Not the sophomore slump, but third album woes...

We always talk about the dreaded sophomore slump, but what about the third album woes...





It sold fewer copies than Fly by Night and was considered a disappointment by the record company. The album eventually became known as one of Rush's most obscure and overlooked recordings, consequently being considered underrated by fans.

Caress of Steel did not attain gold certification in the United States until December 1993, nearly two decades after its release. It remains one of the few Rush albums to not go platinum in the U.S.

Due to poor sales, low concert attendance and overall media indifference, the 1975-76 tour supporting Caress of Steel became known by the band as the "Down the Tubes" tour.

 

Panorama-The Cars

I love this album and think its among their best but Joe Averge disagreed making this the worst selling album in their career before Door-To-Door and Move Like This.

 

Oasis, Be Here Now

Personally I don't mind that album, but it pretty much defines the third album dip.

 

Yeah but.. It's an extremely important album in the Rush canon. They're anger over the record company treatment of them and this album came spewing forth on the next one.. 2112

 

It has to be Boston. With a great sophomore effort like Don't Look Back I, and I'm certain many others, expected something a lot better than a ballad called Amanda.

 

The Doors - Waiting For The Sun

I like it, but a step down compared to their first two.

 

I thought about posting that, but that album just seemed to be everywhere when it came out. I see that it was "only" quadruple platinum, instead of septimal platinum, but record companies would kill to have such a "failure" on their hands these days.

Plus, I was just a kid and oblivious when Boston started. This was first album (and only album) we ever heard, except on "classic rock" stations.

 

Nils Lofgren - I Came To Dance

The s/t was a wonderful record which made me a fan and sent me to my first gig in late 1975. Cry Tough was not quite up to that high standard but still had some great songs. But ICTD? Definite drop in quality although I have to admit not playing it for some time so I might have to reassess.

Should I put Graham Parker & the Rumour's Stick To Me here? Not sure - pales by comparison with what came before and the excellent Squeezing Out Sparks which follows.

 

Posted this on another thread earlier but fits on this thread even better.
Great 2nd album.This the 3rd,not so much.

 

Try being raised on the first 2 albums and you'll understand. Third Stage is not terrible, but a far cry from its predecessors.

 

Steppenwolf-- At Your Birthday Party

 

For me, Stage Fright is somewhat of a drop-off after the first two Band albums.

 

The Knack "Round Trip".

 

I was just thinking of this but in recent years I've come to appreciate it and think it's better than the 2nd one (they maybe needed to be taken down a peg-the 2nd one is as smug as it gets)

 

Agree love this album, definately for the hardcore fans...

 

The first album was a critical and commercial smash, the second sold well but was panned by critics. The third one didn't sell and was still largely rejected by the press...

 

Interesting thread.

There's been plenty written about the 'sophomore slump,' but the third album is also a bit interesting, in the sense that a lot of bands just ran out of ideas after two LP's (at least temporarily), or at least couldn't match their first two. The Band definitely comes to mind, as do Oasis and Rush.

On the other hand, Queen's Sheer Heart Attack, Blur's Parklife, Cheap Trick's Heaven Tonight, Marillion's Misplaced Childhood, Aerosmith's Toys In The Attic...enough studio experience combined with a few solid years on the road resulted in (arguably) those bands' best studio LP's.

 

After the brilliant (major label) debut and "Love Life", I just couldn't get into this it all. I have never even made it all the way through after all these years!

 

I love Moby Grape's third album Moby Grape '69, but their amazing first record was plagued by overhype and other issues.
Their second album Wow was really unfocused in comparison with the first album and gimmicky also. Having to get up and change your record players speed to 78rpm for a track with Arthur Godfrey ?

Anyway, by the time of Moby Grape '69 , Skip Spence was sent on his way. It wasn't considered good form to try chopping through a fellow band members hotel room door with a fire axe I guess.
So, out goes a key member of the band, and in the only instance I can think of on an album , the liner notes of Moby Grape '69 consist of their producer apologizing for what went on previously with the band as far as the hype...and make no mistake.. the band was guilty of wanting the hype,etc.
I've posted highlights before, but I'm at work so I don't have access to them .

 

Buffalo Springfield's Last Time Around. They were out of ideas and out of energy. It's just a slicked-up, dumbed-down repeat of Again.

 

George Harrion-
1) All Things Must Pass (brilliant)
2) Living in the Material World (#1 single with other good songs)
3) Dark Horse (he lost his mojo here)

John Lennon-
1) Plastic Ono Band
2) Imagine
3) Sometime in NYC (lost the magic)

 

ambrosia's third album - Life Beyond LA. It sold well but was such a letdown after the first two masterpieces.

 

Plus having a #1 single on the Billboard charts with "Amanda" and without a video during the MTV era certainly wouldn't be deemed a failure, either.

 

Mike & the Mechanics' 1991 album, Word of Mouth. It seemed to have been released right into the bargain bins.