# Posthumous hits **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265 "2012-08-12T13:53:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/21 "2012-08-12T20:08:47Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Can’t say I detect much cynicism about creating “Free As A Bird”. The musician in me says “Damn, that is a great emotional tribute to their mate - I would have loved to play on that session. George, Paul & Ringo - you nailed it.” Meh. I can’t deny the emotion and spirit behind recording the song. But, musically, I was less than impressed. To me, it sounded like a mediocre Wings tune. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/22 "2012-08-12T20:11:19Z")
Anything by J.S. Bach. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/23 "2012-08-12T21:08:50Z")
I think classical composers don’t fit simply because they don’t have recordings of their work; it’s their music that remains popular, not their recordings. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/24 "2012-08-12T22:16:00Z")
Half the band For Squirrels died in a car accident before their album _Example_ came out, and they had a minor (and ironic) hit with “Mighty KC”, pretty much forgotten today except by people my age. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/25 "2012-08-13T01:29:22Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I think classical composers don’t fit simply because they don’t have recordings of their work; it’s their music that remains popular, not their recordings. Nonsense. We’re talking about “releases,” and Bach’s music was all released in his lifetime, because he performed it himself. But it was a long time before any of it became a “hit.” Same goes for a several others, notably Schubert. ---
**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:** [August 13, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/26 "2012-08-13T01:48:23Z")
But they did not perform when the songs became recording hits. They are cover versions by other artists. Listing cover versions is not what was asked in the OP, and is ultimately a trivial exercise. You might as well list anyone who had a hit with a Gershwin song in the 50s as credited to George Gershwin. Bach never recorded a hit single. If you argue so, give a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/27 "2012-08-13T01:59:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Bach never recorded a hit single. If you argue so, give a cite. Not actually his recording, but he does appear in the [video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGDZc9bdUZM) ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/28 "2012-08-13T03:17:36Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Half the band For Squirrels died in a car accident before their album _Example_ came out, and they had a minor (and ironic) hit with “Mighty KC”, pretty much forgotten today except by people my age. I remember them. I saw them at a music festival in Birmingham, AL (although it might have been after they changed their name to Subrosa.) “Mighty KC” was a good song. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/29 "2012-08-13T04:36:30Z")
Country singer Jim Reeves topped the UK charts for five weeks in 1966 with the song “Distant Drums,” two years after his death. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/30 "2012-08-13T14:11:39Z")
In 1988 or 1989, Hank Williams Jr. did what Natalie Cole did: he mixed his own vocals with those of his father, Hank. Sr., and had a big country hit with “There’s a Tear in My Beer.” There was also a Forrest Gump-esque video that made it appear Hank was performing the song alongside his long-deceased Dad. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/31 "2012-08-13T15:27:57Z")
An early example is [“Pledging My Love”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledging_My_Love) by the late great Johnny Ace. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/32 "2012-08-13T15:48:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Nonsense. We’re talking about “releases,” and Bach’s music was all released in his lifetime, because he performed it himself. No it wasn’t, most notably his Mass in B Minor, which he obviously couldn’t have published. It’s since become an extremely popular piece, and was extremely influential on Beethoven, among others. It fits the spirit of this thread perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/33 "2012-08-13T20:41:36Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > No it wasn’t, most notably his Mass in B Minor, which he obviously couldn’t have published. It’s since become an extremely popular piece, and was extremely influential on Beethoven, among others. > > It fits the spirit of this thread perfectly. In that same spirit, Mozart’s _Requiem_. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265/34 "2012-08-13T20:43:18Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I remember them. I saw them at a music festival in Birmingham, AL (although it might have been after they changed their name to Subrosa.) “Mighty KC” was a good song. Haven’t thought about that one in over a decade but I can still sing the chorus. I might have to download it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/posthumous-hits/631265.md?page=1)