Seven unreleased rock albums that would have radically changed artists' careers

As a music aficionado with decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the unreleased albums on this list are nothing short of legends in their own right. Each one represents a significant moment in music history, a turning point for the artists involved, and a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been.

Today’s market is heavily influenced by individual tracks and streaming playlists, platforms such as TikTok included. In essence, we find ourselves in a situation reminiscent of the ’50s music industry, where albums served more as collections of lesser-known songs alongside a few major hits. However, despite this shift, the album remains highly valued by many as an authentic representation of musical creativity.

As a gamer, I can relate this to the game development world. Just like a classic album is a must-have for an artist to prove their greatness, a groundbreaking game is essential for a developer to establish themselves in the industry. There are countless tales about games that transformed developers’ careers, yet were on the brink of being canceled or created under immense pressure from publishers. The triumphant stories are exciting, but today, let’s talk about the games that never quite saw the light of day.

Among the abandoned albums, those particular ones stood out as they might significantly impact their artists’ careers if ever released. Their influence could have been positive or negative. We believe these discarded albums are worth mentioning due to their potential impact on the music scene.

Human Highway (1973) – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Human Highway was initially conceived as a return to collaborative work for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young following their individual projects during the early part of the decade. Nash even captured a picture of the four unpredictable musicians on a beach. Regrettably, disputes over egos, drugs, and song selection caused it to be abandoned, with tracks eventually ending up in their subsequent solo albums.

1977 saw a powerful resurgence for Crosby, Stills & Nash with their self-titled album, which unfortunately didn’t include Young, but by then, they were past the pinnacle of their careers. If Human Highway had been released, it might have become another enduring folk rock masterpiece, strengthening their iconic group and potentially leading to more collaborative work from CSNY.

Household Objects (1974) – Pink Floyd

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the exhilarating heights Pink Floyd scaled with their masterpiece, “Dark Side of the Moon” (1973). Yet, even amidst this success, they seemed slightly uneasy. To preserve their innovative spirit, they decided to astonish us once more by announcing the release of an album titled “Household Objects“, a unique creation that would be crafted entirely from, you’d never guess, everyday household sounds!

The group opted to abandon that concept and instead focus on the more conventionally Floydian “Wish You Were Here” (1975), an album now widely regarded as a classic. It’s intriguing to ponder how their career might have unfolded had they released a quirky, Tusk-like successor after their commercial breakthrough. However, their choice likely proved to be the wisest one.

Lifehouse (1971) – The Who

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but bring up a fascinating tidbit from the annals of music history. You see, there’s this album called “Lifehouse” that, had things gone differently, would have been a double album. The Who initially planned to create another epic rock opera like “Tommy” (1969). However, they ultimately decided to release a shorter, more straightforward piece instead. This unrealized masterpiece has left such an indelible mark on the industry that it deserves a spot in our discussion.

It turns out that “Who’s Next” (1971) was the album birthed from the “Lifehouse” sessions, and it stands as the band’s most iconic work. Pondering how The Who might have been received if they’d followed their original plan is intriguing, but in the end, we’re grateful that they didn’t.

Get Back (1969) – The Beatles

In an attempt to reconnect with their original style, The Beatles struggled to bring their planned 1969 album to fruition. Regrettably, the project disintegrated, even though it yielded some successful singles. Eventually, what was left of the project was transformed into the album Let It Be, which was released a year later. The intricate details of these sessions are chronicled in the Disney Plus documentary series.

It’s a pity that we didn’t get to experience the Beatles re-imagining their early tunes through covers, with artwork inspired by their debut album, “Please Please Me” (1963). Instead, what fans received were “Abbey Road” (1969) and “Let It Be”. Regrettably, it doesn’t seem that the swap was beneficial.

Electric Nebraska (1982) – Bruce Springsteen

An intriguing instance of an album directly released without any subsequent re-recording took place with Bruce Springsteen’s work on Nebraska. Originally, he planned to re-record the demos alongside the E Street Band, but the raw sound of the demos captivated him so profoundly that he opted for a direct release. This led to the abandonment of an electric version of the album.

For numerous fans, Nebraska stands out as Bruce Springsteen’s most profound moment. This is primarily because of its minimalist and unadorned production style. An electric rendition might have diluted that intimate feel, potentially tarnishing its unique status in Springsteen’s discography.

Black Gold (1970) – Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix was fresh from his incredible three-album stint with the Jimi Hendrix Experience when he began recording tracks intended for the album known as Black Gold. This album is said to have featured a total of 16 songs, and delved into musical styles like funk and jazz.

Unfortunately, Black Gold, a potential masterpiece by Hendrix, remained unfinished as he passed away before its completion. Despite various track lists and leaked songs circulating online, the full album was never properly compiled or released. The world may never fully experience Hendrix’s original vision for this work. A posthumous release might have bolstered his career even further, but it would have only served to underscore his extraordinary talent.

Smile (1967) – The Beach Boys

The elusive, never-before-heard collection of albums by The Beach Boys. By 1967, they were strongly contending for the title of the most creative band globally, largely due to their groundbreaking single “Good Vibrations.” Regrettably, internal band disputes and the deteriorating mental state of frontman Brian Wilson meant that the album accompanying this hit single, Smile, remained unpublished.

The influential album “Smile” was unveiled in different versions throughout the years, yet it remains challenging to determine its significance if it had been released in 1967, and how it might have altered the course of the band’s future. Considered the most pivotal unreleased rock album, it would have represented Brian Wilson’s masterpiece, as suggested by the snippets we’ve heard.

2024-12-03 01:00

Seven unreleased rock albums that would have radically changed artists’ careers