# An album where Song A is the most famous, but Song B is better **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589 "2020-07-17T16:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/1 "2020-07-17T16:06:03Z")
Here’s a challenge. Come up with an album where one song is really super famous, but another song on the album is better. **To make it a little more interesting, the really famous song must be really good, too.** No naming some shitty song that somehow hit the top of the charts; that’s too easy. I’ll go first. The most famous song on Led Zeppelin IV is, of course, “Stairway to Heaven.” However, “When The Levee Breaks” is just an absolutely sick song. That song is the best on the album. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/2 "2020-07-17T16:22:20Z")
**Born In the USA** The title track and _Dancing in the Dark_ were the big hits (along with _Glory Days_) but the best tracks are _No Surrender_ and _My Hometown_. Depth beats hooks any day. _Born In the USA_ was totally misunderstood (by idiots) and _Dancing…_ is light-weight fluff. _Glory Days_ has some interesting reflections, but never goes anywhere (much like the protagonists.) _No Surrender_ just screams the power of friendship and connection and if you can listen to _My Hometown_ without a twinge you aren’t human. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/3 "2020-07-17T16:27:18Z")
I Write Sins, Not Tragedies is probably the worst song off of A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco, but nowadays I only skip over it because I’ve heard it so much, not because it is a horrible song. It was good enough to get me into them when I first heard it on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![ThisIsTheEnd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisistheend/32/4713_2.png) [@ThisIsTheEnd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisIsTheEnd)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/4 "2020-07-17T16:31:23Z")
Aerosmith Mama Kin is better than Dream On. Back In The Saddle is MUCH better than the single Last Child. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/5 "2020-07-17T16:37:30Z")
**Renaissance**. The only song they did that can remotely be called a “hit” was _Northern Lights_. _Day of the Dreamer_ from the same album is far superior, especially if you listen to one of the BBC Live recordings. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/6 "2020-07-17T16:38:44Z")
Any other song off Revolver is better than Yellow Submarine. Play With Fire is better than Satisfaction. Visions of Johanna is better than Rainy Day Women #12 and 35. Coming Back to Me is better than White Rabbit. May This Be Love is better than Purple Haze. etc. etc. ad infinitum… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/7 "2020-07-17T16:44:08Z")
Joan Osbourne is known for only one song, “One of Us.” It appeared on _Relish_, and every other song on the album is better. “St. Teresa” and “Spider Web” are absolute dynamite. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/8 "2020-07-17T17:03:22Z")
“Brown Sugar” was the hit single from “Sticky Fingers” and is an iconic Stones song, but not the best song on the album by far. “Wild Horses”, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”, “Sway”, “Dead Flowers”, “Sister Morphine” and “Moonlight Mile” are all better. Btw, that’s my favorite album of all time. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/9 "2020-07-17T17:30:25Z")
“Lola” is a great song, but I think “Apeman” and “Strangers” are better. “Sunshine of your Love” is also fine, but I like “SWLABR” more. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/10 "2020-07-17T17:40:08Z")
Cornerstone by Styx… Babe was number 1. They wanted to release First Time, but apparently Tommy Shaw threatened to quit if they did. He didn’t want a second ballad. Personally, I think First Time is a better song. Note: I prefer the Styx rock songs to their ballads, but the album didn’t have a standout rocker (to me). ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/11 "2020-07-17T17:41:47Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > “Lola” is a great song, but I think “Apeman” and “Strangers” are better. Similarly, “Sunny Afternoon” on “Face To Face” is a great song, but I like “Too Much On My Mind” even better. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/12 "2020-07-17T18:42:48Z")
“Luka” was the song in heavy rotation from Suzanne Vega’s _Solitude Standing_ album, hitting #3 on Billboard’s Hot 100, but every other song on the album is better. ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/13 "2020-07-17T19:04:45Z")
_Fragile_ by Yes. Everyone knows “Roundabout,” and to a lesser extent “Long Distance Runaround.” The two stand-out tracks, though, are “South Side of the Sky” and “Heart of the Sunrise.” ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/14 "2020-07-17T19:09:01Z")
I think a lot of Rush albums fall into this category. A few examples: _A Farewell to Kings_: the big hit was “Closer to the Heart.” “Cygnus X-1” and “Xanadu” are far better. _Permanent Waves_: “Spirit of Radio” is the hit, “Natural Science” is the way-more-awesome track. _Moving Pictures_: “Tom Sawyer” vs. “YYZ” and “The Camera Eye.” ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/15 "2020-07-17T19:19:33Z")
Didn’t we just do this a few months ago? “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most famous song from Queen’s “A Night At The Opera”. “The Prophet’s Song” is by far the best song on the album ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/16 "2020-07-17T19:59:17Z")
“Brass in Pocket” is by far the best known song on the Pretenders’ debut. It’s great, but at most it’s the 7th best song on the album. “The Wait”, “Precious”, “Tattooed Loved Boys”, “Mystery Achievement”, “Stop Your Sobbing” and “Kid” are all better. Just shows what a damn great album that was. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/17 "2020-07-17T20:00:44Z")
ELP’s first and third albums. All of the other tracks were far superior to Greg Lake’s insipid ballads that always got the airplay. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/18 "2020-07-17T21:01:02Z")
The better-known songs off _Combat Rock_ are either _Rock The Casbah_ or _Should I Stay or Should I Go_, I’d say. But _Straight To Hell_ is the masterwork. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2020, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/19 "2020-07-17T23:06:03Z")
The Yes Album. _All Good People_ seems to be the one everybody knows, but _Starship Trooper_ is the **Best Song In The World** ---
**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:** [July 17, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/20 "2020-07-17T23:16:59Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Didn’t we just do this a few months ago? > > “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most famous song from Queen’s “A Night At The Opera”. > > “The Prophet’s Song” is by far the best song on the album I’d also add “'39,” “Good Company,” and “You’re My Best Friend.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589.md?page=2)