Top Ten Music Comebacks
Published November 18, 2005
By: David Schultz for Earvolution.com
Just over a year ago, the Boston Red Sox impossibly overcame a 3-0 deficit by winning four straight games against the New York Yankees, completing the most improbable comeback in the history of sports. New Yorkers were on the happier end of a comeback this year, as late October saw Cream reuniting after a 38 year absence for a three night stand at Madison Square Garden. To honor the tradition of the extraordinary comeback, Earvolution presents the top 10 unpredictable, unlikely, implausible comebacks in music history.
10. Velvet Underground (1993)
In 1968, shortly after the release of their second album White Light, White Heat, John Cale walked away from the Velvet Underground, effectively ending the power struggles between himself and Lou Reed over the musical direction of the seminal band. In the 25 years that followed, Cale and Reed stubbornly refused to acknowledge each other's contributions to one of the most influential bands in rock history. When Andy Warhol died in 1988, Cale and Reed found common ground to work upon and recorded Songs For Drella, a tribute to their friend and mentor. Their renewed ability to work together laid the groundwork for the 1993 reformation of the original Velvet Underground with bassist Sterling Morrison and drummer Maureen Tucker. Sadly, the comeback lasted no longer then a few European shows. While most bands save the crowd favorites for the encores, the reunited Velvet Underground inverted the traditional scenario, using the encore slot to debut a new song "Coyote." Coming to bitter disagreements over the production of the band, Reed and Cale's egos once again consumed their ability to work together. Just as quickly as they came back, the Velvet Underground disappeared.
The VU comeback is an example of the "Hell Freezes Over" comeback. As named and evidenced by The Eagles, this occurs when band members are able to put aside the differences that have kept them apart for years and reunite with a common purpose. Depending on the motivations of the band, that purpose may or may not include the desire to make obscene amounts of money.
9. Pink Floyd @ Live 8 (2005)
The animosity between Roger Waters and his former Pink Floyd band mates grew so great that Waters took David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Nick Wright to court to prevent them from touring and recording as Pink Floyd. Waters lost the suit resulting in two competing tours that begged the question of "Which one's Pink?" But yesterday's litigation can be resolved as tomorrow's reunion. Finding time during the preparations for this summer's worldwide Live 8 concerts, the ever-persuasive Bob Geldof convinced the most successful lineup of Pink Floyd to make an eagerly awaited and desired comeback. Unlike most "Hell Freezes Over" comebacks, Waters one-off set with Pink Floyd at the free Hyde Park show fell more in line with the event's message of compassion and brotherhood than the usual money-making motivations underlying most classic rock comebacks. Though all smiles on stage, Gilmour's seemingly forced smiles while sharing the stage with his former tormentor showed that while the hatchet may have buried, the grave may be shallow.
- Top Ten Music Comebacks
- Published: November 18, 2005
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Lists
- Writer: Earvolution
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Can't forget Elvis either-- when he went in the Army it was widely believed that his time was done, but with the famous "comeback" show playing in the round with his old band, he came roaring back. Sure, he came roaring back to a future of drug-addled self-parody, but for a time the King really did reclaim his crown.
What about Bob Dylan's multiple comebacks? Like every ten years, he has an album which is hailed as his comeback album. But then again, Bob Dylan is forever.
Also, your facts about Gang of Four are very wrong. Entertainment! was their first release and it came out in 1979. Solid Gold which followed came in 1981. You might want to fix that.
What about the Pixies? They hated each other. I mean, the myth says that they broke up by fax. And now, here comes 2004/2005 where they come back out of nowhere and begin a sold out concert tour as well as making (although often pushed back) plans to make a new Pixies record. That's like coming back after being hit by a train.
Johnny Cash's comeback - like you said, he never left. But getting a sympathetic producer (Rick Rubin) was the important catalyst that helped the rest of the world get in step with Cash's personal vision. If there's a comeback for Cash, or any artist really, maybe it's actually the audience's comeback to good taste.
U2? People wrote them off for dead after Zooropa and Pop - (although both have some good tunes) and they came back with back to back blockbusters.
Pixies would make my top 15 list.
Good call on Elvis above too.
Nice write-up, but some of these don't appear to be "unpredictable, unlikely, implausible comebacks", especially Fleetwood Mac. I don't see Drake as a comeback since you said his "albums were released to little acclaim and even scarcer sales."
"Donny Osmond lost all credibility as a musical artist" I don't remember him having any.
Good mentions of Sinatra, Elvis and Dylan, especially after his "motorcycle crash". I would throw in Ray Charles into the mix. And even though they never performed, how about the Roth/Van Halen reunion? Rock fans were abuzz the whole summer.
People were writing U2 off after Rattle & Hum.
Tina Turner
Excellent call on Tina Turner.
How about Teddy Pendergrass appearing at Live Aid three years after his spinal cord injury paralyzed him from the waist down.
My choice for number one most unpredictable, unlikely, implausible comeback would have to be Spinal Tap.
In the popular view, Johnny Cash definitely qualifies as a comeback. I certainly lost touch with him until the American Recordings series.
Then, I'm not normally a country music fan.
Also on the Gang of Four tip (not to be the annoying Alt-Rock Wonder Twins): they actually rerecorded the old stuff for two reasons, dissatisfaction over the original sound and (somewhat less publicized) the fact that they don't make any royalties from reissues of Entertainment!, Solid Gold, et. al. So yeah, a little bourgeois - and I sure ain't saying Return the Gift makes any sense for the record-buying public - but motivated by more than just laziness.
And while I'm being all indie, how about the original Dinosaur Jr. lineup? Beat the shit out of each other onstage...15 years later back together? Sounds like magic to me.
Great post, and I won't disagree with your choices. I would suggest Steely Dan, who went 19 years between studio albums, and with 1999's Two Against Nature, capture the Grammy for Album of the Year. I saw their 2000 and 2003 tours, and with a thirteen-piece touring band, both were among the best musical shows I'd ever seen. Also, the Dan quit touring in the mid-70s, and only began touring again in, I believe, 1993.
In addition to the Heidi game, the Music City Bowl has to be considered
Glad someone's giving Loretta Lynn her due. Van Leer Rose is a great album.
Here are the top ten comebacks, according to "The New Book of Rock Lists" by Dave Marsh & James Bernard (1994):
1. Elvis Presley, 1960
2. Tina Turner, 1984
3. Bonnie Raitt, 1989
4. Aerosmith, 1987
5. John Lee Hooker, 1989
6. The J Geils Band, 1980
7. Elton John, early '90s
8. Country music, early '90s
9. Eric Clapton, 1989
10. Marianne Faithfull, 1980
Randy - thanks for posting exactly what I was about to, re: Steely Dan. You saved me some serious wordsmithing. Only difference is, I also saw them on the 1996 Art Crimes tour, and will see them / Fagen / Becker again any time one / both of them play live.
Best musical act *ever* in my admittedly biased and closed book.
so.. if a hasbeen is a former wanabe.. and we all know about the contender who could've been.. what's the correct term for a rerun?
How about John Lennon, with Double Fantasy?
J.S. Bach made probably the greatest music comeback in history about 75 years after his death.
Without Googling anything, I really can't remember what Eric Clapton did in 1989 to warrant inclusion on a comeback list... Was it "From The Cradle"?
Looked it up. My brain is so embarrassed...
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Frank Sinatra. This may be before your time but it was considered a major feat. Not only did he make a music comeback but he also made a movie one -- FROM HERE TO ETERNITY.