Greatest Pop/Rock Comeback?

The thread concerning the sonics of the Paul Simon remasters reminded what a strong comeback his GRACEAND album was. Simon had been issuing well-received albums since going solo, although each record seemed less ambitious than its predecessor. He seemed to be settling for becoming a minaturist, a guy who wrote clever songs tastefully performed, probably doomed to being more respected than actually listened to.

GRACELAND changed all that, and it's hard to describe what an ear-opener that album was at the time. It probably introduced more Americans to World Music than any album not named LEGEND, and if today its music sounds a little familiar and even derivative in our Rough Guide To world, it's because GRACELAND helped create that world.

He followed GRACELAND with RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS, which was even better, the subtler ebb and flow of the music matching Simon's conversational musings on life's passing. RHYTHM was released around the same time as the Talking Heads's underrated NAKED, which appropriated some of the same sources.

Together GRACELAND and RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS represented the best music of Simon's solo career, a commercial and artistic turnaound that was, to me at least, completely unexpected. Other than Elvis Presley, I can't think of anyone who experienced a more fruitful second wind. Any other nominations?

 

I think next to Elvis Tina Turner had one of the greatest comebacks ever in the 1980ies (and by the way is among those artists who harvest their greatest success after the age of 40).

The other great comeback of course was Johnny Cash's return to what I guess turned out to be almost the summit of his career with his American albums after a long and painful absence.

edited: Sorry, just saw that you asked for "pop/rock comebacks", so does Cash apply to this?

 

Brian Wilson? From near death to a zomboid existence to a classic album and tour.

 

I'd say John Fogerty's comeback after a ten year hiatus...twice. Though he's never been able to sustain it, certainly Centerfield brought him back, big time in 1985. Eye Of The Zombie was disappointing, and he dropped out for anothe decade. Perhaps though, best of all, was 1997's Blue Moon Swamp, which maybe didn't have the commercial impact of Centerfield, but was most certainly his best solo effort to date, and possibly his best work since Creedence's heyday.

Gotta agree with Brian Wilson, even if you just compare the deer in the headlights, petrified look he had onstage back when I saw him in 2000, to the animated, confident manner and strong vocal performances on this year's SMiLE tour.

 

When "Endless Summer" came out in '74 and went number 1.

 

Bob Dylan...on numerous occasions.

 

I'd pick Tina as the biggest comeback...

 

I nominate Aerosmith. Hugely successful in the 70s, they were off the radar for a number of years, before coming back bigger than ever in the late 80s, and are now rock royalty, still moving albums and selling out arenas.

 

I think MTV helped spark many comebacks from 84-89. Tina Turner, Aerosmith, David Bowie, George Harrison, Grateful Dead, Cheap Trick, Yes, Roy Orbison, B-52's, even the Monkees!

Too bad those days are long gone.

 

THE PIXIES...

 

Bonnie Raitt
Peace-
Norm

 

Paul McCartney DIED in 1966 in a car crash and came back to complete Sgt. Pepper and the other Beatles albums, Then he sold millions of records with Wings and as a solo artist. And don't forget the record breaking tours.

Not even Elvis did as well after he died.

 

Certainly The Monkees in '86 was the most out of left field comeback ever. I doubt anybody saw that one coming!

 

Let's not forget Tony Bennett. He probably skipped two generations for his comeback.

 

My first thought when I saw the thread header was Orbison. He had a huge commercial as well as artistic success with "You Got It," and IIRC the album containing it did pretty well too. That he couldn't hang around longer to build on this success and savor it some more is a great tragedy.

 

What about Tom Jones? After a huge career I'd say he was away for a while until he returned with "Kiss". Don't know much about his recording career after that, too.

 

Duke Ellington after Newport. Great comeback artistically and comercially.

Peter Green in the early 90's, from rock acid casualty/mental institution case, to world tours and great Robert Johnson tribute albums.

 

Although it hasn't been a commercial comeback, I would say Arthur Lee. Anyone who saw the last tour or has heard the live Forever Changes can attest.

 

Oops sorry, I guess Duke is jazz, although at one point jazz was popular music...

 

Agreed!!!!! I never imagined hearing all those great songs performed live, and performed so incredibly well. Kudos to Baby Lemonade for the superb backing, and special props to Arthur. He's usually spoken of in terms of his songwriting, and rightfully so. But man, that cat can sing!

 

Bowie
Let's Dance and Serious Moonlight tour.
By far not his best LP but it was huge.

 

Meat Loaf

If you had told me in 1990 that within a few years Meat Loaf would have a number one album in the US (Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell) I would have said you were out of your mind...

 

I was going to post Al Jolson. So, when are you going to give us some long over due MCA Jolson?...preferably "The Jolson Story"...most everything out there just rots! Unfortunately, I'll bet it's unobtainable.