return-to-our-roots records where the idea went so wrong that it opened up a new space in the artist's music

I'm not sure this quite fits, but when Alan Jackson made Like Red From a Rose it was supposed to be a bluegrass detour. Producer Allison Krauss convinced him to record a set of torch songs that sound like the kind of thing he should have been doing all along. I think his core audience must have hated it though, since the promo campaign for his next record was all about "I'm back to doing the kind of songs you like."

huh, i like that!

I'm not sure this quite fits, but when Alan Jackson made Like Red From a Rose it was supposed to be a bluegrass detour. Producer Allison Krauss convinced him to record a set of torch songs that sound like the kind of thing he should have been doing all along. I think his core audience must have hated it though, since the promo campaign for his next record was all about "I'm back to doing the kind of songs you like."

― President Keyes, Tuesday, June 20, 2017 12:27 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Can confirm this was not a favourite at the time. The album still sold well but you can see it in that Good Time had 3 #1 (country) singles and from Like Red From a Rose he only released 2 singles and neither went to #1. His album before LRFaR was also not as great for singles so I think LRFaR totally revitalized things for him despite its failures. Also it was Krauss during the height of her powers so I am sure it rubbed off a bit.