With some artists the first album is good, the second one is better, but the third time's a charm. It shows that the artist is growing, although many are lucky to even get that far. Some others may finally reach their success at that point. I'm sure we've all seen great 3rd albums. Here's my list:


I'll start with the obvious:

Prince- Dirty Mind
Janet Jackson- Control
U2- War
RUN DMC- Raising Hell
Human League- Dare
The Clash- London Calling
Madness- 7
Eminem- The Marshall Mathers LP
Metallica- Master of Puppets
No Doubt- Tragic Kindom
Spandau Ballet- True
Weezer-(Green Album)

any more?...

The Beatles - A Hard Days Night
TTD - Symphony Or Damn
Kate Bush - Never Forever
Led Zeppelin - III
Bjork - Homogenic
Radiohead - OK Computer
Fleetwood Mac - Then Play On
Tori Amos - Boys For Pele
Simply Red - A New Flame
Michael Jackson - Bad

They didn't necessarily break out with their 3rd album. Sometimes before, sometimes after. But they're all good junior efforts.

New Order- Low Life
Ramones- Rocket To Russia
Pixies- Doolittle
The Cure- Faith
Bowie- Hunky Dory
PJ Harvey- To Bring You My Love
Tricky- Pre-Millennium Tension
Missy Elliott- So Addictive
Tori Amos- Boys For Pele (my favorite)
Blondie- Parallel Lines (in this case it was their blockbuster)
Beastie Boys- Check Your Head (their masterpiece)
Sade- Stronger Than Pride (when she started to get good)
[This message was edited Fri Nov 15 14:36:17 PST 2002 by TRON]

Yeah, how could I forget Homogenic?

Yeah, how could i forget Hunky Dory. DOH!

Some more-

Nirvana- Incesticide
Smashing Pumpkins- Pisces Iscariot
Eurythmics- Touch
Joy Division- Closer
Pearl Jam- Vitalogy
Soundgarden- Badmotorfinger
Mary J. Blige- Share My World
Kraftwerk- Autobahn
Madonna- True Blue
Aerosmith- Toys In The Attic

Wendy & Lisa - Eroica
Luscious Jackson (last album) - Electric Honey
The Smiths - The Queen is dead
[This message was edited Fri Nov 15 14:41:16 PST 2002 by jnoel]

maxwell-now

i agree april
Prince *DirtyMind*
MJ *Bad*
Bon Jovi *slippery when wet*

Public Enemy - Fear Of A Black Planet
The Sisters Of Mercy - Floodland
Julian Cope - Saint Julian
Primal Scream - Screamadelica
Alice Cooper - School's Out
Blondie - Parallel Lines

um...

DIRTY MIND
NOMADS, INDIANS, & SAINTS-Indigo Girls
GLOBE SESSIONS-Sheryl Crow
HUNKY DORY-D.Bowie
LUCINDA WILLIAMS-Lucinda Williams
AALIYAH-Aaliyah
CONTROL-Janet Jackson
QUEEN IS DEAD-The Smiths
INTO THE GAP-Thompsonn Twins
COME ON OVER-Shania Twain (sorry...had to...guilty pleasure)

I'm surprised no one has said...

Peter Gabriel 3!!!

End.

Electric Ladyland/Jimi Hendrix

Fear Of A Black Planet/Public Enemy

Born To Run/Bruce Springsteen

Dirty Mind/Prince

Chocolate City/Parliament

Gap Band III/The Gap Band (I cheated, this is their 5th album contrary to its title)

Learning To Crawl/The Pretenders

Composite Truth/Mandrill

OK Computer/Radiohead

NWF said:

EMINEM THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP IS HIS 2ND.

eldog98 said:

No it isn't, it IS his 3rd album..

1. Infinite
2. The Slim Shady LP
3. The Marshall Mathers LP
4. The Eminem show

as a Adult Michael Jackson"Bad" as a Member of the Jacksons on Epic "Destiny",Janet Jackson"Control"Prince "dirty Mind",Babyface"For The Cool In You",Steely Dan"Pretzel Logic",Mint Condition"Definition of a Band",Tony,Toni TOne"Sons of SOul",Jimi Hendrix"Electric Lady",Debrge"In a Special Way",George Michael "Older".

Damn, i forgot Older. A beautiful album.

terence trent d'arby...'symphony or..damn'...

Janet Jackson - Control
[This message was edited Sat Nov 16 18:34:05 PST 2002 by JANFAN4L]

Allow me to add some more:

Rage Against the Machine- The Battle of Los Angeles
The Smiths- The Queen is Dead
Green Day- Dookie
2Pac- Me Against the World
Billy Idol- Rebel Yell
Style Council- Our Favorite Shop
Jamiroquai- Travelling Without Moving
The Special A.K.A.- In the Studio
Sade- Stronger Than Pride
...shoot, I can't think of any more.

BorisFishpaw said:

YOU'RE RIGHT. OT'S SO UNKNOWN THAT I FORGOT ABOUT IT!!!

Prince - Dirty Mind

Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way

Radiohead - OK Computer

Pearl Jam - Vs.

Nirvana - In Utero

Se7en said:

That's actually their sophmore effort. It was released after their debut Ten.

Eurythmics- "Touch" is the most notable to me. It is simply breathtaking. They recorded that album in lightning speed after the success of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," releasing it ten months later. In fact, the lead off single "Who's That Girl?" charted in the UK before "Sweet Dreams" peaked in the US. Eurythmics were definitely in their stride.

I'd say Homogenic is my all-time favorite 3rd album.

TRON said:

Ah, yes. I like "Homogenic" slightly better than "Touch," and I mean SLIGHTLY. I think "Homogenic" is number 17 and "Touch" number 18.

Moonbeam said:

Homogenic would clean the floor with Touch!

TRON said:

Remember, Annie's 5'10" and "Touch" can be menacing, so I'm not so sure "Homogenic" wants to mess with "Touch."

Yes, but Homogenic has demon eyes and half foot long nails. And just think of the 'Alarm Call' video. Even Annie might get scared of that.

TRON said:

It would be a battle of the ages! Annie with her orange hair and backed by her "Paint a Rumour" psychosis, "Aqua" defiance and "Regrets" furniture-punishing vs. Bjork with her Medusa-like powers, "Pluto" rage, "Alarm Call" teeth and "All Neon Like" luminious beam (used to harm this time)! They'd KILL each other!