Ranker MusicList RulesOnly vote up bands or artists who have released five great albums. Not good albums. GREAT albums. This only includes studio albums. No live albums. No B-side collections.
Building a successful band is tough but keeping it going is much tougher. Even some of history's biggest, best-selling bands couldn't repeat the magic more than once. Break-ups and bad musical decisions have sabotaged some of the all-time best bands and artists. Just how hard is it? The Smiths, Cream and Velvet Underground lasted just four albums. Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix? Just three. The Sex Pistols? Only one.
Sure, plenty of bands continue to release albums for years but that doesn't mean they are good. The list of artists who have released what would be considered five great albums isn't as long as you might think. Not everyone can successfully reinvent themselves like Bob Dylan or The Beatles or stay as consistent as AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.
So which artists have gone the distance five full times?
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1,046548The Beatles
Abbey Road, RevolverGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Pop rock
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With a line-up comprising... more on Wikipedia
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765620Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin IVGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Classic rock, Rock music, Folk rock, Heavy metal
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of... more on Wikipedia3
728678Pink Floyd
The Wall, The Dark Side of the MoonGenres (Music): Rock music, Space rock, Experimental rock, Acid rock, Progressive rock
Pink Floyd were an English rock band formed in London in 1965. They emerged from London's... more on Wikipedia4
626615The Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed, Exile on Main St.Genres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk, Rhythm and blues, Rock and roll
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first settled... more on Wikipedia5
207187Creedence Clearwater Revival
Green River, Cosmo's FactoryGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Blue-eyed soul, Swamp pop, Rock music, Garage rock
Creedence Clearwater Revival (often referred to as Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band... more on Wikipedia6
651727Queen
A Night at the Opera, QueenGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Heavy metal, Progressive rock, Glam rock
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970. Their classic line-up was Freddie... more on Wikipedia7
517590The Who
Who's Next, TommyGenres (Music): Popular music, Pop music, Rock music, Protopunk, Pop rock
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of... more on Wikipedia8
529619David Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Hunky DoryGenres (Music): Rock music, Psychedelic pop, Electronic music, Protopunk, Glam rock
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie (,... more on Wikipedia9
466544Bob Dylan
Highway 61 Revisited, Blood on the TracksGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk music, Folk rock, Country rock
Bob Dylan (born May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, poet, and visual... more on Wikipedia10
304350Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Disney's Sing-Along: The Lion KingGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Piano rock, Rhythm and blues, Pop rock
Sir Elton Hercules John (born 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and... more on Wikipedia11
165187Paul McCartney
Flaming Pie, Pipes of PeaceGenres (Music): Pop music, Rock music, Experimental rock, Classical music, Pop rock
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter, musician,... more on Wikipedia12
281334Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
The Last DJ, Damn the TorpedoesGenres (Music): Blues-rock, New Wave, Classic rock, Heartland rock, Rock music
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (alternately Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) were an American... more on Wikipedia13
150177Stevie Wonder
Songs in the Key of Life, InnervisionsGenres (Music): Motown Sound, Psychedelic soul, Pop music, Rhythm and blues, Jazz
Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950), better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is... more on Wikipedia14
400505AC/DC
Back in Black, Highway to HellGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Boogie rock, Rock music, Heavy metal, Rock and roll
AC/DC are an Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus... more on Wikipedia15
377482Eagles
Hotel California, Eagles Greatest HitsGenres (Music): Country pop, Rock music, Folk rock, Country rock, Soft rock
The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley,... more on Wikipedia16
Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on February 10,... more on Wikipedia11414117
185249Billy Joel
The Stranger, Piano ManGenres (Music): Blue-eyed soul, Pop music, Rock music, Piano rock, Folk rock
William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and... more on Wikipedia18
382529Rush
Moving Pictures, 2112Genres (Music): Progressive metal, Rock music, Heavy metal, Progressive rock, Hard rock
Rush was a Canadian rock band consisting of Geddy Lee (bass, vocals, keyboards), Alex Lifeson... more on Wikipedia19
112153Electric Light Orchestra
Out of the Blue, TimeGenres (Music): Synthpop, Pop music, Rock music, Cello rock, Pop rock
The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1970 by... more on Wikipedia20
159222Eric Clapton
461 Ocean Boulevard, CrossroadsGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Reggae, Pop rock, Soft rock
Eric Patrick Clapton, (born 30 March 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer,... more on Wikipedia21
330468The Doors
The Doors, L.A. WomanGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk, Heavy metal, Jazz fusion
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim... more on Wikipedia22
363520Black Sabbath
Paranoid, Black SabbathGenres (Music): Doom metal, Blues-rock, Power metal, Heavy metal, Stoner rock
Black Sabbath were an English rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main... more on Wikipedia23
101144Michael Jackson
Thriller, BadGenres (Music): Motown Sound, Rock music, Electronic music, Dance-pop, New jack swing
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter,... more on Wikipedia24
249358Fleetwood Mac
Rumours, Fleetwood MacGenres (Music): Blues-rock, Pop music, Rock music, Instrumental rock, Pop rock
Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band formed in July 1967, in London. The band have... more on Wikipedia25
302438Neil Young
Harvest, Everybody Knows This Is NowhereGenres (Music): Rock music, Experimental rock, Grunge, Folk rock, Country rock
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. After embarking... more on Wikipedia
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