One Track Saves The Album?

Of course it does! The locked groove makes all the difference. It's like the minor chord in Sweet Jane.

 

OMD, Crush: The Native Daughters of the Golden West

 

'Moondance' (the song) definitely saves Moondance (the album).

Also, regarding Black & Blue - 'Memory Motel' is okay, but the real save goes to 'Hand Of Fate', at least for me.

 

“Shooting Shark” on Revolution By Night.

 

The question of U on Prince - Graffiti Bridge

 

Sixes & Sevens in my mind saves the Shaken 'N' Stirred album by Robert Plant.

 

"And It Stoned Me" and "Into The Mystic" and "Caravan" and "Crazy Love" say hi.

 

Along with their reinvention of Nobody's Fault But Mine

 

So...generally pleasant tunes but nothing special from my perspective. 'Moondance' alone is superb and essentially unforgettable. There was another thread here which asked about buying an album based on one song and, after playing the entire disc, deciding that was the only song you really liked - instantly brought Moondance (the album) to mind. However, I should concede that, for the most part, I don't care for Morrison's singing voice.

 

The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. Totally saves A Passion Play in my book, if you're going to do a dumb concept album, gotta have some whimsy.

 

Sure. It's like saying "Bargain" saves Who's Next and then following up by saying "Baba O'Reilly" and "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" are pleasant, but not special.

But I mean, this thread (like everything else on the SHF) is just opinions. That said, not sure I've ever heard anyone claim Moondance is an album with only one good song. The "Side 1 is awesome, Side 2 not so much" argument gets tossed around a lot (for semi-valid reasons), but nearly everyone acknowledges the first side is all killer, no filler. I've met countless folks whose entire Van Morrison knowledge is Side 1 of Moondance and "Brown Eyed Girl."

 

That's a tricky comparison. Who's Next is one of the best rock albums ever. Somebody looking for 'all killer, no filler'? Can't go wrong with that. Moondance, to me, is in a quite different musical space.

As you say, it's all 'just opinions'. I've listened to Moondance several times. I realize for many people, it has some good to very good songs - just doesn't work for me other that the title track.

 

“High Falls” saves Peakin’ at the Beacon by The Allman Brothers Band. Luckily that one track is about 40% of the album time-wise.

 

Is "Crush" that bad? I don't think I have heard it since....ooooh.... 1988? Definitely a step towards mainstream.

 

People Get Ready

This stands head and shoulders above everything else on Jeff Beck's 1985 Flash LP but if it saves it is entirely another question.

 

'Althea' off The Grateful Dead's 'Go To Heaven' album. Excellent Garcia/Hunter song! The rest of the album is pretty poor.

 

Band Of Gypsys certainly wouldn't have its legendary status without that devastating performance of Machine Gun.

 

Disappointing album given what came before, but this song rocks.

 

I never bought the album as I had the 7" of Leaving New York. Great song.

 

I genuinely can't think of one. If I like one track on an album, there's almost always something I like on it, or it grows on me over time.

The title track of Bat Out of Hell gets nearest, but I like some of the rest.

 

For Your Love too. Presence is great.

 

The only one I can think of is "Every Morning" by Sugar Ray, off the otherwise execrable 14:59.

Whether it "saves" the album is arguable.

 

I like the whole Brian Wilson album, but can you imagine a whole album of about 6 epics like "Rio Grande?" It could have been a monumental album on the level of SMiLE. (IMO, he ultimately achieved that goal with That Lucky Old Sun). Not sure if he still has another Pet Sounds or SMiLE in him, but stranger things have happened.

 

She Said She Said

 

On the Turning Away
and
High Hopes on the first two Pink Fraud albums.