Posthumous Releases Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jim Croce

Jim Croce recorded music in the early 1970s. He is most famous for writing songs about big, evil men getting being brought to justice by seemingly little guys. His hits "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" and "Bad Bad Leroy Brown" explore this topic.

His final album, which is in my opinion his best album, entitled "I Got a Name" was released in December of 1973. This album had hits such as the title track, "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song," and "Working at the Car Wash Blues," two of which charted in the top ten in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and one of which reached number 32 on that chart.

Unfortunately, before anybody could tell him how amazing these songs are, he had died in a plane crash.

Also, while "Time in a Bottle" was released before Croce died, the song didn't rise to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 until after he died.

Answer: Sublime

Sublime were a 1990s ska band. They had a few hits such as "Santeria," "Doin' Time," "What I Got," and the controversial "Wrong Way," all of which are on their self-titled final album. Unfortunately, the album and all these songs were released after Nowell died of heroin, so he never got to experience much of his fame.

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is arguably the greatest and most influential rock and roll guitarist of all-time. He released eight albums, including a live album. Exactly half of these albums were released after he died of a drug overdose. The most popular one of these albums, "Cry of Love," has been certified platinum.

The single "Freedom" charted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 after Hendrix died. In 2014, VH1 said that "Cry of Love" was the greatest posthumous release of all time in classic rock.

Answer: Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was the first major female rock musician ever. She didn't write most of her songs, but people love her powerful singing voice. She became famous with her hit "Piece of My Heart." Most of her hits, though, were on her last and most popular album, "Pearl", which was released after Joplin died of a heroin overdose.

This album reached number one on the Billboard top 200, was certified four times platinum, and had the hits "Cry Baby," "Me and Bobby McGee," and "Mercedes Benz," as well as the song "Move Over" which has been covered by the British glam band Slade and the American 80s glam band Cinderella.

It's a shame she will never know how popular these songs are.

Answer: Nirvana

Nirvana's "MTV Unplugged" performance was recorded in 1993. The album was released one year later. By the time that album came out, Cobain had died. The cause of his death has been disputed, but the most popular belief is that he committed suicide. He probably didn't expect this "MTV Unplugged" performance to be so popular, and he may not have even wanted it.

This performance features very few of Nirvana's most popular songs and almost half of the songs are cover songs. However, the album was certified five times platinum and won a Grammy in 1996.

Answer: Tupac Shakur

This album was released in 1996, peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard top 200 albums chart, and was certified four times platinum in 1999. Unfortunately, by the time all of this happened, Tupac Shakur had been murdered.

Answer: The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered just months after Tupac was. Perhaps equally sadly, his murder is just as mysterious and unsolved as Tupac's is, unless some miracle happened some time after this quiz was made. An album of his called "Born Again" was released afterwards. It debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard top 200 albums chart and has been certified double platinum.

Answer: Queen

Queen are one of the most popular rock and roll bands of all time. Their singer, Freddie Mercury, developed AIDS. The band recorded some of its final album, "Made in Heaven" with him. He died before the album was finished, so they finished it without him and released it after he died.

The album became the band's best-selling studio album worldwide. It has sold over 19 million copies around the world and it charted at number one in at least ten different countries.

Answer: Joy Division

Joy Division released two albums in their career, "Unknown Pleasure" and "Closer." The latter was released after Ian Curtis hanged himself. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked this album at #number 157 on their list of 500 greatest albums of all time.

Answer: Selena Quintanilla

Selena Quintanilla is the most popular singer of Latin pop music in history. She was murdered at the age of 23 by Yolanda Saldivar, who was in charge of Selena's fan club and clothing line, the former of which Saldivar created. After her murder, the album "Dreaming of You" was released. RIAA certified this album 59 times platinum, making it the highest selling Latin American pop album ever.