Albums where One Side is Classic, But the Other Side Isn't

Steve Earle-- Copperhead Road. The first side is prime outlaw rock-country, the second a more sentimental ballad thing that just wasn't what he did best.

 

Side 1 of the LP Duck Stab/Buster & Glen is a classic. Side 2 feels like an unnecessary afterthought. That’s probably because it was - Duck Stab having already been incarnated as an E.P previously .

It’s by The Residents.

 

Temptations - I Wish it Would Rain. A killer side 1 drives off a cliff when flipped over.

 

What comes to mind for me is Blue Oyster Cult's second album Tyranny and Mutation. Side 1 is full of classic tunes and side 2 is...well...not so much.

Side 1:
The Red & the Black
OD'd on Life Itself
Hot Rails to Hell
7 Screaming Diz-Busters

Side 2:
Baby Ice Dog
Wings Wetted Down
Teen Archer
Mistress of the Salmon Salt (Quicklime Girl)

 

Tales of Mystery and Imagination falls into that territory for me as well.

 

What is a "side" ?



Tim

 

I always preferred side 2 !!

 

and admittedly, i did not

i have never understood the admiration the 'moondance' gets. half a great album, half mundane ramblings. i do believe that the people who love it never turned the record over when they young. and when they bought the CD they went "what is this crap"?

 

Come Running was a Top 10 hit, otherwise you are right.

 

"Half mundane ramblings?" Say what?

I agree that side two is not as transcendent as side one, but the second side of Moondance has some of the poppiest, most upbeat, and most succinct tracks of Van's career: "Come Running," "Glad Tidings," "These Dreams of You," "Brand New Day," "Everyone."

 

i understand, one man's gold......as they say.

 

but doesn't side 2 give me Clapton's artistic addition of walking off the stage with his guitar still plugged in for the fine feedback effect, as well as the bass player?

 

Aztec Camera -- High Land, Hard Rain

Side One is one of the greatest of the era. Side Two, meh.

 

i get it.

and i'm sure there are other albums we would not agree on too.

 

I will say this, which is probably also an unpopular Van opinion: I like St. Domenic's Preview a lot more than Moondance.

 

First thing I thought of as well.

 

lots of artists that have been around for years and years have a very loyal and unwavering following, not just here, but everywhere.....including myself.

hearing criticism of those artists is very difficult for them (or me) them to understand, and i get that 100%.

more than a few times i have been maligned for my opinions about different artists not just here, but other places too.

i understand this, and always try to say that my opinion is just that 'my' opinion, it is not right, nor is it wrong. if you disagree with it i have no problem, but if you debase me or abuse me for it, i will probably get upset.

van morrison is one of those artists.

 

I couldn't get past the first song on that one

 

Love - De Capo

 

Van Morrison, "His Band and Street Choir",
Side 1 hums along at a nice pace, while side 2 seems to be a lot of draggy slow moving dirges.

 

“Mirror Moves” by Psychedelic Furs.

Side one is my favorite by the band, and it’s great enough to lift the entire album, but side 2 is forgettable.

 

Definitely agree about Help.

 

Best example to me is Elton's "Madman Across the Water", side 1 is mesmerizing and atmospheric, while I don't think there's a single good song on side 2. Feels like a real letdown halfway through.