Bands/Singers who had a long absence with no hits, then came back with a major hit.  Here's one to start with ...

Do you remember a pop band called soulDecision?  They came from Vancouver and had a major hit across North America in 2000 called 'Faded'.  Though it became their only hit in America, they had further hits in Canada such as the fantastic 'Ooh It's Kinda Crazy' ...

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When soulDecision called it quits in 2005, singer Trevor Guthrie embarked on a solo career.  After a long absence he resurfaced in 2013 when he was asked by Dutch DJ Armin Van Buuren to write lyrics for an instrumental track.  The end result was called 'This is What it Feels Like' and not only did it become a world wide hit, it became Van Buuren's first Top 10 hit in both Canada and the UK, and also received a 2014 Grammy Nomination for Dance Recording of the Year ...

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In 1982, after 6 albums and over a dozen hit singles, Blondie called quits.  Their last Top 40 hit in the US was that same year and was called 'Island of Lost Souls' ...

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In 1997, Blondie re-formed.  Two years later they released their 7th album 'No Exit'.  The first single was called 'Maria' and though it missed the Top 40 in both the US and Canada, it entered the UK chart at #1

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Great topic.

Santana readily comes to mind. They had most of their hits from 1969-1982, and released a few albums over the next decade and a half... but in 1999 when they released Supernatural, it was the start of a new era. Said album went 15 times platinum in the US and won nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year as well as three Latin Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, according to Wiki. The first track from it to be released as a single, "Smooth" (featuring vocals by Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas), became a huge hit on the charts. Other singles from Supernatural included "Maria, Maria" and "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast). Three years later, in 2002, they followed up with Shaman, which featured "The Game of Love" (with vocals from Michelle Branch) and "Why Don't You And I" (a hit in 2003).

Great topic.

Santana readily comes to mind. They had most of their hits from 1969-1982, and released a few albums over the next decade and a half... but in 1999 when they released Supernatural, it was the start of a new era. Said album went 15 times platinum in the US and won nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year as well as three Latin Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, according to Wiki. The first track from it to be released as a single, "Smooth" (featuring vocals by Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas), became a huge hit on the charts. Other singles from Supernatural included "Maria, Maria" and "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast). Three years later, in 2002, they followed up with Shaman, which featured "The Game of Love" (with vocals from Michelle Branch) and "Why Don't You And I" (a hit in 2003).


Excellent choice.  Prior to 1999, the last Top 40 hit Santana had was 'Hold On' in 1982.  To date, their last Top 40 hit was 'Into the Night' back in 2007.  Ironically enough, both songs were written by Canadians <insert Twilight Zone theme>

Great topic.

Santana readily comes to mind. They had most of their hits from 1969-1982, and released a few albums over the next decade and a half... but in 1999 when they released Supernatural, it was the start of a new era. Said album went 15 times platinum in the US and won nine Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year as well as three Latin Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, according to Wiki. The first track from it to be released as a single, "Smooth" (featuring vocals by Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas), became a huge hit on the charts. Other singles from Supernatural included "Maria, Maria" and "Put Your Lights On" (featuring Everlast). Three years later, in 2002, they followed up with Shaman, which featured "The Game of Love" (with vocals from Michelle Branch) and "Why Don't You And I" (a hit in 2003).



You beat me to it. I was going to mention Santana. Supernatural is a GREAT album.



Cat

Another one is Tina Turner even though her comeback was in the '80s.



Cat

Alice in Chains went inactive around 1996 due to Layne Staley's drug problems, which tragically took his life six years later.  In 2006, they reformed with a William DuVall as their new lead singer, a surprisingly worthy heir to Staley.  They scored two consecutive #1 hits on the hot rock songs charts with the propulsive Check Your Brain and moving ballad Your Decision.  In the midst of post-grunge, pop punk, and nu-metal finally disappearing from the mainstream, this was a more than welcome change of pace that partially contributed to 2009-2011 being a shining period in an otherwise weak past ten years.

I adore both Mariah Carey and Santana, but I prefer their older stuff more.  I think the Emancipation of Mimi is a mostly overrated album, as is its very safe follow-up, E=MC2.  She's improved since Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, and now has her own eccentric persona and artistic style.  Santana produced some pretty nice pop crossover hits beginning with Supernatural with the help of top 40 artists of the day, but I think they worked better as their own group.  Abraxas is one of my favorite albums of all time, as it takes the group's guitar-driven, psychedelic/latin style to dazzling heights with complex song progressions and sonic experimentation.  Even the group's final album before Supernatural, Brothers, feels very rich in sound and showcases Carlos Santana's guitar work perfectly (the song Luz Amor y Vida is basically an instrumental precursor to Smooth).  Supernatural, Shaman, etc., are good, but it's obvious they're catering more to a top 40 crowd by their plethora of guest superstar appearances and more conventional song structures.

Another one is Tina Turner even though her comeback was in the '80s.



Cat


She had a string of number one hits such as "Private Dancer" And "What's Love Got To Do With It" to name a few.

Could I put Michael Jackson on this list?

Could I put Michael Jackson on this list?


He had a quiet period in the mid 70s - not totally absent, but his hit-making stature was diminished, until "Off The Wall" came out in '79.  Although he had some screen action during that time - "The Jacksons" variety TV show and "The Wiz" screenplay come to mind.  He may have also had some "quiet" periods during parts of the 90's or early 00's.

Neil Sedaka had a nice comeback in the 70's.  The same thing can be said for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

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Sergio Galli from Platinum Blonde made a moderately successful comeback with his band The Ending in 2009. :)

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Then he went back to Platinum Blonde after he saw the enthusiasm of Dan Todd and Rob Laidlaw.  He stated in an interview that he was happy being an architect and that music was the last thing that he wanted to do.

Neil Sedaka had a nice comeback in the 70's.

Oh yes, particularly with his re-recording/re-release of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."



The same thing can be said for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.


That too, with "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)" in 1975 and a re-release of the song in the mid-1990s. Frankie also recorded several solo hits in the 1970s.

Oh yes, particularly with his re-recording/re-release of "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do."

That too, with "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)" in 1975 and a re-release of the song in the mid-1990s. Frankie also recorded several solo hits in the 1970s.


and "Grease" as well.

I would say George Michael after the Wham breakup.

I would say George Michael after the Wham breakup.
George Michael was not really a comeback after the split, he just carried straight on.

and "Grease" as well.

Yes, that was one of Valli's solo hits. It was the title track from a 1978 movie, in fact.

George Michael was not really a comeback after the split, he just carried straight on.


and went on to produce solo recordings.

I would say George Michael after the Wham breakup.


That wasn't a comeback though.  George Michael was the "star" of Wham! and his solo career was a continuation of that.  If you want to get technical, you could say his "Older" album from 1996, but that's stretching it.

Anyone remember Quebec born singer Andy Kim?  He might just have the most comebacks of any singer I can think of ...

In 1976, he stopped recording and stepped out of the public life, but returned in 1980 under the alias Baron Longfellow and released 2 albums, one in 1980 and another in 1984, before once again stepping back.  This was a popular radio favourite in Canada in 1980 ...

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He returned in 1991 under the name Longfellow and the single 'Powerdrive' became his first Top 40 hit in Canada since 'Harlem' in 1976 ...

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He released nothing else until 2004 when he returned as Andy Kim.  The single 'I Forgot to Mention' became his first hit as Andy Kim since 1976's 'Harlem' and it just missed the Canadian Top 40 ...

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That wasn't a comeback though.  George Michael was the "star" of Wham! and his solo career was a continuation of that.  If you want to get technical, you could say his "Older" album from 1996, but that's stretching it.


What about Andrew Ridgley? ???

What about Andrew Ridgley? ???


Andrew really wasn't as successful as a solo artist as George was.  In fact Andrew didn't even want to be interviewed for Behind The Music George Michael.

George Michael was not really a comeback after the split, he just carried straight on.


Older was sort of a comeback though, as it came out six years after his previous album, in between which he wrestled against his record company's demands for him to retain his Wham!-era image.  The album wasn't especially popular in the United States, despite producing two top 10 singles, but it was still extremely successful in Europe and other parts of the world.

Older was sort of a comeback though, as it came out six years after his previous album, in between which he wrestled against his record company's demands for him to retain his Wham!-era image.  The album wasn't especially popular in the United States, despite producing two top 10 singles, but it was still extremely successful in Europe and other parts of the world.
In those intervening six years, GM had regular released singles, so not considered as a comeback.

I'm going to say Michael McDonald?

I'm going to say Michael McDonald?


His 2003 album 'Motown' was his first US charted album since 'Take it to Heart' in 1990 and was his first Top 40 album since his solo debut 'If That's What it Takes' in 182.  I would say that is a comeback.  Good job Howard!

Alan Frew from Glass Tiger was moderately successful as a solo artist but he was way successful with the band.  :D

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Alan Frew: So Blind 1994 #13 Canada    Glass Tiger: Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone #1 Canada

His 2003 album 'Motown' was his first US charted album since 'Take it to Heart' in 1990 and was his first Top 40 album since his solo debut 'If That's What it Takes' in 182.  I would say that is a comeback.  Good job Howard!


Wasn't his first top 10 single "I Keep Forgetting"?

Wasn't his first top 10 single "I Keep Forgetting"?

Yes, in 1982. Then during the 80s he had a few solo hits, including "Yah Mo B There" (a duet with James Ingram in 1984) and "Sweet Freedom" (1986) among others.

Then in the 2000s he recorded an album of Motown cover songs (appropriately titled Motown), as WD mentioned above. Some of those songs were minor hits for him on the AC chart.

In those intervening six years, GM had regular released singles, so not considered as a comeback.


Those songs (Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me and Too Funky) were before George Michael parted ways with his label.  Too Funky was supposed to be on Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 2, but then the album was cancelled due to said disagreements with Sony Music.  From about the end of 1992 until the release of Jesus to a Child, Michael's status as a mainstream superstar was in serious jeopardy.