Artists Releasing their best music aged 40+

Steve Forbert
Willie Nile

 

When I first heard Nick in the late 70s, I had a hard time getting past the snark (Marie Provost, anyone?), even though I was only 20 or 21 at the time!

But beginning with 1989's strangely underrated Party of One and reaching full bloom with The Impossible Bird a few years later, he became one of my go-to guys for mature, soulful songwriting.

Also want to mention his solo acoustic performance of the Chi-Lites' There Will Never Be Any Peace (Until God Is at the Conference Table) — just a couple weeks after 9/11. Simply one of the most moving things I've ever seen or heard.

 

Franz Joseph Haydn

 

Madonna - Ray of Light

 

John Mellencamp

 

Richard Thompson

 

Rosanne Cash - The River and The Thread (2014). It's a great record, it won 3 Grammys and it may be her best work.

 

Strongly disagree......nothing touches Bring The Family or Slow Turning IMHO.

 

And his brothers Javier and Mario are also musicians. Javier was in the Zeros and the True Believers, and Mario was in the Dragons.

 

Joe Zawinul

Laurie Anderson

 

What do you consider Richard's "best" music? Not that I totally disagree. My favorite song is Beeswing from his '94 album when he was 44 or so. But it's hard to beat his music from the early years.

 

Like a lot of people (or so I suspect), mine is 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, probably written when RT was in his early 40s. Though I'm not the rabid RT fan I once was, there's no question that he sustained a very high level well into middle age.

 

Not sure when middle age ends and old age starts, he's 10 years older than me and from what I've heard of his new album he continues to be exceptional.

 

Still killing it. For me the high water mark is Real Animal, which came out around, when, five years ago? He wrote with Chuck Prophet on that one; Chuck belongs in this discussion as well.

 

Sounds like we're about the same vintage, then. Some days I feel middle-aged and some days I just feel aged.

 

Thanks! I overlooked Javier, did not know of Mario.

I think he's been on quite a roll since The Boxing Mirror (2006).
Real Animal came out in 2008. I was able to see the Real Animal tour at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. They rocked the house!

 

the last few eric burdon albums have been really strong

 

Ian Hunter had a strong solo career, some of it as good as his Mott days.
He put out You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic the year he turned 40.

 

Most will disagree, but Iron Maiden.

 

Rickie Lee Jones - The Evening Of My Best Day is up there with her very best IMHO.

 

Warren Zevon was very prolific after he turned 40 in 1987.

 

John Grant ... Didn't release his first solo album until in his 40's. Queen Of Denmark & Pale Green Ghosts are both amazing albums and a third is due later this year.

 

Levon Helm's final two albums, Dirt Farmer and Electric Dirt are excellent and hold up well with the classic work of The Band.

 

I just saw Ian Hunter last month, who did some birthday concerts (he turned 76). Looked great, sounded great, and did an amazing show, and as I have been checking out his stuff recorded over the last decade, I have to say he has done some consistently great records in that time.

 

Which means he was around 50 when he released one of the best albums of his career; 2000's Life 'll Kill Ya ...