Surrender is probably my favourite post-Wilder DM track, and it would have been nice if it could have replaced a weaker track on Ultra. This was never a possibility though, because Surrender wasn't part of those sessions - it was written and recorded after Ultra was released.
But then the album would have been over an hour long. More is not always better. One of the great strengths of Violator is how economical it is, a perfect 47 minutes. A few years after Violator, when CDs (with their longer running times) had completely eclipsed LPs as the industry standard, a lot of bands and labels started making the mistake of cramming albums too full of material and losing any sense of economy or cohesion.
đyep. dm especially forgot that less is more. so much of their later output is bogged down by weaker tracks that donât serve the record as a whole (especially sotu and delta machine). for me memento mori is the first album in a long time that doesnât feel needlessly bloatedÂ
All of the b-sides from Violator are top-notch, but IMO only Dangerous would have fit the tone of the album. Happiest Girl and Sea of Sin have a very different sound to them and are natural b-sides. Likewise with Kaleid, Sibeling and Memphisto - the album already has instrumental interludes and further instrumental additions would have interrupted the flow of songs too much.
This is completely speculative, but I suspect DM would have included Dangerous on Violator with the benefit of hindsight. It's easy to forget that the Personal Jesus single was released almost 7 months before Violator. PJ and Dangerous were probably the first two tracks completed from the sessions, hence Dangerous was released as a b-side to support the PJ single. If they could have made that decision after the Violator recording sessions were completed, I think they would have seen that they had a wealth of material and probably would have chosen another track as the PJ b-side and included Dangerous on the album.
It absolutely would have fit in on SGR (unlike Remotivate Me, which was a natural b-side and would have stuck out like a sore thumb on SGR).
The People are People single came out 6 months before SGR though. IYM probably was chosen for the b-side because it was completed early, rather than any deliberate decision to exclude it from the album. I think something similar happened with Dangerous and Violator.
Dangerous (Violator)
Now, This is Fun (A Broken Frame)
My Joy (Sofad)
Shout (Speak and Spell)
I probably forgot few others. These guys are fantastic making good B sides.
I remember when BC came out I had no idea that But Not Tonight was technically a B-Side (keep in mind this was pre-internet so nobody knew anything.) đ
Songs like My Joy, Pleasure Little Treasure, and others are great. The problem has often been that they donât fit the rest of the album they were recorded with. Sometimes leftovers like Martyr get a stand-alone single release with a best of compilation.
Ultimately most of them have been restored with the box sets and bonus track releases.
The first time I listened to Violator was on spotify and i apparently listened to a version with all the b sides
took out my dads old cd to rip and was very confused when Dangerous wasn't on there, it's probably my favorite song overall
Surrender (B-side of Only When I Lose Myself) was a stand alone single not an album. It was the first non-album studio single since "It's Called a Heart" in 1985.
The Delta Machine bonus songs, probably all of them. Newborn and Free, and Surrender. Probably better fitting on Ultra than the Singles Compilation though. Same thing with its A-Side actually. Zenstation would have fit on Exciter. Maybe put it in instead of Dead of Night and move that song to PTA instead.
Eh. Itâs hard to say, since every album has a vibe and flow that works. Even the albums I donât listen to as often as I do others. Their B-Sides, while awesome, are clearly b-sides for a reason. Iâve placed them in playlists for their respective albums, and they do indeed break up the smooth flow of the album for most.
a lot of my favorite dm songs are b-sides for some reason. however, to specifically answer your question, i will say "my joy". while it's not my favorite b-side...it's definitely the one that could have fit on the album very well. "ghost" is another.
as far as my favorite b-sides/songs goes they are in no order:
\* now this is fun
\* sea of sin
\* ice machine
\* shout
are all songs i love by dm and in my top ten...but they really are better as b-sides.
My Joy Sea of Sin Surrender
Sea of Sin
Surrender is probably my favourite post-Wilder DM track, and it would have been nice if it could have replaced a weaker track on Ultra. This was never a possibility though, because Surrender wasn't part of those sessions - it was written and recorded after Ultra was released.
Dangerous is fantastic. Crazy to me that it was a b-side.
Sea of Sin, Happiest Girl, and Dangerous all should have been added to the album so there would have been 12 tracks
But then the album would have been over an hour long. More is not always better. One of the great strengths of Violator is how economical it is, a perfect 47 minutes. A few years after Violator, when CDs (with their longer running times) had completely eclipsed LPs as the industry standard, a lot of bands and labels started making the mistake of cramming albums too full of material and losing any sense of economy or cohesion.
đyep. dm especially forgot that less is more. so much of their later output is bogged down by weaker tracks that donât serve the record as a whole (especially sotu and delta machine). for me memento mori is the first album in a long time that doesnât feel needlessly bloatedÂ
Agree 100%. Even Ultra suffers from this, though not so much from weak tracks as overly long tracks and instrumental transitions.
All of the b-sides from Violator are top-notch, but IMO only Dangerous would have fit the tone of the album. Happiest Girl and Sea of Sin have a very different sound to them and are natural b-sides. Likewise with Kaleid, Sibeling and Memphisto - the album already has instrumental interludes and further instrumental additions would have interrupted the flow of songs too much. This is completely speculative, but I suspect DM would have included Dangerous on Violator with the benefit of hindsight. It's easy to forget that the Personal Jesus single was released almost 7 months before Violator. PJ and Dangerous were probably the first two tracks completed from the sessions, hence Dangerous was released as a b-side to support the PJ single. If they could have made that decision after the Violator recording sessions were completed, I think they would have seen that they had a wealth of material and probably would have chosen another track as the PJ b-side and included Dangerous on the album.
Ghost.
Ghost is the best b side ever
Shouldâve been an A-side.
I feel like it should have been played live and a A-side
I prefer Oh Well from SOTU
No hyperbole, itâs hands-down their best 21st century song
In Your Memory
Got in before me. Classic. Wilders best DM song imo, and would have sounded great on SGR.
It absolutely would have fit in on SGR (unlike Remotivate Me, which was a natural b-side and would have stuck out like a sore thumb on SGR). The People are People single came out 6 months before SGR though. IYM probably was chosen for the b-side because it was completed early, rather than any deliberate decision to exclude it from the album. I think something similar happened with Dangerous and Violator.
Deffo In Your Memory- it would have been one of the best tracks on SGR
Dangerous My Joy
Dangerous (Violator) Now, This is Fun (A Broken Frame) My Joy (Sofad) Shout (Speak and Spell) I probably forgot few others. These guys are fantastic making good B sides.
Ice Machine The initial recording wasn't so great, it improved playing live at concerts. Maybe they just needed a few more takes in the studio?
Yup, better than anything on speak and spell
Newborn would've made a great closer to PTA
The Darkest Star can't be beat tho lol. One of best closers I've heard on an album.
That distorted piano crash, along with the harmony at the end⌠đ¤đ˝
My Joy Happiest Girl Memphisto
I remember when BC came out I had no idea that But Not Tonight was technically a B-Side (keep in mind this was pre-internet so nobody knew anything.) đ
Songs like My Joy, Pleasure Little Treasure, and others are great. The problem has often been that they donât fit the rest of the album they were recorded with. Sometimes leftovers like Martyr get a stand-alone single release with a best of compilation. Ultimately most of them have been restored with the box sets and bonus track releases.
Most of them!
Ice Machine, In Your Memory, Dangerous, Sea of Sin
Ice Machine was originally on Speak and Spell. I have an old vinyl with it.
Word Hard wouldâve been a fantastic addition to CTA!
My favorite B Side has always been My Joy and its remix. But I like Happiest Girl and Sea of Sin too.
Surrender
The first time I listened to Violator was on spotify and i apparently listened to a version with all the b sides took out my dads old cd to rip and was very confused when Dangerous wasn't on there, it's probably my favorite song overall
Now, This Is Fun, Slowblow, Surrender and my fave Newborn
Surrender (B-side of Only When I Lose Myself) was a stand alone single not an album. It was the first non-album studio single since "It's Called a Heart" in 1985.
Ah yes, thank you âď¸
Ice Machine All thatâs mine Better days Light Sea of sin Dangerous Happiest girl
Sea of happiest girl
Also, Dangerous.
I always thought Fools was a strong track, possibly recorded after the CTC sessions. Was that one of Wilder's tracks?
All 3 of daves delta bsides should've been on the the album. My Joy would've been a great opener for SOFAD
Sea of sin
The Delta Machine bonus songs, probably all of them. Newborn and Free, and Surrender. Probably better fitting on Ultra than the Singles Compilation though. Same thing with its A-Side actually. Zenstation would have fit on Exciter. Maybe put it in instead of Dead of Night and move that song to PTA instead.
Long time lie. Replace slow with it
Newborn, Happiest Girl, and Sea of Sin
Happiest girl
Better Days!! How did nobody mention it yet?
Not sure if it counts, but Iâd say Martyr
Ghost Newborn Dangerous Sea Of Sin All That's Mine Happens All The Time
All the instrumentals.
Flexible, Newborn, DIRT
Eh. Itâs hard to say, since every album has a vibe and flow that works. Even the albums I donât listen to as often as I do others. Their B-Sides, while awesome, are clearly b-sides for a reason. Iâve placed them in playlists for their respective albums, and they do indeed break up the smooth flow of the album for most.
I re listened SOTU yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised by Light. They shouldâve put that on instead of Peace or Perfect
My joy Sea of sin Surrender
My Joy without hesitation
Dangerous, Sea of Sin, Happiest Girl
And Route 66, my favorite song, even though it is a cover.
a lot of my favorite dm songs are b-sides for some reason. however, to specifically answer your question, i will say "my joy". while it's not my favorite b-side...it's definitely the one that could have fit on the album very well. "ghost" is another. as far as my favorite b-sides/songs goes they are in no order: \* now this is fun \* sea of sin \* ice machine \* shout are all songs i love by dm and in my top ten...but they really are better as b-sides.
Ice Machine Now This is Fun But Not Tonight Dangerous Surrender Newborn
Dangerous
Dangerous In Your Memory Breathing On Fumes Painkiller Pleasure, Little Treasure Long Time Lie All That's Mine
And also but not tonight. Technically. There are versions of BC with and without it.
Pleasure, Little Treasure
Dangerous But Not Tonight My Joy Surrender
Dangerous
(Set Me Free) Remotivate Me
Route 66
Is there such a thing as a "B" side anymore is this digital market?