Favorite b-sides and rarities AKA zomg Mercy

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LemonMelon

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I figure that, since we all harp on about the same artists and albums quite a bit here, a thread about the more unknown tracks by these and more obscure artists (placing those tracks into a category beyond even If You Shout's expertise) would perhaps shed some light on them, and help us revisit them.

To start things off, here's a track that would have improved Beck's Mutations significantly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjbRzcEmjjg
 
Believe it or not, one of my favorite Black Rebel Motorcycle Club songs is a b-side called......Mercy. It's a strummy little number, and the lyrics really connected with me when it was first released. While I like both, I find it far more appealing than the U2 song of the same name for my personal tastes. Unlike U2, BRMC realized this song was fantastic right off the bat, and have played it live quite a bit, despite it not being on an actual album. I was thrilled when they played it here a few years back, probably the highlight of the night for me.

The only studio version I can find on Youtube seems to be someone's school project they meshed with footage of Almost Famous, so I'm sharing a solo live version instead (the closing min or so is impromptu, and not part of the song):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me9MXStjNSE



PS - If someone doesn't mention Cuttouth soon, I will throw a rock at each of your mothers.
 
Here's what came off the top of my head (sorry for the many Youtube links). It is a crime that a few of these never made it onto an album.

Santa Monica by Peter Gabriel
-Demo from the So sessions if I remember correctly. There is a five minute version that I prefer but I only found the shorter version on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCWpwHvGFjg

I Ran Away by Coldplay
-B-side from A Rush of Blood To The Head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSZEA1TVnL8

Twilight Alehouse by Genesis
-Peter Gabriel-era B-side
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NetKCTVFEA

Under The Ivy by Kate Bush
-B-side from Hounds of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLaUgi1AzC0

Siren by Tori Amos
-Great Expectations soundtrack (rare in the sense that movie and soundtrack were forgettable). Ironically, the Youtube video features footage from a completely different film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc1HyIXdWXc

Sleepwalking (On The High Wire) by Siouxsie & The Banshees
-B-side
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qhbz6WCGJM

Jack The Ripper by Morrissey
-B-side.
YouTube - Jack The Ripper - (original version) - Morrissey

Esten by The Cure
-Unreleased Track
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxVcl6cvvIA&feature=related
 
Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs

Yes. Even with how good Rumours is anyway, this song is better than almost every song on there.



Cut from the White Album for reasons unknown, this was later re-recorded in a much lamer version for Harrison's solo album. This is easily more deserving of inclusion than Piggies and Savoy Truffle, not to mention a handful of Paul & John's songs. The electric guitar work is as good as what Clapton does on While My Guitar Gently Weeps, just a ferocious outro that anticipates the maelstrom later found on I Want You (She's So Heavy).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM72ozezNsg


This probably fits better on Automatic for the People, but I believe it was recorded during the Out of Time sessions. Again, better than most of the actual album. Released on the Until the End of the World soundtrack (one of the best of the 90's, incidentally).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR0YhQqtVwY


I'm a big fan of Stephen Malkmus' second solo album Pig Lib, but this song should have made the cut. I guess since there was already an 11-minute jammy song on the album (1% of One) he didn't want another on there. But this is a great track. It was included as a bonus disc EP that came with the regular album, but still:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcGrLQsJkbo
 
I could bury this thread in YouTube links of great Pearl Jam b-sides and rarities. But, a good start would be just picking up this album:

B0000DYJM6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


But that is just scratching the surface, really.
 
One of the poppiest and most accessible My Bloody Valentine songs was released only on the Tremolo EP. It actually has it's own video, so I suppose it's not ultra "rare", but most new fans seem to be unaware of it. It's a great song, one of my favorite MBV tracks.

YouTube - Swallow
 
I could bury this thread in YouTube links of great Pearl Jam b-sides and rarities. But, a good start would be just picking up this album:

B0000DYJM6.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg


But that is just scratching the surface, really.


OMG YELLOW LEDBETTER RULEZ!!!1!!!1!!


Ok it's a good song, but there are better on the collection you mentioned.
 
Are we using a narrow definition of b-side AKA "any track on a single that wasn't the a-side" or a broad definition AKA "any track that was recorded in the studio and that didn't appear on an album"? I ask because it seems like we're using the latter; that Tori Amos song from the Great Expectations soundtrack was mentioned, as was Gagging Order, which if I'm not mistaken was initially released on the Com Lag EP. I assume we're allowing that, then? Also, if songs from soundtracks are allowed, should we keep to those that weren't released as singles? It's just I don't know about calling HMTMKMKM a b-side. ANYWAY...I'll proceed using the broad definition for now...

P.S. Does the second disk of In Rainbows count?

Radiohead:

India Rubber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p55Rxb_rERc

How Can You Be Sure?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ye19YN-0tg&feature=related

Red Hot Chili Peppers:

Soul To Squeeze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPAAP2beM_Q

Muse:

Con-Science

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKxIjKDXRX0&p=2B4BABBD81FCDF6D&playnext=1&index=46144

And a bunch of obvious U2 ones(LWTSH Extended Dance Mix, Love Comes Tumbling, a bunch from JT, North And South Of The River, Summer Rain, etc)
 
In my opinion, no band has a stronger collection of non-album tracks than Oasis. There are really too many fantastic b-sides from that band to enumerate.

Some other excellent b-sides and rarities:

Pink Floyd: Julia Dream
Morrissey: I Know Very Well How I Got My Name
The Smiths: Unlovable
Radiohead: Talk Show Host
The National: About Today
Depeche Mode: Ghost
The White Stripes: Jolene

I'm sure that there are many more eluding me at present.
 
Rick Wright was the goddam man, ur rite.

i don't know many b-sides, but i figure this would be a good thread to ask - Nick Drake has a posthumous compilation album featuring demos and other songs like Black Eyed Dog etc. does anyone have it? is it worth picking up?
 
yeah, can't think of anyone else to the degree of pearl jam and springsteen. however, i also can't think of anyone else who 1) has excellent b-sides and 2) has nearly as many so readily available and oft-played live.
 
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