Ticket 2 Ride

Is there an album you love – but has one song that you skip or wish wasn’t on the album? That one song that doesn’t fit, ruins the flow and sticks out like a hangnail. No, I’m not going to pick “Revolution 9” on the White Album or “Mother” on Synchronicity or “Jamaica Jerk-Off” on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Too easy.

Albums are more than just collections of unrelated, dissimilar songs. I’m not talking about concept albums that have a musical or lyrical motif that runs through the tracks. Rather, songs of musical ideas that feel birthed from a unifying vibe or genre, not copies of each other, but companions that together weave a musical tapestry.

Sometimes artists run out of ideas, take a chance with a cover song, bow to pressure from a band member, or just simply choose a wild idea. Since many people don’t buy entire albums or use a playlist, uninteresting songs can be avoided. Back in the dinosaur days, we bought the entire album.

Here are some really fine albums and the one song that doesn’t belong.

Sticky Fingers (1971) by The Rolling Stones sails along until “You Gotta Move” drifts through the speakers. The Stones loved the blues, but the album already had several very beautiful slow, acoustic songs. This one is not one of those.

Bridge Over Troubled Water is a 1970 album by Simon & Garfunkel is a revered recording, recipient of six Grammy Awards and multi platinum seller. “Bye Bye Love” is one of the songs, a live recording, that doesn’t fit. The Felice and Boudleaux Bryant song has been recorded many times, the most notable version being the Everly Brothers’ 1957 hit single. It’s a highly honored song, no argument, but just putting it on any album doesn’t always work.

Brain Salad Surgery (1973) by Emerson, Lake & Palmer is an amazing album, with the exception of “Benny the Bouncer.” Unfortunately, it’s honky tonk, jangly piano piece, while a favorite of many, and a breather between more standard ELP fare, it’s a skip-over for me. Keith Emerson shows off his piano skills and love for other genres.

Making Movies (1980) by Dire Straits. “Les Boys” doesn’t belong. As the closing track on the album is a slow, quiet song about gay young men performing in a German cabaret. Maybe it’s making an insightful observation, I don’t know, but it doesn’t seem to the album.

In Through the Out Door (1979) the final studio album by Led Zeppelin. Hardly a perfect or classic album, but the song “Hot Dog” is an odd duck. A lot of people like this song, but it seems out of place.

Tug of War was Paul McCartney’s 1982 solo album, a sort of comeback after Wings and his solo, solo McCartney II album. Wedged in among the highly produced songs was a duet with Carl Perkins (“Blue Suede Shies”) called “Get It.” McCarthy included another duet on the album, “Ebony and Ivory” with Stevie Wonder, but at least it was in a contemporary style and went on to be a number one hit. The Perkins duet is not horrible, it just sounds so different from the rest of the album. Maybe releasing it on a different album would have been more appropriate.

Fragile (1971), “Cans and Brahms” adapted from Brahms by Rick Wakeman. Right after “Roundabout” we get this showy classic piece. Why not something that fits the spirit of the album?

Meddle (1971) by Pink Floyd “Seamus” Loose acoustic jam, but the barking dog is the featured vocalist. Credited to all four members.

Young Americans (1975) includes “Across the Universe” even though John Lennon plays and sings on it. Great song, but terrible version. It’s a mood killer.

One of These Nights (1975) includes “Journey of the Sorcerer” Bernie Leadon, a founding member of the Eagles wanted his equal time. This weird instrumental piece has some amazing musical playing, but what is it? Leadon also had “I Wish You Peace” an uninteresting ballad he wrote with girlfriend Patti Davis, Gov. Reagan’s daughter. This was Leadon’s last album with the Eagles, a drink poured over the head of Glenn Frey sealed his fate.