irwin)

Foreigner: Foreigner (1977), Double Imaginative and prescient (1978), Head Video games (1979), 4 (1981)

On paper, Foreigner hardly appeared like a positive wager. However guitarist Mick Jones shortly proved the naysayers unsuitable as soon as the British/American band’s self-titled debut hit the cabinets in 1977. Powered by the hovering and at instances, emotional vocals of Lou Gramm, the fledgling group notched three straight High 20 hits, beginning with “Feels Just like the First Time” — which featured a drum breakdown that Dave Grohl later nicked with his own drumming. Foreigner ultimately offered greater than 5 million copies. Double Imaginative and prescient (1978) continued their chart reign with the muscular “Scorching Blooded” main the cost for 3 further High 20 singles. Although their success at radio pale barely with Head Video games (1979), it was solely a momentary lull. 4 (1981) discovered Foreigner scaling again from six members to 4 with the departure of co-founders Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood. However paired with producer “Mutt” Lange, Foreigner notched their first and solely primary album with 4, thanks partly to the mega-success of their energy ballad, “Ready for a Lady Like You.” (Matt Wardlaw)

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin III (1970), Led Zeppelin IV (1971), Homes of the Holy (1973), Bodily Graffiti (1975)

Led Zeppelin’s first six albums are all important, so the problem right here is choosing which two to depart out. Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II, launched simply 9 months aside in 1969, created the template for just about each arduous rock and heavy metallic album that has adopted them. However when the group shifted away from bombastic blues covers and commenced writing extra subtle unique materials, issues received much more fascinating. 1970’s Led Zeppelin III introduced acoustic guitars and the group’s folks influences to the forefront, and 1971’s untitled fourth album merged the heavy and delicate sides of their sound collectively together with their most constant songwriting. 1973’s Homes of the Holy discovered Led Zeppelin exploring a blinding array of latest kinds and complicated preparations. Two years later, they capped off this unimaginable run with the double album Bodily Graffiti, which revisited all of their previous phases whereas additionally pushing into thrilling new territory with songs resembling “Kashmir” and “Trampled Underfoot.” (Matthew Wilkening)