Hit singles that sound like they're album/filler tracks

I remember the first time I heard Friends Of Mine, the B-side of Time Of The Season by The Zombies...I didn't think much of it. Much later on, I discovered that it was on the Oracle and Odyssey album and I actually thought, "they're using this song to fill out the album". When I re-heard the song decades later (once I finally got around to getting this highly overlooked album) I fell in love with it instantly and heard it as anything BUT filler (although to many people who are familiar with the album, it's the weakest song on there).

 

Despite its popularity

Benny and the jets - ej

Harmony was a much stronger song

 

For What It's Worth (booooo-ring)

Horse With No Name (ditto, pretty much)

 

Misunderstanding from the Duke album. Just doesn't fit with the flow of the remainder of the album.

 

Not Human Nature, Baby Be Mine and PYT. The Paulie song IS the worst.

 

The Tide Is High - Blondie

 

Lyin Eyes - the Eagles.

 

This is old ground for us!

BTW, is your latest avatar Madonna from the Confessions On A Dancefloor sessions? I know it's an animation, but Madonna's pictures are all so Photoshopped these days, your avatar is about as realistic as them!

 

No. It's one of the best songs on Autoamerican.

 

Don't be insane. It's an amazing song!

 

I disagree.

 

Although, a lot of people do like it and it was played adinfinitum on the radio back then. I give it that.
I've just never liked it.
I don't think it was one of the best songs on Autoamerican.

 

After a few hearings, Shake It Off does get on one's tits massively, but I wouldn't say it's a filler song...

 

Autoamerican isn't exactly packed with ace songs. I'm assuming that's why they went with the Tide cover as lead single. I found Rapture far more irritating, TBH.

 

I loved 'Never' but I agree, to me both it and 'Nothin' At All' sounded like album tracks and not obvious singles.

 

You're correct. The album came out in summer of '88 and the label pressed up promotional key chains in the shape of a boxing glove advertising the "Knocked Out" single. "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" came second; both were top 10 hits on the R&B charts (the former hit #8 at the latter rose to #10) but failed at pop radio. However, after all of the subsequent hit singles, "The Way That You Love" me was re-released and hit #3 in 1989 (the original release from '88 only reached...#88!)

 

Angels On The Balcony would've been a much better choice for a single, in my opinion of course.

Rapture was ok.

 

Squeeze Box, the Who

 

Nobody's Diary: Yazoo/ Yaz
Ooh Ooh Song: Pat Benatar
Heart: Pet Shop Boys

It's not that I don't dislike these tracks but they always sounded like filler to me.

 

No it ain't, it's boring as hell.

 

Ooh Ooh Song was about the worst track on the album. There were plenty of better singles choices on Tropico than that.

 

Don't be fooled by the album sequence, sometimes we're so much used to "first track A-side = big hit single" that we don't get the real values of the songs. That's clear with Mr. Mister, the two singles (first "Broken wings", second "Kyrie") were track 8 and 7 and both charted well.

 

Absolutely! It sounds like a B-side or an outtake. I cannot believe they followed up We Belong with it. As you say, so many other great tracks to choose from...what genius at Chrysalis decided on that piece of crap?

 

I always think of Benny as a great B side to Candle In The Wind, which is what it was.