# Great comeback albums in rock music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160 "2022-11-01T17:44:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/41 "2022-11-02T17:16:52Z")
I’ve always thought ELP’s _Black Moon_, while not particularly successful commercially, a nice comeback 13+ years after the execrable _Love Beach_ and six years after the _Emerson, Lake, & Powell_ experiment. They were excellent in the tour that followed the album’s release. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/42 "2022-11-02T17:54:47Z")
Speaking of which, Weird Al likes to say that every one of his albums is a comeback album. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/43 "2022-11-02T18:16:08Z")
Tina Turner’s 1984 album _Private Dancer_ was great after a five year absence and spawned her most succesful song “What’s Love Got to Do with It”. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/44 "2022-11-02T18:22:57Z")
Alice Cooper - Trash. Alice was a ‘where are they now’ footnote of the 70s despite still having a multi-album slump of forgotten 80s albums. He started creeping back with Constrictor and Raise Your Fist by reinventing himself from glam/schlock to heavy metal. ‘Trash’ exploded and put him back on top of career hall of fame legitimacy instead of just another sad downward spiral. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/45 "2022-11-02T18:33:51Z")
Paul Simon and Graceland probably fits. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/46 "2022-11-02T18:39:04Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > the Grateful Dead formed in 1966 and had their first top 10 hit with “Touch of Grey” in 1987. Actually, the 1987 album that contained “Touch of Grey”, titled _In the Dark_, did represent a comeback of sorts for the Dead. It was their first album in six years and was released a year after Jerry Garcia nearly died in a diabetic coma. It ended up being their third-best-selling album, behind _Skeletons from the Closet_ (1974) and _American Beauty_ (1970). ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/47 "2022-11-02T18:41:00Z")
I think New Order’s _Movement_ qualifies. After Ian Curtis’ suicide, it was assumed that Joy Division was finished. All of the surviving members regrouped, adding Gillian Gilbert on keyboards/guitar, and gave it a go. The fact that they didn’t settle on roles - all of the members of the band sang lead on at least one song - and put an album out - I think qualifies. As far as a “hit” album, I think _Power Corruption and Lies_ was the “hey, this band is pretty good, and doesn’t sound much like Joy Division” album. I’m one of those weirdos who got into New Order around 1985 and didn’t know that there was a Joy Division connection for many years. _Movement_ does in fact sound like a JD album (same producer, Martin Hannett). ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/48 "2022-11-02T19:04:48Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Tina Turner’s 1984 album _Private Dancer_ was great after a five year absence and spawned her most succesful song “What’s Love Got to Do with It”. Oh yes, that’s a very good example and one of the greatest comebacks in music history. She finally emancipated herself from Ike with this album and kickstarted a solo career that was impressive. Not even so much in the US, but in Europe she was on par with other 80s superstars like Michael Jackson, Prince or Madonna and filled stadiums until her retirement. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/49 "2022-11-02T19:24:48Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > I think New Order’s _Movement_ qualifies. After Ian Curtis’ suicide, it was assumed that Joy Division was finished. All of the surviving members regrouped, adding Gillian Gilbert on keyboards/guitar, and gave it a go. Oh yeah that’s a classic example. In a similar vein you could add the Foo Fighters (self titled) first album to that, though that could be pushing it as it was just Dave Grohl, not the rest of Nirvana. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/50 "2022-11-02T19:43:19Z")
I think AC/DC, Genesis, and New Order are the three - iconic frontmen who left the bands and they arguably had more success with the next iteration of the band. Maybe Journey fits, as they brought on Steve Perry midway through their career. INXS did an album with JD Fortune after Michael Hutchence’s death, but I have listened to it… exactly once. I might need to give it another listen. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/51 "2022-11-02T19:55:24Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > **American Recordings** by Johnny Cash. ^^This. Not just a comeback, but a revelation. ---
**Author:** ![TimfromNapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TimfromNapa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimfromNapa)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/52 "2022-11-02T20:38:27Z")
Since they are sometimes described as a rock group without instruments, I’ll add Firesign Theatre to the mix. Their 1998 album “Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death” marked a true return to former greatness after almost 20 years of albums that were ok to pretty good. I’d put it up there with their best works. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/53 "2022-11-02T20:40:52Z")
Ironically, this just appeared today: > **[Rock's 20 Biggest Comeback Albums](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/comeback-albums/)** > > Becoming a successful artist is difficult. Remaining on top forever is downright impossible. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/54 "2022-11-02T20:47:50Z")
The Aerosmith comeback record was mentioned on that list this way: " _Done With Mirrors_ signaled Aerosmith’s reunion, but _Permanent Vacation_ marked their commercial comeback." OK. Reunion vs. Comeback, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/55 "2022-11-02T21:37:00Z")
If any Rush album could be described as a comeback, it would have been “Vapor Trails” in 2002. This was after they took several years off after the deaths of Neil Peart’s daughter and life-companion. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/56 "2022-11-02T21:58:37Z")
Would Elvis '68 count? I believe it’s the soundtrack to his tv special. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/57 "2022-11-02T22:42:43Z")
The Kinks spent about most of the 1970s in the commercial and critical wilderness. The 1960s run of _Face to Face_ through _Lola vs. Powerman_ (some people extend the run to include 1971’s _Muswell Hillbillies_) was critically lauded, if not always big sellers. Then came the theatrical concept album period where albums failed to chart, singles flopped, and critics sneered. 1979’s _Low Budget_ brought them back to commercial, if not critical, glory and kicked off a streak of 4 consecutive US Top 15 albums. They were bigger in the US than they’d ever been, back to filling arenas.Thanks to MTV, they got their first Top 10 hit in 13 years, 1983’s “Come Dancing”. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/58 "2022-11-03T00:30:01Z")
If we consider album sales and tour revenue, Lynyrd Skynyrd might qualify. Never a singles band (only one song hit the top 10 - “Sweet Home Alabama”), but they sold over 27 million albums and sold out stadiums. After the plane crash that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt and lead guitarist Steve Gaines, the band folded. Nearly 30 years later, Van Zandt’s younger brother put the band back together including most of the surviving members, and in 2010 they put out “Icon” which sold half a million copies, but also launched them as a major concert act and they started selling out huge venues again. I wouldn’t consider ‘Icon’ a great album, or even a good one. But it did kickstart the band into another two decades of tour success and being disbanded for three decades. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2022, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/59 "2022-11-03T00:38:33Z")
It counts as far as I, for one, am concerned, and also qualifies as Last Hurrah. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2022, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160/60 "2022-11-03T15:28:15Z")
Yeah, but _In the Dark_ was an actual hit. It went double platinum shortly after being released, whereas _American Beauty_ took 31 years to reach that status. Couldn’t easily find the stats for _Skeletons In the Closet_, which apparently is _quadruple_ platinum now but only hit #75 on the charts when it was released, and is just a greatest hits compilation anyway. No doubt the Dead “came back” in the late 80s; Jerry had been playing like a guy about to lapse into a coma for a few years before he actually did. (Which also explains the lapse in studio albums…not to single out Jerry, a lot of the band was too “distracted” to do anything more than absolutely necessary). Once he got better, the music got better and the crowds started getting much bigger than they had ever been. Certainly a lot of people checked out the band after hearing the hits on the radio, but it was the standard of the live performances that kept them coming back. The tour with Dylan also increased their visibility in a big way. So there was a comeback, and the album was a big part of it, but those years would have been fondly remembered by Deadheads even if the album hadn’t come out. And in retrospect, the album is just OK. The list of best Dead studio albums remains: 1. Workingman’s Dead 1a. American Beauty 2-23 Why bother when you could listen to live stuff? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-comeback-albums-in-rock-music/974160.md?page=2)