100 Greatest Posthumous Rock Albums

The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding and Closer by Joy Division album covers
Criteria: In order to qualify, album has to be released after artist's death. These albums are rated according to their influence, popularity, critical and peer acclaim, with importance to artist's career also being considered. Albums on which deceased artist had a significant input on most tracks will recieve more credit than ones on which deceased artist appeares on a small number of tracks.

Last Updated: 2019-11-24
Greatest Posthumous Rock Albums
  1. The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
  2. Closer - Joy Division (Ian Curtis)
  3. Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G.
  4. Pearl - Janis Joplin
  5. MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana (Kurt Cobain)
  6. The Buddy Holly Story Volume 2 - Buddy Holly
  7. Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
  8. Sublime - Sublime (Bradley Nowell)
  9. The Cry of Love - The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Jimi Hendrix)
10. Eat a Peach - Allman Brothers Band (Duane Allman)
11. The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - Makaveli (Tupac Shakur)
12. Mystery Girl - Roy Orbison
13. Made in Heaven - Queen (Freddie Mercury)
14. Live at the Harlem Square Club - Sam Cooke
15. We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service - A Tribe Called Quest (Phife Dawg)
16. Milk and Honey - John Lennon
17. Apple - Mother Love Bone (Andrew Wood)
18. Brainwashed - George Harrison
19. Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk - Jeff Buckley
20. Dreaming of You - Selena
21. Genius Loves Company - Ray Charles
22. The Immortal Otis Redding - Otis Redding
23. Reminiscing - Buddy Holly
24. A Black and White Night - Roy Orbison
25. Better Dayz - 2Pac
26. American V: A Hundred Highways - Johnny Cash
27. From a Basement On the Hill - Elliott Smith
28. 3D - TLC (Lisa Lopes)
29. Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King - Dave Matthews Band (LeRoi Moore)
30. I Got a Name - Jim Croce
31. De-Loused in the Comatorium - The Mars Volta (Jeremy Michael Ward)
32. Born Again - The Notorious B.I.G.
33. The Sky is Crying - Stevie Ray Vaughan
34. An American Prayer - The Doors (Jim Morrison)
35. Tribute - Ozzy Osbourne (Randy Rhodes)
36. Joe's Domage - Frank Zappa
37. Let it Bleed - Rolling Stones (Brian Jones)
38. Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival - Jimi Hendrix/Otis Redding (Otis Redding)
39. Confrontation - Bob Marley
40. Until the End of Time - 2Pac
41. I Care 4 U - Aaliyah
42. Valleys of Neptune - Jimi Hendrix
43. Brothers and Sisters - The Allman Brothers Band (Berry Oakley)
44. New Moon - Elliott Smith
45. Streetcore - Joe Strummer
46. Shake - Sam Cooke
47. In Person at the Whisky a Go Go - Otis Redding
48. Introduce Yerself - Gord Downie
49. Don't Worry About Me - Joey Ramone
50. The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend - Baby Huey
51. Endless River - Pink Floyd (Richard Wright)
52. Tellin' Stories - The Charlatans (Rob Collins)
53. The Night - Morphine (Mark Sandman)
54. SVllB - School of Seven Bells (Benjamin Curtis)
55. Dark Night of the Soul - Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse (Mark Linkous)
56. Ritchie Valens - Ritchie Valens
57. Showcase - Buddy Holly
58. I Am the Cosmos - Chris Bell
59. Big Picture - Big L
60. Jay Stay Paid - Jay Dee
61. Xscape - Michael Jackson
62. CODA - Led Zeppelin (John Bonham)
63. Rebel Meets Rebel - Rebel Meets Rebel (Dimebag Darrel)
64. Vulnerable - Marvin Gaye
65. Works in Progress - Tim Buckley
66. Dick's Picks Volume 4 - Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia, Pigpen McKernan)
67. Yeeeah Baby - Big Punisher
68. Love Man - Otis Redding
69. Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton - Eazy-E
70. American VI: Ain't No Grave - Johnny Cash
71. UGK 4 Life - UGK (Pimp C)
72. Unhalfbricking - Fairport Convention (Martin Lamble)
73. Wonsaponatime - John Lennon
74. Za Bakdaz - Klaus Nomi
75. Out of the Dark (Into the Light) - Falco
76. Brother - Boyzone (Stephen Gately)
77. Rainbow Bridge - Jimi Hendrix Experience (Jimi Hendrix)
78. Quaudiophiliac - Frank Zappa
79. For the Whole World to See - Death (David Hackney)
80. Ballot Results - Minutemen (D. Boon)
81. War Heroee - Jimi Hendrix Experience (Jimi Hendrix)
82. Lost Episodes - Frank Zappa
83. Mr. Easy - Jesse Belvin
84. From Coffee House to Concert Hall - Stan Rogers
85. Trance-Fusion - Frank Zappa
86. Imagine - Eva Cassidy
87. Lioness: Hidden Treasures - Amy Winehouse
88. Angel in the Dark - Laura Nyro
89. Times Like These - Rick Danko
90. Live at the Filmore East - Jimi Hendrix
91. Silver Lining - Soul Asylum (Karl Mueller)
92. Cornell 5/8/77 - Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux)
93. Shake, Rattle and Roll - Bill Haley and His Comets (Danny Cedrone)
94. History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One (Bear's Choice) - Grateful Dead (Pigpen McKernan)
95. Nico - Blind Melon (Shannon Hoon)
96. Down on the Farm - Little Feat (Lowell George)
97. Alive! - Snot (Lynn Strait)
98. The Lost Riots - Hope of the States (Jimmi Lawrence)
99. Live Trax Volume 14 - Dave Matthews Band (LeRoi Moore)
100. Kingdom of Desire - Toto (Jeff Porcaro)

The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding album cover
Closer - Joy Division album cover
Life After Death - Notorious B.I.G. album cover
Pearl - Janis Joplin album cover
MTV Unplugged in New York - Nirvana album cover
The Buddy Holly Story Volume 2 - Buddy Holly album cover
Nearly Posthumous Albums
This list commemorates those artists who lived for just a short period (under 6 months) after the release of a studio album, and just barely miss our list by months, weeks, days or, in one case, hours.

This list is ranked by amount of time between album release and artist death. There is no criteria and is intended to be purely trivia.

Edited by: Ryan
60. Criminal Minded - Boogie Down Productions
(released on March 3, 1987. Band member Scott La Rock died on August 27, 1987) Time between: 5 months, 25 days

59. Anything Goes! - C+C Music Factory
(released on August 9, 1994. Band member David Cole died on January 24, 1995) Time between: 5 months, 15 days

58. Watch Me Fall - Jay Reatard
(released August 4, 2009. Died on January 13, 2010) Time between: 5 months, 9 days

57. The Holy Bible - Manic Street Preachers
(released August 29, 1994. Band member Richey Edwards disappeared on February 1, 1995) Time between: 5 months, 3 days

56. I Fought the Law - The Bobby Fuller Four
(released February 1966. Band member Bobby Fuller died on July 18, 1966) Time between: under 5 months

55. Terror Squad: The Album - Terror Squad
(released September 12, 1999. Band member Big Pun died on February 7, 2000) Time between: 4 months, 17 days

54. Chicago XI - Chicago
(released September 12, 1977. Band member Terry Kath died on January 23, 1978) Time between: 4 months, 11 days

53. Hit n Run Phase Two - Prince
(released December 12, 2014. Died on April 21, 2016) Time between: 4 months, 10 days

52. Europe '72 - Grateful Dead
(released November 5, 1972. Band member Ron "Pigpen" McKernan died on March 8, 1973) Time between: 4 months, 4 days

51. Bad Magic - Motorhead
(released August 28, 2015. Band member Lemmy Kilmister died on December 28, 2015) Time between: 4 months

50. Waterbeds in Trinidad! - The Association
(released April 1972. Band member Brian Cole died on August 2, 1972) Time between: under 4 months

49. At Filmore East - The Allman Brothers Band
(released July 1971. Band member Duane Allman died on October 29, 1971) Time between: under 4 months

48. What We Did On Our Holidays - Fairport Convention
(released January 1969. Band member Martin Lamble died on May 12, 1969). Time between: under 4 months

47. Guitar Romantic - The Exploding Hearts
(released April 3, 2003. Band members Adam Cox, Matt Fitzgerald and Jeremy Gage died on July 30, 2003) Time between: 3 months, 27 days

46. Temporary Heaven - Introflirt
(released August 12, 2016. Band members Benjamin Runnels and Nicole Siegrist died on December 2, 2016) Time between: 3 months, 21 days

45. The Gillian Seed - Nackt
(released August 23, 2016. Died on December 2, 2016) Time between: 3 months, 10 days

44. We're New Here - Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX
(released February 21, 2011. Scott-Heron died on May 27, 2011). Time between: 3 months, 6 days

43. Asleep at Heaven's Gate - Rogue Wave
(released September 18, 2007. Band member Evan Farrell died on December 23, 2007) Time between: 3 months, 5 days

42. Two Steps from the Move - Hanoi Rocks
(released August 1984. Band member Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley died on December 8, 1984) Time between: under 3 months

41. Private Eyes - Tommy Bolin
(released September 1976. Died on December 8, 1976) Time between: under 3 months

40. Life and Times - Jim Croce
(released July 1, 1973. Died on September 20, 1973) Time between: 2 months, 19 days

39. Bayside - Bayside
(released August 23, 2005. Band member John Holohan died on October 31, 2005) Time between: 2 months, 9 days

38. Aaliyah - Aaliyah
(released June 17, 2001. Died on August 25, 2001) Time between: 2 months, 8 days

37. Soup - Blind Melon
(released August 15, 1995. Band member Shannon Hoon died on October 21, 1995). Time between: 2 months, 6 days

36. L.A. Woman - The Doors
(released April 29, 1971. Band member Jim Morrison died on July 3, 1971) Time between: 2 months, 4 days

35. Stormwatch - Jethro Tull
(released September 14, 1979. Band member John Glascock died on November 17, 1979) Time between: 2 months, 4 days

34. Live Through This - Hole
(released April 12, 1994. Band member Kristen Pfaff died on June 16, 1994) Time between: 2 months, 4 days

33. The Feeding - American Head Charge
(released February 15, 2005. Band member Bryan Ottoson died on April 18, 2005) Time between: 2 months, 4 days

32. Minnie - Minnie Ripperton
(released May 9, 1979. Died on July 12, 1979). Time between: 2 months, 3 days

31. Sunset Studies - Augie March
(released October 30, 2001. Band member Rob Dawson died on January 2, 2002) Time between: 2 months, 3 days

30. One More Light - Linkin Park
(released May 19, 2017. Band member Chester Bennington died on July 20, 2017). Time between: 2 months, 2 days

29. Last Place - Grandaddy
(released March 3, 2017. Band member Kevin Garcia died on May 2, 2017) Time between: 2 months

28. Adios - Glen Campbell
(released June 9, 2017. Died on August 8, 2017) Time between: 2 months

27. AWB - Average White Band
(released August 1974. Band member Robbie McIntosh died on September 23, 1974) Time between: under 2 months

26. Live at Filmore West - King Curtis
(released July 1971. Died on August 13, 1971) Time between: under 2 months

25. Thanks, I'll Eat It Here - Lowell George
(released in April 1979. Died on June 29, 1979) Time between: under 2 months

24. Electro-Shock for President - Braniac
(released April 1, 1997. Band member Tim Taylor died on May 23, 1997) Time between: 1 month, 23 days

23. Travelling Wilburys, Volume 1 - Travelling Wilburys
(released October 18, 1988. Band member Roy Orbison died on December 6, 1988). Time between: 1 month, 18 days

22. All Aboard! - John Denver
(released August 26, 1997. Died on October 12, 1997) Time between: 1 month, 16 days

21. We the People - Adrenaline Mob
(released June 2, 2017; Band member David Zablidowsky died on July 14, 2017) Time between: 1 month, 13 days

20. GRL - GRL
(released July 29, 2014. Band member Simone Battle died on September 14, 2014) Time between: 1 month, 8 days

19. The Yellow Shark - Frank Zappa
(released November 2, 1992. Died on December 4, 1993) Time between: 1 month, 3 days

18. Future Blues - Canned Heat
(released on August 3, 1970. Band member Alan Wilson died on September 3, 1970) Time between: 1 month

17. Manifold - The Beat Farmers
(released October 1995. Band member Country Dick Montana died on November 5, 1995) Time between: under 1 month

16. 3-Way Tie for Last - Minutemen
(released in December 1985. Band member D. Boon died on December 22, 1985) Time between: under 1 month

15. Moody Blue - Elvis Presley
(released July 19, 1977. Died on August 16, 1977) Time between: 28 days

14. A Tempestade - Legião Urbana
(released September 20, 1996. Band member Renato Russo died on October 11, 1996) Time between: 21 days

13. Hymns That Are Important to Us - Joey + Rory
(released February 12, 2016. Band member Joey Feek died on March 4, 2016) Time between: 21 days

12. Double Fantasy - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
(released November 17, 1980. Lennon died on December 8, 1980) Time between: 21 days

11. Who Are You - The Who
(released August 18, 1978. Band member Keith Moon died on September 7, 1978) Time between: 20 days

10. You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
(released October 21, 2016. Died on November 7, 2016) Time between: 18 days

9. Fantastic Hawk - Bottom of the Hudson
(released July 17, 2007. Band member Trevor Butler died on July 29, 2007) Time between: 13 days

8. The Wind - Warren Zevon
(released August 26, 2003. Died on September 7, 2003). Time between: 12 days

7. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio
(released April 12, 2011. Band member Gerard Smith died on April 20, 2011) Time between: 8 days

6. Darker Days Ahead - Terrorizer
(released August 22, 2006. Band member Jesse Pintado died on August 27, 2006) Time between: 5 days

5. Street Survivors - Lynyrd Skynyrd
(released October 17, 1977. Band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines died on October 20, 1977) Time between: 3 days

4. Donuts - J Dilla
(released February 7, 2006. Died on February 10, 2006): Time between: 3 days

3. Immolate Yourself - Telefon Tel Aviv
(released January 20, 2009. Band member Charles Cooper died on January 22, 2009) Time between: 2 days

2. Blackstar - David Bowie
(released January 8, 2016. Died on January 10, 2016): Time between: 2 days

1. Madeline - Tickle Me Pink
(released June 1, 2008. Band member Johnny Schou died later that same day) Time between: a few hours, as the album was released digitally at midnight.








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