Most drastic changes in sound on consecutive albums (1971-1975)

[Facelift]

I was just wondering what people thought would be candidates for consecutive albums by the same band in which the change in sound was the most stark. It's interesting to think about, since this is really the most creative period of '70s prog and many bands were growing in sophistication and finding their identity in steps. Sometimes, though, the changes present on a new album from the ones prior to it are several steps at a time and very noticeable - either due to personnel changes, a new creative direction, etc.

Any nominations? I kind of thought of Jethro Tull from Aqualung to Thick as a Brick when thinking about this. The opening acoustic part isn't much of a derivation, but once the main body of the first section kicks in, it does not sound very much like the hard rock, riff-based Aqualung/Benefit style.

Soft Machine from Seven to Bundles is another example.

Maybe Genesis from SEBTP to Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

[Scott Bails]

Yes, from Tales to Relayer?

[the winter tree]

TIME AND A WORD to THE YES ALBUM was a big step forward in every way.

[ItalProgRules]

Popol Vuh

In den Garten Pharos to Hosianna Mantra

From instrumental music using only Moog and percussion to vocal music with a full band.

Complete change in every way: personnel, sound, direction...

[BobM]

Yes, from Tales to Relayer?

That's the first album set that popped into my mind.

[JJ88]

SEBTP to 'The Lamb...' was my first thought.

Maybe 'In Camera' to 'Nadir's Big Chance' (and then 'Over' after that, outside of the thread's scope). Very different.

I think personnel changes will always have some impact, albeit that's sometimes more of a cosmetic difference. See Tales to 'Relayer' as I think 'The Ancient' and the freak-out section on 'Ritual' are moving in that direction anyway. The difference between 'Seven' and 'Bundles' was IMHO largely down to the addition of Allan Holdsworth's guitar.

[NogbadTheBad]

Henry Cow - Legend to Unrest to In Praise Of Learning

King Crimson - Lizard to Islands to Larks Tongues In Aspic

[Facelift]

TIME AND A WORD to THE YES ALBUM was a big step forward in every way.

Yes, but that would be out of scope. I excluded '70 because I could think of a lot more examples if we went back that far (and even more if '69 was included). But most of the major bands seem to have established their style by '71, so I that's why I picked that year.

[ItalProgRules]

Oh, MAJOR bands?

That's very different. The O/P didn't say that. Forget about Popol Vuh then.

[bob_32_116]

I thought Wish You Were Here was a very different sounding record from the Dark Side of the Moon.

[Facelift]

Oh, MAJOR bands?

That's very different. The O/P didn't say that. Forget about Popol Vuh then.

They don't need to be major bands. I think Popol Vuh is a good example.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Henry Cow - Legend to Unrest to In Praise Of Learning

King Crimson - Lizard to Islands to Larks Tongues In Aspic

These are two profoundly radical examples, and the first in particular.

Also Magma from 1001* Centigrades to Köhntarkosz.

[JJ88]

The thing is with King Crimson though, the whole band other than Fripp was different when they came back for LTIA.

[ThomasKDye]

King Crimson - Red to Discipline.

… Well, they're technically consecutive.

[Mister Triscuits]

Peter Hammill from In Camera to Nadir's Big Chance.

[mogrooves]

PF: Meddle --> DSoM

[Mister Triscuits]

PF: Meddle --> DSoM

Not consecutive albums. You forgot Obscured by Clouds.

[No Pride]

I was just wondering what people thought would be candidates for consecutive albums by the same band in which the change in sound was the most stark. It's interesting to think about, since this is really the most creative period of '70s prog and many bands were growing in sophistication and finding their identity in steps. Sometimes, though, the changes present on a new album from the ones prior to it are several steps at a time and very noticeable - either due to personnel changes, a new creative direction, etc.

Any nominations? I kind of thought of Jethro Tull from Aqualung to Thick as a Brick when thinking about this. The opening acoustic part isn't much of a derivation, but once the main body of the first section kicks in, it does not sound very much like the hard rock, riff-based Aqualung/Benefit style.

Soft Machine from Seven to Bundles is another example.

Maybe Genesis from SEBTP to Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

I'm guessing you got this thread idea from my post on the ELP Trilogy thread, in which I mentioned the above Genesis example and ELP's Trilogy to BSS as follow-up albums that are sonically inferior to their predecessors. If so, glad to inspire a thread!

[mogrooves]

Not consecutive albums. You forgot Obscured by Clouds.

As a film soundtrack I view it essentially as marginalia in their oeuvre, but let's go with Meddle --> OBC --> DSoM

[JAMOOL]

If you're looking for only that period, no two of the four classic Faust albums sound a thing alike. Can going from Ege Bamyasi to Future Days was pretty radical as well (especially given how great both those albums are)

As for modern bands - Ween and Motorpsycho probably qualify a number of times

[progeezer]

Deep Purple - from 3rd Bosch painting s/t album (proto-prog) to "In Rock (not proto-prog)

Genesis - for me, they changed SO drastically from Wind & Wuthering on that I was done with them (still don't own or listen to anything after W & W). YMMV so save it.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Deep Purple - from 3rd Bosch painting s/t album (proto-prog) to "In Rock (not proto-prog)

Agree, BUT the bitta riffy "hard rock" embryo was long since there already by 1969 in songs like "Emeretta" and "Bird Has Flown".

[chalkpie]

Magic Mushrumps -> Red Queen to Gryphon Three

[happytheman]

Maybe Genesis from SEBTP to Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

And here I've always thought LLDOB borrowed quite a bit from SEBTP.. sure there is some stuff on side 3 that's very ground breaking for Genesis..

[Galactic Bulldozer]

Galactic Zoo Dossier (Umma) - Kingdom Come (DSoM) - Journey (WYWH)
Second Album - Phantasmagoria - AirCut
3 Friends - Octopus - Glass House
Twice Removed (AyExp) - Bridge of Sighs (BoG) - Earth (Rainbow)