Inspired by the bowie thread...

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

I've often said without thinking that much about it that 70's bowie is the probably longest stretch of sustained greatness from anyone while being at least semi prolific. I've never put much thought behind the statement though.

What would be the rivals to this thrown?

Neil Young's 70's output might be a contender
Joni Mitchell's 70's output is pretty consistently strong
Stevie Wonder had a pretty strong run

I'm sure someone can make the case for the Beatles, Stones, and Dylan. What would be your pick and why. I thought about making this a poll but I'm sure there are strong candidates I wouldn't come up with.

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:31 pm

someone will do it....

Radiohead 1995-2005 (Bends thru Hail...)

Kingfish · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:36 pm

I'd pick Dylan. From 63' - 69' he was on fire. 8 albums that were at least really really good if not great.

Also Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited, and Blonde on Blonde can be argued and in my opinion should be argued in any greatest album of all time argument.

From 70 to 75, he was a little spotty but still managed to produce 3 great albums.

Combine that together and you have 11 really strong albums in 12 years. I don't know anybody that can touch that.

The Mayor of Simpleton · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:37 pm

Guided By Voices. Jesus, what a catalog of great music. Not greatly recorded music, but great music just the same. And a LOT of it.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:40 pm

The Stones - 1965 (Aftermath) thru 1981 (Tattoo You). There arent five crappy songs in total from that entire period.

But you guys knew one of us would say that, right :wink:

two guns holla · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:41 pm

Van Morrison, 68-74

Astral Weeks
Moondance
His Band and Street Choir
Tupelo Honey
Saint Dominic's Preview
Hard Nose the Highway (actually haven't heard this one, but amg gives it a respectable 3.5 stars)
Veedon Fleece

I haven't listened to the rest of his 70's output to comment on, but according to AMG its like this:

A Period of Transition - 3 stars
Wavelength - 4 stars
Into the Music - 4.5 stars

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:42 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

The Stones - 1965 (Aftermath) thru 1981 (Tattoo You). There arent five crappy songs in total from that entire period.

But you guys knew one of us would say that, right :wink:

We're surprised it took you this long

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:43 pm

A Period of Transition is great. The Doctor (John) is in and it swings pretty hard.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

The Fleshtones--30 years, only one clunker.
Tom Waits is also up there.

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:44 pm

NOTHINGFACE Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

The Stones - 1965 (Aftermath) thru 1981 (Tattoo You). There arent five crappy songs in total from that entire period.

But you guys knew one of us would say that, right :wink:

We're surprised it took you this long

I was on the phone.

two guns holla · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:44 pm

I'm very seriously considering going back and getting the rest of his 70's albums now. I was huge into him a few years ago and played the crap out of those 6 albums I had from 68-74.

Elvis Fu · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:45 pm

I don't have much at my disposal to investigate, but I will throw in Creedence Clearwater Revival from 1968-1970.

tentoze · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:45 pm

tommy two thumbs Wrote:

Van Morrison, 68-74

Astral Weeks
Moondance
His Band and Street Choir
Tupelo Honey
Saint Dominic's Preview
Hard Nose the Highway (actually haven't heard this one, but amg gives it a respectable 3.5 stars)
Veedon Fleece

I haven't listened to the rest of his 70's output to comment on, but according to AMG its like this:

A Period of Transition - 3 stars
Wavelength - 4 stars
Into the Music - 4.5 stars

Agreed. Period of Transition is the only weak sister in this grouping, IMO.

Evil Dr. K · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 11:51 am **Posts:** 6327

1983 - 2006

The Smiths, +
Hateful of Hollow, +
Meat Is Murder, +
Louder Than Bombs, +
The Queen Is Dead, +
Strangeways Here We Come, +
Viva Hate, +
Bona Drag, +
Kill Uncle, -
Your Arsenal, +
Vauxhall And I, +
Southpaw Grammer, =
Maladjusted, -
You Are The Quarry, +
Ringleader Of The Tormented, ?

Two bad studio albums in 23 years ain't shabby.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

tentoze Wrote:

tommy two thumbs Wrote:

Van Morrison, 68-74

Astral Weeks
Moondance
His Band and Street Choir
Tupelo Honey
Saint Dominic's Preview
Hard Nose the Highway (actually haven't heard this one, but amg gives it a respectable 3.5 stars)
Veedon Fleece

I haven't listened to the rest of his 70's output to comment on, but according to AMG its like this:

A Period of Transition - 3 stars
Wavelength - 4 stars
Into the Music - 4.5 stars

Agreed. Period of Transition is the only weak sister in this grouping, IMO.

It's even more impressive when you add the Them catalogue.

Ex Lion Tamer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:45 pm

Elvis Costello: My Aim is True thru King of America

billy g · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:41 pm **Posts:** 9020

tommy two thumbs Wrote:

Van Morrison, 68-74

I haven't listened to the rest of his 70's output to comment on, but according to AMG its like this:

A Period of Transition - 3 stars
Wavelength - 4 stars
Into the Music - 4.5 stars

YOU NEED TO BUY "Into the Music". I'm surprised you haven't listened to it given how much of a VM fan you are. I guess its hard to call it underrated at 4.5 stars, but its rarely called out as one of his very best which it definitely is. In fact, its my very favorite from his catalog above even Astral Weeks.

ROCK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:48 pm

Ex Lion Tamer Wrote:

Elvis Costello: My Aim is True thru King of America

Minus GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:48 pm

I know there aren't a lot of fans here but Metallica had a pretty strong run:

Kill 'Em All (1983)
Ride The Lightning (1984)
Master of Puppets (1986)
...And Justice For All (1988)

and the s/t from 1991 isnt too bad, just not really my bag.

tentoze · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:56 pm

billy g Wrote:

tommy two thumbs Wrote:

Van Morrison, 68-74

I haven't listened to the rest of his 70's output to comment on, but according to AMG its like this:

A Period of Transition - 3 stars
Wavelength - 4 stars
Into the Music - 4.5 stars

YOU NEED TO BUY "Into the Music". I'm surprised you haven't listened to it given how much of a VM fan you are. I guess its hard to call it underrated at 4.5 stars, but its rarely called out as one of his very best which it definitely is. In fact, its my very favorite from his catalog above even Astral Weeks.

It's like Billy G posted this so I wouldn't need to.

Twilightkid · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:57 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

NOTHINGFACE Wrote:

Yail Bloor Wrote:

The Stones - 1965 (Aftermath) thru 1981 (Tattoo You). There arent five crappy songs in total from that entire period.

But you guys knew one of us would say that, right :wink:

We're surprised it took you this long

I was on the phone.

Where are your priorities man?!?!

paladisiac · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:58 pm

tommy two thumbs Wrote:

I'm very seriously considering going back and getting the rest of his 70's albums now. I was huge into him a few years ago and played the crap out of those 6 albums I had from 68-74.

i went back to bmg a few times within the last year+ to do just that. i now have all from self-titled thru 1980 (except pinups, i think). they have remasters (with no added tracks).

DumpJack · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:01 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

The Stones - 1965 (Aftermath) thru 1981 (Tattoo You).

Yeah, this one is hard to top.

tentoze · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:05 pm

From the road-a-little-less-traveled department, this is a pretty fine run from Ryland Cooder:

1970- S/T
1971- Into The Purple Valley
1972- Boomer's Story
1974- Paradise & Lunch
1976- Chicken Skin Music
1976- Showtime
1978- Jazz
1979- Bop Till You Drop

ROCK · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:17 pm

The Stranglers: Rattus Norvegicus through Dreamtime ('76 - '86)

Inspired by the bowie thread...

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