Largest back catalogue?

[RizzoTheRat]

This morning I told Alexa to "Shuffle songs by Madness".

6 hours later she's still going.

This got me wondering about what bands have the biggest back catalogues. I'm assuming it'll be bands that have been going for years, possibly with varying line-ups, like The Rolling Stone, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Iron Maiden, etc, although some long lived bands only really tour their old stuff these days rather then releasing much new material

So according to Wikipedia:
Madness: 12 Studio and 4 live albums, 42 Single
Iron Maiden: 16 studio and 12 live albums, 44 singles
Fleetwood Mac: 18 studio and 9 live albums, 62 singles
Rolling stones: 30 Studio and 28 live albums, 120 singles

Any advance on the Stones?

[boxedin]

Depeche Mode:
Studio albums 14
Live albums 7
Compilation albums 10
Video albums 15
Music videos 70
Singles 55
Box sets 15

On top of all that DM were very good at releasing at least three versions of a single release ( single, extended, limited ) in the UK.
I can't see how you beat the Stones.

I can listen to DM for 2 days and 19 hours and 35 minutes, 760 tracks worth. I don't think I will though!

[robbieduncan]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/...

[thebraketester]

Slightly left field but the Count Basie Orchestra recorded well over 100 albums. Stretching the definition of 'band" possible, but they were massive back in the day, akin to pop bands today

Edited by thebraketester on Friday 17th April 13:21

[droopsnoot]

No advance on the Stones, but The Stranglers have 17 studio albums to date, more than 30 singles, countless compilation albums.

Fair point about touring more of the older stuff than the newer stuff that was made earlier. I personally think it's a pity, but there you go.

[bigpriest]

I think The Fall have 32 studio and 40ish live albums. Singles not as prolific about 50.

[Rod200SX]

I think Johnny Cash may be up there. I'll need to go check but getting this in here before someone beats me to it
54 Studio Albums - 10 Live albums - 170 Singles

Edited by Rod200SX on Friday 17th April 14:09

[Jediworrier]

The Grateful Dead.

[realjv]

Bob Dylan has a few

38 studio albums
12 live albums
91 singles
15 'Bootleg' albums

[gazza285]

Motörhead,

22 studio albums.
13 live albums.
13 compilation albums.
5 EPs.
29 singles.

[emperorburger]

Cliff

Studio albums
46 (44 UK + 2 Germany)
Live albums
11 (9 UK + 2 Japan)
Compilation albums
16 (UK)
Video albums
37 (UK) + 1 (France)
EPs
46 (UK)
Singles
146 (UK)
Soundtrack albums
7 (UK)
Stage show albums
3 (UK)
Remix albums
1 (France)
Budget compilations
21 (UK)
Gospel compilations
8 (7 UK + 1 US)
Box sets
7 (UK)

Those gospel compilations must be a riot...

[J.R.B.]

Rod200SX said:

I think Johnny Cash may be up there. I'll need to go check but getting this in here before someone beats me to it
54 Studio Albums - 10 Live albums - 170 Singles

Edited by Rod200SX on Friday 17th April 14:09

Johnny Cash was my first thought too

[spikeyhead]

Roy Harper has 37 albums

[Roofless Toothless]

RizzoTheRat said:

This morning I told Alexa to "Shuffle songs by Madness".

6 hours later she's still going.

This got me wondering about what bands have the biggest back catalogues. I'm assuming it'll be bands that have been going for years, possibly with varying line-ups, like The Rolling Stone, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Iron Maiden, etc, although some long lived bands only really tour their old stuff these days rather then releasing much new material

So according to Wikipedia:
Madness: 12 Studio and 4 live albums, 42 Single
Iron Maiden: 16 studio and 12 live albums, 44 singles
Fleetwood Mac: 18 studio and 9 live albums, 62 singles
Rolling stones: 30 Studio and 28 live albums, 120 singles

Any advance on the Stones?

Frank Zappa has got more albums than that lot put together.

[Gargamel]

spikeyhead said:

Roy Harper has 37 albums

Neil Young has 40 studio albums.

David Bowie, 27 studios 11 live and 51 compilations...

Dolly Parton has 50 studio albums

Zappa had 62 Studio

[Fittster]

Prince.

"Prince's albums discography consists of 39 studio albums (including four soundtrack albums), four live albums, nine compilation albums (including one soundtrack album), 17 video albums and two posthumous albums."

There is supposed to be a vast amount of unreleased material

[Gargamel]

Fittster said:

Prince.

"Prince's albums discography consists of 39 studio albums (including four soundtrack albums), four live albums, nine compilation albums (including one soundtrack album), 17 video albums and two posthumous albums."

There is supposed to be a vast amount of unreleased material

Since his death Frank Zappa has released an additional 50 albums....

[The_Doc]

This dude composed over 600 works including: 21 stage and opera works, 15 Masses, over 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos, 12 violin concertos, 27 concert arias, 17 piano sonatas, 26 string quartets, and many other pieces.

202 hours they say

[The_Doc]

And drove his Ferrari into a tree at 35 and shuffled off


Or was it shot by Mark Chapman, I forget

[The_Doc]

And released quite a lot of music after his death.