5 Albums With HORRIBLE Backstories
When all the stress finally pays off.
Sometimes, making music seems like the most carefree job in the world. With all these tales of extravagant vacations and Boujee lifestyles, artists seem to get treated like royalty. All that for a couple of catchy tunes? Hell yeah, sign me up.
Facetiousness aside, there are many struggles that musicians face in every aspect of their lives.
In the studio is the common place where tension tends to spring up. This can come from creative differences, personal struggles, or even ongoing pressure from higher-ups to come up with something spectacular. Sprinkle in a bit of drug abuse and long hours without sleep, and you have a surefire recipe for disaster.
As a matter of fact, the only saving grace of being in these dreaded studio sessions is that many artists walk out of that internal hell with some of the greatest material they have ever made.
Fair trade... I guess?
Regardless, these are examples of fantastic albums that were being developed under nightmarish conditions. For all the headaches and fatigue, these bodies of work proved that an artists' hard work wasn't all for nought.
5. Who's Next - The Who
The Who had been on a creative hot streak throughout the 60's up until the release of their rock opera masterstroke Tommy. After touring, Pete Townshend came back determined to make another opera that would not only equal Tommy's success, but surpass it altogether. The project was tentatively entitled Lifehouse.
Once the actual recording and writing got underway though, the band and management were failing to grasp the theme and story line behind the project. This led to Townshend suffering a near-breakdown as he kept expanding upon his vision before finally giving up.
What made up Who's Next were a few newer tracks along with cuts that Townshend had intended to be staples of Lifehouse. Instead of what seemed like an album of burnt out ambitions, the record is a collection of some of the greatest tracks in rock and roll history.
From the snarling anger of "Bargain" to the bombast beauty of "The Song is Over" to the righteous mission statements of "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again," this album is one of the most invigorating albums the 70's has to offer. Even if Townshend views his Lifehouse project as a failure, these songs affect the listener better than any concept could.