# Albums named after a song that isn't on the album, but was released before or after (or never) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 9, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897 "2025-09-09T18:59:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/1 "2025-09-09T18:59:31Z")
The title should tell what I’m after, but I’ll explain further: I was thinking about the AC/DC live album “If You Want Blood” from 1978 and the song of the same name released as an studio album track on “Highway To Hell” a year later. I don’t know how this came about, if they just had the title in 1978, considered it a good album title and only later made a song out of it, or if they already had the song and it didn’t make the cut for the live album. Anyway, I definitely know some more similar cases but can’t come up with another at the moment, and for this thread it doesn’t matter if the song was released before, after the album or never officially (but we know it exists). ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/2 "2025-09-09T19:03:16Z")
Well, there’s Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy,” which appeared on their _Physical Graffiti_ album and not _Houses of the Holy_. Wikipedia tells me this (quoting): “Houses of the Holy” was recorded as the title track for the album of the same name in May 1972 at [Olympic Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Studios) with [Eddie Kramer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Kramer) engineering. It was left off that album because of its similarity to other tracks such as “Dancing Days”, which were felt to be better. Unlike some of the other older material on _Physical Graffiti_, it required no further overdubbing or remixing.[[13]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Graffiti#cite_note-FOOTNOTELewis199055-14) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/3 "2025-09-09T19:04:29Z")
Yes, that’s one of the other examples I knew, but couldn’t remember at the moment. Good one! ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/4 "2025-09-09T19:14:31Z")
Elvis Costello’s “Almost Blue” is both a 1981 album (without that song), and a song on 1982’s “Imperial Bedroom”. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/5 "2025-09-09T19:15:17Z")
The Doors song “Waiting for the Sun” didn’t see release until two years after the album of the same name came out. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/6 "2025-09-09T19:15:35Z")
Dang, I have both of those Costello albums, and I should’ve thought of it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/7 "2025-09-09T19:16:36Z")
Elvis Costello had a song called Almost Blue that wasn’t on the album with the same name. He also did that with Imperial Bedroom; that song wasn’t on that album. [ninja’d!] ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/8 "2025-09-09T19:18:54Z")
A few more. “Absolutely Free” by The Mothers of Invention. And (This one might be a cheat) “They Might Be Giants” - The eponymously named title of their first album and a song on their third. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/9 "2025-09-09T19:36:49Z")
Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s “Brain Salad Surgery” wasn’t originally included on the album of the same name. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/10 "2025-09-09T19:37:56Z")
Damn !!! I was just checking that one ! ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/11 "2025-09-09T19:41:57Z")
Queen “Sheer Heart Attack”, the song was not on the 3rd album from 1974 but released on “News Of The world”, their 6th album from 1977. Worth a listen. If your not a band connoisseur you’d probably never guess the performer. It’s very raw, heavy and punky. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/12 "2025-09-09T19:43:53Z")
I think I might half-count King Crimson’s “Starless”, written as “Starless and Bible Black” for that album, but initially rejected and then modified to appear on “Red” instead. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/13 "2025-09-09T20:03:17Z")
The Julian Cope song “World Shut Your Mouth” didn’t appear on that album, but on the following one, “Saint Julian”. ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/14 "2025-09-09T20:35:10Z")
Antipodean band **Crowded House** released a Greatest Hits album called **Recurring Dream**. The track does not appear on the standard version of the album nor does it appear on the special double album version which includes an extra album of live tracks. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/15 "2025-09-09T21:37:09Z")
Sorta close… Old 97s had an album titled **Satellite Rides** and on their next album had a song “In The **Satellite Rides** A Star”. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/16 "2025-09-10T12:58:45Z")
The [New York Rock Ensemble](https://www.discogs.com/artist/288865-The-New-York-Rock-Ensemble)’s album “Roll Over” (1971) did not include the song of that name, which appeared on their next album, “Freedomburger” (1972). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/17 "2025-09-10T14:15:13Z")
Here’s what I can dig up with some research: Def Leppard’s debut album is _On Through the Night_, but a song of that title did not appear until their next album, _High ‘N’ Dry_. Elbow has the album _The Seldom Seen Kid_ (2008), but a song of that title shows up on _Flying Dream 1_ (2021) Public Image Ltd. has the album _Happy?_ (1987), and the song “Happy” (without the question mark) on the next album (1989), if that counts. Hall & Oates _Bigger Than the Both of Us_ (1976) doesn’t feature a song of that name until the next album, _Beauty on a Back Street_. Similarly, PJ Harvey’s debut album, _Dry_, doesnt have “Dry” until her next album, \*Rid of Me." I don’t know if this counts, but AC/DC’s live album _If You Want Blood You’ve Got It_ does not have a song with that name and was released in 1978. Their next release, a studio one in 1979 (_Highway to Hell_), has “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It.)” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/18 "2025-09-10T14:17:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t know if this counts, but AC/DC’s live album _If You Want Blood You’ve Got It_ does not have a song with that name and was released in 1978. Their next release, a studio one in 1979 (_Highway to Hell_), has “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It.)” Pst, see the OP 😉. But anyway, thanks for the list. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/19 "2025-09-10T14:18:12Z")
I swear I read your OP yesterday! And I apparently read everything BUT the OP today while composing the reply. Oops. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897/20 "2025-09-10T14:26:20Z")
“Rubber Soul” by the Beatles The reason I remember this clearly is that, one day while talking to my dad, I noticed the album cover and said, "They spelled “Soul” wrong, it should be “Rubber Sole”. I was thinking of the rubber sole of a shoe. He said no, that is the intentional title. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-named-after-a-song-that-isnt-on-the-album-but-was-released-before-or-after-or-never/1022897.md?page=2)