Creating a classic album is a dream come true for artists, but the challenge lies in following it up with another masterpiece. Many musicians have grappled with the pressure to replicate their initial success, leading to a variety of outcomes, from disappointing sales to critical backlash. Let’s explore 20 instances where rock bands encountered the daunting task of matching their hit album with another success.
1. AC/DC
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Hit Album: ‘For Those About to Rock We Salute You’ (1981)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Flick of the Switch’ (1983)
Despite the world-dominating success of their previous album, AC/DC stumbled with ‘Flick of the Switch,’ facing dull self-production and pedestrian songwriting.
2. Aerosmith
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Hit Album: ‘Rocks’ (1976)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Draw the Line’ (1977)
The hedonistic lifestyles of Aerosmith caught up with them, resulting in the disjointed and muddy-sounding ‘Draw the Line.’
3. Alice Cooper
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Hit Album: ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ (1973)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Muscle of Love’ (1973)
Alice Cooper’s ‘Muscle of Love’ lacked the spark of its predecessor, ditching complex theatricality for a back-to-basics hard rock sound.
4. The Beach Boys
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Hit Album: ‘Pet Sounds’ (1966)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Smiley Smile’ (1967)
‘Smiley Smile,’ recorded in Brian Wilson’s home studio, was a ramshackle step down from the masterful ‘Pet Sounds,’ resulting in their worst chart placement to date.
5. Black Sabbath
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Hit Album: ‘Sabotage’ (1975)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Technical Ecstasy’ (1976)
‘Technical Ecstasy’ saw Black Sabbath experimenting with ill-fitting radio rock and sappy balladry, a stark contrast to the diverse ‘Sabotage.’
6. Bob Dylan
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Hit Album: ‘Nashville Skyline’ (1969)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Self Portrait’ (1970)
Dylan’s foray into country music was met with rave reviews, but ‘Self Portrait’ confused audiences and critics alike with its covers-heavy content.
7. David Bowie
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Hit Album: ‘Let’s Dance’ (1983)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Tonight’ (1984)
Bowie’s attempt to appeal to a wider audience on ‘Tonight’ resulted in lazy, inconsistent songwriting, despite its chart success.
8. Eagles
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Hit Album: ‘Hotel California’ (1976)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘The Long Run’ (1979)
Exhausted by constant touring and intraband dysfunction, Eagles’ ‘The Long Run’ hinted at their imminent breakup, lacking the spark of its predecessor.
9. Iron Maiden
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Hit Album: ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son’ (1988)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘No Prayer for the Dying’ (1990)
Iron Maiden’s return to stripped-down hard rock on ‘No Prayer for the Dying’ disappointed fans who admired the progressive ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.’
10. John Lennon
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Hit Album: ‘Imagine’ (1971)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Some Time in New York City’ (1972)
‘Some Time in New York City’ was derided as self-indulgent, cliche-ridden fluff, marking Lennon’s worst post-Beatles showing.
11. Judas Priest
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Hit Album: ‘British Steel’ (1980)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Point of Entry’ (1981)
‘Point of Entry’ lacked the focused songwriting and hook-filled anthems of its predecessor, ‘British Steel.’
12. Kiss
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Hit Album: ‘Love Gun’ (1977)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Dynasty’ (1979)
Kiss’ attempt at trend-chasing with ‘Dynasty,’ including the controversial disco excursion “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” alienated longtime fans.
13. Meat Loaf
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Hit Album: ‘Bat Out of Hell’ (1977)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Dead Ringer’ (1981)
Burned out and voiceless, Meat Loaf’s ‘Dead Ringer’ received scathing reviews and failed to reach the heights of ‘Bat Out of Hell.’
14. Metallica
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Hit Album: ‘Metallica’ (1991)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Load’ (1996)
While ‘Metallica’ achieved massive success, ‘Load’ marked a departure from metal, leading to a long, painful wilderness period for the band.
15. Paul McCartney
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Hit Album: ‘Tug of War’ (1982)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Pipes of Peace’ (1983)
Despite the success of ‘Tug of War,’ ‘Pipes of Peace’ underperformed, criticized for its pedestrian songwriting and trite lyrics.
16. Pearl Jam
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Hit Album: ‘Vitalogy’ (1994)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘No Code’ (1996)
‘No Code’ confounded fans and critics with tonal inconsistency and filler, underselling expectations after the massive success of ‘Vitalogy.’
17. Peter Frampton
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Hit Album: ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’ (1976)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘I’m in You’ (1977)
‘I’m in You’ focused on Frampton’s pinup model looks, losing the hard-rock credibility established by ‘Frampton Comes Alive!’
18. Pink Floyd
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Hit Album: ‘The Wall’ (1979)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘The Final Cut’ (1983)
Roger Waters’ solo-oriented ‘The Final Cut’ replaced ‘The Wall’s anthemic hits with righteous sloganeering and sleepy arrangements.
19. The Rolling Stones
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Hit Album: ‘Exile on Main St.’ (1972)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Goats Head Soup’ (1973)
‘Goats Head Soup’ sounded like a bleary, bloated comedown after the dizzying highs of ‘Exile on Main St.’
20. The Smashing Pumpkins
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Hit Album: ‘Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness’ (1995)
Follow-Up Flop: ‘Adore’ (1998)
‘Adore’ showcased a subdued, electronic-tinged sound, a departure from the chart-topping triumph of ‘Mellon Collie,’ marking the sound of “a band falling apart.”