Albums whose very best section comes at the end

In other words, the opposite of the recent thread about albums that peak with the first three songs. I’ll start with the album that inspired the idea—Some Girls by the Stones, whose best section comes at the very end, IMO: “Before They Make Me Run,” “Beast of Burden” and “Shattered.”

Any other albums like this?

One note: Please do not list albums you think peak with the last song, unless the two or three songs that precede it are your follow-up favorites.

 

Yes - "Close to the Edge".

Interesting fact: last three songs are simultaneously first three songs!

 

How do you not include "Respectable" in this run?

 

You could. Nothing against that song.

 

I changed the thread title in an effort to stop that from happening again.

 

The Beach Boys' Surf's Up would be an obvious example. I'm honestly struggling to come up with more--most albums seem to be front-loaded.

 

Sgt. Pepper -- Lovely Rita, Good Morning Good Morning, Sgt. Pepper Reprise, A Day In The Life

 

Clan of Xymox-Medusa, 1986
Masquerade
After The Call
Back Door

 

Apoptygma Berzerk-You and Me Against The World, 2005
Into The Unknown
Shine On (House of Love Cover)
Is Electronic Love To Blame

 

Cocteau Twins-Four Calendar Cafe, 1993
Essence
Summerhead
Pur

 

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now
Cause there's too many places I've got to see

 

This doesn't really count, but I think that the last three tracks on disc 2 of Sandinista! (The Call Up/Washington Bullets/Broadway) are amazing (as long as you get rid of that girl singing "Guns of Brixton"!). That feels like the climax of the album to me.

 

R.E.M. Out of Time
Texarkana, Country Feedback, Me In Honey

 

For me, Abbey Road.

 

Honestly, all of side two of Sticky Fingers is killer. Not sure if I can say it's better than side one, though. That's why I think Sticky Fingers is their best album (not the same as my favorite). It's perfectly constructed.

 

Rotersand-Random Is Resistance, 2009
A Number And A Name
Gothic Paradise
A Million Worlds To Lose

 

The only other album I’m completely certain about is Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind. The four-song stretch at the end includes my three favorite tunes: “You’ve Got to Be Kidding,” title cut, “Don’t Ask Me Questions.” (First few times I played the album, I recall being disappointed before reaching that section.)

 

Bruce Springsteen:

The Wild, The Innocent, And The E Street Shuffle: Incident On 57the Street, Rosalita (Come Out Tonight), and New York City Serenade

The Rising: The Rising, Paradise, and My City Of Ruins

Magic: Last To Die, Long Walk Home, and Devil's Arcade (excluding Terry's Song, which was added the very last minute as a bonus track)

The Promise: Breakaway, The Promise, and City Of Night/The Way (the latter is a hidden track)

High Hopes: Ghost Of Tom Joad, Wall, and Dream Baby Dream

 

Machine Head - Smoke on the Water, Lazy and Space Truckin

 

Other fans might not agree, but I've always thought Prefab Sprout's Andromeda Heights has its best songs towards the end (the last five).

 

Neil Young "Time fades away". Flawless side B

 

Elvis Costello's "Blood and Chocolate" finishes with "Crimes of Paris," "Poor Napoleon," and "Next Time Round." Goodness.

 

Automatic for the People, R.E.M.

Man on the Moon
Nightswimming
Find the River

I remember listening in my teens and thinking "Oh this is my favourite song..."... "Oh no wait THIS is!"... "Oh now actually..."

 

I think sides three and four of Springsteen's The River are the best.

 

Abbey Road
Electric Ladyland
Pastel Blues
D'Angelo's Voodoo
Death Grips' Jenny Death