As the title suggests, this blog series spotlights those rare musical unicorns who managed to release at least one genuinely good album in each of four different decades. Sounds simple enough, right? You’d think any competent band could cough up a keeper every ten years or so. But no, it turns out this is an elite club, largely because first you have to avoid death, a requirement far too many musicians struggle to live up to (pun absolutely intended).

And even the artists who somehow dodge the Grim Reaper, whether through sheer stubbornness or spite, aren’t guaranteed a pass. Plenty of them still fail the “one-good-album-per-decade” test. Fortunately, some did rise to the challenge, and these are the musical heroes you’ll find here.

Is this list shaped by my own personal tastes? Of course it is. But I’ve made every effort to stay open-minded, adventurous, and only moderately judgmental. This is Part 1 of 26 because that’s how many letters there are in the alphabet, and as a Virgo, I’m required to approach this with an obsessive level of order and structure.

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Aretha Franklin (39 albums)

Aretha didn’t just earn the title “Queen of Soul”, she commandeered it, crowned herself, and then dared anyone to challenge her. So yes, of course she’s on this list. That said, her catalog is… let’s just say front-loaded. Most of her finest moments came roaring out in the 60s, when she was releasing classics faster than most artists can schedule a dentist appointment.

With 39 albums to her name, there’s inevitably plenty of filler, some head-scratchers, and the occasional “who approved this?” moment. But honestly, when you’ve got that voice you could sing the ingredients off a cereal box and still make half the industry look underqualified.

1960s – Lady Soul (1968)

1970s – Young, Gifted and Black (1972)

1980s – Who’s Zoomin’ Who (1985)

1990s – A Rose is Still a Rose (1998)

EXTRA CREDIT: I Never Loved a Man…(1967), Aretha Now (1968), Spirit in the Dark (1970)

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ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (12 albums)

The band only released 12 non-live albums over their entire lifespan which is an impressive testament to actual quality control, especially in a genre where some groups record every time someone plugs in a guitar. They also endured the deaths of key members, proving their resilience in ways no band should ever have to. And sure, they delivered a couple of clunkers – Win, Lose or Draw, I’m absolutely side-eyeing you – but for the most part, they spent their downtime on the holy trinity of Southern rock recreation: drugs, women, and long stretches of “creative reflection.”

They later released a track called “The High Cost of Low Living,” and honestly, they earned that title the hard way. I’m pretty sure all the core members have now passed on, which tragically but definitively sets their legacy in stone. And truly, I couldn’t be more grateful for the wild, beautiful, blues-drenched music they left behind.

1960s – The Allman Brothers Band (1969)

1970s – Idlewild South (1970)

1990s – Shades of Two Worlds (1991)

2000s – Hittin’ the Note (2003)

EXTRA CREDIT: Eat a Peach (1972), Brothers and Sisters (1972), Seven Turns (1990)

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AEROSMITH (15 albums)

As a testosterone-fueled child of the 70s, Aerosmith was basically mandatory listening, like civics class, but with more innuendo and fewer functioning brain cells. I had no idea what Steven Tyler was saying half the time, but I was absolutely positive it was naughty, loud, and not approved by any responsible adult… so naturally I loved it.

Like most fans from that era, I assumed the band was legally deceased after they kicked me “Right in the Nuts” in 1979. So imagine my shock when they came roaring back in the 80s. Sure, by then they were more brand than band, but it was still exciting to see these walking cautionary tales crank out hits again.

Of course, by the time grunge rolled in, they’d slipped off my radar faster than Joe Perry out a backstage fire exit. Still, they persevered, they kept the riffs coming, and they delivered just enough quality to land on this list… even if they absolutely, positively never grew up.

NOTE: Apologies for the volume…for some reason their music on YouTube is WAY loud.

1970s – Toys in the Attic (1975)

1980s – Permanent Vacation (1987)

1990s – Get a Grip (1993)

2000s – Honkin’ on Bobo (2004)

EXTRA CREDIT: Rocks (1976), Pump (1989)

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ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL (23 albums)

The band’s name perfectly describes my awareness of their existence before starting this project because I was, in fact, asleep at the wheel. What a shame, because I’m not remotely allergic to this genre, and I could’ve been enjoying their music for decades instead of living in blissful, twang-free ignorance.

My ultimate takeaway? They make the music sound easy, breezy, and effortless… but if it were actually that simple, the world would be overrun with Texas swing bands, and we’d all be two-stepping in the produce aisle. As it stands, these folks are the real deal…precision players masquerading as a laid-back honky-tonk party.

1970s – Texas Gold (1975)

1980s – Pasture Prime (1985)

1990s – Ride with Bob (1999)

2010s – New Routes (2018)

EXTRA CREDIT: Comin’ Right at Ya (1973), Wheelin’ and Dealin’ (1976), Still the King (2015)

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AC/DC (18 albums)

I don’t think I’ve ever actually purchased anything by this band because I figured out pretty early they were a one-trick pony, and I let the radio beat that one trick into my skull for free. And honestly? Decades later, I can’t say my opinion has changed all that much. But I do have a new respect for them, because not only did they survive longer than most cockroaches, they did it by doubling down on the exact same formula every single time. Sometimes the smart move isn’t reinventing yourself…sometimes it’s figuring out what you do best, plugging in your guitar, and frickin’ sticking with it until the end of time.

1970s – Highway to Hell (1979)

1980s – Back in Black (1980)

1990s – The Razor’s Edge (1990)

2020s – Power Up (2020)

EXTRA CREDIT: Let There Be Rock (1977), Stiff Upper Lip (2000), Black Ice (2008)

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AIMEE MANN – (10 albums + ‘Til Tuesday)

Aimee Mann is a tough nut to crack, meaning, as a man, she tends to crack my nuts. Her entire career is basically a masterclass in calling out male stupidity, and frankly… fair enough. We deserve it. She may be one emotional note, but she has held that note for over four decades with deadly precision, like a monk practicing heartbreak as a martial art. And Aimee, if you’re reading this, please know…I genuinely love you for exactly who you are. Even if I am approximately 78% of what you’re complaining about.

1980s – Everything’s Different Now (1988-‘Til Tuesday)

1990s – I’m With Stupid (1995)

2000s – Bachelor No. 2 (2000)

2010s – Mental Illness (2017)

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ALISON KRAUSS – (15 albums)

Yes, I fully admit I bent my own rules to squeeze Alison onto this list, mostly because half her best work involves collaborations, duets, or her using Union Station as her personal angelic backup squad. But honestly, how was I supposed to say no to that voice? It’s pure, effortless, and so serene it practically forces you into a life review. I don’t know about you, but every time she sings, I suddenly feel older, wiser, and far more aware of the relentless march of time. And if that’s not “Built to Last,” I don’t know what is.

1990s – So Long, So Wrong (1997)

2000s – Raising Sand (2007)

2010s – Windy City (2017)

2020s – Raise the Roof (2021)