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.
The Kinks formed in Muswell Hill, London, in 1964. They launched their career with hard-driving rock and roll like ‘You … Continue Reading I’m Not Like Everybody Else by The Kinks: Great B-Sides
In The Beatles, George Harrison often suffered the indignity of being limited to two songs per LP. It worked fine … Continue Reading Genetic by Sonic Youth: Great B-Sides
Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over The Sea is one of the great cult records. Issued in 1998, it’s … Continue Reading Engine by Neutral Milk Hotel: Great B-sides
Cat Stevens‘ work has endured because his low-key songs are relateable and accessible. Stevens has explored different styles over the … Continue Reading I Want to Live in a Wigwam by Cat Stevens: Great B-sides
The Police were arguably the greatest singles band of their era. In the late 1970s and early 1980s they released … Continue Reading Murder By Numbers by The Police: Great B-Sides
American rock icon Bruce Springsteen celebrated his 70th birthday this week. This means it’s half a lifetime since he released … Continue Reading Shut Out The Light – Bruce Springsteen: Great B-Sides
It’s the year of Our Lord 2019, and we’re rapidly approaching peak-rock-star-death era. The Cars’ mastermind Ric Ocasek passed away … Continue Reading Great B-Sides: Breakaway by The Cars
Aside from their debut, each of The Go-Betweens’ studio albums follows a set formula – exactly ten songs with five … Continue Reading Great B-Sides: That Girl, Black Girl and Rock ‘n’ Roll Friend by The Go-Betweens
In 1978 New Zealand art-rockers Split Enz were in crisis. The group had lost key original members like Phil Judd … Continue Reading Semi Detached by Split Enz: Great B-Sides
Neil Young first rose to prominence in 1960s folk-rock group Buffalo Springfield, playing lead guitar on their breakthrough hit ‘For … Continue Reading Sugar Mountain by Neil Young: Great B-Sides
John Flansburgh and John Linnell have been making nerdy pop music as They Might Be Giants since 1982. The Massachusetts … Continue Reading James K. Polk by They Might Be Giants: Great B-Sides
Little Richard emerged in the first wave of rock and roll in the 1950s, with hits like ‘Tutti Frutti’ and … Continue Reading Great B-Sides: I Don’t Know What You’ve Got But It’s Got Me (Part 2) by Little Richard
James Murphy always intended to be a drummer or a sound technician, but ended up fronting a dance-rock band New … Continue Reading Yr City’s A Sucker by LCD Soundsystem – Great B-sides
In 1967, The Rolling Stones followed The Beatles into baroque psychedelia. While the resulting album, Their Satanic Majesties Request, has … Continue Reading Child of the Moon by The Rolling Stones: Great B-Sides
There are b-sides that are of high quality, that should never have been left off their parent albums. And then … Continue Reading The End of the Affair by Prefab Sprout – Great B-sides
Rock chameleon David Bowie experienced two separate career peaks. Most artists improve with experience then run out of ideas, but … Continue Reading Velvet Goldmine by David Bowie: Great B-sides
