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Rolling Stone’s 25 Greatest Songs Off Bad Albums

5/29/07, 6:46 pm EST

QueenOver the weekend you guys submitted suggestions for our list of the greatest songs ever hidden away on bad albums. We pooled your nominations with ours, narrowed the whole list down and behold the results: our official list of the twenty-five greatest songs on bad albums.

1. “Under Pressure” off Queen’s Hot Space
2. “This Is England” off the Clash’s Cut The Crap
3. “Eminence Front” off The Who’s It’s Hard
4. “Brownsville Girl” off Bob Dylan’s Knocked Out Loaded
5. “Hallo Spaceboy” off David Bowie’s Outside
6. “Kill Your Sons” off Lou Reed’s Sally Can’t Dance
7. “2000 Light Years from Home” off the Rolling StonesTheir Satanic Majesties Request
8. “Goin’ Home” off Neil Young’s Are You Passionate
9. “Song For Guy” off Elton John’s A Single Man
10. “Don’t Look Back” off Boston’s Don’t Look Back
11. “Jammin’ Me” off Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersLet Me Up I’ve Had Enough
12. “Shipbuilding” off Elvis Costello’s Punch the Clock
13. “Go Let It Out” off Oasis’s Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
14. “Big Love” off Fleetwood Mac’s Tango In the Night
15. “Tonight” off Elton John’s Blue Moves
16. “Celluloid Heroes” off the KinksEverybody’s in Show-Biz
17. “Country Death Song” off the Violent FemmesHallowed Ground
18. “Busy Doin’ Nothin’” off the Beach BoysFriends
19. “Supernova” off Liz Phair’s Whip-Smart
20. “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” off Prince’s The Gold Experience
21. “Human Touch” off Bruce Springsteen’s Human Touch
22. “Learning To Fly” off Pink Floyd’s Momentary Lapse of Reason
23. “I Don’t Want Your Love” off Duran Duran’s Big Thing
24. “Wild Wild Life” off The Talking HeadsTrue Stories
25. “My Love” off WingsRed Rose Speedway


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Comments

Maddox | 2/13/2009, 7:10 pm EST

Hi. Doubt ’til thou canst doubt no more…doubt is thought and thought is life. Systems which end doubt are devices for drugging thought.
I am from Sierra and also now’m speaking English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: “My yrs old son had the chicken pox, went into the hospital in april at lb and came out at lb.”

THX ;-) , Maddox.

Jeb | 12/13/2008, 5:15 pm EST

The Tango in the Night pick is weak. Though Big Love is the most stellar track on the album, it’s still got some great ones like Little Lies, the title track, Everywhere. Plus the Stone gave it a pretty positive review back in ‘87 when it came out! These swine are losing it.

ojhvbd rhyepkcv | 8/23/2007, 3:52 pm EST

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myspace | 7/23/2007, 4:56 am EST

Superb page! I really like it! I’m looking forward to the next update. 289323497

Mel | 7/16/2007, 2:21 pm EST

It’s Hard has a 5 star review and is on this list. Maybe a re-rating is necessary.

Anonymous | 6/12/2007, 3:05 pm EST

c’mon - Cage The Songbird off Elton’s Blue Moves, NOT tonight

Bill | 6/10/2007, 8:54 pm EST

give it up guys and girls
most albums (cd’s) have their merit, and over time one comes to like them and with cd’s one can edit the “not so good”
it is usualy the so called bad songs that really rock live

sylbow | 6/10/2007, 12:34 pm EST

It is big, big joke..? Outside is bad album? It is absurdity! I’d like to know which album is the best to someone who give this proposal…

Gator | 6/5/2007, 3:03 pm EST

I agree with Eminence Front, bad album - awesome song I saw live at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on a farewell tour in the eighties. For Pink Floyd, I’d also go with Comfortably Numb, awesome song, but the rest of The Wall very disappointing drivel. This is when Roger Waters influence ruined the band. Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and Animals are all excellent. I saw them perform these on the Animals tour at the Big “O” in Montreal in 1977. Cheers!

Mark | 6/5/2007, 2:35 pm EST

Best albums of all time: Lou Reed Rock and Roll Animal, Deep Purple Come Taste The Band, Little Feat, Time Loves a Hero, Joe Farrell Canned Funk, Journey, Journey (very 1st album), Visions of the Emerald Beyond Mahavishnu Orchestra, Wired Jeff Beck, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars David Bowie. Bridge of Sighs Robin Trower, Road Work Edgar Winter, Live And Johnny Winter, Rocket Fuel Alvin Lee + assortment of 10yrsafter. Floyd pretty much everything.

Toaster | 6/4/2007, 1:59 pm EST

I can see why this list would generate a lot of comments. There are many missed songs and some that don’t deserve to be there because they were also not great songs or the album wasn’t that bad. Are there any that can’t be disputed? Can anyone be honest about an Artist they love? To me Paul McCartney is the best singer/composer of all time but his first two solo albums were not his best and yet I wouldn’t call McCartney or Red Rose Speedway bad albums. Having said that I’ll give them My Love from Red Rose Speedway. Songs #3 to #9 aren’t even great songs. I think this list was too hard for them to put together. I wonder about the criteria. That is all.

glennp | 6/4/2007, 12:05 pm EST

Liz Phair’s “Whip-Smart” a bad album? Really? I mean your own review states “as Whip-Smart uncoils, every cut gives pleasure.” and “…the stranger (”May Queen”) and more somber (”Shane,” with “You gotta have fear in your heart” its chilling refrain) work is Phair’s real victory.”

Hardly something writes about a bad album.

Andrew | 6/4/2007, 11:58 am EST

I couldn’t agree more about Emminence Front. Incredible song, but lame record. They played that song back in September when they came to Ottawa, it’s brilliant.

No way | 6/3/2007, 10:38 pm EST

“Celluloid Heroes” is a good song? It’s the worst song the Kinks *ever* recorded!

Otherwise a good list.

seyff | 6/3/2007, 1:21 pm EST

with every wish, is way better than human touch…

Markus | 6/3/2007, 11:28 am EST

Pink Floyd’s last two albums were pretty lackluster overall, but if you take four songs off of each one (”Learning to Fly,” “The Dogs of War,” “One Slip,” and “On the Turning Away” from AMLOR and “What Do You Want From Me,” “Take It Back,” “Keep Talking,” and “High Hopes” from Division Bell), you’ve got a pretty solid latter-day Floyd album.

reya | 6/3/2007, 11:00 am EST

“since i don’t have you” off Guns and Roses Spaghetti Incident

Michael | 6/3/2007, 4:58 am EST

“Spit On A Stranger” by Pavement, off Terror Twilight. It’s not a bad album but its mediocre by comparison with their previous three.

Panadine | 6/3/2007, 4:55 am EST

ON the topic of Pink Floyd’s ‘Momentary Lapse Of Reason’ …. there has been no greater album. There is not one song on this record that is under-par. Long live Floyd

Michael | 6/3/2007, 4:54 am EST

“Further On Up The Road” performed by Eric Clapton and the Band on Disc 2 of “The Last Waltz”. Because everything else on that disc is, with the exception of Muddy’s, The Band’s own, and Van Morrison’s cuts, slow and logy and utterly misplaced. Even Clapton’s own other contribution, “All Our Pasttimes” is listless dreck.

That long-ass middle section that featured Joni Mitchell and Neil Young and Neil Diamond just completely saps the momentum Clapton and Muddy Waters’s tracks practically handed them. CDs 1 and 3 are sterling from start to finish tho.

Gaz | 6/3/2007, 3:20 am EST

I admit I scratched my head about the Femmes “Hallowed Ground”. When I bought this in ‘84 I thought it was amazing & when I eventually got the debut I liked it but Hallowed Ground was defintely the masterpiece for me.

Peace in our Time from Costello’s “Goodbye Cruel World” is the one track which will always come to mind. Wonderful Track. Bland Album.

D | 6/2/2007, 3:22 pm EST

For any Pink Floyd fan, I believe that most would agree that Roger Waters “Amused to Death” is an amazing album that fits in with Pink Floyd’s best. I have never known anybody to like only a couple songs from that album. As for “Pro’s and Con’s of Hitchiking, a unique sound all together filled in with elegant guitar bits from Eric Clapton, I find that is an album you either like everything or nothing at all. But, that’s only my opinion for what it’s worth.

Tuohy | 6/2/2007, 2:53 pm EST

I would not say Standing on the shoulder of giants is a bad album. I love every song except “Little James” which could be the worst song ever. “Go Let it out” is awesome. So are the other tracks.

Oasis was the best in the 90’s and they have continued to be the best throughout the 2000’s.

Jordan | 6/2/2007, 2:44 am EST

Has anyone mentioned “Let it be” from the album itself by the beatles, great song but the album is not up to par.

Jordan | 6/2/2007, 2:41 am EST

Paul are you seriously suggesting that Led Zeppelin III is a bad album?

anonymous | 6/1/2007, 7:46 pm EST

this will likely make people mad, but i stand behind it.
losing my religion is a very beautiful song from a really boring album. (OUT of Time, or whatever the name of it was) i put it on about two years ago for the first time in ages, thinking that maybe i’d missed something the first time around. verdict: boring boring boring. i may be misguided for feeling this way, but when the following rem album also struck me as boring, i checked out, haven’t heard any since the one after out of time. don’t feel like i’m missing anything that can’t be had on first 5 or 6 rem records. interested to hear what others think

Jason | 6/1/2007, 4:44 pm EST

If we’re going Led Zeppelin and “Coda” I’d go for “Wearin’ and Tearin’”

Jame | 6/1/2007, 9:20 am EST

If any Zeppelin song should be on this list it should be Fool in the Rain on In Through the Out Door. Not their worst album (Coda) but doesn’t have the number of great songs every other album has.

PKH | 5/31/2007, 5:24 pm EST

“Imigrant Song” off from Led Zeppelin 3

Old Fart at Play | 5/31/2007, 5:00 pm EST

“My Woman From Tokyo” off Deep Purple’s stinker “Who Do We Think We Are”…”Lady Double Dealer” off their equally woeful “Stormbringer”

“Time Has Come Today” off the Ramones’ “Subterranean Jungle”

Come to think of it, “Chinese Rock” redeemed their wildly overblown “End of the Century” album…

Hey, Floyd’s Momentary Lapse also had “On The Turning Away” and “One Slip”…not a total loss, that one.

whats the what? | 5/31/2007, 4:07 pm EST

Oh, the Strokes’ “First Impressions of Earth” starts out with the very finest song of their career. The rest is the worst album I’ve ever bought.

Paul | 5/31/2007, 2:34 pm EST

“Trouble Loves Me” from Morrissey’s Maladjusted album from 1997

“Slave to Love” on Bryan Ferry’s Boys and GIrl album from 1985

Paul | 5/31/2007, 2:33 pm EST

“Trouble Loves Me” from Morrissey’s Maladjusted album from 1997

“Slave to Love” on Bryan Ferry’s Boys and GIrl album from 1985

whats the what? | 5/31/2007, 2:27 pm EST

Whip-Smart, Outside and Hallowed Ground are all excellent albums, to wit:

“Whip-Smart”, the song, is incredible. “Go West”? “SuperNova”, etc? Excellent.

the first side of Hallowed Ground is perfect and the title track is haunting, a true masterpiece from that band. Sure, there’s no “Blister in the Sun”…but songs about ‘baiting don’t work so well when yr getting some.

And Outside? ‘The Hearts Filthy Lesson’, the title track, and many more. Few Bowie albums since have matched it in consistency.

There’s a difference between ‘bad’ and ‘challenging’.

gkr | 5/31/2007, 1:03 pm EST

It’s all subjective but the person who suggested ” Nobody’s Fault But Mine ” off of Led Zeppelin’s Presence is insane. Achille’s Last Stand is brilliant along with For Your life and Tea For One. It is a gray, low-key album made when things were not going to well for them- but that is is what makes it great and unique from the other albums.

dcs234 | 5/31/2007, 5:45 am EST

I nominate the following:

To Know Someone Softly Is To Know Someone Deeply from Terence Trent d’Arby’s appalling second album.

Everyday is Like Sunday from Morrissey’s dreadfully dull debut Viva Hate.

Lose My Breath from Destiny Fulfilled.

Tender from Blur’s miserable album 13.

The Boys of Summer from Don Henley’s otherwise utterly unremarkable Building the Perfect Beast.

How’s that for starters?

Handsome Boyyy | 5/31/2007, 4:34 am EST

HOW BOUT, THE MOST UNDERRATED ALBUMS OF ALL TIME? CLASSICS WHO NEVER GET THERE DUE, JUST IN MY CD PLAYER.

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI FI - REM
THE GREATEST - CAT POWER
THE FRAGILE - NINE INCH NAILS
PARADE - PRINCE
SILENT ALARM - BLOC PARTY
WHEN THE PAWN - FIONA APPLE
THE W - WU TANG CLAN
ABATTOIR BLUES/LYRE OF ORPHEUS - NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS

Handsome Boyyy | 5/31/2007, 4:33 am EST

HOW BOUT, THE MOST UNDERRATED ALBUMS OF ALL TIME? CLASSICS WHO NEVER GET THERE DUE, JUST IN MY CD PLAYER.

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI FI - REM
THE GREATEST - CAT POWER
THE FRAGILE - NINE INCH NAILS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY - PRINCE
SILENT ALARM - BLOC PARTY
WHEN THE PAWN - FIONA APPLE
THE W - WU TANG CLAN
ABATTOIR BLUES/LYRE OF ORPHEUS - NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS

Handsome Boyyy | 5/31/2007, 4:33 am EST

HOW BOUT, THE MOST UNDERRATED ALBUMS OF ALL TIME? CLASSICS WHO NEVER GET THERE DUE, JUST IN MY CD PLAYER.

NEW ADVENTURES IN HI FI - REM
THE GREATEST - CAT POWER
THE FRAGILE - NINE INCH NAILS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY - PRINCE
SILENT ALARM - BLOC PARTY
WHEN THE PAWN - FIONA APPLE
THE W - WU TANG CLAN
ABATTOIR BLUES/LYRE OF ORPHEUS - NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS

mystico | 5/31/2007, 3:42 am EST

I think we can all agree that RS is way off far too often on these lists. Come on guys, how about a list of good songs on some one or no star albums? Is it really that difficult? As for my two cents Binaural by Pearl Jam has to be listened to through headphones to really appreciate it!

Rich | 5/31/2007, 2:37 am EST

Never thought there was anything wrong with “Blue Moves.” Still makes it to my turntable on occasion. Also thought “Sorry seems to be the hardest word” was the masterpiece on that one.

whatthejack | 5/31/2007, 1:58 am EST

I hope somebody’s mentioned Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” off “In Through the Outdoor” (bad by zeppelin standards)

jay | 5/31/2007, 12:03 am EST

how about a horrible song from a classic album–”take me with you” from purple rain…arguably prince’s worse song–and that’s saying something!

jay | 5/31/2007, 12:03 am EST

how about a horrible song from a classic album–”take me with you” from purple rain…arguably prince’s worse song–and that’s saying something!

Matthew | 5/30/2007, 11:53 pm EST

A few more:

“Pros & Cons of Hitchhiking” on Roger Waters album of the same name. (”What God Wants” from Amused To Death could also qualify, but that album did have “Watching TV” and the title cut.)

“Iodine” from Leonard Cohen’s Death of a Ladies Man (Could have been a great album except the horrible production of Phil Spector…although he didn’t shoot Leonard, so there’s that to be thankful for…)

“Born In Time” from Dylan’s Under The Red Sky.

“Heavy Fuel” from Dire Strait’s On Any Street.

“The Barry Williams Show” from Peter Gabriel’s Up.

“Side Show Blues” from Todd Snider’s (almost career derailing) Step Right Up.

“The Usual” from John Hiatt’s Warming Up To The Ice Age (although Dylan’s version on the otherwise awful Heart’s Of Fire soundtrack rocks it).

“Force 10″ from Rush’s Hold Your Fire.

“Creep” from Radiohead’s Pablo Honey (granted, a lot of people will disagree, but utterly LOATH Radiohead; Thom Yorke’s voice is aural equivalent to cat urine), so I’d call “Creep” a good song from an otherwise awful band).

“The Wanderer” from U2’s Zooropa. (Personally, I like Pop.)

“Nobody’s Fault But Mine” by Led Zep from Presence.

“Johny Blade” from Black Sabbath’s Never Say Die.

Jordan | 5/30/2007, 10:29 pm EST

Are you saying the White Album is bad JRK?

Graham | 5/30/2007, 9:42 pm EST

Yeah Oasis defenders!
I thought I was the only one left… Heathen Chemistry is a far worse album, however.

jrk | 5/30/2007, 8:57 pm EST

good night “the beatles”

Bexx | 5/30/2007, 7:56 pm EST

Outside by David Bowie? Are you kidding me? That’s far from a bad album! In addition to Hallo Spaceboy, it has Heart’s Filthy Lesson, Strangers When We Meet, I’m Deranged, We Prick You and I Have Not Been to Oxford Town- all great songs!

You could have gone with Tonight (Loving the Alien) and Never Let Me Down (Time Will Crawl)- those would make sense.

bobgeorge | 5/30/2007, 7:13 pm EST

grayson is exactly right regarding “The Most Beautiful Girl…” and Prince’s ‘The Gold Experience’ album; weak song taken from a solid album. Plus, the single of “The Most Beautiful Girl…” isn’t the same mix as the one on the album.

Dude | 5/30/2007, 6:42 pm EST

Roll It Over>Go Let It Out

BrandonG | 5/30/2007, 6:40 pm EST

I said that it’s their worst album because it is, a completely misguided loopy confused mess. And to claim it’s their best proves that you are wrong, or have personal resonance outside of the music that biases your judgement. It broke my heart to listen to it. But then I realized they were just working in Matt and came back with Riot Act which I loved. I’m not now, nor have I ever, smoked crack. I appreciate your opinion.

Ouroboros | 5/30/2007, 5:03 pm EST

Great point Alex, RS gave “It’s Hard” 5 stars!
(RS 379 - PARKE PUTERBAUGH - Posted: Sep 30, 1982)
This is so stupid.

Christov | 5/30/2007, 4:30 pm EST

Honestly “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” is a great album…I mean Fuc*ing in the Bushes is a great I want to beat the sh*t out of someone song. The whole album is pretty good. Go let it out is stand out though.

Christov | 5/30/2007, 4:30 pm EST

Honestly “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants” is a great album…I mean Fuc*ing in the Bushes is a great I want to beat the sh*t out of someone song. The whole album is pretty good. Go let it out is stand out though.

Ouroboros | 5/30/2007, 4:28 pm EST

F*** off anyone who says David Bowie’s “Outside” (YOU RS gave it 3 stars!), Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango in the Night”, Elton John’s “Blue Moves”, Prince’s “The Gold Experience”, or ANYTHING by Pink Floyd are bad albums.

Ozzy Odio | 5/30/2007, 4:09 pm EST

In a gaddada vida from a album by Iron Butterfly, I love this song but I never listen to other songs on the album (they are horrible)

jeanWarhol | 5/30/2007, 3:59 pm EST

How can they say Are you Passionate was a bad album, when they originally gave it 3 1/2 stars?

Willard | 5/30/2007, 3:25 pm EST

Hallowed Ground? Bad album?! What the fuck?! That’s one of the Femmes’ strongest records!

piple | 5/30/2007, 3:18 pm EST

I feel like a large section of these albums aren’t bad at all, just paling in comparison to the artists catalogue.

earthling | 5/30/2007, 2:46 pm EST

Here’s a recent one for you : “Earth Intruders” from Bjork’s god-awful Volta.

I have to agree with all the Bowie fans, what the hell is Outside doing on that list? If you’re gonna pick on Ziggy why not go with Loving the Alien from Tonight? Now, that I would have to agreed with!

Pinkie | 5/30/2007, 2:20 pm EST

What the hell on the deleted comments?
I was saying, Hallowed Ground was a fantastic record that does not belong on your little list.

Gideon | 5/30/2007, 1:58 pm EST

Def. agree with Under Pressure by Queen. Hot Space was just a sad excuse of 80’s commercial Pap. But it did also have Las Palabras de Amor but the rest is so bad that these two songs aren’t enough to save it!!!

kisekileia | 5/30/2007, 1:46 pm EST

“U2 - “Staring at the Sun”, from POP definetley deserves to be on the list.”

No, it doesn’t, because Pop is not a bad album. It doesn’t have as much radio friendly stuff as most U2, but some of the lyrics are amazing.

Jordan Berner | 5/30/2007, 1:44 pm EST

the only complaint i have with this list is the Hello Spaceboy of of Outside from David Bowie. There were several good songs on that album: Hello Spaceboy, Strangers when we meet, the voyeur of utter destruction, the heart’s filthy lesson. To name several.

yes the album was not that great due to the talking bits but the actual songs were fairly strong.

Muzakman | 5/30/2007, 1:41 pm EST

Nice spot Alex on RS giving the Who “It’s Hard” high marks. I believe Kurt Loder was very thumbs up about it.It is actually better than “Face Dances” Glyn Johns returned to produce it, giving the classic Who production. Considering it was the 80’s and new wave was prevelant it mixes in well with the era. “Cry if you Want” kicks a**. “I’ve Known No War” is a fav as well.

Muzakman | 5/30/2007, 1:40 pm EST

Nice spot Alex on RS giving the Who “It’s Hard” high marks. I believe Kurt Loder was very thumbs up about it.It is actually better than “Face Dances” Glyn Johns returned to produce it, giving the classic Who production. Considering it was the 80’s and new wave was prevelant it mixes in well with the era. “Cry if you Want” kicks a**. “I’ve Known No War” is a fav as well.

Muzakman | 5/30/2007, 1:40 pm EST

Nice spot Alex on RS giving the Who “It’s Hard” high marks. I believe Kurt Loder was very thumbs up about it.It is actually better than “Face Dances” Glyn Johns returned to produce it, giving the classic Who production. Considering it was the 80’s and new wave was prevelant it mixes in well with the era. “Cry if you Want” kics a**. “I’ve Known No War” is a fav as well.

Muzakman | 5/30/2007, 1:37 pm EST

For Queen’s “Hot Space’ check out “calling All Girls” and their song for Lennon “Life is Real”. Good stuff. It is a bad half an album, but not a bad whole album

jr112 | 5/30/2007, 12:53 pm EST

Human Touch is, probably, Bruce’s worst; but the title track is one of the main reasons( along with Real Man ). If you’re not a huge Bruce fan, you need to check out ‘Mans’s Job’ and, especially, ‘I wish I were blind’… also ‘Cross My Heart’.

David 22 | 5/30/2007, 12:51 pm EST

Hey Bill good point but not for nothing, you’re mixing up songs from Momentary… with The Division Bell. Sure they may sound the same but, Dogs of War was pretty good on Momentary.

Bill | 5/30/2007, 12:44 pm EST

The Final Cut is a fantastic album. The story and the message are fantastic. It is a true story album. On the other hand Momentary Lapse of Reason is terrible. There are a few good songs. “Learning to Fly”, “High Hopes”, and “What Do You Want From Me”. The rest have no direction and have nothing i can take from them. Most Pink Floyd songs have something i can take from them, i.e. “Time” tells a message on how to live life and use time on ones side.

Phil | 5/30/2007, 12:35 pm EST

what makes true stories a bad album? it was the heads take on pop. without true stories no Radiohead! (the name at least)

Phil | 5/30/2007, 12:35 pm EST

what makes true stories a bad album? it was the heads take on pop. without true stories no Radiohead! (the name at least)

Scenic Anemia | 5/30/2007, 12:32 pm EST

Elvis Costello’s “Punch The Clock” is a bad album? In what universe? This is the same album with “Let Them Talk,” “Everyday I Write The Book” and “Pills and Soap” on it. That was a GREAT album. I think a better Elvis Costello choice would’ve been “The Other Side of Summer” from Mighty Like A Rose.

BigSingh | 5/30/2007, 12:11 pm EST

IMHO, Pink Floyd’s “The Division Bell” had two great songs: “Take It Back” and “High Hopes” but the rest of the album was peee-yooo.

Helpless Dancer | 5/30/2007, 12:09 pm EST

whoever the idiot is who crap talked the who sell out… >:(!!!!
that album is f***ing genius and if you don’t think so then you don’t get what it’s about. without that album, there would be no tommy. so stop being so ignorant.

Kneejerk | 5/30/2007, 12:03 pm EST

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me”. Caribou was stinky, but that song’s a classic.

grayson | 5/30/2007, 12:01 pm EST

i disagree with RS on the Prince album. i believe “the most beautiful girl…” is one of the weakest songs on that album. “the Gold Experience is a pretty strong album in my opinion.

how about the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”. Great song, not so great album.

Ouch! | 5/30/2007, 11:27 am EST

Okay, some good songs in there, but hardly a single GREAT song. (Okay, I’ll give ya Shipbuilding, but that’s it.) Poor list this week, guys.

Timroc | 5/30/2007, 10:49 am EST

Oh Ramona….I think I’ve lost my Way…..Hearts Filthy Lesson. Indeed a future classic in the present tense.

Pinkie | 5/30/2007, 10:40 am EST

BTW RS, if you want a bad Violent Femmes album, I would point you to New Times. That album kinda sucked.

Pinkie | 5/30/2007, 10:32 am EST

Violent Femmes album Hallowed Ground was an awesome album & it’s too bad that folks like you never made it past the first song. Yes, it’s not the pop teen masterpiece that their self-titled LP was, but Hallowed Ground broke ground. It is the first example of americana-country-punk-gospel, or whatever you want to call it. It was quite original. No bad song on the album.
LISTEN TO IT. It still holds up great even after 23 years.
Rolling Stone, don’t you get anything but BonJovi, Bruce, or crappy boomer toe-tappin swill?
Why do I waste my time with you?

hot dog maker | 5/30/2007, 10:32 am EST

“Friends” is a GREAT Beach Boys album. GREAT GREAT GREAT. But yeah, every other album does suck.

Dean dawes | 5/30/2007, 10:17 am EST

Holy shit, i hit the number one spot! Finally! ho ho ho

Troy | 5/30/2007, 10:16 am EST

I’m with David…Friends is a true Beach Boys gem, even if not held in same esteem as “pet sounds.'’ “Anna Lee the Healer,'’ “Be Here In the Morning,'’ etc…Beautiful album. RS, you dropped the ball a bit. No biggie though.

David 22 | 5/30/2007, 9:49 am EST

How is Friends a crappy album? This Whole World is a much better song than Busy Doin Nothing. AnnaLee The Healer, Meant For You? C’mon!! Not a lame album at all.

Sappy? | 5/30/2007, 9:47 am EST

The Gold Experience is a killer album…

LaBrea | 5/30/2007, 9:42 am EST

Outside, Punch the Clock, Everybody’s in Showbiz, Friends and Red Rose Speedway are all good to terrific records. (Outside being a potential classic.) Your severe lack of taste is showing.

BIT | 5/30/2007, 9:31 am EST

Outside is not a bad album. “Hallo Spaceboy” is a terrific song, but so is “I Have Not Been to Oxford Town”. And while we’re at it, “Heart’s Filthy Lesson”. Future classic.

Jacob | 5/30/2007, 9:13 am EST

I thought “Standing on the Shoulder of Giants” is a pretty good album. Uneven, but I listen it to more than others. RS, Why is this list so outdated. Why is POP and ONE HOT MINUTE not included. I have seen them mentioned by readers often. Everything else here is dated

Pink Freud | 5/30/2007, 9:07 am EST

The Final Cut is a sweet album.

Quinn the Eskimo from Bob Dylan’s Self Portrait is what is missing from this list.

Chet | 5/30/2007, 9:07 am EST

This list must have been compiled by baby-boomers :-) Fleetwood Mac’s “Tango in the Night” from 1987 is actually one of the group’s best albums (along with 2001’s “Say You Will”). Besides “Big Love,” there’s “Seven Wonders,” “Everywhere,” and “Little Lies.” It’s all on my i-Pod.

Ash | 5/30/2007, 8:54 am EST

“St. Anger” from Metallica’s album “St. Anger”

dudewitathought | 5/30/2007, 8:38 am EST

Isn’t it funny how loyal people are to some of these LAME albums? Always trying to justify crappy lp’s with “this rocks hard” or “give it a chance”. Lame is lame!

dudewitathought | 5/30/2007, 8:34 am EST

Most of the listed lp’s are either really bad (good song included). Haven’t heard of lots of em.

skeve | 5/30/2007, 8:23 am EST

How about “Toxic” from Britney’s otherwise throwaway “In the Zone”?

skeve | 5/30/2007, 8:23 am EST

How about “Toxic” from the otherwise throwaway “In the Zone”?

festool | 5/30/2007, 8:21 am EST

To be fair, “Under Pressure” was first released on Queen’s Greatest Hits album. It was such a standout, that they included it on the next studio album, Hot Space, to ge more mileage out of it.

Crize | 5/30/2007, 8:20 am EST

you guys are picking on the wrong oasis album. The Hindu Times - great song. Heathen Chemistry - bad album!

SPUD | 5/30/2007, 8:19 am EST

Considering the early 80s timeframe and mentality, and a listen with an open mind, “Hot Space” is not a bad album - “Staying Power” and “Action This Day” work, and “Put Out the Fire” rocks hard, with an anti-gun message to boot. Give it a chance!

CurtMayfield | 5/30/2007, 8:00 am EST

whoever said PJams “Biurnal” was a bad album is smoking crack, that is their best album.

Ash | 5/30/2007, 7:57 am EST

“Heart In A Cage” from The Strokes album First Impressions of Earth

alex | 5/30/2007, 6:58 am EST

Didn’t RS give It’s Hard 5 stars when it came out?

alex | 5/30/2007, 6:43 am EST

Outside, Let Me Up, and the Gold Experience are all solid albums. Good call on Kill Your Sons (although Ennui is bearable).

proletariat | 5/30/2007, 5:20 am EST

u2’s stay(far away, so close)from zooropa should be included in the list

Andrew. | 5/30/2007, 2:53 am EST

Momentary Lapse of Reason is a bad album? Granted you could argue till the sun came up about whether or not it really is a Pink Floyd album. Granted it is no Dark Side Of The Moon or Wish You Were Here, but it sure isn’t a bad album. Not even close.

Brandon | 5/30/2007, 2:36 am EST

Insignifigance, from Pearl Jam’s “Binaural”

Sorrow by Bad Religion, not that the album was “bad”, but it was boring especially when compared to how good that song is.
It also seems that the list is ignoring any one hit wonder. Are we only including established artists with many strong release who had a misfire?

Brandon | 5/30/2007, 2:36 am EST

Insignifigance, from Pearl Jam’s “Binaural”

Sorrow by Bad Religion, not that the album was “bad”, but it was boring especially when compared to how good that song is.
It also seems that the list is ignoring any one hit wonder. Are we only including established artists with many strong release who had a misfire?

dhills5150 | 5/30/2007, 1:51 am EST

Under Pressure is the greatest song of all time. Great pick!

dhills5150 | 5/30/2007, 1:51 am EST

Under Pressure is the greatest song of all time. Great pick!

Gonzalo | 5/30/2007, 12:40 am EST

great selection, altough I’m not a big fan of Queen I must to admit that it was a great song in a very(horrible) album, and the prince one was an aytentic forbidden masterpiece from a black era in his career, as usually, the greatest music and dancing men of all time made excellent song swhen he is not quite inspired, so far it’s the best that he’s crap material is ten times better than the 90% of todays music scene

everett | 5/30/2007, 12:33 am EST

I’m happy to say I like no albums here; haven’t heard the most of them.

Hunter | 5/30/2007, 12:25 am EST

Screw you guys! Hallowed Ground is a great record!

SANITY CLAUSE | 5/29/2007, 11:52 pm EST

I DISAGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH 3 OF THE BAD ALBUM PICKS. MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON [PINK FLOYD], RED ROSE SPEEDWAY [McCARTNEY] AND TRUE STORIES [TALKING HEADS] ARE ALL EXCELLENT ALBUMS. I AGREE WITH JEFF ABOUT PINK FLOYD. THE FINAL CUT WAS A TERRIBLE ALBUM WITH 1 EXCELLENT SONG, NOT NOW JOHN.

Pommish | 5/29/2007, 11:47 pm EST

What in the blue hell are you on about with the Oasis song?

Go Let It Out is one of the weaker tracks on SOTSOG.

Hunter | 5/29/2007, 11:23 pm EST

Nirvana’s ‘Bleach’ isn’t a bad album, it’s just that ‘About a Girl’ is BY FAR the best song off it.

Allawishes | 5/29/2007, 11:20 pm EST

“My Friends” off “One Hot Minute” by RHCP. Not a really terrible album, but by their standards not too great.

christian | 5/29/2007, 11:12 pm EST

I think you people have it all wrong with the oasis album… That album was great beceause noel put it together by himself at it was the first album liam was not drinking daily on. The best cut on the album was Roll it over. The album that should have been mentioned was the horribly out of control third album be here now with the best track being stand by me

christian | 5/29/2007, 11:11 pm EST

I think you people have it all wrong with the oasis album… That album was great beceause noel put it together by himself at it was the first album liam was not drinking daily on. The best cut on the album was Roll it over. The album that should have been mentioned was the horribly out of control third album be here now with the best track being stand by me

cb | 5/29/2007, 11:11 pm EST

Great Stuff.

Madman Accross The Water is one of my 5 favorite albums. Blown away to see it mentioned as bad.

Opinions are great!!

John | 5/29/2007, 10:58 pm EST

I saw Friends on this list and had to comment, I’m glad someone before me mentioned it, too. Friends is fantastic, albeit short and kind of light. The Beach Boys made other albums after Pet Sounds that were good, even if they weren’t as good. Everyone should definately give them another look, there’s a lot to like.

Brad | 5/29/2007, 10:45 pm EST

Red Rose Speedway is one of my favorite albums of all time, honestly! Go see the 4 star review at allmusic.com which is spot on. Its inventive and creative; I don’t understand how Ram is recognized as a masterpiece and yet RRS is still seen as a bad album. Ridiculous.

Ed | 5/29/2007, 10:38 pm EST

The Who Sell Out is genius, easily among the 40 greatest albums ever. And The Beach Boys Friends is great. Not on a Pet Sounds level, but certainly not deserving of a spot on this list

Joe | 5/29/2007, 10:29 pm EST

I love these lists as ‘not-agreeing’ is the whole point!

my thoughts - ‘Tango in the Night’ was pretty good - for every ’seven wonders’ there is a ‘little lies’

As for the other comments

‘There’s a riot goin on’ is a classic - really dark and funky - and it’s got Family Affair on it!

I also loved ‘Stop’ on Ritual de lo Habitual - making 2 great songs ;)

Vivid was a great album. I’d invert it and say Glamour Boys is their worst song though

chance | 5/29/2007, 10:12 pm EST

I simply can not wrap my head around the idea that RS cconsiders “Tango In the Night” a bad album…who are you kidding?

demiourgos | 5/29/2007, 10:03 pm EST

another example of a barren mind devoid any fecundity. aren’t you ashamed of yourself?

Bangers-N-Mash | 5/29/2007, 9:57 pm EST

Yeah… Isecond whoever called out Gas Panic! being on On The Shoulder of Giants… that is a good frickin cut

Andeff these guys for saying that TrueStories is such abad album… see the movie by the same name, directed by Byrne himself, and maybe you’d understand. It’s the new-wave Hard Day’s Night

nurserock1 | 5/29/2007, 9:49 pm EST

The WHO SELLS OUT is one of the greatest albums ever……so innovative…so imaginative…so sold out!
No way man….

nurserock1 | 5/29/2007, 9:49 pm EST

The WHO SELLS OUT is one of the greatest albums ever……so innovative…so imaginative…so sold out!
No way man….

felix | 5/29/2007, 9:42 pm EST

“Splendid Isolation” - “Transverse City” by Warren Zevon

“Woman” -”Double Fantasy” by John Lennon

“Leaving New York” - “Around the Sun” by R.E.M.

“Tiny Dancer” - “Madman Across the Water” by Elton John

“Bonzo Goes to Bitburg” - “Animal Boy” by the Ramones

wb | 5/29/2007, 9:41 pm EST

Been Caught Stealing off Jane’s Addiction’s Ritual

Al80 | 5/29/2007, 9:31 pm EST

That Oasis choice was a deeply odd one, bearing in mind that Gas Panic (from the same record) is one of their finest songs

cb | 5/29/2007, 9:31 pm EST

Tom Petty’s Let Me Up I’ve Had Enough is a solid album.Anything but poor!!

I do agree with human TOuch by Springsteen.

How about good song Jackie Brown from John Mellencamp’s Big Daddy Record.

PeteHagen | 5/29/2007, 9:20 pm EST

I said it before, I’ll say it again…
Cult of Personality by Living Colour off “Vivid”

GW | 5/29/2007, 9:20 pm EST

“It’s Late” by Queen from the album with the stupid looking monster robot thing on the cover.

Mark Ebner | 5/29/2007, 9:05 pm EST

There’s a Riot Goin’ On, off There’s a Riot Goin’ on. Sly & Family Stone.

Luc Richard Mbah A Moute | 5/29/2007, 8:36 pm EST

I love Oasis but I think SOTSOG is easily their worst album. That being said, there are a couple stellar tracks.

Spencer | 5/29/2007, 8:26 pm EST

You chose “Go Let It Out” from Standing on the Shoulder of Giants but not “Gas Panic”? Are you insane?

Aaron | 5/29/2007, 8:21 pm EST

Hallowed Ground is definitely an above average CD.

Aaron | 5/29/2007, 8:21 pm EST

Hallowed Ground is definitely an above average CD.

rock city | 5/29/2007, 8:13 pm EST

“Honest Mistake” off Bravery’s debut.

very pleasant neighbor | 5/29/2007, 8:07 pm EST

Only major issue I have with this list is the addition of “Hallowed Ground” as a bad album. I don’t think I’ve ever read a review of it as anything less than an above average album, and personally I think it’s their 2nd best album.

Hernandez | 5/29/2007, 7:57 pm EST

cactus- david bowie:heathen

Sebas | 5/29/2007, 7:57 pm EST

scott: nirvana´s bleach a bad album? please dont post anymore and go to your room to listen some music.

Nice | 5/29/2007, 7:54 pm EST

Standing on the Shoulder of Giants of Oasis it’s a very good album

Jeff | 5/29/2007, 7:54 pm EST

Queen’s hot space isnt as bad as some might think. It’s a try at a diffrent style, which is a good thing. I would say its an average album, but not terrible. Same thing with the Oasis album Standing on the shoulder of giants. Its an uneven album, more of a transitonal album (2 band members just had left). Its not that bad, The first 3 songs on that album are great. Pink Floyd’s A Momentary Lapse of Reason is a good album. The worse album by Floyd was the final cut. A gross record. Lapse of reason has 6 great songs. Thats a good album!

cara elizabeth | 5/29/2007, 7:53 pm EST

okay. Peter R.Y., how is the Who Sell Out a bad album??????
Sure, it’s kinda dated, but how can songs like “Sunrise” and “I Can’t Reach You” make an album bad?

Anyway…U2 - “Staring at the Sun”, from POP definetley deserves to be on the list.

Tattoo U | 5/29/2007, 7:39 pm EST

Holy fuck. LA Woman, bad? M Boy, you are an idiot.

M-Boy | 5/29/2007, 7:29 pm EST

Many of your “bad albums” are quite good and many of your “greatest songs” are junk. Here’s one you definitely missed: “L A Woman” from the Doors’ album of the same name. That album was way worse than “Waiting for the Sun” or even “The Soft Parade.” The song could well be the best thing they recorded, certainly top-5.

M-Boy | 5/29/2007, 7:28 pm EST

Many of your “bad albums” are quite good and many of your “greatest songs” are junk. Here’s one you definitely missed: “L A Woman” from the Dorrs’ album of the same name. That album was way worse than “Waiting for the Sun” or even “The Soft Parade.” The song could well be the best thing they recorded, certainly top-5.

Peter R.Y. | 5/29/2007, 7:25 pm EST

Good songs from bad albums ?

1) Who Are You from the album
Who Are You
2 ) I Can See For Miles from The
Who Sell Out
3 ) Nirvana’s About A Girl from
Bleach

Peter R.Y. | 5/29/2007, 7:25 pm EST

Good songs from bad albums ?

1) Who Are You from the album
Who Are You
2 ) I Can See For Miles from The
Who Sell Out
3 ) Nirvana’s About A Girl from
Bleach

scott | 5/29/2007, 7:19 pm EST

bowies outside is a masterpiece. you idiots somehow managed to pick the worst song on the album.

how bout “smells like” from nirvanas over hyped and appropriately named “nevermind”

;)

giving up on these lists | 5/29/2007, 7:14 pm EST

you guys get ideas in your head, like that Satanic Majesty’s is a bad album or that anyone cares about Brownsville Girl, and you just don’t let it go, do you?

T-Nasty | 5/29/2007, 7:11 pm EST

“Heart in a Cage” off The Strokes’ “First Impressions of Earth”

Dan | 5/29/2007, 7:10 pm EST

I guess

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