Sometimes I have lost interest in an artist, stopped purchasing their music or turning off a song on the radio. It may be an intentional decision or it just happens without consciously realizing that artist/group is no longer in my rotation. Why does this demotion happen? Well, I’ve noticed it’s usually tied to an album (or maybe two) that shows a change in style, a loss of quality, departure of a band member(s) or a highly anticipated album that shows a regression or simply a lack of effort.
In some cases, I have later returned to that artist/band down the road, but still omit that offending album from a turntable spin. If I listen to that artist/band, it’s the back catalogue.
Im a very loyal music fan, but even big name rock superstars at one time were retired from my collection.
The biggest names.
Eagles, The Long Run (1979). This is not a bad album, but most of the songs pale next to their best. The Long Run took forever to record, the band members were fighting, and the sound of cocaine use is prevalent in the recording. The live album that followed, Eagles Live (1980), felt perfunctory, to put product into the marketplace, it’s a snooze. Hell Freezes Over was good, although the new songs were weak, but the live performances was solid. Their days of new music, as a band, were really over, but I enjoyed most of the old catalog.
Yes, Big Generator (1987) – After Drama (1980), my interest began to wane and with Big Generator I disembarked the Yes ship. Yes was too the synthy, industrial sounding in 80’s. I would sit out the Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe album, Union and Talk albums. Keys to Ascension (1996) is when I reboarded the Yes discography, although when Jon Anderson departed the band, I’ve been less invested. Steve Howe is the only classic lineup member of the band now.
David Bowie, Never Let Me Down (1987) – The name of that album was a misnomer. I can’t recall anything about that album I liked. Following that were the unenjoyable Tin Machine albums, it wasn’t until Heathen (2002) that I sampled any new Bowie. Tin Machine was like a marathon root canal. I have revisited some of his albums I missed, but Never Let Me Down and Tin Machine aren’t welcome.
Doobie Brothers, One Step Closer (1980) – This album was when the Doobie Brothers ran out of gas and split up. That was a good call. Nine years later, the original core members of the band reunited to release Cycles (1989), a return to the guitar-centered music. In that interim period, I didn’t listen to the old music or pay attention to the solo work of the former members. Michael McDonald’s solo career took off like a shot, but I wasn’t listening. Only when I heard the new music did I pay attention to, although I didn’t think much of the new stuff. I would see them in concert a few times.
Rolling Stones, Under Cover (1983) – The Stones might have been sucking in the 70s, but they were looking for focus in the 80s. I haven’t listened to Under Cover in 40 years, but I still have my vinyl copy. I bought it out of habit, not because any song led me to the album. The songs were a mixed bad, with very negative subject matter against women. Ask me to name any songs, none of them. Steel Wheels Voodoo Lounge and Bridges to Babylon and were okay, just not lasting. It wasn’t until Hackney Diamonds (2023) that I bought another Stones album.
The Who, Who’s Last (1984) – The Who soon went on hiatus and the band members worked on solo projects or indulged in drugs. I liked some of the solo releases, but not all of them. After Its Hard, The Who went on a farewell tour and what emerged was, Who’s Last (1984) was described as lifeless and pointless, Endless Wire (2006) was a mess and best forgotten. The band got very good at repackaging their hits in nearly a dozen different configurations. Who (2019) was a surprise, easily their best new music in more than 40 years.
Beach Boys, 15 Big Ones (1976) – Brian was back, but Blondie and Ricky (he was listed as a guest) were gone. Bruce Johnston was also not with the band, so it was the “classic” Beach Boys lineup. Brian was on loan from Dr. Eugene Landy, his psychiatrist, drug supplier and controller. Holland (1973) was the band’s last studio album; in the interim, double album sets of Beach Boys hits from the 1960s were selling well, brought the band back to popularity. Instead of capitalizing on this popularity and putting out new material, they released a set of mostly covers from the early 1960s. I never took the Beach Boys seriously after this.
Bob Dylan, Empire Burlesque (1985) – What a letdown from Infidels (1983) which include “Sweetheart Like You”, “Joker Man” “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight” to name a few. Empire Burlesque was produced by Dylan and featured most of the Heartbreakers. The problem was the songwriting. It took me a long time to play any new Dylan. It would be years before I purchased a new studio album from Dylan, but I enjoyed live recordings from the 1970s and 1980s.
Paul McCartney, Run Devil Run (1999) – The reviews were generally very good, mostly a covers album that didn’t interest me. That was followed by Driving Rain (2001), which I call the worst album of his career, even worse than Press to Play. While the album received some reviews, mine was not one of them. I’ve purchased several of his later studio albums but they’ve failed to grow on me. Flaming Pie is the last album I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m glad that McCartney has continued to release new material, I just haven’t connected with it.
Santana, Beyond Appearances (1985) – Know for frequent lineup changes, Santana changed again, losing some core players and getting vocalist Greg Walker back. The problem here is the generic songwriting and the production. Their last album, Shangó was a good one, why the changes? Carlos Santana, like Neil Young, changes directions on a dime. Certainly Santana has enjoyed a resurgence, popularity fluctuating, seemingly searching for that next wave of success. I’ve not reconnected with Santana’s contemporary material, I’ll stay with music from the era pre-Beyond Appearances.
Elton John, Ice On Fire (1985)/Leather Jackets (1986) – Elton began the 1980s respectably with albums like The Fox and Jump Up, then something happened, and by Ice On Ice, the bloat and malaise was taking over. Leather Jackets is unlistenable. He regained partial respectability with The One (1992) and scored with The Lion King Soundtrack (1994), easily his best songs in nearly 20 years. His recordings since, which have been many, have been very uneven and plowed little creative ground. His album and tour with Leon Russell, principally to celebrate Russell, and help him financially, was a heartfelt and majestic effort. Bravo!
Thoughts…
I haven’t abandoned any of these artists, but I stopped paying much attention to new music released after the above albums. In most cases I’ve tried embracing the new music, but honestly haven’t tried very hard. Instead, I’ve focused on back catalogs and new releases of live and vault material.
Someone asked me if I just when these artists to keep sounding the way they did earlier in their careers. Do I want Fragile Part V, or The Next Who’s Next, or Sticky Fingers the Other Hand, or Band on the Run Again? No. Artists need to evolve because music and audience tastes change. Some artists are just better at it and keep growing in ways we embrace.
Ticket 2 Ride 
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