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.

Engine by Neutral Milk Hotel: 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

I Want to Live in a Wigwam by Cat Stevens: 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

Murder By Numbers by The Police: 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

Shut Out The Light – Bruce Springsteen: 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

Great B-Sides: Breakaway by The Cars

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

Great B-Sides: That Girl, Black Girl and Rock ‘n’ Roll Friend by The Go-Betweens

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

Semi Detached by Split Enz: Great B-Sides

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

Sugar Mountain by Neil Young: 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

James K. Polk by They Might Be Giants: 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

Great B-Sides: I Don’t Know What You’ve Got But It’s Got Me (Part 2) by Little Richard

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

Yr City’s A Sucker by LCD Soundsystem – Great B-sides

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

Child of the Moon by The Rolling Stones: 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

The End of the Affair by Prefab Sprout – 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

Velvet Goldmine by David Bowie: 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

Needle Hits E by Sugar: Great B-Sides

I spent many happy hours in my late teens and twenties trawling used bins for CD bargains. I gained a … Continue Reading Needle Hits E by Sugar: Great B-Sides

Fever by Carly Rae Jepsen: Great B-Sides

The b-side is largely a 20th century commodity – from around 2005, singles charts began to count digital downloads, and … Continue Reading Fever by Carly Rae Jepsen: Great B-Sides