The best b-sides band in the world --evah!

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On the Super Furry Animals C/D thread, s magnet reckons they're the best b-sides band in the world.

Who's your pick of the flips?

I'd go for the Pet Shop Boys as Alternative has more wit, variety and just more darned good tunes than most other acts squeeze into their careers. Silver medal goes to Saint Etienne esp. the singles between 92 and 94.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:47 (twenty-three years ago)

It's either Pet Shop Boys, The Cure or Prince, I'm not sure which.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:49 (twenty-three years ago)

The Zombies, as can be clearly seen on The Singles A's & B's.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Eels persistantly put great stuff (like "Fucker" and "I Write The B-Sides") on their B-sides, whilst putting stuff like "Your Lucky Day In Hell" and "Estate Sale" on their albums.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:55 (twenty-three years ago)

I like Dan's answer quite a bit. There are a number of Boo Radley B-sides I'm really taken with, but I would say that. Siouxsie had some great ones, Suede some flat out amazing songs.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:55 (twenty-three years ago)

pet shop boys, st etienne, dettinger (ambient trax almost always better than his hairshirt beatz), 4hero (up to 94), anything on ztt (or related) between 82-85, pere ubu, masters at work (dubs almost always better than the diva trax), underground resistance, disco inferno, prince...

― jess (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:57 (twenty-three years ago)

GBV. just because, for a few very glorious years, everything they released sounded like the greatest B side ever. i've no idea what tracks actually were B sides, however.

― bucky wunderlick (bucky), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stereolab! They're very serious about b-sides. The Free Design b-sides are better than most of Cobra and Phases....

― Ernest P., Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Pixies...

― jm, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:16 (twenty-three years ago)

I like some Pavement B-Sides, especially Gangsters vs. Pranksters.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:20 (twenty-three years ago)

My vote goes to the Stone Roses, although Nirvana was a great B-sides band too.

― Manny Parsons (Rahul Kamath), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Garbage. Search "Alien Sex Fiend," "Butterfly Collector," "Girl Don't Come," and of loads more I can't think of.

― Leee (Leee), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Can I vote for Alien Sex Fiend the band instead?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 22:52 (twenty-three years ago)

This is me being Predictable Nate Patrin here, but you could compile a Beck CD consisting of nothing but his b-sides and it'd be every bit as good as his best albums:
"Salt in the Wound" (Sexx Laws)
"Electric Music and the Summer People" (The New Pollution)
"Dirty Dirty" (Mixed Bizness)
"Black Balloon" (Tropicalia)
"Fume" (Loser)
"Corvette Bummer" (Loser)
"Diamond in the Sleaze" (a couple different Mutations singles)
"One Of These Days" (Cold Brains)
"This Is My Crew" (Sexx Laws)
"Runners Dial Zero" (technically a Mutations bonus track on imports only, though the LP came with a bonus single with "Diamond Bollocks on the A-side and this on the b-side)
"Midnite Vultures" (Nicotine and Gravy)
"Arabian Nights" (Mixed Bizness)
"Halo of Gold" (Tropicalia - it's a Skip Spence cover, but a really nifty one)
"Clock" (Devil's Haircut)

Hell, most of his Midnite Vultures b-sides are better than half the stuff that wound up on that album.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Nobody hears B-sides other than extreme fanatics. These data are biased!

― Kris (aqueduct), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:16 (twenty-three years ago)

I second Pixies and first Pulp (shocker).

― Charlie (Charlie), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Shit, and Suede, right up until the moment Bernard left - then it all went horribly tits.

― Charlie (Charlie), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Stuff and nonsense Charlie -- "Modern Boys" is maybe their best song ever. Suede killz all comerz in B-sides WARRRRRRRRR

― J0hn Darn13ll3 (J0hn Darn13ll3), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:22 (twenty-three years ago)

the beatles & the rolling stones

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

& the fall

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Radiohead often have great b-sides. Pulp of course. Quite a few of Gay Dad's b-sides were considerably better than the singles.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Prince, Prince, Prince, the Beatles and Prince some more.

― Douglas, Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Sonic Youth have amusing B-Sides.

Not that they're usually very good, but they're amusing.

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:14 (twenty-three years ago)

gorky's have some wonderful b-sides, girl i've always known, queen of georgia, the b-sides to sweet johnny, and uh...others.

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:14 (twenty-three years ago)

another Prince vote. the worst thing about The Hits/The B-Sides besides the third disc being only available w/the box is that they could've programmed that disc a lot better (chronological would have been far more intriguing), and included the 12-inch versions. I'm pretty sure they missed a couple, but I can't remember which offhand.

if EPs count, lots and lots of early Movin Shadow/Suburban Base stuff as well

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:56 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll go with Saint Etienne. "I Buy American Records" used to be more vital than oxygen to me.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:57 (twenty-three years ago)

What about The Smiths? Handsome Devil, Jeane, Accept Yoursel, Back To The Old House, Girl Afraid, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, How Soon Is Now?, What She Said, Vicar In A Tutu, Cemetry Gates - all classics.

Also Buzzcocks had an unbroken run of greta B sides up until their last couple of singles: Whatever Happened To, Oh Shit, Autonomy, Noise Annoys, Just Lust, Lipstick, Why Can't I Touch It?, Something's Gone Wrong Again, Raison d'Etre, Why She's A Girl From The Chainstore,

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Thursday, 31 October 2002 10:25 (twenty-three years ago)

what Matt C said, only replace "Zombies" with "Undertones"!

(I'm sure The Zombies did nice b-sides too tho')

― Jeff W, Thursday, 31 October 2002 10:32 (twenty-three years ago)

stewart, spot on with the smiths.
i didn't actually mean sfa were the best b-sides band evah, just that they had great b-sides; i was caught up in mid-90's schmind-lust.
i instead nominate throbbing gristle.

― s magnet, Thursday, 31 October 2002 10:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Moby's "Play" B-sides were really good.. not really a band though..

― Curtis Stephens, Thursday, 31 October 2002 21:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Radiohead b-sides rock the fuck.

― Callum (Callum), Thursday, 31 October 2002 21:55 (twenty-three years ago)

tintern abbey. okay, they only released one record, but the b-side to that was "vacuum cleaner", the most perfect 3 minutes of english psychedelic pop ever, so that gives them a 100% rating, no duds, etc.

― Yes/No Interlude (Yes/No Interlude), Friday, 1 November 2002 00:57 (twenty-three years ago)

and to think you mentioned Tintern Abbey on the same day I started the Wye Valley thread over on ILE ...

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Friday, 1 November 2002 01:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Can we make a distinction between "bands who record b-sides that don't turn up anywhere else" and "bands who put b-sides on albums" please?

I'm not talking about b-side comps, I'm thinking specifically of The Smiths and Supergrass (off the top of my head) whose generally fantastic b-sides lose their b-side status the moment they're included on a "proper" studio album.

― Charlie (Charlie), Friday, 1 November 2002 01:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Siouxsie or Echo And The Bunnymen yet?

Guess I just did.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Friday, 1 November 2002 02:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, I said Siouxsie, dammit! You're right about me forgetting Echo, though. Mmm.

Actually, Adorable's B-sides make a fantastic collection as well. Gareth can speak for me here. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 November 2002 06:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is there an Adorable b-sides album I don't know about? I've only got The Proto-Bends (ie. Against Perfection) but I'd gladly get more if it exists...

Failing that - care to burn? ;-)

― Charlie (Charlie), Friday, 1 November 2002 06:12 (twenty-three years ago)

I'll go with Saint Etienne. "I Buy American Records" used to be more vital than oxygen to me.

I couldn't agree more. Do you agree that Bonnie & Clyde had a bif=g influence on the song?

I must add the Beatles & Smiths to the list, btw.

― Jez (Jez), Friday, 1 November 2002 12:59 (twenty-three years ago)

can't believe no-one's mentioned the Boo Radleys yet! tsk tsk tsk!

― dog latin, Friday, 1 November 2002 16:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, no-one except Ned anyway.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 1 November 2002 16:32 (twenty-three years ago)

QUITE RIGHT. Ignore me at your peril. Mememememememe.

Failing that - care to burn? ;-)

Arrangements can be made.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 1 November 2002 19:44 (twenty-three years ago)

two years pass...

I am obsessed with b-sides lately.

What are the best Boo Radleys b-sides not on Find The Way Out? Which singles are they on?

What are the best Radiohead b-sides, and which singles are they on?

Talk Talk have about five STUPENDOUS b-sides on the Asides Besides double CD.

Idlewild's b-sides would make a much better album than their current shitty REM-tribute. The Bluetones, oddly enough, released their three or four best tunes as b-sides. Orbital had a few stonkers hidden over the years too.

Embrace are finally releasing a b-sides compilation on October 31st (I have written sleevenotes for this wondrous thing) and it is ace. I am also using ebay to buy up old Boo Radleys singles and stuff. Verily, I love the b-sides.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 26 September 2005 08:16 (twenty years ago)

1) SUPER FURRY ANIMALS
2) SUEDE
3) SAINT ETIENNE

out spaced and sci-fi lullabies are top albums!
i'd also say oasis, masterplan is their last good album i reckon

― hub, Monday, 26 September 2005 08:20 (twenty years ago)

Also, like, DUR, Disco Inferno. And Reserve Shot Gunman by Bark Psychosis.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Monday, 26 September 2005 08:44 (twenty years ago)

for this was always Madness. the fact that put them all together on their Business boxset made life a lot more simple.

they consistently dropped some great songs on the flips.

― mark e (mark e), Monday, 26 September 2005 09:24 (twenty years ago)

Radiohead B-sides? I pick 10 here.

"Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong" on "My Iron Lung" (not sure which CD it's on)
"Bishop's Robes" on "Street Spirit" CD1
"Talk Show Host" on the above
"A Reminder" on "Paranoid Android" CD2
"How I Made My Millions" on "No Surprises" CD1
"Trans-Atlantic Drawl" on "Pyramid Song" CD1

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 26 September 2005 10:06 (twenty years ago)

Whoops! 4 short - hit submit too, too soon. One moment...

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 26 September 2005 10:06 (twenty years ago)

Predictable answers ahoy...

Belle and Sebastian (not that they used to do singles, just EPs, but the non-album, non-lead tracks on those are, by and large, great).
The Beta Band (ditto)
Trash Can Sinatras

The Manics used to give good B-side back in the day as well.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 26 September 2005 10:12 (twenty years ago)

...plus 4 makes 10 Radiohead B-sides.

"Meeting In The Aisle" on "Karma Police" CD1
"Fog" on "Knives Out" (not sure which format)
"Cut-tooth" on "Knives Out" (dunno which CD)
"Polyethylene (Parts 1 and 2)" on "Paranoid Android" CD1

Yeah, those'll do (with apologies to Melissa W lest I incur her wrath for having picked "Cut-tooth").

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 26 September 2005 10:17 (twenty years ago)

Suede seconded, thirded, whatever it is now. CD2 of Sci-Fi Lullabies is made up of the best B-sides from Coming Up, and considering five multi-formatted singles were taken from that album, they did a great job maintaining quality control.

― Deluxe (Damian), Monday, 26 September 2005 10:23 (twenty years ago)

i rate CD1 of sci-fi lullabies the best thing from suede, after the debut album.

― hub, Monday, 26 September 2005 10:28 (twenty years ago)

Spoonie Gee & Treacherous 3 "new rap language", flipside of the "love rap" 12".

Doug E. Fresh & Slick Rick "la di da di", flipside of "the show" 12".

ATCQ, Kid Hood, Leaders Of The New School "scenario" remix, flipside of "scenario" 12".

NWA "real niggaz", flipside of "100 miles and runnin'" ep.

Ice Cube "dead homies", flipside of "kill at will" ep.

Dr Dre, Dogg Pound, Lady Of Rage "puffin' on blunts and drinkin' tanerquay", flipside of "dre day" 12".

Notorious B.I.G "who shot ya", flipside of "big poppa" remix 12".

Jay Z "in my lifetime" part 2, flipside of "in my lifetime"12".

Crime "baby you're so repulsive", flipside of "hotwire my heart" 7".

The Cramps "new kind of kick", flipside of "the crusher" 12".

Black Flag "wasted", flipside of "nervous breakdown" 7".

Misfits "hollywood babylon", flipside of "bullet".

Danzig "the violet fire", flipside of "thrall demonsweatlive" ep.

Moss Icon "i'm back sleeping or fucking or something", flipside of the first 7".

Unwound "understand and forget", flipside of "you bite my tongue". 7".

Girls Against Boys "sharkmeat", flipside of "bulletproof cupid".7".

― Ellis, Monday, 26 September 2005 12:05 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Some good proposals here, but you guys are forgetting about the very best b-sides band: Depeche Mode!

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 13:03 (nineteen years ago)

anyone need all the boo's b-sides drop me a line.

― Wogan Lenin (dog latin), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 13:54 (nineteen years ago)

Gbv and Fauves yah.

Like either camp would give a shit.

Hoodoo Gurus too.

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

Smashing Pumpkins, proven by Pisces Iscariot.

― cdwill, Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:21 (nineteen years ago)

Blur

― Christopher Costello (CGC), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

Adam (and the) Ant(s)
XTC
RFTC
Fad Gadget
Renegade Soundwave
Meat Beat Manifesto
Sweet(!)
Unwound
Unrest
Motorhead
Soft Cell
New Order
Cabaret Voltaire
Pavement

and I second:
Prince
The Cure
SFA

― Dom iNut (donut), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:35 (nineteen years ago)

Art of Noise!

― Dom iNut (donut), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:36 (nineteen years ago)

I second most bands named, and add Weezer.

― Stephen C (ihope), Tuesday, 17 January 2006 23:39 (nineteen years ago)

nine months pass...

autonomy boy
appropriation
last night, northgate street
fulwood babylon
five ways to end it
christmas is cancelled

not all b-sides but let's just say as far as *non-album tracks* goes the long blondes are the team to beat at the minute. especially seeing as a) no one really bothers with decent extra tracks anymore and b) they're only just on their debut album.

― pisces (piscesx), Monday, 13 November 2006 15:18 (eighteen years ago)

Inches (Les Savy Fav) is all b-sides isn't it? that should put them in contention. it is great.

― A Giant Mechanical Ant (The Giant Mechanical Ant), Monday, 13 November 2006 17:13 (eighteen years ago)

Swervedriver and Superchunk.

― Sir Echo (Sir Echo), Monday, 13 November 2006 22:16 (eighteen years ago)

Swervedriver all-the-way seconded

― tk (tk), Monday, 13 November 2006 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

all these years and nobody's mentioned OMD. philistines.

even when OMD went a bit dubious (post-1985) the B-sides still rocked.

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Monday, 13 November 2006 22:34 (eighteen years ago)

thirteen years pass...

Motorhead did this for a bit. Over The Top (b-side of Bomber) and Too Late, Too Late (b-side of Overkill) are 2 of my favourite Motorhead songs of all time

― CP Radio Gorgeous (Colonel Poo), Sunday, 13 September 2020 00:26 (five years ago)

possible challop: most Blur b-sides are shit

― unpaid intern at the darvo institute (Simon H.), Sunday, 13 September 2020 01:49 (five years ago)

Jesus & Mary Chain's B-side comp Barbed Wire Kisses is as solid a listen as their best album.

― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 13 September 2020 03:21 (five years ago)

Nirvana

― Neanderthal, Sunday, 13 September 2020 03:40 (five years ago)

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