Entertainment For Lively Minds
Flawless First sides..
Apologies if this has been done before, I did a cursory search, but...
Whilst on a looong car journey t'other day, I found myself playing "Moondance" for about the gazillionth time, and it struck me that side one (or part one in the new money) is about as perfect as you can get.
1/ And It Stoned Me
2/ Moondance
3/ Crazy Love
4/ Caravan
5/ Into The Mystic.
Well, excuse me, but there is a whole career right there. "Caravan" and "Into The Mystic" are two of the best songs ever written by anyone, and if "Moondance" has been sullied by over-familiarity, who doesn't crank it up when it comes on the radio?
I can think of only a few other albums with perfect side ones. The Band's second LP springs to mind, but unlike Mark Ellen, I (sanely) play side two quite often.
Other LPs deemed "classic" are often marred by weak or atypical material. "Rubber Soul" is scuppered by "Think For Yourself" and (for me) the utterly wet "Michelle," while "Revolver's first side carries the burden of "Yellow Submarine," great for kids parties but utterly unwelcome here.
Any other totally, unarguably perfect side ones?
- More from shane pacey.
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The Dan
side one of Aja is fantastic:
1. Black Cow
2. Aja
3. Deacon Blues
Mind you, side 2 is pretty good too.
Actually side one or side two
of any Steely Dan album will do me
Television
"See No Evil" – 3:53
"Venus" – 3:51
"Friction" – 4:44
"Marquee Moon" – 10:40
ELO
Side 1 of Out Of The Blue is a corker.
Turn To Stone
It's Over
Sweet Talkin Woman
Across The Border
Agreed.
Turn To Stone: nice, and not even the best song on side 1. That would be Across The Border, with the Mariachi band. It is just a great song on so many levels
Alternative cracking ELO side 1's are:
A New World Record:
Tightrope
Telephone Line
Rockaria
The Mission
So Fine
Time:
Prologue
Twilight
Yours Truly, 2095
Ticket To The Moon
The Way Life's Meant to Be
You wouldn't change too much of those, unless you were a bit picky and swapped So Fine for ANWR's track 6, which just happens to be: Livin' Thing.
Actually, side 3 of OOTB (Concerto for a Rainy Day) is utterly faultless too.
ELO..
..I'd nominate side one of "Eldorado" not flawless, but pretty damn good.
I think Randy Newman said it best.
"They were six fine English boys Who knew each other in Birmingham They bought a drum and guitar Started a rock-roll band
And Johnny played little violin And Bobby Joe played the big violin The one that stands on the floor They were all in the rock-roll band Their first song sounded like this Please get me a witness Please get me a witness Right off, they needed a name Someone said, "How 'bout the Renegades ?" Johnny said, "Well I don't know. I prefer E.L.O." I love their "Mr. Blue Sky" Almost my favorite is "Turn to Stone" And how 'bout "Telephone Line"? I love that E.L.O.
I love their "Mr. Blue Sky" Almost my favorite is "Turn to Stone" And how 'bout "Telephone Line"? I love that E.L.O."
is that a real song?
am I missing something?
That Is A Real Song
called The Story Of A Rock And Roll Band by Randy Newman on his album Born Again.
An Affectionate Pastiche is how I would regard it, others may think it a piss take.
However Randy Newman later had Jeff Lynne produce a track for him which shows the regard he holds Jeff I think
Here it is......
Midlake
Not sure if it counts as I only have it on download on MP3 but 'side 1' of Midlake's Trials of Van Occupanther is great
1. Roscoe
2. Bandits
3. Head Home
4. Van Occupanther
5. Young Bride
Top notch.
Agree with you about Moondance. It is a great LP and, rare amongst Van's, has a cover that you don't mind displaying while it's on the turntable.
13/8/09
"Midlake is happy to announce that ‘The Courage of Others’ is rapidly approaching the finish line of completion. The finishing touches are being put upon the long anticipated album and mixing has already commenced. It has been quite a journey, with its fair shares of ups and downs, but the band can’t wait to share the fruits of labor with everyone. No official release date has been announced, but stay tuned for one in the coming weeks. Sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone for their patience and support…"
Possibly dull
but side 1 of both
Dark Side Of The Moon
Wish You Were Here
don't exactly have much filler on them, do they?
Peggy Suicide - Julian Cope
Pristeen
Double Vegetation
East Easy Rider
Promised Land
Hanging out and hung up on the line
Mejor imposible.
Er, except that Hanging Out is...
a bit shit?
That's the best
of the lot!
London Calling
My older brother had the vinyl double of London Calling and as teens we listened to Side One to the point of wearing it down:
London Calling
Brand New Cadillac
Jimmy Jazz
Hateful
Rudie Can't Fail
R.E.M. Document
Side 1
1. Finest Worksong
2. Welcome To the Occupation
3. Exhuming McCarthy
4. Disturbance at the Heron House
5. Strange
6. It's the end of the world as we know it.
Not my favourite album but my favourite side hands down.
Good but bettered by
Life's Rich Pageant
1. Begin the begin
2. Hyena
3. Just a touch
4. I believe
5. These days
Hey? The running order
on my copy is nothing like this.
More like this:
Side one – "Dinner side"
1. "Begin the Begin" – 3:28
2. "These Days" – 3:24
3. "Fall on Me" – 2:50
4. "Cuyahoga" – 4:19
5. "Hyena" – 2:50
6. "Underneath the Bunker
- confirmed on Wikipedia
That's my side one, too
But it's a goodie, a great example of thoughtful sequencing, especially the placement of These Days, which I think the majority of bands would have had as their curtain raiser. It's a one-two that banks so much goodwill for the album they really can't fail from thereon in. I bet they hardly gave it a second thought as well...
Fair do's
I got my list from Amazon. Just know that LRP is a 100% album so either side would feature.
"Birdie In The Hand" - a wonderful way to start any album.
Today's Flawless Five...
BLONDIE "Parallel Lines"
Hanging on the Telephone
One Way or Another
Picture This
Fade Away & Radiate
Pretty Baby
I Know But I Don't Know
DEAD KENNEDYS "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables"
Kill the Poor
Forward to Death
When Ya Get Drafted
Let's Lynch the Landlord
Drug Me
Your Emotions
Chemical Warfare
THE JAM "Setting Sons"
Girl On The Phone
Thick As Thieves
Private Hell
Little Boy Soldiers
Wasteland
THE GUN CLUB "Fire Of Love"
Sex Beat
Preaching the Blues
Promise Me
She's Like Heroin to Me
For the Love of Ivy
Fire Spirit
TALKING HEADS - "Fear Of Music"
I Zimbra
Mind
Paper
Cities
Life During Wartime
Memories Can't Wait
Caravanserai
Eternal Caravan of Reincarnation
Waves Within
Look Up (to See What's Coming Down)
Just in Time to See the Sun
Song of the Wind
All the Love of the Universe
Anyone capable of listening to Song Of The Wind without succumbing to air guitar temptation has cloth ears.
Side two is almost as good.
Seconded ... perfect ...
and yes, 'Song of The Wind' gets me everytime. I can't allow either it or 'Kid Charlemagne' on the ipod in case they pop up when I'm driving or operating heavy machinery.
Forever Changes...
Alone Again Or
A House Is Not A Motel
AndMoreAgain
The Daily Planet
Old Man
The Red Telephone
is as good an album side as any I’ve ever heard.
True enough
Good choice!
Yes - 'Tales from Topographic Oceans'
"The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn)"
Gets coat...
Miles Davis´ In A Silent Way
Side A: Shhh/Peaceful
Someone left with my coat?
Lou Reed Metal Machine Music
The Amine β Ring part 1.
His week beats your year...
Eric Dolphy
Out To Lunch.
Hat and beard
Something sweet, something tender
Gazzellioni
Some claim it's the greatest jazz album EVER!
Not me, though.
No coat required...
...old bean! Close to the Edge is pretty splendid too.
Making Movies
Dire Straits
I got this when it came out and thought it was the best first side of anytthing I'd ever heard. I've since changed my mind and there are earlier ones that I like better these days. No matter.
Tunnel Of Love
Romeo and Juliet
Skateaway
Totally agree
Each of those is, in its own way, beautiful.
And the other side is rubbish, compared.
Pixies
as the REM and Jam albums that came to my mind have been suggested here's side 1 of Doolittle:
Debaser
Tame
Wave of Mutilation
I Bleed
Here Comes Your Man
Dead
Monkey Gone to Heaven
Sublime synthery
29 years later, the opening side of The Human League's Travelogue still does it for me.
The Black Hit Of Space
Only After Dark
Life Kills
Dreams Of Leaving
Toyota City
And not a geetar on it.
Fabulous
I've not heard this in ages, but it's not on Spotify - boo, hiss!
Bah!
If I knew how to Spotificate, I'd get on the end of it and plug that gap.
Little Feat - 'Sailin' Shoes'
1. 'Easy To Slip'
2. 'Cold Cold Cold'
3. 'Trouble'
4. 'Tripe Face Boogie'
5. 'Willin''
6. 'A Apolitical Blues'
I just want an ounce
of whatever they were on...and somewhere to put my head...
Replace"A Apolitical Blues.".
..with the title track and you've got a FFS.
Amen
to that, Patrick
'The footprints on the ceiling are almost gone!' - class.
The vinyl edition of...
...The Smashing Pumpkins masterpiece Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is a little different from the CD version. The mammoth track listing is supplemented with two additional songs. These are spread out over six sides to create a series of self-contained five track EPs, named after different times of the day.
Side One: Dawn
1. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
2. Tonight, Tonight
3. Thirty-Three
4. In the Arms of Sleep
5. Take Me Down
Cowboy Junkies
The Caution Horses
1. Sun Comes Up It's Tuesday Morning
2. 'Cause Cheap Is How I Feel
3. Thirty Summers
4. Mariner's Song
5. Powderfinger
Lloyd Cole's Don't Get Weird On Me Babe... the "orchestral" side one, way more interesting than the "guitar" side two.
Oh and Born To Run has a pretty good side one. Just can never decide if it's better than side two.
Divisive here I know...but for the Baggy wing of the massive....
I Wanna Be Adored
She Bangs The Drum
Waterfall
Don't Stop
Bye Bye Badman
Brilliant.....worth the wallet emptying re-issue coming soon....
Physical Graffiti
1. Custard Pie
2. The Rover
3. In My Time Of Dying
Not a lot wrong with that.
"When a man is tired of 'Custard Pie' ...
he is surely tired of life"
What a fine sentiment, sir
(raises glass)
Shouldn't that be...
(raises pie)?
Station to Station
1. Station to Station
2. Golden Years
3. Word on a Wing
Not a lot wrong with that.
The Hissing of Summer Lawns - Joni Mitchell
Starts off very well and just gets better:
In France They Kiss on Main Street
The Jungle Line
Edith and the Kingpin
Don't Interrupt the Sorrow
Shades of Scarlett Conquering
Completely overshadows side 2, which I'm sure has fine songs but just seems pedestrian in comparison.
Love that album....
...but Harry's House/Centerpiece is surely the best track on it. Put that on side 1 instead of Jungle line, and we have agreement!!!
Purple Rain
1. "Let's Go Crazy" – 4:39
2. "Take Me with U" – 3:54
3. "The Beautiful Ones" – 5:13
4. "Computer Blue" – 3:59
5. "Darling Nikki" – 4:14
It's all there - storming rock'n'roll, guitar wig-outs, delicate folk-pop, heartbreaking melody, pervy dialogue, weird soundscapes, demonic backward messages, girls doing things with magazines.....
dance, music, sex, romance indeed.
We've spoken of Free
in recent days on another thread and I give you Fire and Water:
1 Fire And Water
2 Oh I Wept
3 Remember
4 Heavy Load
I am going to say
Led Zeppelin II
Whole Lotta Love
What Is And What Should Never Be
The Lemon Song
Thank You
Extraordinary.
There, I've said it.
Doesn't sound like it came out as long ago as 1969 either.
Doesn't sound like it came out at any particular time.
It just is. Good call.
Autobahn
Side one: Autobahn. Brilliant
Side two: Some odd noodly stuff you listen to once just to say you've heard it. I can only have listened to it twice.
The first side of Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" is pretty special as well. But I do listen to the rest of it as well.
Darkness on the Edge of Town
First side is perfect:
Badlands
Adam Raised a Cain
Something in the Night
Candy's Room
Racing in the Street
I aslo think the first half of Roy Harper's Stormcock is without blemish
The dread words
The anxious boy at the front of the room runs loosens his shirt collar, clears his throat and pipes up nervously: "U2 - The Joshua Tree, the A side of that is unrelentingly brilliant."
Then sinks in his seat awaiting a hail of derision and rolled up jotter paper.
No, that's fine
because it's true. Won't be getting any brickbats from me, even though I think they're a bit pants now.
Have to say I think you're right.
It's outstanding. No hail of stationery from this desk, just a nod of agreement. Best thing I've ever heard from them, by a mile, and I have most of it.
But of course
it's not quite as good as the first side of The Unforgettable Fire;
1. A Sort Of Homecoming
2. Pride
3. Wire
4. The Unforgettable Fire
5. Promenade
class
'Til Tuesday
Another plug from me for the none-more-80s perfection that is Welcome home. Side one (of the LP I bought at the Record & Tape Exchange in Notting Hill Gate for about 80p) goes:
What About Love
Coming Up Close
On Sunday
Will She Just Fall Down?
David Denies [I remember David Hepworth playing this on his GLR prog about 20 years ago - nice one!]
It's sheer, pristine flawlessness.
I love it although
'David Denies' drags a bit(probably not helped by cassette quality), but for me it is shaded by the first side of 'Everything's Different Now' which I too bought on tape many years ago on release.
How's this for a lineup: -
1. "Everything's Different Now" (Jules Shear, Matthew Sweet)
2. "R.I.P. in Heaven" (Kit Hain, Aimee Mann)
3. "Why Must I" (Aimee Mann)
4. "J for Jules" (Aimee Mann)
5. "(Believed You Were) Lucky" (Mann, Shear)
(As regards 'Coming Up Close', any negative thoughts about 'David Denies' are immediately banished by 'Lovers Day' at the start of side 2 however.
Also O/T seeing Aimee Mann play 'Will She Just Fall Down' live for the first time was a real 'moment' for me.)
Hurrah for Sonos and Napster
"Ooh! Must listen to this"
Twiddle twiddle *click*
Bingo.
'Til Tuesday. One of those bands I've always meant to listen to and always forgotten to. Problem solved.
Aimee Mann does have a lovely voice. I saw her once supporting World Party. A bonus. I'd have paid good money just to see her.
David denies...
..playing this (probably)
Teenage Fanclub "Grand Prix" (is this cheating...?)
errr...I think I'm moving into the CD age and side ones and twos went out the window but I'm sure you'll forgive me when you see this sublime tracklist:
"About You"
"Sparky's Dream"
"Mellow Doubt"
"Don't Look Back"
"Verisimilitude"
"Neil Jung"
I forgive you
that's pure lovely.
You very nice man
and I like very much.
EXCELLENT choice
I'll second that
I always thought that the latter Half of Grand Prix trailed off a bit.
Here goes
The Police - Regatta de Blanc
Message in a Bottle
Reggatta de Blanc
It's Alright for You
Bring on the Night
Deathwish
Daniel Lanois - Acadie
Still Water
The Maker
O Marie
Jolie Louise
The Fisherman's Daughter
White Mustang II
The Psychedelic Furs - Mirror Moves
The Ghost in You
Here Come Cowboys
Heaven
Heartbeat
Love - Da capo
How about:
Stephanie Knows Who
Orange Skies
Que Vida
Seven and Seven Is
The Castle
She Comes In Colours
... especially as Side 2 is such a load of old toss...
Steve McQueen
Unfeasibly Perfect Side
Faron Young
Bonny
Appetite
When Love Breaks Down
Goodbye Lucille #1
Merely Brilliant Side
Hallelujah
Moving The River
Horsin' Around
Desire As
Blueberry Pies
When The Angels
Meat is Murder The Smiths
The Headmaster Ritual
Rusholme Ruffians
I Want the One I Can't Have
What She Said
That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
CCR
Late in the game I would like to offer the first album that I (or my parents) bought. CCR : Cosmo's Factory
Ramble Tamble
Before you accuse me
Travelin band
Ooby dooby
Lookin out my backdoor
Run through the jungle
Sore Throat - Disgrace to the Corpse of Sid
Lovable Thrash Metal outfit Sore Throat once issued a 101-track vinyl album. The somewhat flawless side 1 was packed with lots of catchy tunes: -
1. Disgrace to the Corpse of Sid
2. Slam of Buttocks
3. Brasso Drinkers (Hell Raisers)
4. Let's Go Beach Start a Riot
5. Sid Be Swindle
6. Raise Ghost McClaren
7. Fuck All but We
8. Power of Nuclear Kill Brain
9. Speechless Fucking Dumb
10. Let's Go Pub Drink Beer
11. Crazy Blood Whirlwind
12. Mosh is Trash
13. Head Spin (No Care)
14. Don't Give XXX
15. Holocaust Heavy
16. System Sabotage Chaos
17. O.L.D. D.I.E.
18. Rolf Harris H.C.
19. Let's Go Gas Board Punch Official
20. Horrendify and Kill
21. Stand no Stench
22. Rotting Vegetation of Eden
23. T.T.Y.B.
24. Beneath Skin All the Same
25. Dead Suffocation Life
26. From Off-License to Obliteration
27. Cyco Will Resolute
28. Let's Go Buckingham Kill Queen
29. Downfall Society
30. No Infeccy (Of Jeccy)
31. Anal Intelligence Apartheid
32. Knees to Law (Down)
33. Diseased Thinking Bring Doom
34. Spleurk !
35. Anarchy, Punk and Chaos
36. Fallover not Crossover
37. Violent Bloody War Kill All
38. Failure of Liver
39. Do You Remember ?
40. Fuck State Before End
41. Wasting Head With Words
42. Trash World
43. Kamikaze System Hatred
44. "77" Not "666"
45. Let's Go Stock Market Disembowel Yuppie
46. Courage of Peace
47. People are Atomic Pollutants
48. Drink Ale Belong to You
49. Eric Pickles (Is Antichrist)
50. Activate Us Anger
51. Roar of Silence
52. N.M.F.W.
53. Eye of Beholder (See Not All)
54. Sing a Song 'O' Sid
55. No More Hurt of Life
56. Poison Idea (No Handle Beer)
57. Not Nice
58. Pestilence of Decay
59. Vomit On Rules Belong to Them
60. Leurf (For Scotty)
61. King of Thrash Be Dead
62. P.M.R.C. All Perverts
63. Let's Go Crazy Lynch Dwarf
64. Life Destruction End Fun
65. Skinhead/Deadhead/Drop Dead
66. Stench Mass Genocide
67. Laughter Stop With Agress
68. Peace Wish...
69. Soy Noise Serenade
70. C.Y.D.I.
71. Capitalist Vomit
72. Execution of Intelligence
73. Filo-Fucked Fools
74. Skate Edge Nazis
75. Let's Go Brighton Bomb Torys
76. Switch Off Reality
77. Fear of Phobia
78. Crush Nazi Face Well
79. Aarrrgggghhhhhh
80. Attitude Shit (Mosh Pit)
81. Fucking Silent For Long
82. System of Agony Creation
83. Distortion of Reason
84. At War With Cops Story
85. Echo Pain Scream
86. Let's Go Brum Trash Daz's Car
87. Mary Whitehouse Raving Mad
88. Alchoholocaust
89. In Grapple There Is No Law
90. Not Leaving Us Soon ?
The remaining 11 tracks occupied side 2. Somehow the disc cutting engineer (George 'Porky' Peckham?) managed to included a band between each track. Meanwhile, there is an extended CD version out there with 153 tracks...
And their follow-up album contained just 1 track.
Reminds me of Rudimentary Peni
the band I mean...they used to release singles and EPs with hundreds of songs on too. Can't say they'd make a "flawless" list though.
I was always irritated by the lack of the terminal 's'
in their name. I can't imagine they self-censored in order to try and garner some radio play.
Seems to me the band were
a load of old teste.
Exiles on Main Street - Disk 1 - Side 1
Just seen this topic and cannot believe the greatest / most perfect side 1 ever has been ignored:
1. Rocks Off
2. Rip This Joint
3. Shake Your Hips
4. Casino Boogie
5. Tumbling Dice
Beat that !!!!
Bill Evans Trio - "Waltz for Debby"
...or how about this one for your consideration. All the way from the Village Vanguard, New York City, recorded live on 25 June 1961,
Bill Evans on piano
Paul Motian on drums, and
the not-long-for-this-world Scott LaFaro on bass:
Side One:
1. My Foolish Heart
2. Waltz for Debby
3. Detour Ahead
...still immaculate after all these years.
Ian Dury - New Boots and Panties
1. Wake Up and Make Love to Me
2. Sweet Gene Vincent
3. I'm Partial To Your Abracadabra
4. My Old Man
5. Billericay Dickie
Fantastic