Best "runs of albums" by artists

Did a search, couldn't find anything on this topic.

There's nothing better when a group/artist finds their stride and releases 3+ albums in a row of excellent material. Not good. But great.

What are your favourite album runs? Let's use 3 albums in a row as the minimum bar.

Here are some of my favourites:

1. Iron Maiden: Number of the Beast to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
2. Midnight Oil: 10, 9, 8, 7... to Earth and Sun and Moon
3. Public Enemy: Yo! Bum Rush the Show to Apocalypse '91

Looking forward to the thread. I really enjoy this forum.

Cubby

 

Van Halen's 1st four come to mind, as do Aerosmith's 1st four. To that I might also add Black Sabbath's 1st five records.

 

Beatles from start to finish

 

Rolling Stones - Aftermath to It's Only Rock 'n Roll

 

The Smiths - take your pick as I think all their albums are great.
Kate Bush - debut until at least Hounds of Love
The Beatles (you know someone had to say it) EDIT: Got beaten to the punch!

 

REM- Murmur to Automatic for the People
U2- Boy to Achtung Baby
The Beatles- Please, Please Me to Abbey Road
Prince-1999 to Sign o the Times
Metallica- Kill Em All to The Black Album
Stevie Wonder- Music of My Mind to Hotter Than July
David Bowie-Hunky Dory to Let's Dance

 

R.E.M. from Murmur through Green. That's six great records in a row. Out of Time is where they became hit or miss for me.

Edit: I overlapped with marke.

 

Neil Young: self titled through Zuma. 7 studio albums.

 

The Who - Sell Out to Quadrophenia
Radiohead - The Bends to Kid A
Led Zeppelin - 1 to 4

 

Cocteau Twins- Garlands to Heaven or Las Vegas
Bob Dylan- Free Wheelin to Nashville Skyline

 

No love for Houses of the Holy?

 

Showing my bias, but my favorite run of albums, all of them excellent:

The Yes album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales, Relayer, Going for the One. If I had to pick 3, it'd be CttE>Relayer.

Floyd's run from Meddle through Animals is stellar. I may be in the minority, but I love Obscured and feel it deserves to be called great, while I feel The Wall is merely good, at least a couple steps down from their best.

Many others I can think of a series of 3 great albums, but even better- who started their career w/ a great run?

I'd say Steely Dan's debut was great and each subsequent album up until at least Aja was great as well; I'd even include Two Against Nature.

As I posted in that Zep thread, I think it'd be hard to beat their run from I through Physical Graffiti, all great imo.

 

The Hollies: "For Certain Because"-"Evolution"-"Butterfly"
David Bowie "Hunky Dory"-"Ziggy Stardust"-"Aladdin Sane"
T.Rex "Electric Warrior"-"The Slider"-"Tanx"

 

Queen: Queen to News of the World
Led Zeppelin: I to Physical Graffiti
R. Kelly: 12 Play to Chocolate Factory
Radiohead: The Bends to In Rainbows

 

That's why he's hiding under the chair!

 

Genesis- Nursery Cryme to Abacab
Peter Gabriel- debut to So
Bjork- Debut to Verspertine

 

the Wipers - Youth of America through The Circle
Bailter Space - Thermos through Vortura

 

Nope. In fact, I largely dislike it. I known it isn't a popular opinion, but I truly believe that Zep "lost it" on Houses...and continued to get worse until the very end.

 

I'd end Genesis at W&W myself, but a great run nonetheless. For PG, I'd have to start at III, as I'd rate I & II as merely good, but then I'd have his run continuing through Up. Secret World is my fave PG album.

 

The Chameleons: Script of the Bridge/What Does Anything Mean? Basically/Strange Times

 

Kinks: Face to Face, Something Else, Village Green, Arthur, Lola, Muswell Hillbillies.

Doesn't get much better than that.

 

Expert textpert- joking smoker?

PG is their bestest!

 

Little Feat.

Pick anything from Little Feat to Down On The Farm including the excellent live Waiting For Columbus.

 

Definite candidate for best live album ever.

 

Moody Blues core 7