# Best FINAL album cuts of the rock era **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2003, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257 "2003-06-20T19:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/41 "2003-06-30T20:32:15Z")
“Bear Melt” from “Bless It’s Pointed Little Head” by Jefferson Airplane “Starship” from “Blows Against the Empire” by Paul Kantner & the (original) Jefferson Starship “Mann’s Fate” from the self-titled debut Lp by Hot Tuna “Casey Jones” from “Workingman’s Dead” by (who else?) the Grateful Dead “The Wheel” from “Garcia” by (who else?) Jerry Garcia “Get It While You Can” from “Pearl” by Janis Joplin “Ball And Chain” from “Cheap Thrills” by Big Brother & the Holding Co. (featuring Janis Joplin) “Both Sides Now” from “Clouds” as well as… “Twisted” from “Court & Spark”, both by Joni Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![jtull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e47774/32.png) [@jtull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtull)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/42 "2003-07-01T13:22:56Z")
one more for “A Day in the Life”, “Tomorrow Never Knows”, and everything that is Beatles, although one could argue that you CAN’T actually find a filler in Beatles albums… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/43 "2003-07-01T14:53:31Z")
“I Ain’t Superstitious” off _Truth_ by Jeff Beck. “Pilgrims Progress” off _A Salty Dog_ by Procol Harum. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/44 "2003-07-01T15:32:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > \*\*“Bohemian Rhapsody” from Night at the Opera by Queen. \*\* :dubious: On my copy, BR is followed by _God save the queen_. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/45 "2003-07-02T08:26:05Z")
Currently I’m hooked on _Janine_ off Soul Coughing’s _Ruby Vroom_. Back when I was learning audio engineering I recall being told that on vinyl albums the last track should be the fourth best song. The best should go first, the second best at the end of side one to encourage further listening, the next best at the start of side 2 for the same reason. Ending with a lame song leaves the listener less fulfilled like a weak movie ending can detract from all before it. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/46 "2003-07-02T11:36:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > **Currently I’m hooked on _Janine_ off Soul Coughing’s _Ruby Vroom_.** Good call; I was just listening to that one. But I think the better final track on a Soul Coughing record is “So Far I Have Not Found the Science” from _El Oso_. “Tommorrow Never Knows” from _Revolver_ is a good one. “Crusoe” from _In No Sense? Nonsense!_ by The Art of Noise “Work that Skirt” from _Whammy!_ by The B-52’s “Debra” from _Odelay_ by Beck “Ain’t No Good” from _Motorcade of Generosity_, the only Cake album I can still listen to. “Sailor Beat the Blood Out” from _White Dirt_ by Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, a GA band that nobody’s ever heard of “Cedar Tree” from _Rites of Passage_ by Indigo Girls “Levitate Me” from _Come on Pilgrim_ by Pixies And the untitled track from the end of _Green_ by R.E.M. But the first one I thought of was “When the Levee Breaks” from _Led Zeppelin IV_. So that one wins. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/47 "2003-07-02T11:38:21Z")
(Before anybody points it out, I just noticed that “So Far I have Not Found the Science” is _not_ the last track on _El Oso_. I guess it’s just the last track I usually listen to. So I’ll shut up now.) ---
**Author:** ![Hobie\_the\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@Hobie\_the\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hobie_the_One)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/48 "2003-07-02T15:35:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jtull \* > \*\*one more for “A Day in the Life”, “Tomorrow Never Knows”, and everything that is Beatles, although one could argue that you CAN’T actually find a filler in Beatles albums… \*\* There is a two word reply to this: **Doctor Robert** But I do like both those choices. The first two that come to my mind: “Working Man” _RUSH_ by Rush “You can’t always get what you want” _Let it bleed_, the Stones ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/49 "2003-07-02T16:03:06Z")
“Chalkhills and Children” from _Oranges and Lemons_ by XTC. “I Shall Be Released” from _Music From Big Pink_ by The Band. “Beyond Love” from _Mind Bomb_ by The The (Matt Johnson). “Sad Songs and Waltzes” from _Fashion Nugget_ by Cake. “Neverland”/“pH Factor” from _Repercussion_ by The dB’s (original track is a great pop song; the second is a wonderful instrumental and CD-only bonus track); either qualifies. “Discipline” from _Discipline_ by King Crimson. “40” from _War_ by U2. “You’re Wondering Now” from _The Specials_ by The Specials. “Street Spirit [fade out]” from _The Bends_ by Radiohead. “Dirt Track Date” from _Dirt Track Date_ by Southern Culture On the Skids. “Shrivel-Up” from _Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are DEVO!_ Are we including covers? ``` "Paint It Black" from *The Feelies* by The Feelies. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" from *London 0, Hull 4* by The Housemartins. ``` * * * I’d like to nominate, for “best last-song _consistency_ (in a good way) throughout their discography”, Talking Heads: ``` "Pulled Up" from *Talking Heads: 77* "The Big Country" from *More Songs About Buildings and Food* "Drugs" from *Fear of Music* "The Overload" from *Remain in Light* "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" from *Speaking In Tongues* "Take Me To the River" (cover) from the live LP *Stop Making Sense* "Road to Nowhere" from *Little Creatures* "Wild, Wild Life (ext. remix)" from *True Stories* "Cool Water" from *Naked* ``` ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/50 "2003-07-02T18:14:36Z")
Actually of the three Doors’ albums generally considered best, all had terrific final cuts. “The End” on _The Doors_ has already been mentioned. Then there’s “When The Music’s Over” on _Strange Days_, and “Riders On The Storm” on _L.A. Woman_. I actually like _The Soft Parade_, and its eponymous closing track, but that’s not generally well regarded. ---
**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 2, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/51 "2003-07-02T18:43:41Z")
“She loves my Cock” found at the end of \*\*Jackyl[/b} Can’t beat it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![emulsified](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emulsified/32/2915_2.png) [@emulsified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emulsified)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/52 "2003-07-02T19:41:26Z")
Some others have mentioned Floyd, but I thought I’d add **Eclipse** from the one of the greatest albums of all time, **Dark Side of the Moon**. ---
**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 2, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257/53 "2003-07-02T21:45:58Z")
**Better Things** - The Kinks - _Give The People What They Want_ and a second vote for **Waterloo Sunset** **All Apologies** - Nirvana - _In Utero_. Hell of a last song for their career **Mystery Acheivement** - The Pretenders eponymous debut album. **Happy Trails** - Van Halen - _Diver Down_. While not a great song, it was a great way to close an album. **F** k You and Your Cat\*\* - Goldfinger’s eponymous debut **Dangerous Type** - The Cars - _Candy-O_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-final-album-cuts-of-the-rock-era/183257.md?page=2)