100 Great Non-Album Singles

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Stand alone singles that seem doomed to be consigned to the fading memory of history. And the 'Best Of'.

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

1. The Stone Roses - "Fools Gold"
2. Bark Psychosis - "Blue"

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

3. The Byrds - "Lady Friend"
4. Love - "Laughing Stock/Your Mind and We Belong Together"

― Robert Moore (treble), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:23 (twenty-two years ago)

5. Love Will Tear Us Apart
6. Ceremony

― Stupid (Stupid), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:43 (twenty-two years ago)

7. Husker Du "Eight Miles High"

― NickB (NickB), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)

8. Oasis "Whatever"

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:50 (twenty-two years ago)

9. Belle & Sebastian - "Lazy Line Painter Jane"

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Thursday, 15 January 2004 11:51 (twenty-two years ago)

10. Gang of Four - "To Hell With Poverty"
11. Pop Group - "She IS Beyond Good and Evil"
12. Killing Joke - "Turn To Red"
13. !!! - "Me and Guiliani..."
14. Egghunt - "Me and You"
15. Wire - "DotDash"
16. Boards of Canada - "In a Beautiful Place..."

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

17. Super Furry Animals - 'The Man Don't Give A Fuck'

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:12 (twenty-two years ago)

18. Saint Etienne - "I Was Born On Christmas Day"

― Alex in Leeds (Alex in Doncaster), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Does http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf500/f571/f57183dwslv.jpg count as an album?

If not, that's the next 8.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:23 (twenty-two years ago)

19. Nirvana - Sliver
20. Aphex twin - Come to Daddy
21. Aphex twin - windowlicker
22. Autechre - Gantz Graf
23. Stereolab - Lo Boob Oscilator
24. Bonnie Prince Billy - Forest Time

x-post - so yes it does count to save me, um, counting.

― hmmmmm (neil simpson), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Otherwise:

19. Are Everything / Strange Thing
20. What Do You Know / Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore
21. Airwaves Dream / Running Free

Bugger, x-post - they'll have to be 25-27 then.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:25 (twenty-two years ago)

28. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Another Byrds number -
28. Triad - The Byrds
29. The Puppet - Echo & the Bunnymen

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

30. Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

31. Magazine - Upside Down

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:27 (twenty-two years ago)

33. Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane
34. New Order - Blue Monday
35. Smiths - This Charming Man
36. Sonic Youth - Hallowe'en

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:29 (twenty-two years ago)

32. The Cure - Charlotte Sometimes

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

38. The Damned - Eloise

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

39. Birthday Party - Release The Bats.

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

40. The Fall - Kicker Conspiracy.

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Oooh! Great minds!

41-43. The Fall:
- Bingo Masters Breakout
- It's The New Thing
- Rowche Rumble
- Fiery Jack

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

41-44 surely?

45. Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street
46. Elvis Costello - Watching The Detectives

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

47. Dexy's - Keep It Part Two
48. Blur - Popscene
49. Specials - Ghost Town

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

50 - 52. Pink Floyd:
- Arnold Layne
- See Emily Play
- Apples & Oranges

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Ghost Town!

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

53,54. Prefab Sprout:
- Lions In My Own Garden (Exit Someone)
- The Devil Has All The Best Tunes

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

53. Jesus & Mary Chain - Upside Down
54. Foetus Over Frisco - Finely Honed Machine

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

57. Chemical Brothers 'Loops Of Fury'

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Madness- House of Fun!!!!!!!!! (The original UK versh with the "fairground" ending, not the crappy fadeout on recent compils!!!)

― Old Fart!!! (oldfart_sd), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

57 (by my count). Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Goddamn! PeePee beat me to the Joke!

My votes...

1. "A New Day" by Killing Joke
2. "Birds of a Feather" by Killing Joke
3. "Me or You" by Killing Joke
4. "Pssyche" by Killing Joke

...as you can see, they're big on non-album singles....the bastards.

5. "Song from the Edge of the World" by Siouxsie & the Banshees
6. "Adrenochrome" by the Sisters of Mercy

7. "Shine On, Elizabeth" by Cop $hoot Cop
8. "Who Wants to be the Disco King?" by the Wonder Stuff

I think the Wedding Present have a track or two that fit the bill here, but I'm blanking on them at the moment.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

60-64. The Clash:
- Complete Control
- (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
- Clash City Rockers
- I Fought The Law
- Bankrobber

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

58. Pere Ubu - 30 Seconds Over Tokyo

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

58. Together 'So Much Love To Give'
59. Stardust 'Music Sounds Better With You'

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, Stew, those first three were appended to the American release of the debut,....if you count that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

60-63. The Ruts:
- In A Rut
- Staring At The Rude Boys
- West One (Shine On Me)

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:45 (twenty-two years ago)

78(? - I'm counting Alex's selections). Wire - A Question Of Degree

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

79. Pop Group - She Is Beyond Good And Evil

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Ah bugger that's already been picked. Therefore:
79. Roxy Music - Virginia Plain

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Yeah, Stew, those first three were appended to the American release of the debut,....if you count that."

I haven't completely decided whether I count America or not.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:48 (twenty-two years ago)

80 Bunsen Burner - John Otway

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Thanks, Phoebe...sorry I messed up the chronology there.

You'll be happy to know that "Phoebe" is the front-running name for our child...if it turns out to be a daughter (and not a son). No, it's not an homage to "Friends" either. If anything, it has more to do with "Catcher in the Rye," but regardless....it's a lovely name.

I haven't completely decided whether I count America or not.

I'd completely understand why you wouldn't.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not counting CD reissues either 'cos I know most of the above turn up as extra tracks on CD (or on best ofs); I'm going on the original vinyl issues.

81. Talking Heads - Love Goes To Building On Fire
82. Television - Little Johnny Jewel
83. Patti Smith - Piss Factory
84. Scritti Politti - Skank Bloc Bologna

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

85. Eno - Seven Deadly Finns

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

86. LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

How could I have forgotten these? Why it's almost an unthinkable as Alex forgetting Killing Joke! < hangs head in shame >

87-88. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
- Diddy Wah Diddy
- Moonchild

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

89. Robert Wyatt - I'm A Believer (greatest TOTP performance ever)

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

90 Born SLippy

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

91. The Beta Band - To You Alone/Sequinsizer

― pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Was "Diddy Wah Diddy" not on an album? I didn't know that. Great goddamn song, though.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

92. Cocteau Twins - Pearly Dewdrops Drops/The Spanglemaker
93. Associates - 18-Carat Love Affair/Love Hangover
94. Billy MacKenzie sings Orbidoig - Ice Cream Factory
95. Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul
96. Aztec Camera - Mattress Of Wire

― Phoebe Dinsmore, Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

"I haven't completely decided whether I count America or not."

"I'd completely understand why you wouldn't."

Well if I didn't, quite apart from anything else, it would also mean I could include Peter & The Pets, Out There In The Night (Only Ones), Jumping Someone Else's Train, Boys Don't Cry (Cure)....

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"Was "Diddy Wah Diddy" not on an album?"

Only comp.s.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 13:59 (twenty-two years ago)

97, "Words That Say" - Mega City 4
98, "Shivering Sands" - Mega City 4

― Rocco, Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

99. Aztec Camera - Just Like Gold

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:02 (twenty-two years ago)

100. Prefab Sprout - If You Don't Love Me

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:04 (twenty-two years ago)

100b. Beck - Deadweight

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"4. "Pssyche" by Killing Joke"

Hang on a second.... that was the 'B'-side of Wardance and Wardance was on the first album!

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

There's still room....# 11 and #79 are the same.

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Moderator, lock this thread please - we've done it!

― Llahtuos Kcin (Nick Southall), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

In case they're not all GREAT....

alternates:

"Going Underground" (Jam)
"This Is Radio Clash" (Clash)

― peepee (peepee), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Hang on a second.... that was the 'B'-side of Wardance and Wardance was on the first album!

I think it was officially a "double A-side".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Fuckin' Strawberry Fields!! And The Last Dance!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Thursday, 15 January 2004 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hey Jude", obviously...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 15 January 2004 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

dre, "deep cover"

― OCP (OCP), Friday, 16 January 2004 01:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Pet Shop Boys - "Always on my mind"

― daavid, Friday, 16 January 2004 01:39 (twenty-two years ago)

My Bloody Valentine - "You Made Me Realise"
House of Love - "Destroy the Heart"
Jesus and Mary Chain - "Some Candy Talking"

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 16 January 2004 01:58 (twenty-two years ago)

my tastes are so transparent.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 16 January 2004 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Alan McGee is calling and wants you to do design work for him.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 16 January 2004 02:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm loving it.

― jole, Friday, 16 January 2004 12:24 (twenty-two years ago)

did anybody mention 'genetic' by sonic youth

― XabreTooth, Friday, 16 January 2004 22:50 (twenty-two years ago)

1. The Beautiful South - One Last Love Song

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Saturday, 17 January 2004 23:06 (twenty-two years ago)

"Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 17 January 2004 23:11 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

How many great singles are going to be 'lost' by not being on an album? How many have been 'saved' by iTunes and the like?

― Sickamous Mouthall (Scik Mouthy), Friday, 27 March 2009 15:06 (seventeen years ago)

aaliyah - "are you that somebody?"

― knive k (k3vin k.), Friday, 27 March 2009 15:14 (seventeen years ago)

The Who: The Seeker

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 27 March 2009 15:16 (seventeen years ago)

Wasn't The Seeker on Tommy?

― the one eyed, one horned, flyin' purple people eater (Boxing Kangaroo), Friday, 27 March 2009 15:43 (seventeen years ago)

No, it was a stand-alone single

― kornrulez6969, Friday, 27 March 2009 15:45 (seventeen years ago)

Actually, it wasn't. Forget I said anything.

― the one eyed, one horned, flyin' purple people eater (Boxing Kangaroo), Friday, 27 March 2009 15:45 (seventeen years ago)

How is this thread five years old and I'm the first to mention "Hey Hey What Can I Do?" by Led Zeppelin or "FM" by Steely Dan.

― •--• --- --- •--• (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 27 March 2009 15:55 (seventeen years ago)

"Gates of the West" - the clash
"Gangsters"- the specials (not on original uk issue)
"Dear God" - XTC

― outdoor_miner, Friday, 27 March 2009 16:06 (seventeen years ago)

honkytonk woman - stones
stay together - suede

― AleXTC, Friday, 27 March 2009 16:09 (seventeen years ago)

Blitz - New Age

― I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Friday, 27 March 2009 16:11 (seventeen years ago)

Conflict - The Serenade Is Dead

― I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Colonel Poo), Friday, 27 March 2009 16:12 (seventeen years ago)

also wow no-one said 'Tour De France'

― Hard House SugBanton (blueski), Friday, 27 March 2009 16:14 (seventeen years ago)

"Hot Fun in the Summer Time" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Sly and the Family Stone. Making the Greatest Hits Lp essential for decades.

― james k polk, Friday, 27 March 2009 18:45 (seventeen years ago)

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