Top 10 Comeback Albums of All Time
Posted on 03 December 2008 by Manny
Britney Spears just performed her “comeback” tracks on Good Morning America yesterday, and she looked good! It sure does look like she’s making a successful comeback, which got me thinking. How many artists have tried to make a comeback album when they were down for the count, but came back to wow us again? Well after a little research, here’s what I came up with.
One of the more surprising comeback albums, to me, was American Recordings, by Johnny Cash. This was surprising because Johnny Cash collaborated with Rick Rubin of Def Jam, which actually came out really good.
One artist, that I never thought would have a comeback album, well–comeback anything, is Meatloaf. He would do anything for love, but do a whole lot more for a comeback album, and that’s just what he got with Bat out of Hell II. So what is it that he won’t do for love? beats me, but I’m sure it has something to do with either murder or prison love.
Green Day was one of my all-time favorite bands, especially when Dookie came out in 1994. I remember singing “When I come Around” and “Basket Case” for days. I even learned them on the drums! Then they came out with Nimrod, which was OK at best. THEN, they had their master tapes stolen from their studio, and it looked like they were Dunzo. However, they decided to recreate their album and use their anger towards criticizing America’s decline, and it worked. American Idiot was a huge success, because it attracted a whole new audience, but for classic punk influenced fans like myself, it did alright.
Judy Garland did not have a great time during the 60s, due to problems with alcohol, pills, and exhaustion. She had the right recipe for disaster, but somehow, she was able to push her way into the limelight, In 1961 Garland had an epic concert at Carnegie Hall, which would propel her into stardom once again. The recordings of that concert , Judy at Carnegie Hall, made her a legend with a Grammy winning double album.
Who could forget Tina Turner’s massive comeback? When the 70s queen was down and out, she came back with her powerful Private Dancer album, and it was instant gold! This was her first major solo project after leaving her abusive man, Ike. I’m sure we’ve all seen the movie. if not check it out. It’s aprtly named, “What’s Love Got to do with It,” which is also the power hitter of her comeback album.
Who could forget Bob Dylan? Well everyone did during the 1980s. He had a few projects like a greatest hits, MTV Unplugged, and some folksy stuff, but no new material. That is, until he was snowed in on his Minnesota farm, and started writing songs about his observations on life. One of his best albums ever, Time Out of Mind, was then released in 1997, and he was back in the spotlight once again.
Paul Simon’s Graceland was a great comeback album, not just because of the catchy, “You Can Call Me Al,” but it also gained a lot of popularity by ticking off the UN. There was a huge controversy about the album’s recordings in it’s release in 1986, because there was a cultural boycott of South Africa, where he recorded most of the songs. As a result, the UN blacklisted Simon, but he stuck it to the man.
Brian Wilson was in the dumps before he came back with Smile. This Beach Boy took 37 years to come back. It was a tough and agonizing process for Wilson, especially after his nervous breakdown after Pet Sounds, but he was able to put together one of the most anticipated and well received albums of his day.
After Glitter, it would have taken a MIRACLE for Mariah Carey to make a comeback, but she did! She had to pull out all the stops from star studded musical icons in order to make The Emancipation of Mimi a success. She had help from Kanye West, The Neptunes, and even Jermaine Dupri. Luckily for her, it payed off as the album debuted at No. 1, and the single “We Belong Together” made her the third most successful singer of all time, only behind Elvis and The Beatles. Talk about rising from the ashes.
Finally, The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had their share of ups and downs, that’s for sure. I remember when I first started listening to RHCP, they were a punkish surf band, but slowly began a downward spiral, which was an actual reflection of their personal lives. Anthony Kiedis, was known to be battling alcohol and heroin demons, and it took its toll on the entire band. One of the key turning points in the band’s career was replacing their original guitarist, John Frusciante, with Dave Navarro, due to friction within the band. Needless to say, the album flopped. I actually liked a lot of the tracks, but I can’t say the album stood out in my mind either. Good ol’ John then came back, and put the RHCP back on track for Californication, which brought several of their powerhouse tracks like “Road Trippin’”, “Around the World,” and “Scar Tissue” all on one album.
So those are the top 10 album comebacks, unless I forgot any or maybe you guys know of some other ones that deserve to be on the list?
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Tags | bob dylan, brian wilson, Britney spears, californication, good morning america performance, green day, johnny cash, judy garland, kanye west, Mariah Carey, meatloaf, paul simon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, rhcp, the neptunes, tina turner
