Side 2 is better than Side 1

[jason r. baur]

In honor of Juan Borras, who seems to have left us, here's one of those threads he specialized in. Name albums whose second side is noticeably superior to the first. I would have to pick Rod Stewart's Every Picture Tells A Story. Anybody even remotely familiar with it knows why.

What other Sides 2 fit this category?

[Steve Hoffman]

The greatest side two of all time: Abbey Road.

[Claus]

hmmh!!! I would like to say... an overrated album!

[Grant]

Originally posted by Steve Hoffman
The greatest side two of all time: Abbey Road.

I never cared for side two. I always liked side 1.

[mcow1]

The one I remember most is Iron Butterfly In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

[czeskleba]

The Beach Boys Today. Not that side one is bad, by any means, but side two... wow.

[MMM]

I like side 2 of "Abbey Road" better than side 1 also. Nothing wrong with side 1 though. Amazing how well they tied those songs (on side 2) together musically (yeah, I know they're that bad edit with the last note of "Mean Mr. Mustard" chopped off and left on "Her Majesty" - almost adds to the charm of it all though). Love how they wrote in "Mean Mr. Mustard" - "...his sister Pam..." and then the next song is "Polythene Pam". And the "Golden Slumbers" "short medley" is one of my favorite Beatles tracks of all.

I also like Side 2 of Sinatra's "A Swingin' Affair!" better than side one. Side 1 is outstanding too, but side 2 is even better. Actually, when I first heard this album 4 or 5 years ago, I kind of took to side 1 quickily, with side 2 taking just a little more time to work its magic. But think about it, "Oh Look At Me Now", "The Lonesome Road", "At Long Last Love", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" and best of all from this album - "From This Moment On", all on on side of an LP. And the other two side 2 tracks ain't too shabby either.

MMM

[Jefhart]

Cat Stevens - Teaser & The Firecat

Side 2 is much better than side 1. When I had the vinyl I used to play side 2 at least 10 times more often than side 1.

Jeff

[Gary]

Yes, I think AR side two is probably the best ever!

I tend to like The Cars, debut album, side two. Steve, you, once again, did an amazing job! :) I can *touch* that sine wave thing...it's alive! :D (well, that's what "I" call it!)

[Michael]

OMG! You can flip the CD over? All this time playing only side 1? LOL! Just Kidding. My favorite also was side 2 of Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida" :D

[Gary]

Originally posted by Michael
OMG! You can flip the CD over? All this time playing only side 1? LOL! Just Kidding. My favorite also was side 2 of Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida" :D

:D LOL! :D Good one, Michael! :D

Actually you can but side 2 is usually awfully quiet.... ;)

[Sckott]

Abbey Road, Side Two. The most poetic, beautiful, diverse, easy-to-listen-to album side.

[TimM]

I like side 2 of Elton Johns Honky Chateau better than side 1 even though side 1 has the hits. I also agree that Abbey Road is the clear choice.

[mcow1]

Originally posted by Sckott
Abbey Road, Side Two. The most poetic, beautiful, diverse, easy-to-listen-to album side.
And one of the greatest side ones also.

[Jimbo]

Days of Future Passed--Moody Blues. Side 2 starts with "Tuesday Afternoon" and ends with "Nights in White Satin."

[nashreed]

Since it's been brought up so much lately, how about side 2 of "Who's Next"?
I think side 2 of "Revolver" is better than side 1, and better than side 2 of "Abbey Road". IMO, the segue gimmick of "AR" is very cool, but the songs/framents themselves are not that great (except for "Here Comes The Sun", of course).
I'd have to say that side 2 of "Thriller" is better than side 1.
I've been trying to think of other obvious examples of albums where the hits are all on (or mostly on) side 2, but all I could think of is that Mr. Mister album ("Welcome To The Real World").:o

nashreed

[jason r. baur]

How about some Boz Scaggs? Side 2 of Silk Degrees: Lowdown, It's Over, Love Me Tomorrow, Lido Shuffle, We're All Alone.

Also, Side 2 of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust strikes me as one of those Abbey Road-type suites, though in this case the songs are linked more thematically than musically. Quite a ride, though!

[pdenny]

Immediate, obvious choices (to me, anyway):

Van Morrison/Into the Music
Led Zepellin III
Who By Numbers
Sinatra/She Shot Me Down

[tenuous]

Dark Side of the Freakin' Moon. The first side, with the annoying synth of "On the Run" and the jarring alarm clocks of "time" is almost hard to listen to. But side two, particularly after "Money" is some of the most powerful music ever recorded. Switching "Money" with "The Great Gig in the Sky" would've made the absolute greatest album side ever.

[jason r. baur]

Originally posted by pdenny
Immediate, obvious choices (to me, anyway):

Van Morrison/Into the Music
Led Zepellin III

Into the Music I'm in total agreement about, but are you sure about Led Zeppelin III? Side 2 is the reason I don't own it! Oh well, different strokes...

[joelee]

Great question to ponder:

Tattoo You-Rolling Stones

Billy Joel-52nd Street

George Harrison-Dark Horse

Making Movies-Dire Straits

[czeskleba]

Originally posted by joelee
Great question to ponder:

Tattoo You-Rolling Stones


Really? Wow, I've always considered side two to be the weak side of Tattoo You, rather than the other way around.

[Uncle Al]

There must be one in every crowd - I also always thought the Stones Tatoo You side 2 was a step above side 1. It's the only time I can recall they did an entire "soft side", and the music really borrows on their respect for soul music. I don't recall whan they's ever been that soulfull, for that many consecutive songs.

[Grant]

Originally posted by jason r. baur
How about some Boz Scaggs? Side 2 of Silk Degrees: Lowdown, It's Over, Love Me Tomorrow, Lido Shuffle, We're All Alone.



I agree! I used to play "What Can I Say", and maybe "Georgia", and flip it right over to side two.

Other choices:

FORIGNER-Double Vision: side 1
THE CARS-Heartbeat City: side 1

[dwmann]

ABBEY ROAD SIDE 2!!! IMO, the greatest album side ever recorded by anyone.