Marvin Gaye, Prince and Other Artists Who Revived Their Careers With One Single

Not everyone can be a part of the comeback single club.

Do Call It a Comeback - The musical comeback is a unicorn. It’s all the way rare. When it does come, it comes in the form of singles that propel big albums. Artists like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice have given it a try and oh, how they’ve failed, while legends have done it and the results were phenomenal. As of late, current artists are giving it a go. Let's all remember Adele's monumental return with "Hello," which arguably set a standard for artist comebacks to follow. Some are still trying it. Iggy Azalea is back with “Team” and Keri Hilson was supposedly going to drop a single last week from her upcoming album. Well, we don’t know what the result will be from their efforts, but we can look back at the music comebacks that were successful in bringing back artists that we weren’t quite ready to let go. – Jon Reyes (Photo from left: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, K...

1 / 11

Do Call It a Comeback - The musical comeback is a unicorn. It’s all the way rare. When it does come, it comes in the form of singles that propel big albums. Artists like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice have given it a try and oh, how they’ve failed, while legends have done it and the results were phenomenal. As of late, current artists are giving it a go. Let's all remember Adele's monumental return with "Hello," which arguably set a standard for artist comebacks to follow. Some are still trying it. Iggy Azalea is back with “Team” and Keri Hilson was supposedly going to drop a single last week from her upcoming album. Well, we don’t know what the result will be from their efforts, but we can look back at the music comebacks that were successful in bringing back artists that we weren’t quite ready to let go. – Jon Reyes (Photo from left: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, K...

Marvin Gaye, 'Sexual Healing' - Before 1982’s “Sexual Healing,” the last hit Marvin had was “Got to Give It Up” in 1977. Having left Motown for Columbia was a great move for the living legend that got him notoriety in the new decade before his untimely death in 1984. (Photo: Columbia Records)

2 / 11

Marvin Gaye, 'Sexual Healing' - Before 1982’s “Sexual Healing,” the last hit Marvin had was “Got to Give It Up” in 1977. Having left Motown for Columbia was a great move for the living legend that got him notoriety in the new decade before his untimely death in 1984. (Photo: Columbia Records)

LL Cool J, 'Mama Said Knock You Out' - LL had always been a hip-hop staple, but after his third album Walking With a Panther, LL did manage to go platinum yet received a lukewarm reception from the hip-hop community. With “Mama Said Knock You Out,” LL Cool J revived himself beautifully. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

3 / 11

LL Cool J, 'Mama Said Knock You Out' - LL had always been a hip-hop staple, but after his third album Walking With a Panther, LL did manage to go platinum yet received a lukewarm reception from the hip-hop community. With “Mama Said Knock You Out,” LL Cool J revived himself beautifully. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

Sade, 'By Your Side' - With the release of “By Your Side” in 2000, Sade made a swift and demure comeback after not having released a project since 1993. It even managed to become a love song classic. (Photo: Epic Records)

4 / 11

Sade, 'By Your Side' - With the release of “By Your Side” in 2000, Sade made a swift and demure comeback after not having released a project since 1993. It even managed to become a love song classic. (Photo: Epic Records)

Mariah Carey, 'We Belong Together' - Mariah needed this one badly. She had already given a comeback a whirl in 2002 with her Charmbracelet album. It didn’t quite take. Still, in 2005, she tried to slide in with “It’s Like That” and that didn’t go over very well either. What did work? This amazing ballad aided by Jermaine Dupri that ended becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade. That’s a comeback! (Photo: Island Records)

5 / 11

Mariah Carey, 'We Belong Together' - Mariah needed this one badly. She had already given a comeback a whirl in 2002 with her Charmbracelet album. It didn’t quite take. Still, in 2005, she tried to slide in with “It’s Like That” and that didn’t go over very well either. What did work? This amazing ballad aided by Jermaine Dupri that ended becoming one of the biggest hits of the decade. That’s a comeback! (Photo: Island Records)

ADVERTISEMENT
Tina Turner, 'What's Love Got to Do With It?" - This is the stuff of legends. After years of abuse at the hands of Ike Turner, Tina Turner left his side and took her name with her. After years of performing in small venues, she signed a deal with Capitol Records and released this classic comeback single. It hit the top of the charts and got her four GRAMMY wins. (Photo: Capital Records)

6 / 11

Tina Turner, 'What's Love Got to Do With It?" - This is the stuff of legends. After years of abuse at the hands of Ike Turner, Tina Turner left his side and took her name with her. After years of performing in small venues, she signed a deal with Capitol Records and released this classic comeback single. It hit the top of the charts and got her four GRAMMY wins. (Photo: Capital Records)

Dr. Dre, 'Still D.R.E.' - With the release of “Still D.R.E.” the rapper-slash-producer made a statement after a wait of almost six years for the 2001 album, his sophomore effort. (Photo: Aftermath Records, Interscope Records)

7 / 11

Dr. Dre, 'Still D.R.E.' - With the release of “Still D.R.E.” the rapper-slash-producer made a statement after a wait of almost six years for the 2001 album, his sophomore effort. (Photo: Aftermath Records, Interscope Records)

Justin Timberlake, 'Suit & Tie' - Seven years had fluttered away between Justin’s second album and his return. Justin called in Jay Z for his comeback and it totally worked. While “Mirrors” was the big song to come out of The 20/20 Experience, “Suit & Tie” served as a statement of sound and aesthetics for the pop star. (Photo: RCA Records)

8 / 11

Justin Timberlake, 'Suit & Tie' - Seven years had fluttered away between Justin’s second album and his return. Justin called in Jay Z for his comeback and it totally worked. While “Mirrors” was the big song to come out of The 20/20 Experience, “Suit & Tie” served as a statement of sound and aesthetics for the pop star. (Photo: RCA Records)

CeeLo Green (Gnarls Barkley), 'Crazy' - After a career in Goodie Mob, CeeLo took a stab at a solo career that didn’t garner any mass popularity. When he partnered up with Danger Mouse, creating Gnarls Barkley, and releasing this classic record, everyone wanted a piece of CeeLo Green. After that point, everyone was ready for CeeLo the solo icon. (Photo: Downtown Records, Warner Music)

9 / 11

CeeLo Green (Gnarls Barkley), 'Crazy' - After a career in Goodie Mob, CeeLo took a stab at a solo career that didn’t garner any mass popularity. When he partnered up with Danger Mouse, creating Gnarls Barkley, and releasing this classic record, everyone wanted a piece of CeeLo Green. After that point, everyone was ready for CeeLo the solo icon. (Photo: Downtown Records, Warner Music)

D'Angelo, 'Really Love' - The lead single from D’Angelo’s surprise release got him a GRAMMY nomination for Record of the Year. (Photo: RCA Records)

10 / 11

D'Angelo, 'Really Love' - The lead single from D’Angelo’s surprise release got him a GRAMMY nomination for Record of the Year. (Photo: RCA Records)

Prince, 'Musicology' - His Purple Majesty sauntered into a new decade with this funk record. It was Prince’s first big single since 1995’s “I Hate You.” It was also a flagship song for Prince’s 2004 Musicology Tour. (Photo: NPG Records, Columbia Records)

11 / 11

Prince, 'Musicology' - His Purple Majesty sauntered into a new decade with this funk record. It was Prince’s first big single since 1995’s “I Hate You.” It was also a flagship song for Prince’s 2004 Musicology Tour. (Photo: NPG Records, Columbia Records)