The most prolific artists?

[maccastheman]

Who do you think the most prolific musicians are? The music business has changed so much over the past couple of decades. In the '60s and '70s, it wasn't uncommon for artists to put out a new album or even two new albums every year. Granted, most albums are longer now than they were then, but I think artists were able to put out more work then because labels didn't have such strict schedules when it came to marketing each record. etc. (Hence the reason Prince wanted out of his Warner Brothers contract several years ago)

Here are some artists I think are still very prolific:

Macca - Not at the same pace he was in the '70s, but with all of his side projects he stays very busy.

Van Morrison - He still seems to release a new album every year

Elvis Costello - Ditto

Neil Young

Prince

Elton John (Although he's slowed down a bit recently)

Beck (Unfortunately I think Geffen has slowed him down a bit because he used to release a lot more records on independent labels in addition to his "mainstream" records on Geffen)


Granted, being prolific doesn't always mean the quality is going to match, but I'm still amazed at the work ethic many of the above artists have. I don't see many younger bands working that hard.

[Paperback Writer]

M-T-M;
Agree with your points and pics, if we include not just album releases, but include touring, collaborations, re-releases, charity productions etc. - in addition to the above - there's a place for - in no particular order:

Carlos Santana
Eric Clapton
Greg Allman
Brian wilson
Bono
Rolling Stones
Crosby Stills Nash and
Cher ! (lol)

[Berkeleyan]

Off the top of my head, here are some very prolific COMPOSERS
(that is why Eric Clapton is off my list):

Paul, Neil Young, Elton John, Elvis Costello.

[maccastheman]

Off the top of my head, here are some very prolific COMPOSERS
(that is why Eric Clapton is off my list):

Paul, Neil Young, Elton John, Elvis Costello.

Yeah, that's what I was getting at. And I agree about Clapton - very slow when it comes to writing new material. (As was George)

That's why I like them both better in a band setting. I think they both could deliver a good couple of tunes per album in a band, but when they try for entire albums it takes them longer to come up with solid material.

[EddieV]

Ryan Adams released 3 albums last year, one of them a double and a great one!! Haven´t heard the others but would like to.

Was it Flea from Chili Peppers who released 6 in a year??

[Genuine_Indian_Guru]

Sting still stays pretty busy....... doesn't he?

[maccastheman]

Sting still stays pretty busy....... doesn't he?

He tours a lot, but he doesn't release that many albums. These guys like Elvis Costello and Van Morrison are who amaze me - they release "regular" albums, then they have all of these side projects like jazz records, collaborations, etc. It seems they are releasing 2 albums each year or something like that. (Like I said before it wasn't uncommon in the '60s and '70s, but it certainly is today)

[maccastheman]

Was it Flea from Chili Peppers who released 6 in a year??

John Frusciante. I haven't heard any of them, but I heard they weren't bad.

[Berkeleyan]

I think the most prolific songwriters in the 60's were Lennon-McCartney and Dylan, hands down.

In the 70 's Macca and Bob kept up their pace as composers. The duo E. John/B. Taupin came up front.
In the late 70's and 80's Elvis C. came into the picture. Macca and Bob and Elton/Bernie were still at a fast pace.

[Highamster]

Was it Flea from Chili Peppers who released 6 in a year??

John Frusciante. I haven't heard any of them, but I heard they weren't bad.

I've listened to a couple of them. It's kind've iffy stuff. A lot of it either sounds incomplete or will completly depend on your mood. He also aimed for 6 in 6 months but I believe the actual releases spread out into 7 or 8 in the end.

I'ld have to say Madonna has a pretty big profile. As do The Who and Queen.

The reason I think that artists don't release albums as much now is because their's quite a lot of attention put on tours now. It's also pretty much how bands get their income these days because of how easy it is to steal music these days thanks to the internetz. Back in the 60s it was mainly a "produce a few singles, then filler songs, quick tour for screaming girlies, rinse and repeat" circle from what I've picked up. But what do I know eh? I wasn't exactly alive back then.