# 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:** 3
**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:** [August 19, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/41 "2020-08-19T15:00:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **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. The title track is even better, tho. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/42 "2020-08-19T16:28:02Z")
“Never Tear Us Apart,” at least here in the US, I would count as one of INXS’s countless hits (peaked at #7). Only four songs of theirs charted higher. (Both “Disappear” and “Suicide Blonde” peaked lower, but still were top ten hits. I was actually surprised to see that “Not Enough Time” only got to #28.) “Beautiful Girl” and “Original Sin,” though, never broke the Top 40. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/43 "2020-08-19T18:40:49Z")
The Police - Synchronicity _Every Breathe You Take_ and _King of Pain_ are the obvious hits, but _Synchronicity I_ and _Synchronicity II_ are total jams. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/44 "2020-08-19T20:29:55Z")
I haven’t yet read the thread, so pardon me if this has been mentioned. Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak album featured the much played on the radio Jailbreak, but Cowboy Song is far greater. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/45 "2020-08-19T20:33:36Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > For me, every other song on Dire Straits’ _Brothers In Arms_ album is better than the “hits” “Money For Nothing” and “Walk of Life”. As that record came out while I was a teenage headbanger, I pretty much wrote it off. Only recently did I hear the song Brothers In Arms. Fabulous song! ---
**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:** [August 19, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/46 "2020-08-19T23:30:00Z")
True dat. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/47 "2020-08-19T23:30:20Z")
“Refugee” got all the airplay for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on the Damn the Torpedoes album, and deservedly so, but I’ll take “Letting You Go” and “Louisiana Rain” for pure listening pleasure any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![BigDfromLA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@BigDfromLA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDfromLA)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/48 "2020-08-20T05:49:52Z")
I didn’t realize that Never Tear Us Apart got all the way to #7. Thanks for clearing that up. I do think that Never Tear Us Apart is the best song INXS ever made. INXS crossed paths with Nile Rodgers and through that brief collaboration came Original Sin which Nile produced. Great song as well! ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2020, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/49 "2020-08-20T11:57:50Z")
The White Stripes’ album Elephant opens with Seven Nation Army. It’s so iconic, so well known, and an absolute cracker of a song. However, the same album features Ball and Biscuit which - especially live - is probably Jack White’s finest moment. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 is not the best track on The Wall. Money is not the best track on Dark Side of the Moon. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2020, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/50 "2020-08-23T02:16:54Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > It is the balance of the “other tracks” with Greg’s ballads that made those albums classics. You see “insipid”, you are in a minority. Both of your statements are matters of opinion which I respectfully disagree with. We’ll just have to live with it. ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/51 "2020-08-23T02:44:28Z")
2continue the Aerosmith lines… “Toys In The Attic” is better, rocks way more than “Walk This Way” OR “Sweet Emotion” ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/52 "2020-08-23T05:26:29Z")
The title track of Bruce Springsteen’s _Born To Run_ album was a big hit. It’s a really good song. But _Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out_ (peaked at #83) and _Thunder Road_ (never released as a single) are both far superior. ---
**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:** [August 23, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/53 "2020-08-23T18:03:22Z")
Sure I’d agree with that. My favorite song on Toys is No More No More, especially the jam at the end that takes it into fade out. It blisters AND swings, lol. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/54 "2020-08-24T15:04:33Z")
I respectfully insist that 9 out of 10 ELP fans do not think Greg Lake’s ballads are insipid. Selectively liking some of a band’s work is usually not the hallmark of a fan. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/55 "2020-08-25T00:59:55Z")
Pick any Steely Dan album. Every one contains a song better than the ones that got airplay. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/56 "2020-08-25T19:35:11Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > I respectfully insist that 9 out of 10 ELP fans do not think Greg Lake’s ballads are insipid. Since you’re respectfully insisting, cite please. > [@BwanaBob](#): > > Selectively liking some of a band’s work is usually not the hallmark of a fan. That ridiculous statement undercuts your credibility. For the record: ELP has always been one of my two all-time favorite rock bands, _despite_ Lake’s ballads. My collection of their LP’s, CD’s, Videos, and sheet music collections backs me up. And that ends my participation in our little tiff. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/57 "2020-08-25T19:59:06Z")
Not a big Steely Fan guy here, but what about _Aja_? There’s like four songs there that got airplay? And I do have to think those were the best. As someone who is tepid on Steely Dan – Deacon Blues, Peg, Josie? Those gotta be the best tracks, but maybe if you’re deep into the Dan, there’s better tracks. Regardless, the fucking drum groove on _Peg_, Chuck Rainey’s bass, the guitar solo – as much as I just don’t dig the laid-back smooth rock jazz stylings of Steely Dan, fuck, that song is tasty. That guitar solo is literally in my top 5 guitar solos. And Rick Marotta’s drum groove – damn. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/58 "2020-08-25T20:39:47Z")
I like “Big Black Cow” and especially the title track better (Steve Gadd is a monster on that) than any of the hits from “Aja”. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/59 "2020-08-25T21:06:40Z")
“Aja” I certainly can see an argument for. But as a pop guy, everything just comes together so well for me on “Peg” that I really don’t need to hear any other Steely Dan song. That’s just pure pop perfection. Just 12-bar blues interpreted through Fagan’s jazz stylings, and then backed up by one of the best rhythm tracks ever, and a guitar solo that slays. But, like I said, I’m tepid about them, so what I like about them and what true fans do – they probably only slightly intersect in a Venn diagram. ---
**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:** [August 25, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589/60 "2020-08-25T21:13:05Z")
For whatever reason, last night I just couldn’t sleep – kid was going back to in-person learning. I was very anxious about a bunch of stuff. And, my subconscious – just decided to go OCD on that “Peg” guitar solo. That initial slide of chords and everything. Just over and over and over in my head for hours. ARGH!!! Why my brain went right there, I don’t know. But, clearly, my subconscious loves it, even though I don’t own a single Steely Dan album. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-album-where-song-a-is-the-most-famous-but-song-b-is-better/915589.md?page=4)