# Albums where the non-singles are far better than the singles. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 13, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386 "2016-10-13T03:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/1 "2016-10-13T03:32:15Z")
I’m not sure if I have the terminology right, but what I mean is an album where every song that wasn’t released as a radio single is better than what was played on the radio. My offering for this is Men at Work’s ‘Business As Usual’. I really like listening to this, but only when I skip the three songs that hit the radio. (Well, I can enjoy ‘Be Good Johnny’, but you get the picture). Any others? ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/2 "2016-10-13T04:03:03Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > I’m not sure if I have the terminology right, but what I mean is an album where every song that wasn’t released as a radio single is better than what was played on the radio. My offering for this is Men at Work’s ‘Business As Usual’. I really like listening to this, but only when I skip the three songs that hit the radio. (Well, I can enjoy ‘Be Good Johnny’, but you get the picture). > > Any others? I just chimed in to say I quite enjoy the other two singles. and that your offering is pretty strong. I guess any offering I have would be that Genesis’s eponymous album, or Peter Gabriel 3 and 4. But All I’m really saying is that they are strong albums, not that the singles are weak. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/3 "2016-10-13T04:23:57Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > But All I’m really saying is that they are strong albums, not that the singles are weak. Thanks, I’ll give them a listen. I was thinking about that (a strong album) also, and in that category I’ll mention ‘August and Everything After’ by the Counting Crows. As far as I’m concerned, every song on that is great. I’m dating myself, right? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/4 "2016-10-13T05:38:49Z")
Mid-career R.E.M. was this way. Whenever they had a new release, I could always pick the singles because they were the least-good songs. Never heard a song by them that I didn’t like until “Bang and Blame” on “Monster”, and yes, that was a hit single. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/5 "2016-10-13T05:51:06Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I guess any offering I have would be that Genesis’s eponymous album, or Peter Gabriel 3 and 4. But All I’m really saying is that they are strong albums, not that the singles are weak. On the Genesis/Peter Gabriel front, I got to add _Selling England By The Pound_. The one and only single from that, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”, is most certainly a great and fun song in its own right, but I would dare say that the near entire album surrounding it is even better…ESPECIALLY “Dancing With The Moonlit Knight”, “Firth of Fifth”, and “The Battle of Epping Forest”. Also have to nominate my two Steely Dan favorites in _Countdown To Ecstasy_ (notably “Bodhisattva”, “Your Gold Teeth”, and “King of the World”…actually quite surprised these were never official singles at all) and “The Royal Scam” (particularly “Don’t Take Me Alive”, “Green Earrings”, and the title-track…also amazed that “Don’t Take Me Alive” never saw official single release). ---
**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:** [October 13, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/6 "2016-10-13T12:22:27Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I just chimed in to say I quite enjoy the other two singles. and that your offering is pretty strong. > > I guess any offering I have would be that Genesis’s eponymous album, or Peter Gabriel 3 and 4. But All I’m really saying is that they are strong albums, not that the singles are weak. Agreed on P.G. 4 (aka “Security”). If all you’ve ever heard is “Shock The Monkey”, you really owe it to yourself to hear the rest of the album. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/7 "2016-10-13T12:32:41Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Agreed on P.G. 4 (aka “Security”). If all you’ve ever heard is “Shock The Monkey”, you really owe it to yourself to hear the rest of the album. My gosh yes. What an amazing and amazing sounding album. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/8 "2016-10-13T12:34:05Z")
Every Billy Joel album. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/9 "2016-10-13T13:06:17Z")
Heh, the first thing I thought of was Genesis’s _Invisible Touch_ album. It’s been quite a while since I’ve heard it, but I remember liking the non-single tracks, while all the singles except for “Land of Confusion” left me cold. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/10 "2016-10-13T13:25:38Z")
If you want to count unsuccessful singles, Spirit’s _12 Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus_ is one of the top ten albums of the 70s, though it’s single “Nature’s Way” – while of high quality – is not even close to being the best song on the album. It was released as the group was splitting up, so the record company didn’t care. Traffic’s “Paper Sun” was a hit in the UK (their biggest hit anywhere), but when one thinks of the album it’s on, it’s usually for “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” and the album (_Mr Fantasy_ has quite a few better songs on it. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/11 "2016-10-13T13:43:04Z")
Every Prince album is full of great material not released as a single. Some of my personal ‘non-single’ favorites : “Life Can Be So Nice” - Parade “It” “Hot Thing” - Sign O’ The Times “Electric Chair” - Batman Soundtrack “Thunder” - Diamonds & Pearls “Dark” - Come “P. Control” - The Gold Experience ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/12 "2016-10-13T13:43:16Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I guess any offering I have would be that Genesis’s eponymous album, Every song on that album got radio airplay, at the time, except for “Silver Rainbow.” So are you saying that is the best song on the album? 😛 Although if we’re strictly talking songs released as singles… > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Heh, the first thing I thought of was Genesis’s _Invisible Touch_ album. It’s been quite a while since I’ve heard it, but I remember liking the non-single tracks, while all the singles except for “Land of Confusion” left me cold. …In this case, all but two out of eight songs (“Domino” and “The Brazillian”) got airplay, and I believe all six songs that were played on the radio _were_ released as singles. Which still works fine for this thread, as “Domino” and “The Brazillian” happen to be the two best songs on the album. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/13 "2016-10-13T14:04:27Z")
We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank by Modest Mouse. While I wouldn’t say that the non-single tracks were a lot _better_, per se, than the single _Dashboard_, I’d say that _Dashboard_ doesn’t add anything that hadn’t been said in either the _Good News_ album or peppy indie songs by other artists. Their other tracks make more of a statement (and are _slightly_ better IMO). ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/14 "2016-10-13T14:46:18Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Every song on that album got radio airplay, at the time, except for “Silver Rainbow.” So are you saying that is the best song on the album? 😛 > > Although if we’re strictly talking songs released as singles… > . Well into nitpicking here, but I thought “Second Home by the Sea” didn’t (I guess rock stations might have played both so the DJ could piss) and “It’s Gonna Get Better” didn’t. But I think I could say those three are better than the singles except maybe “Mama” ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/15 "2016-10-13T15:36:58Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Well into nitpicking here, but I thought “Second Home by the Sea” didn’t (I guess rock stations might have played both so the DJ could piss) and “It’s Gonna Get Better” didn’t. > > But I think I could say those three are better than the singles except maybe “Mama” I do remember hearing “It’s Gonna Get Better.” I guess you’re right about “Second Home By the Sea,” though. I always think of both parts as a single song, so I wasn’t differentiating. As for _Invisible Touch_, it looks like “Anything She Does” wasn’t released as a single. I remember hearing it on the radio, and they made a video for it, I wonder why they didn’t make it official… ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/16 "2016-10-13T16:52:30Z")
Joan Osborne’s [Relish](http://www.allmusic.com/album/relish-mw0000125500) had the hit “One of Us”, but rest of the album was much better with its simmering blues rock tunes. Extreme’s [Extreme II: Pornograffitti](http://www.allmusic.com/album/extreme-ii-pornograffitti-mw0000309280) had two singles, “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted” which sound almost nothing like the rest of the album, which is some great hard rock. The singles are not weak necessarily, just so completely different. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/17 "2016-10-13T19:06:14Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Every Prince album is full of great material not released as a single. Some of my personal ‘non-single’ favorites : > > “Life Can Be So Nice” - Parade > “It” “Hot Thing” - Sign O’ The Times > “Electric Chair” - Batman Soundtrack > “Thunder” - Diamonds & Pearls > “Dark” - Come > “P. Control” - The Gold Experience I think that “It’s gonna be lonely” from the “Prince” album, is one of the greatest album tracks ever. ---
**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/18 "2016-10-13T19:25:57Z")
One of my favorite albums is _Bonafide_, by Jon B. There were three songs released as singles from that album: “Someone to Love,” “Pretty Girl” and “Isn’t it Scary.” They are, respectively, the fifth, eighth, and twelfth-best (of 13) songs on the album, IMO. According to Wikipedia, Sheryl Crow’s _Tuesday Night Music Club_ featured six songs that were released as singles: I liked two of them. The best song on the album IMO, “We Do What We Can,” was not released as a single. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/19 "2016-10-13T19:57:05Z")
_American Pie_, by Don Mclean. The famous songs, “American Pie” and “Vincent”, are good. “Empty Chairs” and “Babylon” are awesome. “Everybody Loves Me, Baby” is the best song on the album. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386/20 "2016-10-13T21:13:09Z")
**Led Zeppelin IV** had a fairly popular track which wasn’t released as a single. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/albums-where-the-non-singles-are-far-better-than-the-singles/768386.md?page=2)