# Overlooked, but great songs by popular bands **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 18, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357 "2001-04-18T01:22:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/1 "2001-04-18T01:22:58Z")
Someone mentioned on the do-the-Beatles-suck thread that most of the Beatles better songs never get played on the radio. That made me wonder how many popular groups had “sleeper” songs in their respective catalogs–songs that never hit it big on the charts, but were arguably superior to that group’s big well-known hits. I’ll lead off with five personal examples: 1. **THE POLICE** Most famous for:_Roxanne, Don’t Stand So Close To Me, Every Breath You Take_ Best song IMO: _Fortress Around Your Heart_ (title?) 2) **JETHRO TULL** Most famous for:_Aqualung_ Best song IMO: _Teacher_ 3) **ALAN PARSONS PROJECT** Most famous for:_Eye in the Sky_ Best song IMO: _I, Robot_ 4) **JETHRO TULL** Most famous for:_Open Arms, Separate Ways_ Best song IMO: _Feelin’ That Way_ 5) **DURAN DURAN** Most famous for:_Hungry Like the Wolf, Rio, The Reflex_ Best song IMO: _Girls on Film_ … What are some of your fave sleeper songs? ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/2 "2001-04-18T01:32:32Z")
Easy… NIRVANA-best known for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Better songs…“love Buzz”,“Son of a Gun”,“Drain You” and “Been A Son”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/3 "2001-04-18T01:34:59Z")
Fleetwood Mac Famous: “Don’t Stop” Best overlooked: “Homeward Bound”. Christine McVie kicks ass on this one. J. Geils Band Famous: “Centerfold” Best Overlooked: The entire _Love Stinks_ LP. I mean it folks, BUY THIS AND LISTEN. Blondie: Famous: “Heart of Glass” Best Overlooked: 1977’s _Plastic Letters_. See above comment. Electric Light Orchestra Famous: _Out of the Blue_ Best Overlooked: _Time_. Came out in 1981. Listen to it and think _Bladerunner_ ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/4 "2001-04-18T01:41:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bordelond \* > \*\*Someone mentioned on the do-the-Beatles-suck thread that most of the Beatles better songs never get played on the radio. > > That made me wonder how many popular groups had “sleeper” songs in their respective catalogs–songs that never hit it big on the charts, but were arguably superior to that group’s big well-known hits. > > I’ll lead off with five personal examples: > > 1. **THE POLICE** > > Most famous for:_Roxanne, Don’t Stand So Close To Me, Every Breath You Take_ > > Best song IMO: _Fortress Around Your Heart_ (title?) > > \*\* I think that was a Sting solo song. \*\* > [@](#): > > 1. **JETHRO TULL** > > Most famous for:_Open Arms, Separate Ways_ > > Best song IMO: _Feelin’ That Way_ > \*\* You, er, mean Journey. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/5 "2001-04-18T04:26:38Z")
Some of my favorites in general, some are one hit wonders, others, less popular but good. Alan Parsons Project - Don’t answer me. Bad English - Ghost in your heart, and the whole Backlash CD Queensryche - Hand on Heart Great White - Save all your love Michael Peterson - Drink, Swear, Steal, and Lie ---
**Author:** ![ghandi5569](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@ghandi5569](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ghandi5569)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/6 "2001-04-18T04:28:25Z")
Fiona Apple: popular: Limp; Fast As You Can great: Paper Bag Live: popular: Lightening Crashes; The Dolphin’s Cry great: Freaks; Where Fishes Go Smashing Pumpkins: popular: Zero; Bullet With Butterfly Wings great: Thru the Eyes of Ruby; Stumbline There are soo many more…but its late. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/7 "2001-04-18T09:54:04Z")
Jimi Hendrix Popular: Little Wing [sub][sup](and deservedly so)[/sup][/sub] Great: One Rainy Wish Portishead Popular: Sour Times Great: It’s a Fire The B-52’s Popular: Love Shack Great: Dance This Mess Around Bangles: Popular: Eternal Flame Great: Following Crowded House Popular: Weather With You Great: Distant Sun Oasis: Popular: Wonderwall Great: Talk Tonight U2 Popular: Where the Streets Have No Name [sub][sup](and again, most deservedly so)[/sup][/sub] Great: Everlasting Love **ghandi5569** , I completely agree on Fiona Apple - I adore “Paper Bag”. ---
**Author:** ![toonerama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@toonerama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toonerama)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/8 "2001-04-18T12:06:43Z")
Ooh, ooh, I got one. “Snow Queen” by Elton John. It was the B-side of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and also features Ki Ki Dee. I can’t handle anything by Elton John beyond the Blue Moves record. This old song is a true gem, a beautiful ballad, sadly unheard. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/9 "2001-04-18T12:12:39Z")
**Bob Dylan** : _Popular_: Subterranean Homesick Blues, Like a Rolling Stone, Rainy Day Women, stuff off of Highway 61 Revisited album. _Great_: Gosh, where do I begin… Give "Blind Willie McTell or “Every Grain of Sand” a listen and ye shall be changed 😉 ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/10 "2001-04-18T12:28:23Z")
Stevie Wonder had a song called “Never Had A Dream Come True” that is incredible, but isn’t as popular as it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/11 "2001-04-18T13:10:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Alan Parsons Project - Don’t answer me. > Queensryche - Hand on Heart I agree on the Alan Parsons Project. With Queensryche, I would have picked “Promised Land” Here are a few: Counting Crows…famous for “Mr. Jones” and “A Long December” Best overlooked: “High Life” I Wish I Was a Girl" “St. Robinson & His Cadillac Dream” Billy Joel…famous for “Piano Man” and “Only the Good Die Young,” among others Best overlooked: Anything that wasn’t released on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/12 "2001-04-18T13:36:51Z")
Snoooopy, thanks for the corrections. I must remember “PREVIEW is my friend”. Yeah, _Dream of the Blue Turtles_ was a Police album … shea-right! Ugh … well, they say the memory’s the second-to-last thing to go. Hey, haven’t you heard the Journey tribute album Jethro Tull put out? No? Didn’t think so 😉 ---
**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:** [April 18, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/13 "2001-04-18T13:44:21Z")
Spirit Known, if at all, for “I Got A Line On You,” but did many better songs, like “Animal Zoo,” “Mr. Skin,” “Darling If,” or “Morning Must Come.” J. Geils – Nothing tops “Whammer Jammer” – especially the live version. Beatles – “Hey Bulldog” – Great Lennon Rock 'n Roll song hidden on the “Yellow Submarine” album. The Who – “A Quick One While He’s Away” – their forgotten rock miniopera. Parts were recycled into “Tommy.” Other good choices are “Music Must Change” and “Guitar and Pen.” Pink Floyd – “Atom Heart Mother” – their best work, oddly forgotten. For a more obscure choice, there’s always “Free Four.” For even more obscure, there’s “Come in Number 51, Your Time Is Up.” Led Zeppelin – “When the Levee Breaks” – back to their roots with first-class blues. Procol Harum – “She Wandered Through the Garden Fence” Lyrics as weird as “Whiter Shade of Pale” with a great melody. “Homburg” is also pretty good. Jefferson Airplane – “Wooden Ships” – The same song that Crosby Stills and Nash sang, but with an edge to it. CSN are sad that civilization was destroyed; Grace Slick is angry. Allman Brothers Band – “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” – great instrumental by Dicky Betts, but gets no airplay due to its length. Instead, they play the abysmal “Jessica.” Feh. Moody Blues – “So Deep Within You” Emerson Lake and Palmer – “Are you Ready, Eddie?” – Old time rock 'n roll throwaway. Cream – “Mother’s Lament” – Nutty and wierd, like they were drunk in the studio. Randy Newman – “Just One Smile” – He’s best known for his film music, but this is one of the greatest breakup songs ever. Blood Sweat and Tears – “Just One Smile” – While not as good as Newman’s version, this is by far the best song they recorded. It was done by the original, Al Kooper lineup – i.e., no David Clayton Thomas. Frank Zappa and the Mothers – “Penis Dimension” from “200 Motels” (“Do you worry? Do you worry and moan?”). Actually, most of his work was better than his hits (“Dancing Fool” and “Valley Girl”), though neither is bad. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/14 "2001-04-18T22:04:05Z")
1. Cream songs like “White Room” and “Strange Brew” and “Sunshine of Your Love” are played around the clock on classic rock stations. But you never hear “Dance the Night Away,” which is better than any of the aforementioned songs. 2. The Beatles aren’t exactly underappreciated or underplayed… but I’d love to hear songs like “I’m Looking Through You,” “For No One,” and “Hey Bulldog.” 3. You can’t escape from the Kinks’ “Lola” or “You REally Got Me.” Good songs, but why don’t radio stations EVER play anything from “The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society,” their best album ever? 4. The Byrd’s masterpiece was their “The Notorious Byrd Brothers” album, but all anybody seems to know about are"Turn Turn Turn," “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and (maybe) “8 Miles High.” 5. I’m not a huge Dylan fan, but I LOVED “Desire.” That’s definitely his best album, and among the least appreciated recordings he ever made. 6. Almost all of Led Zeppelin’s songs get heavy play on classic rock radio. Among the few that don’t are “Out on the Tiles” and “Bron-yr-aur Stomp,” two great tracks from their third album. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/15 "2001-04-18T22:33:52Z")
Led Zep–Black Country Woman and Boogie With Stu David Bowie–Star, Song for Andy Warhol, and the entire Lodger album Iggy Pop–Some Weird Sin ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/16 "2001-04-18T22:42:17Z")
Third Eye Blind Popular: Semi-Charmed Life Better: Tattoo of the Sun (B side to the Semi-Charmed Life single) and New Girl (from the ‘American Pie’ soundtrack) BNL Popular (in the US): One Week, It’s All Been Done, Pinch Me Better: Alcohol, In the Car, the entire Gordon CD. Robbie Williams Popular: Millennium, Angel, Rock DJ Better: If It’s Hurting You Matchbox Twenty Popular: If You’re Gone Better: Long Day (I really hope they release it as a single.) ---
**Author:** ![Jenericho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Jenericho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenericho)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/17 "2001-04-18T22:46:15Z")
Queen: White Queen (As it Began) Beatles: Only a Northern Song ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/18 "2001-04-18T22:56:51Z")
Lynyrd Skynyrd- Known For: “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Free Bird”, “That Smell” Best: “Ballad of Curtis Lowe” ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/19 "2001-04-19T00:09:52Z")
Frank Zappa - ‘the Torture Never Sops’ Genesis - ‘The Return of the Giant Hogweed’ Queen - ‘The Prophet’s Song’ The Alan Parson’s Project - Day After Day (The Show Must Go On) The Moody Blues - ‘Painted Smile’ ---
**Author:** ![malden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@malden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malden)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2001, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357/20 "2001-04-19T00:48:36Z")
**R.E.M.** Popular: It’s the End of the World as We Know It Better: Nightswimming, Find the River, Electrolite **Foo Fighters** Popular: Monkey Wrench Better: Aurora **Led Zeppelin** Popular: Stairway to Heaven (highly overrated IMHO) Better: That’s the Way **Genesis** Popular: Invisible Touch Better: The Battle of Epping Forest, Supper’s Ready, Cinema Show, Firth of Fifth, oh hell ANYTHING from before 1976 **Yes** Popular: Owner of a Lonely Heart Better: Starship Trooper **Peter Gabriel** Popular: In your Eyes Better: That Voice Again (on the same album) **Traffic** Popular: Dear Mr. Fantasy Better: Roll Right Stones **Derek and the Dominoes** Popular: Layla Better: Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad \*\*U2 \*\* Popular: With or Without You Better: One Tree Hill, In God’s Country (on same album) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overlooked-but-great-songs-by-popular-bands/62357.md?page=2)