Biggest Jump In Quality Between Two Albums

This is the exact opposite of the "biggest decline between two albums" thread. These are two albums in a row where the second one is just head and shoulders over the preceding album. Here's my examples:

Matthew Sweet - Earth (1989) to Girlfriend (1991)
The Rolling Stones - The Rolling Stones, Now! (1965) to Out Of Our Heads (1965)
The Beatles - Help! (1965) to Rubber Soul (1965)
The Kinks - The Kink Kontroversy (1965) to Face To Face (1966)
The Replacements - Sorry Ma, I Forgot To Take Out The Trash (1981) to Hootenanny (1983)

Now you can all name your picks. Remember, musical taste is subjective so we might not all agree. Just put down your suggestions. Save the arguments for Twitter.

 

'Quality' in what terms?
Audio Recording or Material or both?

 

Nirvana - Bleach to Nevermind

 

Material is what I was going for but you can add sound quality to it too if you wish.

 

Ok cool!
Thanks.
Lemme think.......
Yeah, all subjective of course.

 

Yes - Time and a Word > The Yes Album
The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope > London Calling
The Beach Boys - Party! > Pet Sounds
The Doors - The Soft Parade > Morrison Hotel

 

Paul McCartney:
Press To Play -> Flowers In The Dirt

 

Nirvana - Nevermind to In Utero
Beatles - Revolver to Sgt. Pepper's

 

I'll throw in a Beach Boys release, they seem to be pretty popular in these parts...

In terms of audio quality:
Beach Boys Christmas (64) - Beach Boys Today (65).
'Today' always sounded like something coming out of a long hollow cardboard box.
It's like a dirge in sound comparison.
I'm speaking of the original release.
Brilliant album, sound quality terrible.

 

The Beach Boys should get a good run in this thread.
In terms of material:
Holland - 15 Big Ones.
Yikes!

 

Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds -> Dark Side of the Moon

 

Are you saying 15 Big Ones is a big jump in quality material from Holland?

 

Oh poopie! I meant to use this one! Great choice!

 

Radiohead going from ‘Pablo Honey’ to ‘The Bends.’

 

Excellent example!

 

A quantum leap in terms of lyrics, production (although I love many Jack Endino records), musicianship, and even art direction

 

Ahh Yep, but in terms of 'creative' quality material.
It went from being an album of great original material, to a roughly produced 'covers' album....
And I actually like 15 Big Ones, but put them back to back, you would hardly think they were the same band.
One is a crafted masterpiece (Holland), one is a rough around the edges.
Who doesn't like a little rough around the edges?

 

Ok, I see your point.

 

Indelibly Stamped to Crime of the Century.

 

Elvis Costello
From ' My Aim I True ' to ' This Year's Model ' ---like both but the latter is bloody amazing.

Talking Heads
From '77 ' to ' More Songs About Buildings and Food' --- liked the former well enough upon release but ' More Songs..' was stunning.

 

Good calls!

 

Something newer.
Taylor Swift.
1989 to Reputation.

Wasn't initially a fan of '1989', but it grew on me as being a commercial success and full of
great catchy earworms.
I think the sales/awards and writing material of 'Reputation' speak for itself.
Just an opinion, of course.....

 

It fits I think, not being a Swift fan but it did seem a big leap at the time.

 

Bob Dylan: Down in the Groove to Oh Mercy

 

Yeah, I get that.