On “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” “Blowing In The Wind” was the big hit but I think “Girl From The North Country” was the best song.
For me, every other song on Dire Straits’ Brothers In Arms album is better than the “hits” “Money For Nothing” and “Walk of Life”.
“Squeeze Box” may be the weakest song on Who by Numbers.
Isn’t this true for just about every album ever recorded? They take the poppiest, bubble-gummiest, catchiest song to release as a single, just to get you to buy the album. Then when you listen to the deeper, more serious songs, you realize that they are much better.
At least, that was true when people used to buy albums, not just download a track or two that they kinda like.
On So by Peter Gabriel: I don’t know if Sledgehammer was the biggest chart hit. But it was a huge hit on MTV, and the video won all sorts of awards. On the original eight-song album, I think it’s easily the weakest track. Still a quality tune. It’s just a great, great album.
Thin Lizzy ‘Jailbreak’ album: ‘The Boys are Back in Town’ gets all the mentions, but all the other songs are just as good, or better, especially ‘Emerald’.
I listened to Jailbreak just this morning. How bout that?
Pretty amazing. I guess that would explain the reverb effect I noticed when I listened to it.
Sometimes this is true, or semi-true.
And sometimes the non-singles are mostly just filler, that the artist/band didn’t devote much effort or creativity to.
And sometimes the hit singles are objectively the best songs on an album, but they’ve been so overplayed and you’ve heard them so many times that it’s easier to appreciate the deeper cuts.
I was heading straight for Freewheelin’ as well, but to say that Hard Rain is a better song.
j
I don’t think there were any ‘hits’ off that album. Was BITW even released as a single? The hit version was by Peter Paul and Mary.
Ain’t that the truth. Those are the two tracks I’m most likely to skip when I listen to that album (one of my favorites).
Its all just personal opinion, but on the Eels album ‘electroshock blues’ the song ‘last stop this town’ is a good song and was the hit single.
But songs like PS you rock my world and 3 speed are better.
“And She Was” was the monster hit off Talking Heads’ Little Creatures, but it’s darn near the bottom of the quality list for that album. My vote for best song would be “Walk It Down,” with “The Lady Don’t Mind” as runner-up.
You’re sure you’re not thinking of Road To Nowhere ?
They both got a lot of airplay. While their fans were listening to “Stay Up Late” and “The Lady Don’t Mind,” well, actually, the whole album.
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.
The Pogues’ “If I Should Fall From Grace With God”. The title track, and of course Fairytale of New York are probably the two songs most associated with the album - and understandably so; they’re both fantastic songs. But I’ve never understood why Lullaby of London, which I consider to be perhaps the most heartbreakingly beautiful song ever written, is not more often listed amongst MacGowan’s best.
INXS has countless hits, but Never Tear Us Apart, Beautiful Girl and Original Sin are much better songs than any of them, by far.
If you are going to mention Talking Heads, then it has to be the album Remain In Light. It’s difficult because it is a fantastic album from start to finish. The most famous song off it has to be Once In A Lifetime. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great song and I do love it but it does not come close to The Great Curve.