Image via Complex Original
Heartbreak can be excruciating. Some people handle it by sulking in their apartment and eating too much. Others take to social media with a vengeance and embarrass themselves. Musicians, however, tend to stick to what they know best and channel the pain into art, often crafting entire projects inspired by failed relationships.
The most recent example comes by way of our current cover star, Nas, who revealed his Life Is Good album cover yesterday, which features ex-wife Kelis' green wedding dress draped over his lap. After seeing the artwork, we decided to round up other LPs that came on the heels of high-profile splits. Continue reading for a look at the history of over 40 years of post-breakup albums.
Written by Ernest Baker (@newbornrodeo)
Miles Davis Bitches Brew (1970)
Broke Up With: Betty Davis, who is rumored to have cheated on him with Jimi Hendrix prior to their divorce.
Willie Nelson Phases and Stages (1974)
Broke Up With: Shirley Collie, whose divorce from him inspired the concept album.
Bob Dylan Blood on the Tracks (1975)
Broke Up With: Sarah Dylan, the then-wife from whom he was separated.
Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977)
Broke Up With: Members John and Christine McVie divorced, members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks split, and Nicks rebounded with drummer Mick Fleetwood.
Marvin Gaye Here, My Dear (1978)
Broke Up With: Anna Gordy Gaye, his then-wife, whose divorce settlement entitled her to royalties from the album.
Phil Collins Face Value (1981)
Broke Up With: Andrea Bertorelli, the mother of his son, who had an affair with their interior decorator.
Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights (1982)
Broke Up With: Each other, with their marriage dissolved by the end of the album's recording process.
Phyllis Hyman Living All Alone (1986)
Broke Up With: Larry Alexander, her former manager and ex-husband.
Bruce Springsteen Tunnel Of Love (1987)
Broke Up With: Julianne Phillips, his model ex-wife.
Madonna Erotica (1992)
Broke Up With: Warren Beatty, who couldn't control suspicion that she was cheating on him.
Green Day Dookie (1994)
Broke Up With: Adrienne Nesser, who frontman Billy Armstrong eventually married later that year.
Tom Petty Wildflowers (1994)
Broke Up With: Jane Benyo, who he was married to for 22 years.
Alanis Morisette Jagged Little Pill (1995)
Broke Up With: Dave Coulier, better known as Uncle Joey on Full House.
No Doubt Tragic Kingdom (1995)
Broke Up With: Members Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal split.
Tori Amos Boys for Pele (1996)
Broke Up With: Eric Rosse, her longtime boyfriend and co-producer.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds The Boatman's Call (1997)
Broke Up With: Viviane Carneiro, the mother of his son, and fellow musician PJ Harvey.
Spiritualized Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space (1997)
Broke Up With: Kate Radley, lead singer Jason Pierce's girlfriend, who cheated on him and secretly married The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft.
Mariah Carey Butterfly (1997)
Broke Up With: Tommy Mottola, former Sony music executive, who she divorced while working on the album.
PJ Harvey Is This Desire? (1998)
Broke Up With: Nick Cave, who also wrote songs about their failed romance the year before.
Blur 13 (1999)
Broke Up With: Justine Frischmann, the lead singer of Elastica.
Cursive Domestica (2000)
Broke Up With: Kim Kasher, who lead singer Tim Kasher divorced.
Atmosphere Lucy Ford (2001)
Broke Up With: Lucy Ford, a play on Lucifer, who represented the female devil and all of Slug's poor relationships with women combined.
Maroon 5 Songs About Jane (2002)
Broke Up With: Jane Herman, lead singer Adam Levine's high school girlfriend.
Beck Sea Change (2002)
Broke Up With: Leigh Limon, a clothing designer who cheated on him after nine years of dating.
Justin Timberlake Justified (2002)
Broke Up With: Britney Spears, who cheated on him with choreographer Wade Robson.
Annie Lennox Bare (2003)
Broke Up With: Uri Fruchtmann, her second husband.
Usher Confessions (2004)
Broke Up With: Rozanda Thomas a.k.a. "Chilli," the TLC member who he dated but cheated on.
Amy Winehouse Back To Black (2006)
Broke Up With: Blake Fielder-Civil, her on and off ex-husband.
Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)
Broke Up With: Emma, which some sources say is the middle name of a high school girlfriend he never got over.
Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
Broke Up With: Alexis Phifer, his ex-fiancee.
Noah and the Whale The First Days of Spring (2009)
Broke Up With: Laura Marling, frontman Charlie Fink's former backup singer.
Joanna Newsom Have One on Me (2010)
Broke Up With: Will Oldham and Bill Callahan, both musicians.
Taylor Swift Speak Now (2010)
Broke Up With: Taylor Lautner and John Mayer, actor and musician, respectively.
Adele 21 (2011)
Broke Up With: Slinky Winfield, an artist who left her for a model.
