Best Albums Released After a Long Hiatus

Great things come from those who wait.

Best Albums Released After a Long Hiatus - In pop music, one of the biggest career coolers (and sometimes killers) is to wait too long in between LPs. However, there are a number of artists — Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre and Justin Timberlake — who've defied the rule, choosing to adhere to another one: great things comes to those who wait. Here's a look at the best LPs released following an artist's 5+ year absence.   (Photos from left: Interscope Records, Epic Records, RCA Records)

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Best Albums Released After a Long Hiatus - In pop music, one of the biggest career coolers (and sometimes killers) is to wait too long in between LPs. However, there are a number of artists — Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre and Justin Timberlake — who've defied the rule, choosing to adhere to another one: great things comes to those who wait. Here's a look at the best LPs released following an artist's 5+ year absence.  (Photos from left: Interscope Records, Epic Records, RCA Records)

Maxwell, BLACKsummer'snight (2009) - Neo-soul veteran Maxwell waited eight years to release his third studio LP BLACKsummer'snight. And when folks wondered if the singer still commanded a loyal audience, he put wonders to rest when the album went platinum with singles like "Pretty Wings" and Bad Habits."  (Photo: Columbia Records)

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Maxwell, BLACKsummer'snight (2009) - Neo-soul veteran Maxwell waited eight years to release his third studio LP BLACKsummer'snight. And when folks wondered if the singer still commanded a loyal audience, he put wonders to rest when the album went platinum with singles like "Pretty Wings" and Bad Habits." (Photo: Columbia Records)

Michael Jackson, Bad (1987) - It took five years for Michael Jackson to release a follow-up to his history-making, 20 million-selling album Thriller. But when he returned to conquer the pop landscape with Bad, the King still showed he ruled — though with a smaller share (the album only sold six million copies). Even a MJ dissapointment would be any pop star's dream. (Photo: Epic Records)

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Michael Jackson, Bad (1987) - It took five years for Michael Jackson to release a follow-up to his history-making, 20 million-selling album Thriller. But when he returned to conquer the pop landscape with Bad, the King still showed he ruled — though with a smaller share (the album only sold six million copies). Even a MJ dissapointment would be any pop star's dream. (Photo: Epic Records)

Dr. Dre, Chronic 2001 - Dr. Dre's stature waned after he attached his name to a few clunkers (The Firm, the pre-Eminem Aftermath Entertainment roster) in the seven years after his classic debut, The Chronic. But he resurrected his trademark G-funk — and his recording career — with this six-time platinum opus.    (Photo: Aftermath/Interscope Records)

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Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre 2001 (1999) - Seven years before releasing this disc, Dre changed the face and sound of hip hop music (and Black urban culture) with 1992's triple platinum The Chronic. While the music on Dr. Dre 2001 wasn't as earth shattering, anticipation for the album helped push sales toward 6 million, showing, for Dre, it was still a G thang. (Photo: Interscope Records)

Sade, Lovers Rock - After hiding from the public eye for nearly eight years, Sade extended her career into a third decade with 2000’s stellar Lover’s Rock, fueled by updated production and her sublime-as-ever contralto. Ten years later, following another disappearance, she was reborn again with Soldier of Love.    (Photo: Epic Records)

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Sade, Lovers Rock (2000) - A singer who has one of the most loyal fanbases in R&B, Sade felt she needed an eight-year break between the releases of Love Deluxe and Lovers Rock. And when she reemerged, Sade lovers were more than willing to support, sending Lovers Rock three times platinum.  (Photo: Epic Records)

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Sade, Soldier of Love (2010) - Sade tested the faith of her fans more than ever when she took 10 years to follow up Lovers Rock. But, once again, Sade proved she would not disappoint and her audience approved when they sent her latest disc to platinum status.   (Photo: Sony)

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Sade, Soldier of Love (2010) - Sade tested the faith of her fans more than ever when she took 10 years to follow up Lovers Rock. But, once again, Sade proved she would not disappoint and her audience approved when they sent her latest disc to platinum status. (Photo: Sony)

The Evolution of Dr. Dre - After spending most of the previous years working on his long-delayed third album, Detox, Dre reunited with Eminem to produce the majority of 2009's Relapse, Slim's first real album in five years. (Photo: Aftermath Records)

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Eminem, Relapse (2009) - Eminem had a perfectly good reason for taking five years to release his LP Relapse: a bout with writer's block and battling back after an addiciton to presciption pills. Nevertheless, the hip hop music icon's LP hit the top of the pop charts and sold two million copies.  (Photo: Interscope Records) 

Whitney Houston, My Love Is Your Love (1998)  - The late Queen of Pop waited eight years to put out her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love. Within that time R&B had changed drastically. But after recruiting young production talent such as Wyclef Jean and Rodney Jerkins, Whitney stayed fresh sounding and her project went four times platinum.   (Photo: Arista)

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Whitney Houston, My Love Is Your Love (1998) - The late Queen of Pop waited eight years to put out her fourth studio album My Love Is Your Love. Within that time R&B had changed drastically. But after recruiting young production talent such as Wyclef Jean and Rodney Jerkins, Whitney stayed fresh sounding and her project went four times platinum. (Photo: Arista)

Tina Turner, Private Dancer - Rock-soul icon Tina Turner bounced back with 1984's quintuple-platinum Private Dancer, recovering from years out of the spotlight following her bitter divorce from abusive husband/bandmate Ike Turner. (Photo: Captitol Records)

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Tina Turner, Private Dancer (1984) - She'd left her abusive husband, Ike Turner. She'd won the right to her stage name. And it was five years after her dismal LP Love Explosion. Needless to say, with Tina beginning to age out of pop, she needed a hit. Signing to Capitol Records, the Queen of Rock and Roll saw her biggest release with Private Dancer, which sold five million copies.  (Photo: Capitol Records)

Teena Marie, La Doña (2004) - A decade after parting with Epic Records and independently releasing her 10th studio LP Passion Play, R&B veteran Teena Marie signed to Cash Money Records. The result was the album La Doña. With guest appearances by Rick James, Gerald Levert and Al Green, the disc landed at No. 1 on the R&B charts.   (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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Teena Marie, La Doña (2004) - A decade after parting with Epic Records and independently releasing her 10th studio LP Passion Play, R&B veteran Teena Marie signed to Cash Money Records. The result was the album La Doña. With guest appearances by Rick James, Gerald Levert and Al Green, the disc landed at No. 1 on the R&B charts. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience (2013) - You could say the reason for Justin Timberlake's seven year hiatus from music was his growing film career. His biggest role, playing Napster founder Sean Parker in the critically-hailed film The Social Network, had Oscar buzz. But his most beloved public role, as singer, was well-received with his return LP The 20/20 Experience, which went multi-platinum in a matter of months.  (Photo: RCA)

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Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Experience (2013) - You could say the reason for Justin Timberlake's seven year hiatus from music was his growing film career. His biggest role, playing Napster founder Sean Parker in the critically-hailed film The Social Network, had Oscar buzz. But his most beloved public role, as singer, was well-received with his return LP The 20/20 Experience, which went multi-platinum in a matter of months. (Photo: RCA)

SWV, I Missed Us (2012) - This female R&B trio, who scored hits in the mid '90s with songs like "I'm So Into You" and "Downtown,"  broke up in 1997. Their reunion was marked by the LP I Missed Us and landed at No. 6 on the R&B charts.  (Photo: E1 Music)

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SWV, I Missed Us (2012) - This female R&B trio, who scored hits in the mid '90s with songs like "I'm So Into You" and "Downtown,"  broke up in 1997. Their reunion was marked by the LP I Missed Us and landed at No. 6 on the R&B charts.  (Photo: E1 Music)

Charlie, Last Name Wilson - In 2005, Uncle Charlie released his third solo LP, Charlie, Last Name Wilson. Pulling out all the stops and collaborating with younger artists like R. Kelly, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Justin Timberlake and others proved to be a power move for the legendary crooner as the album went on to reach gold-selling status.   (Photo: Jive Records)

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Charlie Wilson, Charlie, Last Name Wilson (2005) - In the early '90s, former Gap Band vocalist Charlie Wilson experienced a revival in his career thanks to Snoop Dogg. Re-dubbed Uncle Charlie by the younger generation, the funky vocal master took five years to release his biggest selling solo LP, Charlie, Last Name Wilson, which went gold, and once again established him as a fan favorite no matter the generation. (Photo: Jive Records)