The worst songs on the greatest albums ever

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Below are my ten favorite albums and the worst track off each. Please tell me your own choices for the worst tracks off these albums (even if you hate the albums overall). The person with the best response will receive a Dennis Linde album of my choice on vinyl.

1. New Order: Low-Life (Qwest 1985) "Subculture" (but only cuz the Substance version smokes it)
2. DeBarge: In A Special Way (Gordy 1983) "Baby, Won't Cha Come Quick" (I actually don't like this song at all and "Need Somebody" is filler-plus; that proves the god-like powers of the remaining seven tracks)
3. New York Dolls: New York Dolls/In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury 1973- 1974) "Private World" ("It's Too Late" for the latter)
4. Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stone 1972) "Torn & Frayed" (Exile's only piece of filler)
5. Sly & The Family Stone: There's A Riot Goin' On (Epic 1971) "Africa Talks To You 'The Asphalt Jungle'" (just goes on too long and this is assuming that the title track on the vinyl doesn't count)
6. Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (Blast First 1988) "'Cross The Breeze" (that hardcore section ruins the album's chi)
7. DJ Shadow: Endtroducing….. (Mo Wax/FFRR 1996) "Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96" (so bad, in fact, that it threatens to undo everything that makes this album the greatest of the 1990s)
8. X-Ray Spex: Germfree Adolescents (EMI 1978) "I Live Off You" (gave birth to The Exploited)
9. The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic (Mint 2000) "Breakin' The Law" (Judas Priest's may even be better)
10. Love: Forever Changes (Elektra 1967) "Bummer in the Summer" (not psych enough)

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:31 (nineteen years ago)

6. Sonic Youth: Daydream Nation (Blast First 1988) "'Cross The Breeze" (that hardcore section ruins the album's chi)

crazy talk

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:42 (nineteen years ago)

11. Metallica: Ride the Lightning - "Escape"

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:43 (nineteen years ago)

No! They have to be the worst tracks on MY top ten. Ride the Lightning is only my 4,869th favorite album of all-time.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:49 (nineteen years ago)

9. The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic (Mint 2000) "Breakin' The Law" (Judas Priest's may even be better)

Judas Priest's "Breakin' the Law" is better than A LOT of things.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:50 (nineteen years ago)

Also, who wants to play this game if we can only use your albums? teh lame

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:52 (nineteen years ago)

No! They have to be the worst tracks on MY top ten. Ride the Lightning is only my 4,869th favorite album of all-time.

Mods move thread to the I Love Kevin John Bozelka board plz

― musically (musically), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:53 (nineteen years ago)

But shirley there are SOME albums on my list that y'all love... For instance, Johnny Fever is a well-known lover of DeBarge's In A Special Way. Perhaps he can think long and hard about the worst track on it.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 05:57 (nineteen years ago)

B-sides, that free Dennis Linde album sweetens the deal, no?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 06:00 (nineteen years ago)

I like "Torn and Frayed" more than "Soul Survivor" or "All Down the Line"

Joe's got a cough, sounds kind a rough,
Yeah, and the codeine to fix it.
Doctor prescribes, drug store supplies,
Who's gonna help him to kick it

― nicky lo-fi (nicky lo-fi), Thursday, 12 October 2006 06:29 (nineteen years ago)

Are u high? :) "Soul Survivor" is THE very best song on the album, the very last chance these tropical disease-infected tax dodgers have to get up and go. And they do! But just barely which makes the effort gargantuan. Dig that woozy intro as if the guitar had just been punched. Dig that first line which a bewildered Mick sings as if in media res, as if some dictator in the Third World country the band has abused for their playground has just burst in and forced Mick at gunpoint to finally, literally sing for his supper. And then contrast that opening with how the track steadily gains godspeed until it starts sprinting at the fade out which sees the boys taking the first flight the fuck outta there. It reads like the last chaper of Lester Bangs' beloved The Ice Age by Margaret Drabble. The difference is that as rich men, Mick and Keith already have that freedom from freedom the main character in the novel finds (and desires) in a Third World country. After all, such a place would be little more than a tax shelter to the Glimmer Twins. So any other kind of freedom spells death to them. No biggie, though. We know they got outta there alive. The intensity never lets up through the fade to silence is testament to that fact. So is the sad truth that they went on to record their worst studio album of the decade. And gave us "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" as an encore.

And lyrics? I've heard this album 203 times and I've never understood the vocals for more than a sentence at a time.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 07:15 (nineteen years ago)

Oops! That's "the intensity THAT never lets up THROUGHOUT the fade..."

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 07:17 (nineteen years ago)

4. Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stone 1972) "Torn & Frayed" (Exile's only piece of filler)

Are u high? :) "Soul Survivor" is THE very best song on the album

crazy talk squared.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Thursday, 12 October 2006 07:30 (nineteen years ago)

Like I'm going to listen to the guy who put out that dishwater dull Clean album on Astralwerks a few years back.

I prefer Cassavetes' anti-hero.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 07:35 (nineteen years ago)

Like I'm going to listen to the guy who put out that dishwater dull Clean album on Astralwerks a few years back.

That guy's an imposter and has been running amok all over Paris. I just discovered his existence last month. He must be stopped. I AM Cassavete's anti-hero.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Thursday, 12 October 2006 08:03 (nineteen years ago)

Shit man, here's a recent shot I meant to put in ILE's "How sexy are you in October?" thread:

http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/47/47_images/cassa_bookie.jpg

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Thursday, 12 October 2006 08:07 (nineteen years ago)

We will fall

the reggae tunes on 'rock for light'

― toe-foo (toe-foo), Thursday, 12 October 2006 08:28 (nineteen years ago)

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is a much better album than Rock For Light.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 10:31 (nineteen years ago)

cross the breeze is the best song on daydream nation after hey joni

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 12 October 2006 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

8. X-Ray Spex: Germfree Adolescents (EMI 1978) "I Live Off You" (gave birth to The Exploited)

I object! Hang on, I'll pick a different track.

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 12 October 2006 11:06 (nineteen years ago)

"I am a poseur"

As I can't bring it to mind and suspect it's "another track"...

― mark grout (mark grout), Thursday, 12 October 2006 11:07 (nineteen years ago)

Come on Mark :

"iamaposeurandidontcareiliketomakepeoplestare"

Does that jog the memory?

There are no crap tracks on Germ Free!

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

Neil Young: Piece of Crap (Sleeps With Angels)

It lives up to it's name.

― Torgeir Hansen/MRZBW (MRZBW), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:25 (nineteen years ago)

Exile On Main Street: Worst song is Casino Boogie. I'm not that partial to Soul Survivor either. Talk of Torn and Frayed as filler is insane.

Forever Changes: Worst song is Andmoreagain. Bummer in the Summer is probably 2nd.

There's A Riot Goin' On: Africa Talks To You is my favorite on this. It's the weirdest, druggiest and most extreme song on the record. The fact that it goes on for so long is part of the point. Worst song is Spaced Cowboy.

Daydream Nation: Worst song is Rain King.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

andmoreagain is maybe my favourite on forever changes!

i vote for old man as the worst song

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

worst on daydream nation: kissability

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:39 (nineteen years ago)

Side One of Forever Changes: wayyyyy better than side Two??

4. Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street (Rolling Stone 1972) "Torn & Frayed" (Exile's only piece of filler)

CRAZY TALK

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Thursday, 12 October 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Touched" off Loveless. It just sounds so godawfully uncomfortable that I can't even bear to listen to all ninety seconds or however long. And the title certainly doesn't help.

"Hi It's Been a Long Time" from Hurdy Gurdy Man - "Proud as any woman should be/Proud of womankind." Donovan please stop being such a hippie kthxbye

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Thursday, 12 October 2006 15:46 (nineteen years ago)

Really, Mark, come on! You don't even have to LISTEN to "I Am A Poseur" to know the song's greatness. It's the only song my first boyfriend chortled at on the back of the original vinyl.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 18:53 (nineteen years ago)

kornrulez6969, you need less Korn or more 6969 in your life, obviously. "Rain King" is the most underrated song on Daydream. It may not be the best (that's something like "Hey Joni"). But it's the most representative. "Classic expansionist rock," Byron Coley called Daydream and "Rain King" clears out acres upon acres upon acres of field. Listen to the guitars after that first squiggly break - they push forward and billow up simultaneously. And those depth charges the bracket the entire song?? Come come now, kornrulez6969. Really, dude. Shoot it!

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 18:59 (nineteen years ago)

owen moorhead, Loveless in on my top ten for the 1990s so...

It's "Touched" as in "touched by the hand of (some sort of) god." Whale song for the industrial era. It touches me.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

Worst song on Loveless: "Come In Alone" (too Hendrixy)

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Thursday, 12 October 2006 19:03 (nineteen years ago)

Party for Your Right to Fight to thread

― PappaWheelie: Giving out breaks to the needy since September 25th, 2006 (PappaWh, Thursday, 12 October 2006 20:45 (nineteen years ago)

You may be right about "Party for Your Right to Fight," Pops. Still, it's a mighty danceable respite, sexy even. You could strip to it.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 01:53 (nineteen years ago)

What, no DeBarge takers?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 01:54 (nineteen years ago)

TS: Sail Away v. Ride My Llama (A: Sail Away)

3. New York Dolls: New York Dolls/In Too Much Too Soon (Mercury 1973- 1974) "Private World" ("It's Too Late" for the latter)
7. DJ Shadow: Endtroducing….. (Mo Wax/FFRR 1996) "Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96"

more bad craziness

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 October 2006 02:04 (nineteen years ago)

Channel Zero and that one that's like "the same god" are way worse than Party for Your Right to Fight

The Bogus Man off "For Your Pleasure"

― Adam S S (Zephery), Friday, 13 October 2006 02:12 (nineteen years ago)

maybe this doesn't count because it's tacked onto the geffen reissue, but i always hated that they put "bubblegum" at the end of evol. but this happens a lot with reissues.

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Friday, 13 October 2006 03:44 (nineteen years ago)

"Sowing Seeds" on Psychocandy - honestly, I like almost the entire song just fine, but I cannot get over the fact that IT SO OBVIOUSLY USES THE SAME DRUM INTRO AS "JUST LIKE HONEY" ON THE SAME FUCKING ALBUM AGGGHHH ASDHDKFHASJDLGHJLFHKDJ;HJLFDKHJSSSHHHHHHHHH

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Friday, 13 October 2006 04:39 (nineteen years ago)

OH AND THE GUITAR SOUNDS PRETTY FUCKING SIMILAR TOO

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Friday, 13 October 2006 04:41 (nineteen years ago)

I always felt like a lot of the songs on Psychocandy sounded verrrry similar to each other

― Rat Nasty (ratnasty), Friday, 13 October 2006 05:27 (nineteen years ago)

"Spaced Cowboy" is the worst on Riot but I still love it. Second worst is probably "Time".

― Rat Nasty (ratnasty), Friday, 13 October 2006 05:27 (nineteen years ago)

SY's "Bubblegum" - a great cover of an even greater original. So I don't mind it at the end of Evol.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 05:30 (nineteen years ago)

Psychocandy is great BECAUSE many of the songs sound exactly the same. I mean, a debut album that rips off ITSELF?!? More chutzpah than The Velvet Underground and The Beach Boys combined!

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 05:36 (nineteen years ago)

SY's "Bubblegum" - a great cover of an even greater original. So I don't mind it at the end of Evol.
-- Kevin John Bozelka (LiLiPUT...), October 13th, 2006 2:30 AM. (later)

but after "expressway"? i don't like "bubblegum" but, even if i did, "expressway" is such a sacred cow of mine that i i don't think i could tolerate anything following it.

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Friday, 13 October 2006 06:26 (nineteen years ago)

OK I can buy that. But isn't "Expressway" enough of an end for you that nothing following it could ever compromise its endness?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 06:36 (nineteen years ago)

is there really such a thing as a worst song on Exile? while it coheres, there's so much going on in there that wouldn't it be dependent on mood? anyway, if there is one, is it possible it's Rocks Off? that sounds crazy. Happy, maybe. i think my fave might be Sweet Virginia, but then i'm susceptible to folkieisms and jazzisms and the place-name trick.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:15 (nineteen years ago)

Rip This Joint is a whole lotta fun, but is the fast-shambles thing hiding a weak song?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:19 (nineteen years ago)

admittedly, i interface with it mostly on a sonic level; the milieu's never done enough for me to listen hard to the words

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:26 (nineteen years ago)

8. X-Ray Spex: Germfree Adolescents (EMI 1978) "I Live Off You" (gave birth to The Exploited)

That's a good track - "Plastic Bag" is the one that annoys me.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:57 (nineteen years ago)

Beatles to thread.

― strom (strom), Friday, 13 October 2006 19:59 (nineteen years ago)

Rip This Joint is a whole lotta fun, but is the fast-shambles thing hiding a weak song?
-- gabbneb (gabbne...), October 13th, 2006.

No. It's fun you said it yourself. What more do you need?

You're crazy. THERE IS NO BAD SONG ON EXILE.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 13 October 2006 20:06 (nineteen years ago)

well yeah, obviously. the question is what's the worst song?

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 13 October 2006 20:06 (nineteen years ago)

I think it's kind of a dumb question. Many of the threads lately on ILM are stupid hypothetical sorts of stuff. I think all of the songs are equally good, some better than others but I cannot say any of the songs is the worst song or least good song or whatever.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 13 October 2006 20:10 (nineteen years ago)

That being said Side Two of Forever Changes is not as good as side One. Something like Exile, though, just can't do it.

― Mr. Que (Mr.Que), Friday, 13 October 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

I couldn't say what the worst song on Exile is, because I don't think I've ever listened to it all the way through. The first 30-40 minutes is usually sufficient to appease whatever urge led me to put it on in the first place.

On the other hand, I can confidently say that there are no bad songs on Forever Changes.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 13 October 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

What's so hypothetical about this thread, Mr. What? Is deeming the first side of Forever Changes better than the second a hypothetical act?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 22:07 (nineteen years ago)

Worst song on Forever Changes is "Old Man."

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 13 October 2006 22:09 (nineteen years ago)

OK I can buy that. But isn't "Expressway" enough of an end for you that nothing following it could ever compromise its endness?
-- Kevin John Bozelka (LiLiPUT...), October 13th, 2006 3:36 AM. (later)

for sure, "bubblegum" can't take anything away from "expressway." but, by the same token, nothing could ever sound anything but unnecessary and tacked on after "expressway."

― Godfrzej Ljang (godfrzej), Friday, 13 October 2006 22:29 (nineteen years ago)

Well, the world doesn't end after "Expressway" even though it may sound like Armageddon. Have you experienced any music since you last heard "Expressway?"

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 22:38 (nineteen years ago)

So the three albums no one has commented on are by New Order, DeBarge, and The New Pornographers. I have some theories as to why. Do you?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Friday, 13 October 2006 22:38 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, my theory is that "Mass Romantic" isn't the greatest album ever.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Friday, 13 October 2006 23:34 (nineteen years ago)

I agree; it's the NINTH greatest album ever.

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Saturday, 14 October 2006 00:08 (nineteen years ago)

I love Mass Romantic, but Twin Cinema is better.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Saturday, 14 October 2006 00:13 (nineteen years ago)

Kevin, you must be the negative of me, cause for most of your worst tracks are my best on tjose albums.

― emekars (emekars), Saturday, 14 October 2006 02:00 (nineteen years ago)

I had no idea anybody still listened to DeBarge or the New Pornographers.

― Rat Nasty (ratnasty), Saturday, 14 October 2006 06:06 (nineteen years ago)

El DeBarge's 1986 solo debut was great.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 16 October 2006 23:37 (nineteen years ago)

The one track that plagues London Calling is "Four Horsemen." The worst of Sandinista is much better than this garbage.

― bill neil (inabillity), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 00:12 (nineteen years ago)

Whoops I hadn't read the original post. I was wondering why Four Horsemen got no mentions.

― bill neil (inabillity), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 00:14 (nineteen years ago)

So emekars, your FAVORITE track on In A Special Way is "Baby, Won't Cha Come Quick??"

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 01:19 (nineteen years ago)

hahaha "I Live Off You" is EASILY my favorite songs on Germfree

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 03:57 (nineteen years ago)

"Pimpf" by Depeche Mode, the last song on their Music for the Masses LP

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 05:02 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe your copy came without the first song on it. It's this totally obscure little treasure called NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 06:31 (nineteen years ago)

nlmda is the best song on the album. by far

― Charlie Howard (the sphinx), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 07:06 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah. So what's your point?

― Stephen Bush (Stephen B.), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 20:43 (nineteen years ago)

Re: Low-Life - I'd go for "Sooner Than You Think" which rambles on for some time to no particular purpose.

― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 21:01 (nineteen years ago)

"Torn & Frayed" (Exile's only piece of filler)

"Hipshake" is filler. "Torn & Frayed" is sweet.

― J (Jay), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 22:26 (nineteen years ago)

My point is that I got the thread title inverted.

― cosmo vitelli (cosmo vitelli), Tuesday, 17 October 2006 23:40 (nineteen years ago)

Worst song on Forever Changes is "Good Humor Man." The lyrics are too precious and willfully naive for my taste, and I much prefer the instrumental version on the reissue.

― King-a-Ling (King-a-Ling), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 02:07 (nineteen years ago)

Actually Forever Changes is full of shite hippie lyrics, so I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe I just hate little girls wearing pigtails.

― King-a-Ling (King-a-Ling), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 02:10 (nineteen years ago)

in the morning, da da da da

― King-a-Ling (King-a-Ling), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 02:10 (nineteen years ago)

"Pimpf" by Depeche Mode, the last song on their Music for the Masses LP

Only on vinyl, that is. The bonus tracks have always been so integrated with the CD (and cassette) version that they were even included in the recent 5:1 mix.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 09:53 (nineteen years ago)

Hello again.

Of course there are no bad tracks on "GermFree Ad". Never like the title track loads, but hey. "Plastic Bag" I can understand. I need to dig it out to relove "I am a poseur" so there it is.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 10:03 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, and of course the best track on "FC" starts: "Bryan, Maaaaan! " and ends "No-one to bug you, right?"

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 18 October 2006 10:04 (nineteen years ago)

Matos, your fave song off Germfree is "I Live Off You?!?!?" Mais pourquoi?!? Where's the wit? Where's the laffs? And is it not just a tad slower, more bored than the rest of the songs (title track included)?

― Kevin John Bozelka (Kevin John Bozelka), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 08:57 (nineteen years ago)

The laffs are in the total riotous delivery and the "la-la-la!"s between verse/choruses. And it doesn't feel slow at all, or even remotely bored.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

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