Celebrated songs that were album tracks, not singles

[jw5]

The decision to release an album track as a single is made because it stands the best chance of becoming a hit. And while an artist or record company usually makes the right choice, some songs are left lurking in the grooves that deserve singular status, iconic recordings that in hindsight would surely have topped the music charts. So, what tunes missed the cut, and who sang them?

 

[jw5]

'More Than a Woman' - Bee Gees -

Written by the Bee Gees for the 'Saturday Night Fever' (1977) movie soundtrack, 'More Than a Woman' was not released as a single in the UK or US, but was in other countries, including Italy and Australia.

 

[jw5]

'Isn't She Lovely' - Stevie Wonder -

Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely' is a song celebrating the birth of the singer's daughter, Aisha Morris. The track appears on his 1976 album, 'Songs in the Key of Life.' Wonder was unwilling to cut the song from its more than six minutes, so a single release was never considered. Nonetheless, 'Isn't She Lovely' received plenty of airplay.

 

[jw5]

'Here Comes the Sun' - The Beatles -

The double A-side single, 'Come Together/Something,' served as The Beatles' swansong. Both tracks appear on 1969's 'Abbey Road.' Like 'Something,' 'Here Comes the Sun' was written by George Harrison. It's widely viewed by music historians as having marked Harrison's ascendancy as a composer to the level of Lennon and McCartney.

 

[jw5]

'Gimme Shelter' - The Rolling Stones -

The opening track of the Rolling Stones' 1969 album 'Let It Bleed,' 'Gimme Shelter' quickly became a staple of the band's live concerts. While never released as a single, the song nevertheless has been included on many compilation releases.

 

[jw5]

'Stairway to Heaven' - Led Zeppelin -

An album band to the core, Led Zeppelin released few singles, 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Immigrant Song' being rare exceptions. It was hoped 'Stairway to Heaven,' which appeared on side one of 'Led Zeppelin IV,' would join this exclusive club, but the epic power ballad was never promoted as a single. 'Stairway to Heaven' is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

 

[GOD IS MY DOG]

my favourite Depeche Mode song................amazing it wasn't a single...........

 

[jw5]

'England' - Ed Sheeran -

In 2023, Ed Sheeran secured his seventh straight UK number one album with 'Autumn Variations.' Soon afterwards he announced that no singles would be released, although one, 'American Town,' was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio the same day as the album was released. Otherwise, fans and music critics alike agree that 'England' is the best song on the album, and would have made a suitably impressive single.

 

[jw5]

'Go Go Dancer' - Lana Del Rey -

Lana Del Rey is notorious for shelving single-status songs. For every track picked to appear on a record, there are dozens that haven't made the cut. One of these is 2010's 'Go Go Dancer,' which was leaked on social media in 2012.

 

[jw5]

'Radio' - Beyoncé -

'Radio' is often listed on fan forums as a song Beyoncé should have released as a single. It was recorded for her 2008 album 'I Am… Sasha Fierce,' and marked a departure from her usual R&B style.

 

[jw5]

'Like a Drug' - Kylie Minogue -

'Like a Drug' is the second song on side one of 2007's 'X,' a dance-pop and electronica album that explores themes of sex and celebration. Music critics noted the track's "sinister production, with a distorted airy vibe," with some left scratching their heads as to why it wasn't released as a single.

 

[jw5]

'Good Girl Gone Bad' - Rihanna -

'Umbrella' was the big hit single taken from Rihanna's 2007 album release 'Good Girl Gone Bad.' Closing the album, though, is the title track 'Good Girl Gone Bad,' which caught the imagination of Rihanna's female fan base, who recognized it as leveling a warning at the men out there who aren't taking care of the special women in their lives. But it's also about Rihanna breaking out of the innocent image the singer says she was forced into.

 

[jw5]

'Till I Collapse' - Eminem ft. Nate Dogg -

Here's an anomaly: despite never having been released as a single, 'Till I Collapse' has managed to chart numerous times worldwide. Appearing on 2002's 'The Eminem Show,' the song is the most streamed non-single on Spotify, according to Guinness World Records.

 

[jw5]

'Slide Away' - Oasis -

'Slide Away' appears as the penultimate track on Oasis' 1994 debut album 'Definitely Maybe.' Despite being a fan favorite, 'Slide Away' was rarely played live, though Liam Gallagher has since performed the song at some of his solo shows.

 

[JurongEast]

Pls continue Sir @jw5

 

[jw5]

'Red Hill Mining Town' - U2 -

So near was 'Red Hill Mining Town' to being released as a single that U2 had shot a music video. It was planned as the second single from 1987's 'Joshua Tree,' but was ultimately shelved in favor of 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.'

 

[po2wq]

dese posts r incomplete wifout ze songs embedded as wel ...

 

[jw5]

dese posts r incomplete wifout ze songs embedded as wel ...

One of my favourite songs in the list.

 

[jw5]

'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' - The Smiths -

An album favorite for many years, 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' was eventually released as a single, five years after The Smiths had disbanded. The track originally featured on the band's 1986 album, 'The Queen Is Dead.'

 

[jw5]

'New Religion' - Duran Duran -

'Rio' was the second album released by English New Romantic band Duran Duran, in 1982. The band shot music videos for many of the album's tracks, all of which helped spearhead the 1980's MTV revolution. However, 'New Religion,' a key highlight that opened side two and was described as a "dialogue between the ego and the alter-ego," was never given single status.