re: First Three Albums By A Group Or Artist Which Got Progressively Better

Posted by nealnan8

Atlanta

Member since Oct 2016

4672 posts

Posted on 3/14/26 at 7:54 pm to flvelo12

Love Jackson Browne, but his first 3 were his best. #4 and #5, while good, are not in the same league with the first 3.

Posted by Jake88

Member since Apr 2005

79843 posts

Posted on 3/14/26 at 9:59 pm to Saint Alfonzo

quote:
Def Leppard

On Through the Night

Their best album. So, no.

Posted by Jake88

Member since Apr 2005

79843 posts

Posted on 3/14/26 at 10:01 pm to Cdawg

quote:
Love and Rockets
Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven
Express
Earth, Sun, Moon

Absolutely not. Express was vastly superior to Earf, Sun, Moon.

This post was edited on 3/14/26 at 10:09 pm

Posted by Legba007

Franklin, Tn

Member since Jul 2013

2645 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 8:14 am to Mizz-SEC

Iron Maiden

1st - S\T
2nd- Killers
3rd-- Number of the Beast

Posted by rebelrouser

Columbia, SC

Member since Feb 2013

13222 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 8:53 am to Legba007

Good one. Not entirely sure Killers > Iron Maiden but made me think of Priest:

Rocka Rolla
Sad Wings of Destiny
Sin After Sin
Stained Class (this is where they really nailed it).

Scorpions

Lonesome Crow
Fly to the Rainbow
In Trance
Virgin Killer (their best)

Posted by Bubbles Up

Member since Jul 2011

3005 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 9:00 am to Mizz-SEC

ZZ Top:

ZZ Top’s First Album
Rio Grande Mud
Tres Hombres

Posted by Big EZ Tiger

Member since Jul 2010

26765 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 12:59 pm to Mizz-SEC

Smashing Pumpkins

Gish
Siamese Dream
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

Siamese Dream was probably my favorite, but Mellon Collie was excellent too with huge classics and sold 10 million albums.

Posted by Vandyrone

Nashville, TN

Member since Dec 2012

7972 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 2:34 pm to TFTC

quote:
Pixies

Come on Pilgrim (technically an EP, but it's 8 songs) Surfer Rosa
Doolittle

I get it but personally, I prefer Come on Pilgrim. 8 songs of sheer perfection, zero filler.

Posted by rebelrouser

Columbia, SC

Member since Feb 2013

13222 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 3:07 pm to Vandyrone

Replacements

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
Hootenany
Let It Be

Prince

For You
Prince
Dirty Mind

My Morning Jacket

The Tennessee Fire
At Dawn
It Still Movies

Posted by hogcard1964

Alabama

Member since Jan 2017

19626 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 3:24 pm to Mizz-SEC

How about a series of first 3 albums that got progressively worse?

I'm going:

The Cars
Candy O
Panorama

Posted by midlothianlsu

Midlothian, Texas

Member since Oct 2009

1835 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 3:54 pm to Mizz-SEC

Wings

Wild Life
Red Rose Speedway
Band on The Run

This post was edited on 3/16/26 at 6:23 am

2 ...

Posted by hogcard1964

Alabama

Member since Jan 2017

19626 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 4:35 pm to midlothianlsu

Good call

Van Morrison:

Blowin' Your Mind!
Astral Weeks
Moondance

Posted by Bubbles Up

Member since Jul 2011

3005 posts

Posted on 3/15/26 at 9:53 pm to Cdawg

quote:
U2 Boy October War

This is probably the winner.

Posted by Cdawg

TigerFred's Living Room

Member since Sep 2003

61979 posts

Posted on 3/16/26 at 10:25 am to Jake88

quote:
Express was vastly superior to Earf, Sun, Moon.

Yeah, I guess I can't argue that. I was just thinking the drop-off to that self title album crap.

Posted by AlxTgr

Kyre Banorg

Member since Oct 2003

87356 posts

Posted on 3/16/26 at 10:36 am to Mizz-SEC

The Connells:
Darker Days (1985)
Boylan Heights (1987)
Fun & Games (1989)

Posted by Kenna City Solja

America’s City

Member since Nov 2025

1155 posts

Posted on 3/16/26 at 10:41 am to Mizz-SEC

Posted by hogcard1964

Alabama

Member since Jan 2017

19626 posts

Posted on 3/16/26 at 11:17 am to Kenna City Solja

George Harrison

Wonderwall Music
Electronic Sound
All Things Must Pass

Posted by TFTC

Chicago, Il

Member since May 2010

23545 posts

Posted on 3/16/26 at 12:09 pm to The Seaward

quote:
Almost posted this, but wasn’t sure if Come On Pilgram counted and kind of feel that both Surfer Rosa and Doolittle are the third level of the meme.

Yeah - I love Surfer Rosa and the sound Albini got on that record, but just think the songs are better overall on Doolittle..

I know Come on Pilgrim is an EP, but at 8 songs... it's still of substantial length. It also was what introduced the pixies to the world!