Best songs from bands or singers.....that only you think is their best song

Cafe Society
1

I actually tend to agree with the overall assessments on bands/artists and their songs. For example, while Smells Like Teen Spirit might not be Nirvana’s best song, it is certainly one of the best and I get why it was their biggest hit.

Today, I was listening to The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails and was reminded that I actually think a rather obscure song from them(him?) is the best one. It is on Downward Spiral and it is:

Reptile

It’s not just a deep cut favorite; I actually think it could have been the most popular and biggest song from Nine Inch Nails, I love it that much.

Do you have any “this should have been the biggest song” type experiences? Kind of like, “In an alternate universe, this would have been the massive hit,” type experience.

Edit: Post the song if you can!

2

Totally overshadowed by their subsequent Rock Opera projects, The Who’s Rael (1 and 2) was their first. It was also kinda cannibalized for those later projects. It was even given the showcase position (last track, side two) on The Who Sell Out, with “I Can See for Miles” relegated to last track, side one. It’s a beautiful, if lyrically confounding song that must have sounded like a whole new kind of music pre-Tommy.

3

While Elton John’s double album Blue Moves released in 1976 was considered a let down compared to his earlier double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, it had one song that has stuck with me all these years.

Crazy Water received virtually no airplay in the US that I can remember. It was released as a single in the UK and reached No. 27 in the UK singles charts.

I personally think it’s one of Bernie’s best lyrics, although everyone I know disagrees with me. Paul Buckmaster adds a wonderful orchestral arrangement to Elton’s piano.

4

This seems as good a place as any to post Tom Bissell’s take on “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window”:

5

This is Queen’s best song, by far better than “Bohemian Rhapsody” from the same album:

6

Probably my favorite song by the White Stripes is their cover of Son House’s ‘Death Letter’. Since it was on one of their earlier albums before they hit it big with ‘White Blood Cells’ I’d say it’s an underappreciated gem. At least I don’t think I’ve ever heard it played on the radio:

7

I mentioned that song in the “first songs to listen to on your new headphones” thread. That whole album, but especially “The Prophet’s Song”, needs to be listened to on headphones and cranked up to 11.

8

So many options. For instance, I think “In a Broken Dream” is one of Rod Stewart’s best. But it was as a guest vocalist, so few have heard of it.

9

Spanky and Our Gang had a couple of big hits, but I always liked their version of a real oldie: Stardust

10

I’ve always felt that Toulouse Street was one of The Doobie Brothers’ best songs (to me, ymmv). (I’m also partial to Black Water but it was so overplayed on the radio that it seems most people are sick of it. I’m a sucker for contrapuntal melodies.)

11

Pink Floyd’s Fearless is a perfect gem of a song ahead of their time, that would have been one of the best songs on any of their later albums.

12

Speaking of the Beatles, my contribution is “Hey Bulldog”. It’s probably not the best, and definitely not the most popular song, on just Yellow Submarine, but when it comes up in the shuffle, “Hey Bulldog” is the one where I turn up the volume and listen, instead of just letting it float in the background.

13

I love Madonna’s song “Love Profusion”. But it was one of her few singles that didn’t chart at all on the Hot 100.

14

Good one, probably also my favorite Floyd song (from my favorite Floyd album).

15

My contribution: I don’t quite think it’s their very best, but it’s my favorite Clash song: “Broadway”, which is buried deep in the mess that was “Sandinista”.

16

“Got A Feeling” The best song the Mamas and the Papas ever recorded, by far.

17

Boston’s “Can’tcha Say (You Believe In Me)/Still In Love” is one of my picks. Yes, it is very reminiscent of his earlier songs and severely overwrought…but I think it is the best.

The Cars’ “Dangerous Type” is the other. Loved it the first time I heard it.

18

Hey, Bulldog has been a favorite of mine since it first came out.

It’s getting more recognition, especially since they released a video of them performing it.

19

Bob Dylan’s “Girl From the North Country” from his Freewheelin’ album. Yeah, I’m a folkie at heart.

20

“Don’t Call on Me” …This is the only Monkees song i ever listen to. I have all their albums bought with my own money and I only play this one song from the Pisces Aquarious album. I do not understand why I like this song but there it is.