3 of the Most Notorious Posthumous Releases of All Time

The death of musicians can be a complicated and convoluted conversation, depending on the context. It can be complex and possibly controversial due to the cause of death or what behaviors transpired leading up to it. The same notions apply when talking about a musician’s legacy and death. Some folks argue that death amplifies a musician’s legacy, and while that might be true, no one wants to see a musician tragically pass away in hopes of seeing their legacy breathe a storied air. However, it has happended.

When certain musicians die, their legacy is bolstered, and consequently, they seemingly become a sort of mythical entity and tragic figure. It’s a character arc we’ve seen attached to some of the most famous musicians in the world. Another practice that makes a musician’s legacy further bloom after their death is that of posthumous releases. That being so, here are three of the most notorious posthumous releases of all time.

“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

Music fans will always consider Otis Redding as one of the most seminal figures in the popularization of R&B and soul music. He’s up there with the likes of Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, and James Brown. While he has several incredibly notable songs, his most successful is “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”.

On December 10, 1967, Otis Redding tragically passed away in an aviation accident at 26 years old. Days prior, he had recorded “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, roughly a month after his death, the single was released. Other than it just being a phenomenally exceptional song, the context surrounding it makes it all the more soulful and epic.

‘Pearl’ by Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin‘s life was short, full, and also very storied. Before her passing in 1970, Joplin had only released three albums. Two of which were with Big Brother and the Holding Company, and one was a solo album. Though that changed after Joplin’s passing in 1970, as Joplin’s album Pearl was posthumously released roughly three months after her death in 1971.

In a sense, it is a shame that the only No. 1 album Joplin achieved came after her demise. However, through a different lens, at least Joplin’s career and legacy finished on a fairly high note. Following the release of the album, Pearl peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the top spot for nine weeks. Before her passing, Joplin was able to lay down vocals for every single track except for “Buried Alive in the Blues.”

‘Circles’ by Mac Miller

In the 21st century, there have been very few artists to have left a more notable mark on pop and rap than Mac Miller. Consequently, when he passed away at 26 years old in 2018, he left a glaringly tragic hole in the fabric of the music industry. While his death was incredibly unfortunate, he did in fact leave one heck of a goodbye to the world with his album, Circles.

Released two years after he died in 2020, Mac Miller had been working on Circles up until his death in September of 2018. As one might assume, this album by Mac Miller became a smashing success. Following its release, Circles peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for a total of 70 weeks.

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