15 Late-Career Music Albums That Surprised Us All
You could forgive some of the world’s greatest artists for sitting back and taking it easy toward the end of their careers. In many cases, their best work is behind them, and fans will always want to hear those old classics when they turn up at concerts.
Those dedicated fans would also be happy to buy any material that the band or singer puts out. Some artists have been accused of complacency as a result, but others work hard to deliver late-career gems.
Some of the releases here have been the final albums in an artist’s catalog, while others continue to deliver. For any to qualify, they must be standout productions that improve significantly on other, previous work.
Hackney Diamonds: The Rolling Stones
Veteran rockers The Rolling Stones released their first album in seven years with 2023’s Hackney Diamonds. It was the first since the death of original drummer Charlie Watts, but the group did their best to keep the band together.
Watts features on the album, along with former bassist Bill Wyman, while Paul McCartney even makes an appearance. More importantly, the critics saw this as an unexpected return to form, and we have to agree. The opening track “Angry” is as good as any Stones single this century.
A Momentary Lapse of Reason: Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s previous album The Final Cut suggested it was all over for the band. Tensions between Roger Waters and other members led to his departure and that 1983 production was merely a release of old, unused material.
David Gilmour took the helm, and 1987’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason was a masterpiece. Its success was unexpected and it meant that Waters’ exile would continue: He was a valuable contributor to earlier Floyd work, but this album showed that Gilmour, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason were perfectly capable of carrying on.
Blackstar: David Bowie
Released just two days before David Bowie’s death, Blackstar meant so much more after his passing. The album deals with uncomfortable themes of mortality and whether anything happens next.
Some tracks also touch on legacies, and Bowie’s was bigger than most artists. In hindsight, it adds up, and while it’s a tough listen, it’s the most perfect epitaph to his brilliant career. Because of its success and underlying meanings, we forget that Blackstar was an improvement on his previous release, 2013’s The Next Day, which received mixed reviews.
Norfolk Coast: The Stranglers
Some fans of the original UK punk band The Stranglers feel the group has never been the same since the departure of lead singer Hugh Cornwell. He’s been gone for over thirty years, but the band keeps touring and playing the old hits.
As for post-Cornwell releases, they are patchy, but Norfolk Coast is a classic, worthy of this brilliant band. It’s hard to track down on any medium but trust me, it’s worth the hunt. The title track is the standout, but overall it’s the best work of any lineup since Cornwell left.
American IV: The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash
As with David Bowie’s Blackstar, it’s hard not to view Johnny Cash’s final album without the benefit of hindsight. During the brief period between release and his death in 2003, American IV: The Man Comes Around, highlights the artist’s versatility.
It’s packed with cover versions, including the two singles, “Hurt,” and “Personal Jesus,” and is a surprising departure for a late-career release. Following his passing, the tracks take on an inevitable poignancy, and the video to “Hurt” in particular is a tough watch.
At This Moment: Tom Jones
Younger music fans will know Tom Jones from his appearances on the talent show, “The Voice.” Back in the 1980s, we thought of him as a 1960s crooner, who was past his best. That’s why “Tiger Tom” shocked the music world, reinventing himself with 1989’s At This Moment.
Jones’ biggest departure from his regular formula came via the single “Kiss,” a reworking of the Prince song which he performed with synth-pop group The Art of Noise. Also included is a version of Phyllis Nelson’s “Move Closer,” on what must be one of the most unlikely late-career releases on this list.
The Magic Whip: Blur
Britpop band Blur entered an extended hiatus after the 2003 release of Think Tank. Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon switched to solo projects, while Alex James focused all his attention on making cheese.
In 2015, the band reunited and delivered The Magic Whip. Chart success overseas continued to elude the group, but in their native UK, a number-one hit confirmed that Blur was back. The songs on this production reveal a harmony in the band that we thought would never return.
Western Stars: Bruce Springsteen
Instead of providing us with the same rock ‘n roll formula that had served him well for over forty years, Springsteen sprung a surprise. 2019’s Western Stars was his first release in five years, and it features string arrangements and a rich orchestral feel.
His clever lyrics remain, but this was one of “The Boss’s” most thought-provoking albums. A year later, Letter to You is more typical of Bruce’s back catalog, and Western Stars may be lost among a flurry of late-career activity.
Rough and Rowdy Ways: Bob Dylan
Several of Bob Dylan’s later releases could have made the list. Online opinion also makes an argument for Time Out of Mind, and Tempest, but Rough and Rowdy Ways is a personal favorite.
It was his first album of original songs in eight years and was delivered at a time when fans felt they might never hear from him again. Rough and Rowdy Ways was, therefore, almost a relief, with a return to form and a number one chart listing in the UK and the US.
Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam: Bill Nelson
Many musicians aim to reinvent themselves when their original genre fades, but few have done so with as much success as Bill Nelson. In the 1970s, he was the guitarist of Be Bop Deluxe who flirted with the fringes of the glam rock movement.
By 1981, Nelson had moved with the times, producing one of the most underrated synth-pop albums ever. Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam is a lost classic from this time. If you’re a fan of synth-pop bands such as Depeche Mode, please give this a listen. You can thank me later.
Hittin’ The Note: The Allman Brothers Band
The final studio album from The Allman Brothers Band deserved so much more. It was widely praised by critics, but restricted radio play meant that Hittin’ The Note could only crawl to number 37 on the US Billboard Hot 200.
The most surprising track on this production is a 12-minute long wall of sound which was nominated for two Grammy Awards. “Instrumental Illness” showed the brilliant musicianship within the group, and it was a fitting way for The Allman Brothers Band to sign off.
Hippopotamus: Sparks
The Mael brothers, Ron and Russell, never went away, and Sparks are among the most prolific artists on this list. They’d already released 23 studio albums by the time 2017’s Hippopotamus came along, but its commercial success and increased airplay made it feel like a comeback.
I’d recommend getting into this album by listening to the single “Edit Piaf (Said it Better Than Me.)” This is a stripped-back Sparks at their very best with Ron’s distinctive keyboard, backed by Russell’s haunting vocal.
Wake Up Where You Are: Strawberry Alarm Clock
Perhaps the biggest surprise with this 2012 album is that it was made at all. Strawberry Alarm Clock was synonymous with the 1960s, and their psychedelic, dream rock was perfect for the era.
The group split at the end of the decade, and 1969’s Good Morning Starshine looked set to be their final studio album. Fast forward 43 years and the alarm clock sounded once more with Wake Up Where You Are. Reviews were mixed, and while it was good to reminisce, the band’s sound hadn’t really moved forward.
I/O: Peter Gabriel
Another artist who experienced a long hiatus between albums was Peter Gabriel. The former Genesis frontman was regarded as a perfectionist, so we shouldn’t be shocked by the 12-year gap between New Blood and 2023’s I/O.
What is surprising is the quality of the latest release, and it’s a big improvement on its predecessor. Gabriel’s distinctive voice remains strong and although a common criticism suggests that the production seems disjointed, that shouldn’t put you off. It doesn’t matter if it sounds like an album of different songs when each is so good.
Hot Sauce Committee Part Two: Beastie Boys
Legions of fans around the world were surprised by the Beastie Boys as their career developed. Here in the UK, the trio arrived looking to shock and outrage with their lyrics and antics. They enjoyed chart success, but we eventually realized that these noisy rappers from across the pond were actually accomplished musicians.
2011’s Hot Sauce Committee Part Two was their first album in four years, and sadly it was to be their last. It promised more great music, but Adam Yauch’s passing leaves it as a brilliant epitaph to a unique band.
