# Longest time between studio albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [June 24, 2026, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148 "2026-06-24T04:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/1 "2026-06-24T04:31:32Z")
I’m currently listening to an obscure Italian prog rock band called [Cervello](https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=568). Their debut album was released in 1973. They took their time getting the follow-up right - It was released last year. Can we beat 52 years between studio albums? Live albums, compilations, and whatnot don’t count. Only the time between studio albums. For instance, Cervello put out a live album in 2017, but I’m not counting that. It was 52 years between proper studio albums. ETA: I guess I should have done a little more research. That “second album” is just previously unreleased tracks from the same time period as the first. Still an interesting topic though, maybe? I’ll have to dig through my music to come up with a proper example. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/2 "2026-06-24T04:40:04Z")
Here we go: [Earthrise](https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6933). Their first album came out in 1978, their second in 2017. And the second album was actually recorded in 2017. So 39 years. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/3 "2026-06-24T04:51:43Z")
I did a little sleuthing, and two of the members of Earthrise are deceased, one in 2019 and another in 2020, so a 3rd album is probably not forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/4 "2026-06-24T05:09:08Z")
For bands which had more than a couple of studio albums, Electric Light Orchestra comes to mind. The group broke up after _Balance of Power_ was released in 1986, and fifteen years passed before the release of another studio album, _Zoom_, in 2001; then, another 14 years passed before the release of _Alone in the Universe_ in 2015 (though that album was credited to “Jeff Lynne’s ELO”). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/5 "2026-06-24T05:49:11Z")
Oasis put out their last studio album in 2008. They are of course now touring again and have made some comments about recording again, although it’s notoriously difficult to rely on anything the Gallagher brothers say. A new studio album, assuming they don’t kill each other recording it, would be a gap of at least 18 years; certainly not the longest, but very notable for a group of their stature and enduring popularity. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/6 "2026-06-24T07:03:25Z")
Several of my favorite bands seem to follow this pattern Ghinzu (Belgian band) went 17 years between albums, releasing a new (excellent) album last month Faith No More went 18 years and the Psychedelic Furs went a whopping 29 years between albums The irony is that Ghinzu and the Furs were talking about a new album and even touring during the gap, but couldn’t get into the studio ---
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/7 "2026-06-24T10:09:52Z")
[**Big Star**](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-star-mn0000051992#discography): Memphis-based pioneers of power pop. _Third/Sister Lovers_\* was released in 1978, and _In Space_ came out in 2005 – 27 years later. [\*This has been designated a Big Star record by everyone except those who performed on it.] [**Vashti Bunyan**](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/vashti-bunyan-mn0000099104#biography): This English folk singer released her debut, _Just Another Diamond Day_, in 1970. The LP gradually attracted a cult following, and she followed up with _Lookaftering_ in 2005 – 35 years later. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/8 "2026-06-24T13:10:09Z")
**New York Dolls:** _Too Much Too Soon_ (1974) \> _One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This_ (2006), for a gap of thirty-two years. **Van der Graaf Generator:** _The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome_ (1977) \> _Present_ (2005), for a gap of twenty-eight years. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/9 "2026-06-24T16:32:42Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > **New York Dolls:** _Too Much Too Soon_ (1974) \> _One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This_ (2006), for a gap of thirty-two years. That reminded me of the MC5: 53 years between “High Time” (1971) and “Heavy Lifting” (2024). Granted, the latter only was Wayne Kramer and a tributary band consisting of many prominent like-minded and influenced people, because all other original band members were already dead, and it turned out to be Kramer’s swan song, too, he died a short time after, but the album was officially released as an MC5 album. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/10 "2026-06-24T17:03:32Z")
How about spoken work comedy albums? 26 years between the last two albums. However, some of the material on both albums were performed live, and some without an audience. - _2000 and Thirteen with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks_ - 1973 - _The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000_ - 1997 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/11 "2026-06-24T17:36:42Z")
Tom Petty’s first band, Mudcrutch, had a 33-year gap between the release of new studio material: the 1975 single “Depot Street” was followed by their debut self-titled album in 2008. Of course, this doesn’t strictly fit the parameters of the OP, since it’s not a gap between albums, and in any event, other posters have already reported other artists with longer gaps. But I thought I’d mention it as an interesting case. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/12 "2026-06-24T17:43:04Z")
Oh, and if an EP counts as an album, Captain Beyond had a 23-year gap between the release of _Dawn Explosion_ (1977) and _Night Train Calling_ (2000). ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/13 "2026-06-24T18:37:33Z")
I read one of the “Related” threads: > [@Albums delivered after a long hiatus by the artist(s). Are these more often masterpieces or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-delivered-after-a-long-hiatus-by-the-artist-s-are-these-more-often-masterpieces-or-not/642732): > > Just curious. Is there any pattern to the the quality of albums that have very extended gestation periods? And it had a good mention (leaving out “live” albums and compilations) for the Eagles: > [@Albums delivered after a long hiatus by the artist(s). Are these more often masterpieces or not?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-delivered-after-a-long-hiatus-by-the-artist-s-are-these-more-often-masterpieces-or-not/642732/7): > > The Eagles’ “Long Road Out of Eden” came out in 2007, 28 years after their last studio album, “The Long Run” and 13 years after they reunited. It is a very strong album and one of my personal favorites. (quoting because it wasn’t my idea or research) ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/14 "2026-06-24T19:05:45Z")
_Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America Volume One: The Early Years_ (1961) _Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America Volume Two: The Middle Years_ (1996) ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/15 "2026-06-24T19:17:03Z")
One of my favorites, Belly, had a respectable 23 year gap. | 1995 | _[King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_(Belly_album) "King (Belly album)")_ | | --- | --- | | | | - Release date: February 14, 1995 - Label: Sire Records, Reprise Records | 2018 | _[Dove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_(Belly_album) "Dove (Belly album)")_ | | --- | --- | | | | - Release date: May 4, 2018 - Label: Belly Touring LLC ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/16 "2026-06-24T19:24:15Z")
Arguably may not meet the thread constraints, but the David Lee Roth led version of Van Halen had a 28-year gap between **1984** and **A Different Kind of Truth.** ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/17 "2026-06-24T20:14:40Z")
Pia Zadora went 31 years between albums (that nobody asked for.) ---
**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:** [June 24, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/18 "2026-06-24T20:42:22Z")
ABBA went 40 years between _The Visitors_ (1981) and _Voyage_ (2021). ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/19 "2026-06-24T21:08:17Z")
Found another one in my collection: [Acqua Fragile](https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5), another Italian band. Their second album was released in 1974; their third album in 2017, for a 43 year hiatus. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148/20 "2026-06-25T01:39:26Z")
The Bonzo Dog Band went 35 years between _Let’s Make up and Be Friendly_ and _Pour L’Amour des Chiens._ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-time-between-studio-albums/1031148.md?page=2)