I was just listening to The Modern Lovers today and wondered what has been the largest span of time between the recording of an album and its release. It almost took about three years for ML to record their debut and another three for the studio to release it. Are there any other examples like this (whether because of studio interference, band dissatisfaction, etc.)? And I'm talking about Hendrix still releasing his recorded farts to the public.

Two words.

"Chinese Democracy"

Enough Said.

Q-tip recorded an album around 1999-2001 and its just getting its release this year.

Do jazz albums count? Because "The Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall" didn't get released until 2005, but was recorded in 1957.