50 ‘Last’ Releases From Rock Artists

All good issues should come to an finish, they are saying. And sadly that features the careers of our favourite bands and solo artists.

For some, the finale arrives earlier than anticipated. John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, to call a number of, left the world early and thus their final musical releases have been, properly, not exactl meant to be their final.

For others, there is a sense of preparedness. David Bowie, for instance, knew his terminal prognosis would minimize his profession brief. Much less gloomy are the circumstances wherein a band is obvious about their finish. Simon & Garfunkel, the Band and Pink Floyd are examples of this – after years of music making, it is merely time to maneuver on to a brand new chapter.

In no explicit order, we’re having a look at 50 “Final” Releases From Rock Artists — their swan songs, if you’ll. Most have been launched as official singles, others appeared as closing tracks on last albums. Plenty of them arrived properly after the dissolution of bands or the dying of essential band members. Regardless, every left an enduring mark of their respective artists’ careers.

1. Simon & Garfunkel, “My Little City”

By the point Simon & Garfunkel’s “My Little City” got here out in 1975, the duo had been cut up up for half a decade. However this was a reconciliation. Paul Simon was then at work on a brand new solo album, however one thing about “My Little City” begged for his previous companion’s contribution, and they also collaborated as soon as once more within the studio. It was a High 10 hit and their final authentic tune collectively.

2. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Go away Virginia Alone”

If Tom Petty’s “Go away Virginia Alone” sounds acquainted to you, which may be as a result of Rod Stewart recorded it for his 1995 album, A Spanner within the Works. It had initially been supposed for Petty’s Wildflowers, however deemed too just like one other tune for inclusion. Near 30 years later — and three years after his dying — Petty’s personal model lastly arrived.

3. Van Halen, “She’s the Lady”

Not lengthy after Van Halen launched their twelfth album, A Completely different Sort of Fact, in 2012, Eddie Van Halen’s well being started a extra fast decline. Eight years later, he died on the age of 65. Thus, the final official single to be launched from Van Halen was “She’s the Lady.”

4. Elvis Presley, “Means Down”

An infinite quantity of Elvis Presley music has been launched posthumously, a lot of it beforehand recorded stay or launched in another capability. However right here we’re trying again to simply earlier than the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll handed away. Moody Blue arrived a month earlier than his dying, with the final single, “Means Down,” launched on June 6, 1977.

5. David Bowie, “I Cannot Give All the pieces Away”

Since Bowie’s passing in January 2016, there’s been some vault exercise, however none of it, arguably, has had the identical form of influence because the third and last single from Blackstar, Bowie’s last studio album. The LP’s first two singles arrived previous to Bowie’s dying, however “I Cannot Give All the pieces Away” got here after, making it his first posthumously launched single. There can be extra archival music to return, however this was the ultimate providing Bowie made certain to offer away.

6. The Beatles, “Now and Then”

The 2023 promotional marketing campaign for the Beatles’ “Now and Then” made it very clear: this was the final ever Beatles tune. Utilizing an previous demo tape recorded by Lennon within the late ’70s, plus beforehand recorded guitar components by George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, a last  collaboration was in a position to happen.

7. John Lennon, “Watching the Wheels”

Let’s rewind the tape even additional. Like Bowie, Lennon’s final official single arrived posthumously. “Watching the Wheels,” from Double Fantasy, got here out in March of 1981, a number of months after his homicide in New York Metropolis. It went to No. 10 within the U.S.

8. George Harrison, “Any Highway”

Lennon was the primary Beatle to go away behind a posthumous final single, however not the one. Harrison’s “Any Highway” appeared on 2002’s Brainwashed, and once more as a single in Could 2003. (Harrison died in 2001.) Jeff Lynne and Jim Keltner, longtime collaborators, performed on the observe, together with Harrison’s personal son, Dhani.

9. Billy Joel, “All My Life”

After over a decade away from songwriting, Billy Joel stunned his followers in 2007 with “All My Life,” a tune he wrote for his then-wife Katie Lee. (Joel stopped writing new songs after the discharge of River of Desires in 1993.) It is unattainable to say whether or not or not Joel would ever do one thing like this once more, however for the current, it seems he is sticking to his non-writing routine.

10. Pink Floyd, “Hey Hey Rise Up”

In case you have not seen over the previous few years, the previous members of Pink Floyd don’t all get alongside. In 2022, David Gilmour and Nick Mason recorded a tune in assist of Ukraine titled “Hey Hey Rise Up,” and although it was credited to Pink Floyd, Roger Waters didn’t contribute to the observe. And in case it obtained you hopeful a couple of potential reunion and extra music, Gilmour made certain to emphasise this was a “one-off” endeavor.

11. Led Zeppelin, “Idiot within the Rain”

Led Zeppelin’s reign was not all that lengthy in comparison with different rock bands, however they actually made probably the most of it. In December of 1979, nearly a 12 months earlier than they’d formally name it quits, they launched “Idiot within the Rain,” the one single from In Via the Out Door. Led Zeppelin by no means carried out it stay, and as soon as drummer John Bonham died in December 1980, it grew to become evident that the band had run its course.

12. Nirvana, “Pennyroyal Tea”

On March 1, 1994, Nirvana carried out a live performance in Munich, Germany, with no concept it might be their final. By April 5, Kurt Cobain was lifeless on the age of 27. The third single from In Utero, “Pennyroyal Tea,” was alleged to be put out the next month, however the launch was canceled on account of Cobain’s dying. Although the one had been made and distributed in some international locations, only a few copies survived this period.

13. Speaking Heads, “Sax and Violins”

In December of 1991, Speaking Heads ended. The identical month, their final tune, “Sax and Violins,” arrived. It appeared within the science fiction movie Till the Finish of the World, a poorly obtained endeavor directed by Wim Wenders. The tune, although, was not unsuccessful when launched as a single, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Trendy Rock Tracks chart.

14. The Allman Brothers Band, “Outdated Buddy”

The street was not at all times simple for the Allman Brothers Band, whose profession was peppered with loss. Their last album, Hittin’ the Be aware, arrived in 2003, and although there have been no official singles from it, the closing observe touches on that lasting sense of grief: “You recognize laborious occasions simply an previous buddy / simply an previous buddy to me.”

15. The Doorways, “An American Prayer”

Seven years after Jim Morrison’s passing, his voice was revived. In 1978, the Doorways launched An American Prayer, that includes music the remaining band members wrote to accompany a few of Morrison’s spoken phrase recordings. The title observe closes the album, a bittersweet sendoff: “The place are the feasts we have been promised? The place is the wine?“

16. Jimi Hendrix, “Stepping Stone”

Hendrix’s profession lasted lower than a decade, however he wasted no time throughout it. On April 8, 1970, he launched “Stepping Stone,” a tune whose origins could be heard in Hendrix’s Woodstock efficiency. 5 months later, the guitarist can be lifeless on the age of 27, and different variations of the tune can be launched posthumously.

17. The Grateful Useless, “Only a Little Gentle”

Whereas it could be true that the spirit of the Grateful Useless has lived on even after their dissolution — particularly with the Useless and Firm spinoff — the truth is that the unique Useless successfully ended when Jerry Garcia died in 1995. Their final studio single was “Only a Little Gentle,” that includes keyboardist Brent Mydland on lead vocals.

18. Rush, “The Backyard”

Rush’s profession did not a lot finish abruptly because it fizzled out. Their last album, Clockwork Angels, was launched in 2012, with the ultimate single, “The Backyard,” arriving in April 2013. “I’ve at all times wished to try this form of tune the place the melody was the factor that made it join with you, that gave it resonance, the place the voice form of comes out of the soundscape and delivers the story to you in a heartfelt means,” Geddy Lee mentioned on the time. “To realize that with out it being schmaltzy or feeling compelled, and with the music across the voice to be very relaxed, I believe can solely come from years of taking part in and from confidence.”

19. The White Stripes, “Conquest”

The final single the White Stripes launched earlier than their breakup was really not even one in every of their very own songs. It was a canopy of “Conquest,” written by Corky Robbins and made fashionable within the ’50s by singer Patti Web page. Along with Jack and Meg White, Regulo Aldama performed trumpet on the observe.

20. Black Sabbath, “Remoted Man”

The title of Black Sabbath’s 2016 EP The Finish is fairly self-explanatory. Produced by Rick Rubin, the eight-track undertaking was recorded throughout the identical time as 2013’s 13. 4 of the tracks have been stay recordings from earlier tour stops, that means the final authentic studio observe to be launched was “Remoted Man.”

21. The Band, “French Ladies”

After years on the street and quite a lot of regarding accidents involving substances, the Band retired from stay performing with 1976’s The Final Waltz. However that wasn’t the tip of their recording profession. A number of extra albums adopted, the final of which, Jubilation, arrived in 1998. It did not embody all the unique members — Robbie Robertson didn’t take part and Richard Manuel died in 1994 — but it surely was nonetheless credited to the Band. The closing observe was penned by their quietest member, Garth Hudson, an instrumental tune titled “French Ladies.”

22. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Younger, “No Tears Left”

The precise lineup of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Younger modified a lot of occasions through the years. Within the late ’90s, Neil Younger rejoined the group and the outcome was 1999’s Wanting Ahead, the final album CSNY would launch, and Stephen Stills’ “No Tears Left” grew to become the ultimate single.

23. David Crosby, “Rodriguez for a Night time”

David Crosby’s dying in January 2023 got here as a shock to many. Simply two years earlier, he’d launched what would wind up his last album, For Free, that includes friends like Michael McDonald and Donald Fagen. Crosby’s final single, then, was “Rodriguez for a Night time,” which was co-written with Fagen and Crosby’s personal son, Raymond.

24. The Monkees, “Unwrap You at Christmas”

Who would have thought the Monkees’ last tune can be a vacation one? The beloved TV-born band put out their final album in 2018, merely titled Christmas Celebration. “Unwrap You at Christmas” was the one single, written by Andy Partridge of XTC and sung by Micky Dolenz.

25. Bob Seger, “Busload of Religion”

Technically, Bob Seger solely mentioned he is not interested by touring anymore, not essentially making music general, but it surely’s turn into fairly clear over the previous few years that he is aiming to decelerate and appears to discuss his profession up to now tense. He launched his final album, I Knew You When, in 2017, with one single, “Busload of Religion.”

26. Jeff Beck, “This Is a Tune for Miss Hedy Lamarr”

Over the summer season of 2022, Jeff Beck launched 18, a collaborative album recorded with Johnny Depp, that includes covers of the Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs,” Brian Wilson’s “Caroline No” and others. Followers did not comprehend it on the time, however this is able to be the final music Beck put forth earlier than his dying in January 2023. “This Is a Tune for Miss Hedy Lamarr,” one in every of solely two originals on 18, was its one and solely single.

27. The Kinks, “Scattered”

Since roughly the mid ’90s, Ray and Dave Davies of the Kinks have targeted on their respective solo careers. Although there have been a lot of re-releases, the final authentic single they put out was 1993’s “Scattered,” a tune that was partly devoted to Annie Florence Davies, the brothers’ mom.

28. Little Richard, “Pet Canine Tune”

Typically, issues get placed on the again burner. Such was the case with Little Richard’s Southern Little one, an album that was initially supposed for launch in 1972, however was shelved till 2005, when it lastly noticed the sunshine of day and served as Richard’s last album. Its closing observe was “Pet Canine Tune,” co-written with Chuck Rainey.

29. Meat Loaf, “Talking in Tongues”

It wound up becoming that Meat Loaf and his longtime collaborator Jim Steinman died roughly a 12 months aside from each other in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Their final album collectively, Braver Than We Are, arrived in 2016, with the ultimate single being “Talking in Tongues,” that includes Stacy Michelle.

30. Warren Zevon, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”

Warren Zevon knew he was dying when he started recording 2003’s The Wind, shortly after being recognized with inoperable most cancers. His cowl of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” launched because the album’s final single, is about as poignant as they arrive — a person properly conscious that the area between him and no matter comes after life was approaching quick, and but did not scare him.

31. Buffalo Springfield, “On the Means Residence”

By the point “On the Means Residence” was launched as a single in 1968, Buffalo Springfield was roughly over. It is becoming, then, that their last album collectively was titled Final Time Round, although it was completed largely to fulfill contractual agreements. “On the Means Residence” is the one tune on the album to function authentic bassist Bruce Palmer, plus Richie Furay singing the lead vocal and Neil Younger taking part in piano.

32. The Byrds, “Full Circle”

Is there a greater title for a final launch than “Full Circle?” Arguably not. In 1973, the Byrds reunited to document the self-titled album that might turn into their final. “Full Circle,” penned by Gene Clark, was launched as a single twice: as soon as in April 1973 and once more in August 1978.

33. Dio, “Electra”

“Electra” was not solely the final single launched by Dio previous to Ronnie James Dio’s dying in Could 2010, but additionally the final tune the band recorded collectively earlier than his passing. “It is a actually good tune,” Dio mentioned in an interview performed in 2009, the identical 12 months he was recognized with abdomen most cancers.

34. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Sometime By no means Comes”

CCR’s breakup was not precisely clear. In reality, their final album, Mardi Gras, was additionally their first and solely to be recorded as a trio, following the departure of Tom Fogerty. Even then, tensions have been nonetheless excessive amongst the remaining members. “Sometime By no means Comes” served as the ultimate single, penned by John Fogerty. The band would cut up up not lengthy after the LP was launched in April 1972.

35. Dire Straits, “Ticket to Heaven”

Dire Straits went out on the most important bang they might. The follow-up to the extremely profitable Brothers in Arms (1985) was 1991’s On Each Road, co-produced by the band and Mark Knopfler himself. Six singles have been launched, the final of which was “Ticket to Heaven.”

36. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, “Road Warfare”

Sadly, Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s last album, 1994’s Within the Sizzling Seat, was a business flop. Its closing observe, “Road Warfare,” had really been began by Greg Lake a number of years prior throughout 1988 periods with Geoff Downes, eventually discovering a house on Within the Sizzling Seat.

37. Stevie Ray Vaughan, “Little Wing”

There are few guitarists who would not title Stevie Ray Vaughan as probably the most influential blues gamers there ever was. Vaughan died in a helicopter crash in 1990, however a little bit over a 12 months later, a posthumous album titled The Sky Is Crying arrived. The final single was a canopy of Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” with a becoming “fly on” message.

38. Cream, “Badge”

If it wasn’t clear from the title of Cream’s last album, Goodbye, the band was already over by the point the album was launched in February 1969. A month after that got here their final single, “Badge,” which was co-written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison. (It was a High 20 hit within the U.Ok.)

39. Janis Joplin, “Get It Whereas You Can”

“We might not be right here tomorrow,” Janis Joplin sings in “Get It Whereas You Can,” the final single from 1971’s Pearl. It was solely her second solo album, but it surely was already a posthumous one — Joplin died in October 1970, three months earlier than it was launched.

40. Marvin Gaye, “Fortunate, Fortunate Me’

Like a number of different songs on this checklist, Marvin Gaye’s “Fortunate, Fortunate Me” is an instance of one thing recorded and in the end shelved. Gaye recorded “Fortunate, Fortunate Me” in 1964, however it might be one other 30 years earlier than it noticed the sunshine of day on 1994’s The Very Better of Marvin Gaye, which additionally marked a decade since his dying.

41. Leonard Cohen, “Shifting On”

There’s solely a lot time in a single’s life. The final album Leonard Cohen launched in his lifetime was 2016’s You Need It Darker, however the journey wasn’t fairly over there. Thanks for the Dance arrived in 2019, that includes leftover compositions from 2016, completed with the assistance of Cohen’s son, Adam. “[We had] conversations about what instrumentation and what emotions he wished the finished work to evoke,” Adam informed The New York Instances in 2019, “sadly, the truth that I’d be finishing them with out him was given.” “Shifting On” was the final single, launched in January 2020.

42. Oasis, “Falling Down”

It is probably the greatest identified sibling splits in music: the Oasis brothers. In March of 2009, the band launched their final single, “Falling Down,” from Dig Out Your Soul. Lower than six months later, Oasis was no extra and haven’t reunited since.

43. The Conflict, “This Is England”

After half a dozen albums, the Conflict referred to as it quits on the prime of 1986. Simply earlier than that, they launched Reduce the Crap, which included their final single, “This Is England,” an anthemic quantity concerning the then-current state of Britain.

44. Funkadelic, “Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Onerous on You?”

Following Funkadelic’s dissolution within the ’80s, George Clinton saved followers along with his P-Funk collective. Then, in 2014, Funkadelic miraculously returned with First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate. The second and final single, “Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Onerous on You?,” was launched together with Clinton’s autobiography, Brothers Be, Yo Like George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Onerous On You?

45. The Vehicles, “Free”

In 2011, a 12 months after reuniting, the Vehicles launched Transfer Like This, which wound up at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and was their first and solely album with out bassist/vocalist Benjamin Orr. Their last single was “Free.” This was adopted by a tour, however the Vehicles have been dormant ever since.

46. Roy Orbison, “I Will At all times”

In 1966, Roy Orbison’s spouse Claudette died in a motorbike accident. Two years later, a fireplace destroyed his residence and killed two of his sons. In 1969, understandably not the person he as soon as was, Orbison stepped into the studio and recorded an album titled One of many Lonely Ones. It went unreleased for near 50 years, however in 2015, Orbison’s household discovered the undertaking within the archives and eventually launched it. Its last observe was a tune written by Don Gibson, “I Will At all times.”

47. INXS, “Mediate”

INX’s last undertaking ended up being fairly distinctive. In 2010, they launched Unique Sin, an album filled with re-recordings of their older songs, “re-invented,” as Jon Farriss put it on the time. Their final single, then, was a model new model of 1987’s “Mediate,” that includes the British rapper Difficult.

48. Aretha Franklin, “Rolling within the Deep”

Who would have thought that Aretha Franklin’s last single can be none apart from a canopy of one of many greatest hits of the twenty first century? Franklin’s rendition of Adele’s “Rolling within the Deep” additionally featured a snippet of “Ain’t No Mountain Excessive Sufficient,” and appeared on 2014’s Aretha Franklin Sings the Nice Diva Classics.

49. Robert Palmer, “Want Your Love So Dangerous”

Roughly 4 months earlier than his dying in September 2003, Robert Palmer put out Drive, an album of largely covers. The final of them was “Want Your Love So Dangerous,” the traditional blues quantity first recorded by Little Willie John in 1955.

50. Jimmy Buffett, “Bubbles Up”

Jimmy Buffet, who died in September 2023, left an inspiring parting present for his followers within the type of a last single titled “Bubbles Up.” “When the journey will get lengthy / Simply know that you’re beloved,” he sings. “There’s mild up above / And the enjoyment is at all times sufficient / Bubbles up.”