Top 10 Underappreciated Songs on Legendary Albums
#10: “The Beautiful Ones” (1984)
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Prince and the Revolution Prince’s award-winning album “Purple Rain” included several notable singles - including of course the title track! But it would be a mistake not to give “The Beautiful Ones” a close listen too. The album served as a soundtrack to the rock musical drama of the same name, and “The Beautiful Ones” sees The Kid singing his heart out to Apollonia as she sits with his rival. Composed and produced by Prince, the song features a visceral vocal performance and moody instrumentation. It was actually written about his one time girlfriend, Denise Matthews aka Vanity. Even if the song doesn’t get the glory of the title track, it still represents the passion and consummate talent of Prince.
#9: “Don’t Hurt Yourself” (2016)
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Beyoncé Off her magnum opus “Lemonade,” the track “Don’t Hurt Yourself” reveals Beyoncé as the rock star she was always born to be. With help from Jack White, Queen B mixes hard rock production values, funky grooves, and hip hop hooks. Paying tribute to artists like Led Zeppelin, the song even features a well-placed sample of the band’s classic cover “When the Levee Breaks.” Full of attitude, the performer lays out furious lyrics with a full-throttle intensity. Showing that she can do anything, Beyoncé glides through “Don’t Hurt Yourself” like a rock veteran.
#8: “Moonage Daydream” (1971)
David Bowie There are few artists as revered as the iconic and eclectic David Bowie. While it was released on "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," “Moonage Daydream” first came out as a single for Bowie's band Arnold Corns. During Bowie's glam period, he took a number of risks in terms of his image and musical direction. Recounting the lore behind his Stardust character, "Moonage Daydream" makes the bizarre beautiful through an intriguing lyrical journey. Among the singer's heavier works, this song foresaw the darker turns of the coming decade in terms of both music and general pop culture.
#7: “Something 2 Dance 2” (1988)
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N.W.A Emerging fully-formed into the hip hop scene, N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton” was an adrenaline shot to the heart of the music industry. While many of the songs speak about the Black experience in Los Angeles, “Something 2 Dance 2” is more a call to the dance floor! A groovy 80s dance track, the song throws the record for an enjoyable loop. Breaking from the album’s initial messaging, this track’s only concern is to get people dancing. “Something 2 Dance 2” is a great curveball on one of the greatest rap records ever.
#6: “Summer Soft” (1976)
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Stevie Wonder Few solo artists had a better decade than Stevie Wonder in the 70s. With each album more successful than the next, he capped off a great run with "Songs in the Key of Life" in 1976. To a degree, “Summer Soft” was eclipsed by the mega-hit singles from the album, but it’s a fantastic, vibrant track. Led by Wonder's effortless performance, the song showcases his knack for writing beautiful melodies. It’s yet another reason to dive back into the Grammy-award winning album, which was awarded Album of the Year.
#5: “Something in the Way” (1991)
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Nirvana Nirvana's second studio album took the world by storm, becoming a cornerstone of the grunge genre. But a few songs veered away from the predominantly grunge sound. One such is the ballad “Something in the Way”. In a minimal, understated acoustic track, Kurt Cobain delivers a melancholic song about struggle and homelessness. The lyrics are as memorable as they are heartbreaking. Even if it doesn't have the sonic power of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," this track showcases the experimental side and versatility of Nirvana.
#4: “Save Me” (1967)
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Aretha Franklin Although “I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You” was Franklin’s tenth album, it marked her breakthrough into commercial success. It’s hard to stand out on an album with stratospheric hits like “Respect,” but the track “Save Me” does that and more. Singing about a love gone wrong, Franklin’s performance soars as always in a track that has R&B roots but also features gospel influences in the vocals. The entire album was a revelation, but this particular song shouldn’t be ignored.
#3: “‘39” (1975)
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Queen Considered their finest hour, "A Night at the Opera" represents the glam rockers at their best with masterpieces like "Bohemian Rhapsody." Even with all the attention it received, a hugely discussed album such as this has a few hidden gems. For "'39," lead guitarist Brian May took listeners on a sci-fi journey. In a rarity for the group, May takes over vocals from Freddie Mercury. Epic in scope, the song combines mystical fantasy with the arena rock sound that made Queen famous. Despite Mercury's absence, the track stands out with its great storytelling and timeless melodies.
#2: “Songbird” (1977)
Fleetwood Mac As the unsung hero of Fleetwood Mac, singer/songwriter Christine McVie provided her unique talents to the band's incredible achievement "Rumours." She wrote multiple songs for the album including the hit "Don't Stop," while other songs like "Songbird" flew under the radar. Based around a beautiful piano melody, it’s an intimate song about love that showcases McVie’s unique voice. Nestled into the latter half of the Grammy-winning album, "Songbird" deserves recognition as a worthy underdog on a classic album. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)” (1966), The Beach Boys A Sweet Song From “Pet Sounds” That Mixes String Arrangements & Perfect Harmonies “Optimistic” (2000), Radiohead The “Kid A” Track Captivates with Its Catchy Riffs and Instrumentation “Fairies Wear Boots” (1970), Black Sabbath Hard Rock Guitars & Ozzy’s Voice Shine in This Early Heavy Metal Gem from “Paranoid” “Hello” (1995), Oasis A Loud, Rock Opener for “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” with Hooks Galore “Any Colour You Like” (1973), Pink Floyd The Colorful Instrumental Blends Nicely into “The Dark Side of the Moon”
#1: “The Girl is Mine” (1982)
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Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney One of the most record-breaking achievements of any era, "Thriller" solidified Michael Jackson as the King of Pop. Some people forget that the lead single off the album, "The Girl is Mine," featured the musical stylings of Paul McCartney. It speaks to the measure of musical talent on the album that a song with a former Beatle gets overlooked. In a bouncy and enjoyable duet, Jackson and McCartney duel over a woman in a fun-loving pop track. Despite the later singles overtaking this track, there's still tons of pop stardom and artistry for one song.
