Bad choices for lead-off singles

Agree. I thought it was beyond bizarre at the time (I was 14 or 15) but I love that song now.

 

Have any bands released ballads as their first single? That always struck me as weird as it's hard to get a feel for a band just from their ballad (which is deliberately supposed to be different from the more upbeat songs).

 

Might be a bad choice, but it's one of my favorite party tracks.

 

Didn’t know he made any good singles during the Geffen years.

 

'Get Your Boots On'

 

Good choice.
I love the song but it's not single material almost at all, let alone lead off and especially after being gone at the time for 4 years. I remember dinging the song and video personally even before the Hysteria album was released but knowing it wasn't a good choice.

 

After Animal the title track was released, at least in the states then Sugar.

 

Mama Weer All Crazee Now,
Quiet Riot from Condition Critical.
It was like here we are again kickin off an album with a Slade cover.
Believe me people knew because Mtv made it known as did the rock magazines

 

Agreed. I’m a Tame Impala fan but didn’t like “Elephant” a bit, but agree those other two songs are much better. It seems that a lot of times an artist will release an early single from an upcoming album and it’s almost a throwaway track or isn’t a good representation of the better stuff waiting on the full album.

 

Squeeze Box was single material though and it got a lot of radio play.

 

“It’s OK” was my favorite song off that album, which I bought when it was released in ‘76. Those wonderful airy Beach Boys harmonies were still in fine form on that song.

 

“You May Be Right” - Billy Joel - Glass Houses

Sounded very under-produced and/or written and recorded in an hour.

 

Oh dear that song was awful. Exhibit A:

 

If that's the UK Top Of The Pops performance one reviewer memorably commented thusly that at it's conclusion; "The Silence Was Deafening!"

 

To be honest, I actually like that cover more than Cum on feel the Noize. Both are fun covers, but Mama sounds more like they're having fun, as opposed to Noize, which was forced on them. However, Sign of the Times should have been the lead off single off that album though.

 

Hendrix's Axis only had 1 single ( USA and France only), and it was Up From the Skies, the 2nd of the 2 introductory, throwaway style tracks at the start.

 

MJ's "I just can't stop loving you". What the hell was that?

 

I like their version of Mama a lot too. Better band than their reputation would suggest, at least in my opinion.

 

He just wanted to lay next to you for a while...

EG.

 

"Camellia" sounded like a hit to me then and still does (for the time).
"Back Together Again" was the third single. The first single was "Do What You Want, Be What You Are", which I don't think was the best choice for a single.
I think with "How Does It Feel To Be Back" they were going for the Tom Petty audience and rock radio acceptance. I remember reading a comment from manager Tommy Mattola at the time that "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" was his insurance policy at radio.
I remember reading in 1981 that "Head Above Water" was going to be the new single from their upcoming album Head Above Water. Glad they came up with some new material...I can't see "Head Above Water" being the smash that "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go For That" were.

 

Pearl Jam - Nothing As It Seems from Binaural

 

Issued in Spain & Australia too IIRC?

 

Good video, though.

 

Also, picking "In Neon" (which flopped) as the third single from Breaking Hearts instead of "Passengers," which went Top 10 in the UK.

 

I don't think it got much airplay in the UK relative to the other songs you mention. Everyone I knew thought it was corny. Still do. The other tracks are pure gold.