Category: Great B-Sides

Some great songs never made it onto an album, instead languishing on the flip-side of a single. In this series I examine some terrific songs that didn’t make it onto a studio album. Some have since been recognised as part of the artists’ canon, others are still obscure.

Feel free to send ideas for b-sides to cover.

Candy and a Currant Bun by Pink Floyd: Great B-Sides

As I wrote in an earlier Syd Barrett post: When people talk about wasted potential in rock and roll, it’s … Continue Reading Candy and a Currant Bun by Pink Floyd: Great B-Sides

Set the Ray to Jerry by The Smashing Pumpkins: Great B-Sides

I’m just the right age to have accumulated a collection of friends who were obsessed by The Smashing Pumpkins. One … Continue Reading Set the Ray to Jerry by The Smashing Pumpkins: Great B-Sides

I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams by Weezer: Great B-Sides

Los Angeles power-pop band Weezer have pumped out records since 1994, but they’re largely beloved for their first pair of … Continue Reading I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams by Weezer: Great B-Sides

Sweet Stella Baby by Spirit: Great B-Sides

Emerging in the late 1960s from Los Angeles, Spirit were an odd band even by the standards of an era … Continue Reading Sweet Stella Baby by Spirit: Great B-Sides

See What A Fool I’ve Been by Queen: Great B-Sides

Many significant UK rock acts from the 1960s and early 1970s were deeply rooted in the blues. Led Zeppelin, The … Continue Reading See What A Fool I’ve Been by Queen: Great B-Sides

Total Eclipse by Iron Maiden: Great B-Sides

Iron Maiden’s third album, The Number of the Beast, was made under time pressure. The group had five weeks to … Continue Reading Total Eclipse by Iron Maiden: Great B-Sides

You’ve Got The Power by Van Morrison: Great B-Sides

Van Morrison is a prolific recording artist, releasing more than 40 studio albums during his solo career, as well as … Continue Reading You’ve Got The Power by Van Morrison: Great B-Sides

The Plague by Scott Walker: Great B-Sides

Scott Walker is one long-time favourite artist who I’ve barely mentioned on this site. Born Noel Scott Engel, in Ohio, … Continue Reading The Plague by Scott Walker: Great B-Sides

Omnibus by The Move: Great B-Sides

There was a lot of great pop music in the 1960s, and Birmingham psychedelic rock band The Move are overlooked … Continue Reading Omnibus by The Move: Great B-Sides

Don’t Break This Rhythm by Peter Gabriel: Great B-Sides

Sometimes a record is so jammed with great songs that something worthy has to be shipped out to a b-side. … Continue Reading Don’t Break This Rhythm by Peter Gabriel: Great B-Sides

Das Schützenfest by Faith No More: Great B-Sides

Faith No More have covered a lot of ground over their career – in particular, 1995’s King for a Day… … Continue Reading Das Schützenfest by Faith No More: Great B-Sides

Ten Guitars by Engelbert Humperdinck: Great B-Sides

Arnold Dorsey struggled to break into the music industry until he was advised to adopt a more interesting stage name. … Continue Reading Ten Guitars by Engelbert Humperdinck: Great B-Sides

What’ll I Do by Bill Withers: Great B-Sides

Universally beloved soul singer Bill Withers passed away this week. He came from the small coal mining town of Slab … Continue Reading What’ll I Do by Bill Withers: Great B-Sides

…Baby One More Time by Fountains of Wayne: Great (Almost) B-Sides

Power pop band Fountains of Wayne was formed by Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood – they took their name from … Continue Reading …Baby One More Time by Fountains of Wayne: Great (Almost) B-Sides

La Bamba by Ritchie Valens: Great B-Sides

‘La Bamba’ is a traditional Mexican folk song, from the state of Veracruz. Ritchie Valens, a 17 year old rising … Continue Reading La Bamba by Ritchie Valens: Great B-Sides

Carry Me Home by AC/DC: Great B-Sides

It’s a long way to the top (if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll), and Australian hard rock band AC/DC spent … Continue Reading Carry Me Home by AC/DC: Great B-Sides