10 Best Sophomore Albums of a Given Lineup

[Zzzptm]

I've always been a fan of top  10 lists!

There are many a band that has a brilliant first album and then falls flat on the second, or doesn't quite get there... so what are your choices for the 10 best sophomore albums from a given lineup?

Because some bands didn't hit a "classic" lineup with the first crew in the band, I leave this open so later lineups that actually got traction would be able to participate - Deep Purple Mk 2 and Iron Maiden with Bruce Dickinson, for example. At the same time, I wouldn't want to have revolving-door groups taken out if the core band members are still in it - one could argue that with Blackmore, Dio, and Powell, Rainbow had some consistency from Rising to LLRNR, so maybe that latter album could be considered. Maybe not, if you'd rather be strict on lineups - considering Powerslave the follow-up to Piece of Mind because of Nicko McBrain on drums, as opposed to Piece of Mind being the follow-up to Number of the Beast.

If we've already nominated an album for a top 10 solo album, make it an honorable mention or slot it in the lineup, but get 10 albums besides the ones we just rated.

Live albums not for consideration: In Rock is not the follow-up to Concerto for Group and Orchestra. Fireball is the proper second album for DP Mk 2.

Albums I think would be in the running off the top of my head would be Fireball, Paranoid, Mob Rules or Dehumanizer (depending on how you feel about the drummer), Piece of Mind or Powerslave (again, drummer issues...), Long Live Rock and Roll or Rising (again, judgment call), Passion Play, Grand Funk, We're an American Band, Toys in the Attic, Straight Shooter, Rumours, Canned Wheat, Led Zeppelin II, Caress of Steel, Tyranny and Mutation, Ride the Lightning, Bomber, Wheels of Steel, Van Halen II, OU812... that's just off the top of my head, any second album is fair game.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

That'll take some thinking about!

[Zzzptm]

I'm thinking of going through my favorite bands, finding where they had a stable lineup for 2 or more albums, listing those second albums, and then probably giving them a spin so I know where they land in the rankings. We might want to discuss this so we don't overlook some of the good stuff that's tricky to remember all of.

[Charger]

Hmmm...

I think this is a fun one BUT I also think that it would be bit too tricky to start including different line-ups here.. Where do you draw the line? One person changes does that then re-start the counter again?

I think if we were to talk about sophomore album I think they just honestly need to be the second albums by those bands....but then again there are bands like Deep Purple and Iron Maiden who kind of really got going with the second line-up...But in Maiden's case I don't really think Burr or McBrain would make a difference...
Anthrax would be another where it would be rather easy to exclude the first album...One could also argue that Judas Priest only really got a stable line up going with Dave Holland...

But honestly I'd be okay just listing second albums...with ONE exeption and that would ofcourse be Deep Purple.

[Charger]

I have been thinking about this and I think we could even do TWO lists here...

One with starting from the beginning and then the second one featuring a certain line up...I have a feeling that we'd be able to fill both lists with relative ease....

[Zzzptm]

Can do with that!

[Charger]

Alright. I'll kick things off then starting with the band specific ones first once we finish with that we can do the line up specific ones...


#10

Hammerfall - Legacy Of Kings



Hammerfall's first album Glory To The Brave was the band kind of finding their way but on their second album they hit the nail on the head and created one of the best power metal albums of all time. Songs like Heeding The Call, The Title Track, Let The Hammer Fall and even the ballad At The End Of The Rainbow are all solid songs. Joacim Cans' vocals soar like no other and the guitars of Oscar Dronjak and Stefan Elmgren rival that of any guitar duo out there atleast in the power metal genre. The Swedes certainly knocked it out of the park with this one!

[Zzzptm]

Had to finish up my rankings...

And yes, original bands first, later lineups... later!

My honorable mentions go out to:
Bad Company - Straight Shooter
Black Sky Giant - Planet Terror
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Mos Generator - Songs for Future Gods
1000 Mods - Vultures
Dio - Last in Line
Metal Church - The Dark
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II

I like those, but I like these other 10 more...

My Number Ten is...



Steely Dan's Countdown to Ecstasy. Clean, slick, portend of things to come. From the opening track, Bodhisattva, to the ending King of the World, we have a solid performance from Fagen-Becker & Friends. My personal favorite track from the album is side 2's closer, Your Gold Teeth. By getting rid of that one singer that didn't fit stylistically, the band found its groove with this album and kept it strong for the rest of the 70s.

[Ted Sallis]

Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

Good idea for a thread, Z except...'Toys' is Aerosmith's 3rd album, not their sophomore effort.

I'll think about which albums would be on my list...

Ted

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'm a little busy at the moment. I'll catch up with my choices when I have a little more time, hopefully next week!

[Zzzptm]

Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

Good idea for a thread, Z except...'Toys' is Aerosmith's 3rd album, not their sophomore effort.

I'll think about which albums would be on my list...

Ted

You're right! It's Get Your Wings that's their second one! Well, I like that as well, not as much as Toys, but still a solid work. Swap out the honorable mention and act like it was a typo...

[Charger]

I'm a little busy at the moment. I'll catch up with my choices when I have a little more time, hopefully next week!

We're in no rush here...

[Zzzptm]

Hey KDC, how's it looking?

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'm good to start from Sunday (basically busy Friday and Saturday). Feel free to start when you want to and if necessary I'll catch up.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Just to clarify, we are...

1) looking for the greatest 2nd albums from a band or artist?

2) that could also include a second album after a significant change in personnel? *

3) I presume it doesn't matter if the 1st album is as good or better just that the 2nd is great?

* I'll probably just stick to a change in vocalist