# Which lesser known songs do you think are better than the greatest hits? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 26, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494 "2025-08-26T14:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/21 "2025-08-26T17:15:55Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I always thought Hey Bulldog is an under-appreciated song It is secretly appreciated. Many Beatles’ fans (me included) include it as one of their favorite songs. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/22 "2025-08-26T17:24:20Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > Tomorrow Never Knows was included in the 2023 re-issue of [1962-1966](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962%25E2%2580%25931966#2023_edition) (_aka_ the “Red Album”) It only took them 50 years to correct that glaring omission. There was definitely a bias toward songs that were released as singles on that collection. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/23 "2025-08-26T17:28:11Z")
Not that it’s a “lesser known song,” but the Beatles’ “Long and Winding Road” has always touched me in a way that “Let It Be” never has. “Run Through the Jungle” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (a flip side) has much more depth to it than any of their better-known Pop hits. “All Along the Watchtower” was the closest Jimi Hendrix ever got to a 45 rpm single “hit” in this country, but I was always moosed by the flip side, “Burning of the Midnight Lamp.” “Flaming Star” by Elvis Presley is a great song, one of his best I think, but it got buried as the main title song from the movie of the same name, which is also one of his best, directed by Don Siegel. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/24 "2025-08-26T17:33:42Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > Not that it’s a “lesser known song,” but the Beatles’ “Long and Winding Road” has always touched me in a way that “Let It Be” never has. I loved, loved, loved the version of Long and Winding Road from the movie “Yesterday”: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/TO4OE9C3z0U/hqdefault.jpg "Yesterday Movie - The Long and Winding Road") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO4OE9C3z0U) ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/25 "2025-08-26T17:54:30Z")
So many to choose from! But I’ll go back to the 80s for a favorite: Cyndi Lauper’s song and music video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” from _She’s So Unusual_ was a huge hit. But the first track on the album, “Money Changes Everything,” was IMHO a much better song. People would buy the album and listen to the song, of course. It got a lot of appreciation, but it didn’t get much airplay and the only music video of it available in the 80s was from a “live” performance. The video was not, and is not, that great. “Time After Time” and “She Bop” were sort of the follow-ups to “Girls….” and “Money….” has just continued to fade away. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/26 "2025-08-26T17:55:53Z")
Out of Control - U2 Off of their incredible first album ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/27 "2025-08-26T18:16:40Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Many Beatles’ fans (me included) include it as one of their favorite songs. Agreed. Fanny did a nice cover but didn’t quite have the ‘bite’ of the original? ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/28 "2025-08-26T18:26:12Z")
“Slip Kid” by The Who may be my favorite song of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/29 "2025-08-26T18:28:40Z")
I like a ton of Gordon Lightfoot songs a lot more than _Sundown_ and _If You Could Read My Mind_. I suppose the _Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald_ was his “greatest hit,” but I do like that song. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/30 "2025-08-26T18:36:51Z")
Roxy Music: “My Only Love” Steely Dan: “Time Out of Mind” R.E.M.: "Fall on Me’ Joan Osborne’s first album, _Relish_, is famous for “One of Us.” I think every other song on the album is better, with “St. Teresa” and “Ladder” being outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/31 "2025-08-26T18:40:06Z")
Pearl Jam’s _Vs._ (second album). All the DJs thought “Daughter” was the best song but most people I knew thought it was “Glorious G”. ---
**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 26, 2025, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/32 "2025-08-26T19:06:09Z")
The Mamas & The Papas. For me their most beautiful song by far, and the only one I still listen to 55 years later: **Got A Feelin’**. https://www.youtube.com/embed/G33-DQT_OVM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDG33-DQT_OVM ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/33 "2025-08-26T19:47:26Z")
Aqua is best known for their novelty hit, _Barbie Girl_. But their best song, _Turn Back Time_, failed to chart on the U.S. Hot 100 chart. Also, my favorite The Who song is _My Wife_. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/34 "2025-08-26T20:00:58Z")
Led Zeppelin: What Is And What Should Never Be (there are a lot of Zeppelin deep cuts that could make this list) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WyjRYWmoWXU/maxresdefault.jpg "Led Zeppelin - What Is And What Should Never Be (HD)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyjRYWmoWXU) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/35 "2025-08-26T20:04:38Z")
That made me think of a song on their follow-up album, “Once Was a Time I Thought,” basically an _a cappella_ minute-long tongue twister sung in gorgeous harmonies. I’ve never it heard it played on any type of radio. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nh1PC4Ouqz0/maxresdefault.jpg "Once Was A Time I Thought") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh1PC4Ouqz0) ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/36 "2025-08-26T20:13:57Z")
Billy Joel - “She’s Right On Time.” Yes, there is a great music video, but I don’t think the song charted very high, if it all. Billy has a ton of hits, and this is just as good as any of them. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4lh4Ahl46E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4lh4Ahl46E) ---
**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 26, 2025, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/37 "2025-08-26T20:24:38Z")
My favorite Pink Floyd song is “Fearless”, and though they never were much of a singles band, this was not only not a single but also never a repertoire song they played live, and it isn’t on any compilation. “Heart Of Gold” is the only hit single Neil Young ever had, and mind you, it’s a very fine song, but he wrote and recorded more than thousand other songs. I could possibly name a hundred of his songs that are better. I think his two greatest songs are “Powderfinger” and “Cortez The Killer”, with “Thrasher” as a third. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/38 "2025-08-26T20:39:17Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > … which “deep cuts” do you think are better than the greatest hits? Most of them. Just an aside: a friend once said (back in the '70s when the only way to re-listen to music was to buy the album): “I never buy a band’s albums until they put out a greatest hits album. That way I’m not paying for the other junk they did.” I was going to quit being her friend, but she’s now my wife’s best friend, so that means I can’t bring up her quote just to rub her nose in it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/39 "2025-08-26T20:41:44Z")
Although they were probably big hits outside the States “Down in the Park” “Are Friends Electric” and “Me, I Disconnect From You” by Gary Numan are miles better than “Cars.” But, as I say, these may not count. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494/40 "2025-08-26T21:09:12Z")
That reminds me: Three of my favorite Cyndi Lauper tracks from her first two albums were never released as singles at all: “Yeah Yeah” from _She’s so Unusual, and_ “Calm Inside the Storm” and “One Track Mind” from _True Colors._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-lesser-known-songs-do-you-think-are-better-than-the-greatest-hits/1022494.md?page=3)