What's the greatest single of all time?

[MrBrau1]

and by single, I mean a song without a propper album home.

A "one off", or a compilation sucker.

I'll say "Honkey Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones. From their 1968 "Best Of" album, "Through The Past, Darkly."

Or maybe it's "20th Century Boy" by T.Rex?

Or "Window In The Skies" by U2?

Or "From The Bench At Belvidere" by The Boo Radleys?

Or maybe one of the dozen or so Beatle singles that had no propper album to call home?

This was an art in the 50's/60's, not so much today. Yet there are aces out there.

Post'em.

 

[I'm Ready]

at this very second, it's Videotape by radiohead

since that will almost certainly be on the new album I'll go with "The Promise" by Bruce Springsteen

 

[LMP]

Hey Jude
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields Forever
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Paperback Writer
She Loves You

all by The Beatles.

 

[MrBrau1]

at this very second, it's Videotape by radiohead

since that will almost certainly be on the new album I'll go with "The Promise" by Bruce Springsteen

Whoa, they're released "Videotape" as a single?

I need to hear this.

Please email: brau1@yahoo.com

thanks

 

[I'm Ready]

Whoa, they're released "Videotape" as a single?

I need to hear this.

Please email: brau1@yahoo.com

thanks

sorry I misunderstood a bit, I interpreted you as saying a Single would just qualify as any song not released on an album yet

 

[MrBrau1]

Hey Jude
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields Forever
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Paperback Writer
She Loves You

all by The Beatles.

Yeah, The Beatles were masters at "The Single." "Past Masters #2 is pretty much all singles.

 

[MrBrau1]

I'll also include:

"Brand New Start" by Paul Weller.

 

[Screwtape2]

Twilight Alehouse by Genesis (f***ing brilliant)

 

[gherman]

Hey Jude
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields Forever
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Paperback Writer
She Loves You

all by The Beatles.

Day Tripper

 

[adrball]

"Vienna" Ultravox

 

[MrBrau1]

"Vienna" Ultravox

That's from the album of the same name.

It doesn't count.

 

[intedomine]

Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung

or

Gold - Spandau Ballet

or

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

 

[namkcuR]

Since when do Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane not have a proper album home? Magical Mystery Tour? EP-shmeepee, it's still a home for the song outstide the single itself and it's not a compilation and it's included in the Beatles boxset as an album.

 

[adrball]

Damn...only read the thread title.

This is tough. U2 excepted I can't think of anything. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" was a great single (No.1 in UK) in 2000 but then got put on a subsequent album.

I'm out.

 

[MrPryck2U]

That's not fair! A single should be allowed to have a "proper" home on an album.

 

[namkcuR]

What about a single that came from a soundtrack but was never on an album - do they count?

 

[jimmmm]

One - U2
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
London Calling - The Clash
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
Pretty Pink Rose - Belew-Bowie

I would've included,
Heroes - Bowie
The Rising - Springsteen, but you're not allowing album title tracks are you?

 

[namkcuR]

One - U2
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths
Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush
Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols
London Calling - The Clash
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
Pretty Pink Rose - Belew-Bowie

I would've included,
Heroes - Bowie
The Rising - Springsteen, but you're not allowing album title tracks are you?

He's not allowing ANY album tracks.

 

[jimmmm]

Ah shit, could've sworn The Rising had been released as a single in the UK.

 

[1stepcloser]

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - The Smiths

 

[AtomicBono]

Tulips or Two More Years from Bloc Party... okay maybe not best EVER, but for recent times at least...

Window in the Skies was good too

Hey Jude probably tops the list. anything by the beatles is

what about motown? I don't know enough to know how many motown songs were one-off singles, but there are loads of good motown songs

I would say Stephanie Says by the Velvet Underground but I don't know if that was ever released as a single. But it wasn't originally released on any of their albums and it's possibly their best song!

 

[Popmartijn]

The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Radio, Radio
Underworld - Born Slippy (Nuxx)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze (and The Wind Cries Mary is wonderful too)
R.E.M. - The Great Beyond
U2 - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations


Will think of some more examples.

 

[corianderstem]

R.E.M. - The Great Beyond
U2 - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
[/B]

Three very excellent choices.

 

[Salome]

Good Vibrations demolishes any other single by a landslide

though The Ronettes had some spectacular singles

 

[U2Man]

Good Vibrations demolishes any other single by a landslide

though The Ronettes had some spectacular singles

good vibrations was on an album.

anyway, penny lane kicks its behind.

 

[corianderstem]

I thought Good Vibrations was set to be on Smile, which wasn't ever officially released until 2 years ago.

Was it on Pet Sounds?

 

[U2Man]

smiley smile was the title.

 

[corianderstem]

Ah. Oh well.

 

[U2Man]

smiley smile was released september 18th, 1967.

 

[U2Man]

anyway, penny lane kicks its behind.

and this is actually the only correct answer to brau's question.

penny lane is the greatest single of all time.