Artists who were dropped by a label but had a "comeback"

[vamp111]

A lot of country artists will get "dropped" by a label to never be heard from again. But others end up coming back just as good or stronger than ever. Who are good examples you can think of? I wouldn't count those who left on good terms or moved to a different label because their contract was up (Like Carrie Underwood or Kenny Chesney for example).

Some good recent examples I can think of are Scotty McCreery (first #1 single) and Walker Hayes (had a top 10 single after being dropped). I guess RaeLynn to a lesser extent.

Who can you think of?

[ky24941]

Here's a couple examples I know of

John Anderson was dropped by three labels over a span of three years (Warner Bros. in 1987, MCA in 1989 and Capitol in 1990) before landing on BNA in 1991. With BNA he had eight top 10 hits and his album Seminole Wind out sold all his previous albums.

Johnny Cash was dropped by Columbia Records in 1986 and again by Mercury in 1991. He signed to American Recordings in 1994, where he had his biggest commercial success since the late 1960s. In 2002, he released "Hurt", which is considered by most to be the greatest country music video of all-time. He was the top winner at the 2003 CMA Awards, where he hadn't won since 1969.

[onebuffalo]

Probably Reba McEntire. After 25 years at MCA, she signed to Valory in 2008. Her second Valory single, Consider Me Gone bcame her biggest hit, spending the first four weeks of 2010 at the top.

[castleoblivion26]

Patty Loveless I believe would fit here where she was with MCA records early on in her career and released a few albums but became a much bigger star after signing with Epic Records. Most of her more iconic songs are from her Epic years

[Az Paynter]

The US wouldn't know a damn thing about it, but Rita Ora counts. Huge debut era internationally, but she got screwed over by Roc Nation (and there was also Calvin Harris drama but that's a separate issue). Once she signed with Atlantic and started releasing material under the new deal, she's been racking up huge hits really quickly again.

Disregard everything IDK where tf I am.

[onebuffalo]

Mar 21, 2018 10:36:12 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

The US wouldn't know a damn thing about it, but Rita Ora counts. Huge debut era internationally, but she got screwed over by Roc Nation (and there was also Calvin Harris drama but that's a separate issue). Once she signed with Atlantic and started releasing material under the new deal, she's been racking up huge hits really quickly again.

Alright. Do you have a country example?

[Az Paynter]

Wait how did I not see this was in the country forum?

[onebuffalo]

Mar 21, 2018 10:46:48 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

Wait how did I not see this was in the country forum?

Wait, how did you not click country first?

[Az Paynter]

I saw the thread title from the home page because it was the latest one with a reply...? I thought it was YOP.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Joe Nichols and Randy Houser both left Show Dog/Universal but had momentary comebacks on Broken Bow.

Craig Morgan's first album was an unsuccessful release on Atlantic. After the label close, he had a comeback on Broken Bow.

Little Big Town seemed to be losing steam on Equity before it closed, but regained steam after Capitol picked them up.

[.indulgecountry]

Deana Carter had a sophomore slump with only one Top 20 hit following a string of smashes from her debut album and then left Capitol Nashville. She resurfaced a few years later with Arista and had a short-lived comeback with one more Top 20 hit in early 2003.

[gonecountry]

I'm sure hoping Easton Corbin is on this list...

[Todd]

Steve Wariner had a bit of a lull after leaving Arista Records. He later signed to Capitol and scored with "Holes In the Floor of Heaven" and several others.

[bigfan101]

Love & Theft comes to mind.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Mar 21, 2018 21:40:08 GMT -5 Todd said:

Steve Wariner had a bit of a lull after leaving Arista Records. He later signed to Capitol and scored with "Holes In the Floor of Heaven" and several others.

That "lull" was mostly because he released an instrumental album and then wasn't on a label at all. Also, his last couple Arista albums performed poorly.

It seems like other than Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio, and to an extent Blackhawk, 90s-era Arista seemed to have trouble moving albums. I am still stunned that Lee Roy Parnell's first album almost didn't even chart, despite having a huge radio hit in "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am".

[onebuffalo]

Mar 22, 2018 14:01:34 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Mar 21, 2018 21:40:08 GMT -5 Todd said:

Steve Wariner had a bit of a lull after leaving Arista Records. He later signed to Capitol and scored with "Holes In the Floor of Heaven" and several others.

That "lull" was mostly because he released an instrumental album and then wasn't on a label at all. Also, his last couple Arista albums performed poorly.

It seems like other than Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio, and to an extent Blackhawk, 90s-era Arista seemed to have trouble moving albums. I am still stunned that Lee Roy Parnell's first album almost didn't even chart, despite having a huge radio hit in "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am".

That is strange. What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am hit #2 during the summer of 1992, yet the Love Without Mercy album peaked at #66. Very poor sales given the radio support of Lee Roy Parnell's first big hit.

[rsmatto]

Mar 22, 2018 16:16:26 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

Mar 22, 2018 14:01:34 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

That "lull" was mostly because he released an instrumental album and then wasn't on a label at all. Also, his last couple Arista albums performed poorly.

It seems like other than Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio, and to an extent Blackhawk, 90s-era Arista seemed to have trouble moving albums. I am still stunned that Lee Roy Parnell's first album almost didn't even chart, despite having a huge radio hit in "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am".

That is strange. What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am hit #2 during the summer of 1992, yet the Love Without Mercy album peaked at #66. Very poor sales given the radio support of Lee Roy Parnell's first big hit.

You have to remember that in the 1990s at the height of CD sales, albums still sold remarkably well, especially in 92. Even a #66 album likely sold 200-300,000 copies. He has gotten close to Gold on a couple of projects even though they peaked lower. It is sad because he was and is a huge talent.

As for Steve Wariner mentioned first, Well, Steve Wariner was on RCA in the late 70s, early 80s (The "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" and "All Roads Lead To You" era) and then MCA For the rest of the 80s and THEN Arista and THEN Capitol. "I Am Ready" was the only Steve Wariner album with Arista to sell remarkably well (Gold certified) though, again, his follow-up sold a couple hundred thousand. The Capitol era was quite a successful one, especially when you consider he was in his 40s when that happened after two decades of hits. But the real remarkable thing with Steve is that he's been with so many labels and I wouldn't be shocked if he found a partner like BMG for something else in the future (though his own releases through his own label SelecTone Records have all been great).

We must also remember that in country, a 'segmented, rural audience,' Platinum discs were extremely rare until Garth came along.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Mar 22, 2018 17:00:51 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

Mar 22, 2018 16:16:26 GMT -5 onebuffalo said:

That is strange. What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am hit #2 during the summer of 1992, yet the Love Without Mercy album peaked at #66. Very poor sales given the radio support of Lee Roy Parnell's first big hit.

You have to remember that in the 1990s at the height of CD sales, albums still sold remarkably well, especially in 92. Even a #66 album likely sold 200-300,000 copies. He has gotten close to Gold on a couple of projects even though they peaked lower. It is sad because he was and is a huge talent.

As for Steve Wariner mentioned first, Well, Steve Wariner was on RCA in the late 70s, early 80s (The "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers" and "All Roads Lead To You" era) and then MCA For the rest of the 80s and THEN Arista and THEN Capitol. "I Am Ready" was the only Steve Wariner album with Arista to sell remarkably well (Gold certified) though, again, his follow-up sold a couple hundred thousand. The Capitol era was quite a successful one, especially when you consider he was in his 40s when that happened after two decades of hits. But the real remarkable thing with Steve is that he's been with so many labels and I wouldn't be shocked if he found a partner like BMG for something else in the future (though his own releases through his own label SelecTone Records have all been great).

We must also remember that in country, a 'segmented, rural audience,' Platinum discs were extremely rare until Garth came along.

It's still strange that a decently selling album would only get to #66 on the album charts though. I'm guessing it was because the album was released when "The Rock" was the current single?

[gardyfan]

Not really dropped but he chose to leave with a completed record, Toby Keith comes to mind.

[Troublemaker]

Mar 21, 2018 21:46:01 GMT -5 bigfan101 said:

Love & Theft comes to mind.

As much as I'm rooting for them, they haven't made a comeback

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2018 16:53:38 GMT -5 Troublemaker said:

Mar 21, 2018 21:46:01 GMT -5 bigfan101 said:

Love & Theft comes to mind.

As much as I'm rooting for them, they haven't made a comeback

They did score a #1 with Sony in 2012 with "Angel Eyes". Their original label netted them a Top 10 as their highest charting song.

It's a shame that post "Angel Eyes" they could never keep up or really gain any momentum.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Mar 25, 2018 16:56:48 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

It's a shame that post "Angel Eyes" they could never keep up or really gain any momentum.

That's because RCA took FOREVER to release a followup single.

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2018 16:58:01 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Mar 25, 2018 16:56:48 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

It's a shame that post "Angel Eyes" they could never keep up or really gain any momentum.

That's because RCA took FOREVER to release a followup single.

Huh? I thought "Running Out Of Air" was released soon after "Angel Eyes"? That song failing never made any sense at all.

[bigfan101]

Mar 25, 2018 16:59:23 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

Mar 25, 2018 16:58:01 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

That's because RCA took FOREVER to release a followup single.

Huh? I thought "Running Out Of Air" was released soon after "Angel Eyes"? That song failing never made any sense at all.

They had a top ten hit on Lyric Street with Runaway. Then a number one hit on RCA with Angel Eyes, so they already qualify regardless of what they do on Curb.

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2018 17:08:42 GMT -5 bigfan101 said:

Mar 25, 2018 16:59:23 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

Huh? I thought "Running Out Of Air" was released soon after "Angel Eyes"? That song failing never made any sense at all.

They had a top ten hit on Lyric Street with Runaway. Then a number one hit on RCA with Angel Eyes, so they already qualify regardless of what they do on Curb.

Oh I agree. I was sad when I found out about them leaving RCA. Wasn't shocked just sad (even if their departure kind of started the former Sony president leaving😀😁😂)

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Mar 25, 2018 16:59:23 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

Mar 25, 2018 16:58:01 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

That's because RCA took FOREVER to release a followup single.

Huh? I thought "Running Out Of Air" was released soon after "Angel Eyes"? That song failing never made any sense at all.

There was a pretty huge gap. I think it was a good four months after Angel Eyes fell off the charts that they even announced ROOA as the next single.

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2018 17:11:59 GMT -5 Ten Pound Hammer said:

Mar 25, 2018 16:59:23 GMT -5 raylatch98 said:

Huh? I thought "Running Out Of Air" was released soon after "Angel Eyes"? That song failing never made any sense at all.

There was a pretty huge gap. I think it was a good four months after Angel Eyes fell off the charts that they even announced ROOA as the next single.

Oh gosh. They really fucked up with Love and Theft. "Running Out Of Air" was such a perfect follow-up song and they messed up badly.

[rsmatto]

Mar 25, 2018 15:44:59 GMT -5 gardyfan said:

Not really dropped but he chose to leave with a completed record, Toby Keith comes to mind.

They dropped him. Thought the record sucked and would never sell. He bought it and released it w/Dreamworks because James Stroud was hired to run that label.

[sabre14]

Not really a super successful comeback but Brett James was dropped from Career Records when it officially merged into Arista Nashville in the late 90's. He released three singles that charted in 1995 and then came back to chart in the top 40 in 2002 and 2003 with "Chasin' Amy" and "After All" off once again, Arista Nashville lol.

[Ten Pound Hammer]

Mar 25, 2018 21:16:57 GMT -5 rsmatto said:

Mar 25, 2018 15:44:59 GMT -5 gardyfan said:

Not really dropped but he chose to leave with a completed record, Toby Keith comes to mind.

They dropped him. Thought the record sucked and would never sell. He bought it and released it w/Dreamworks because James Stroud was hired to run that label.

I have to wonder if "Slave to the Habit" was one of the songs that Mercury rejected from him? It's strange that they'd give a new artist a Toby Keith song, since as far as I know he NEVER had any other outside cuts.