Sometimes, musicians are just so good that all they need to put out is a single album before calling it quits. Others tragically had their careers cut short before they could release even more excellent material. These four 90s bands and musicians only released one record before breaking up or passing on, and those albums are still deeply revered today. Let’s take a look!
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1. Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley’s tragic accidental death in 1997 robbed his loved ones of his unique soul and also robbed countless fans of his artistry. Thankfully, we at least have his sole 1994 album Grace to remember him by.
This alt-rock record is folky and almost jazzy, and it is an incredible piece of work. Grace may have gotten mixed reviews when it was first released, but it has since become a cult classic. Buckley’s cover of “Hallelujah” rivals that of Leonard Cohen’s source material.
2. Coverdale/Page
Obviously, Jimmy Page and David Coverdale released a lot more material as solo artists and members of legendary bands like Whitesnake and Led Zeppelin. However, we think their sole collaborative record warrants their spot on our list of 90s bands who only released one album.
This duo’s self-titled 1993 record shows both artists embracing their roots in blues and hard rock. It’s honestly an excellent piece of work. Both musicians also spoke highly of each other after the record was released, but they never got back together to release a follow-up.
3. Mother Love Bone
Mother Love Bone could have easily made it to the level of Nirvana or Soundgarden in the 1990s. Sadly, this alternative rock outfit only released one studio album: Apple from 1990. The band, led by Andrew Wood, was also known for their incredible live performances. They were positioned for greatness during the grunge era.
Sadly, Wood passed away mere days before the band’s debut album was released. The remaining members decided to call it quits, with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament opting to move on to Pearl Jam.
4. Mad Season
Plenty of 90s bands that only released one album could be labeled as “supergroups”. Mad Season is one example, as the short-lived outfit was packed to the brim with members of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and Screaming Trees. Sadly, Mad Season wasn’t meant to last forever, as it was considered a side project by most of its members.
The record Above was their only studio album, released in 1995. Layne Stayley struggled with drug addiction and was replaced, and John Baker Saunders died of an overdose in 1999. With that, Mad Season came to an end.
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