Check out our list of the 50 Best Alternative B Sides Ever Made.
In the age of digital downloads, the B-side has become a quaint memory. But for those who grew up pre-internet, it was an added pleasure to get one or more bonus tracks with the purchase of a vinyl, cassette or cd single.
Alternative Rock was made for the B-side. This was a genre with fans who enjoyed seeking out more obscure tunes to show-off their music cred and celebrate songs that were more under the radar.
And many were just as good if not better than the A-side singles, often proving so popular it eclipsed the single it was originally attached to.
So in honor of the lost art form, here are the 50 Best Alt-rock B-sides ever made.
Since I just did a list of the 60 Best Rock Covers (click here to read), I’m only including original songs. I’m also not including alternate versions or remixes.
I’ll allow for multiple entries per artist, and ties for equally awesome tracks on one single/EP.
And I’ll have an iTunes playlist at the bottom if you’d care to preview or buy any songs listed.
Let’s begin!
50. U2-Alex Descends into Hell for a Bottle of Milk / Korova 1
Haunting B-side to Achtung Baby’s leadoff single The Fly.
49. Nirvana-I Hate Myself And Wanna Die
This rocking (yet troubling prophetic) track appeared as a B-side for Pennyroyal Tea. Also featured on Beavis And Butthead Experience Collection.
48. XTC-Dear God
This B-side for Grass proved so popular it was later added to the band’s Skylarking album.
47. Primal Scream-Velocity Girl
The band at their most wistful, taken from the Crystal Crescent Ep.
Click here to read my review of the new Primal Scream album More Light.
46. Ministry-Tonight We Murder
Al Jourgensen and co. at their most twisted. B-side to Stigmata.
45. Faith No More- Das Schützenfest
FNM are the only band besides They Might Be Giants who can make polka rock. B-Side from Easy.
*Not available on iTunes.
44.Gary Numan-We Are So Fragile
Strident New Wave B-side to Are Friends Electric.
43. Yazoo-Winter Kills
Eerie slow-burn number that’s the polar opposite of the poppy A-side Don’t Go.
42. Ween- Now I’m Freaking Out
This New Wave flavored ditty makes a winning combo with the Spirit Of 76 A-side.
*Not on iTunes.
41. Suede-Money
A skittering rocker. B-Side to Beautiful Ones.
Click here for my review of their recent album Bloodsports.
40. Gary Numan-Me I Disconnect From You
Excellent B-side to Complex.
39. Smashing Pumpkins-Hello Kitty Kat/Obscured
The alternating rocking and soothing tunes make great company with the Today single.
38. The Cult-Zap City.
Makes for a rocking combo with the Lil Devil A-Side off the Electric album (which the band are getting ready to tour in its entirety.)
37. Siouxsie And The Banshees–Something Wicked This Way Comes
Ominous yet beautiful. B-side to The Killing Jar.
*Not available on iTunes.
36. Buzzcocks-Why Cant I Touch It
Hook filled punk classic that eclipses it’s Everybody Happy Now A-side.
35. The Cure-Fear of Ghosts
Eerie, hypnotic B-side to Lovesong.
Click here for my ultimate Alternative Valentine’s Day Playlist
34. Echo And The Bunnymen-Do It Clean
One of their most rocking tracks was the B-Side to The Puppet.
Click here for my list of Best Alt-Rock Compilation Albums
33. U2- The Lady With The Spinning Head
This soaring anthem provides counterpoint to somber A-side One.
Click here for my Rock Wedding Playlist.
32. Jesus And Mary Chain-Psychocandy
Oddly enough this wasn’t included on the Psychocandy album, but appeared as a B-side to Some Candy Talking.
31. The Cult-Love Trooper
Ethereal power ballad makes a fine companion to the Wildflower single.
30. Joy Division-These Days
Jittery post punk at its finest and a fitting B-side to Love Will Tear Us Apart.
29. Depeche Mode-Happiest Girl
Dark romance abounds in this World In My Eyes B-Side.
Click here for my review of their new album Delta Machine.
28. Roxy Music-To Turn You On
This lounge classic initially appeared as a B-side to the band’s cover of John Lennon’s Jealous Guy.
27. Radiohead-Talk Show Host
Excellent B-side of Street Spirit (Fade Out).
26. New Order–In A Lonely Place
The band exorcises its dark Joy Division leanings with this ethereal Ceremony B-side.
25. Bauhaus-Boys
A lurching classic that pairs perfectly with epic single Bela Lugosi’s Dead.
Click here for my Halloween Party Playlist.
24. Depeche Mode-But Not Tonight
A downright ray of sunshine compared to techno noir A-side Black Celebration.
23.Buzzocks-Autonomy
Arguably their best track. Originally a B-side to I Don’t Mind.
22. Radiohead-Palo Alto
Rocking B-side from the Airbag/How Am I Driving EP.
21. Siouxsie And The Banshees-Tattoo
Fantastic B-side to Dear Prudence.
*Not available on iTunes.
20. The Cure- Play/Twilight Garden
Two fine Goth-pop numbers werre both B-sides to the High single.
19. Smashing Pumpkins-Bye June
The short but sweet acoustic tune was taken from the Lull EP which featured the Rhinonoceros single.
18. Pulp-Underwear
B-side to Common People, and just as catchy and thrilling as their biggest hit.
17. U2-Salome
The band’s funkiest number was superior to the A-Side, Even Better Than The Real Thing.
16. Jesus And Mary Chain-Kill Surf City
Killer B-side to April Skies. It’s surf guitar sound makes it a perfect summer tune.
15. Sisters Of Mercy-Colours
A spectral, hypnotic cinematic epic. B-side of This Corrosion.
Click here for my list of the 40 Darkest Rock Albums.
14. Smashing Pumpkins-Ugly/Set The Ray To Jerry
These two tracks share the same 80’s synth-pop charms as A-side 1979. Where Jerry is wistful and light, Ugly is chilly and dark. Both excellent. Also featured on the Pumpkin’s Box-Set The Aeroplane Flies High, which is getting rereleased.
13. Nirvana-Aneurysm
Raucous Lithium B-side that also appeared on the Incesticide collection.
12. Suede-My Insatiable One
One of the best Brit-pop ballads.B-side to The Drowners.
11. Depeche Mode-Dangerous
One of their best songs was relegated to B-side status with Personal Jesus.
10. New Order-1963
The band at their most emotional and stirring. B-Side to True Faith.
9. David Bowie–The Man Who Sold The World
The Bowie classic (covered excellently by Nirvana) was originally a B-side to Space Oddity.
8. Suede-My Dark Star/The Living Dead
How to choose between these wonderful B-sides from Stay Together? Answer; you can’t.
7. The Cure-To The Sky
Pop perfection as only The Cure can do. Off the Fiction compilation.
6. Queen-We Will Rock You
While the band isn’t exactly alternative, their influence on Britpop is undeniable. B-Side to We Are The Champions.
5. Pulp-Like A Friend
Appeared on the Great Expectations Soundtrack, and as a B-side off A Little Soul. One of their most rocking tunes featuring some of Jarvis Cocker’s wittiest lyrics.
4. Prince-Erotic City
Again, not an artist that screams alternative, but one who influenced ton of alt-rock artists. B-Side to Let’s Go Crazy and eternal club anthem.
3. Pearl Jam-Yellow Ledbetter
Jeremy B-side. I still don’t know what the hell he’s singing, but it still sounds great.
2.The Smiths-How Soon Is Now/Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
Both tracks were originally B-sides to William, it was Really Nothing, but have far eclipsed it in popularity. Morrissey moping and Marr guitar work at their finest.
1. Smashing Pumpkins-Starla
B-side to I Am One. Clocking in at 11 minutes and 2 seconds, it could never qualify for radio play, but for hardcore fans it’s rock ascension incarnate with some of Billy Corgan’s best guitar work to date.
So that wraps up the list. Agree? Disagree? Chime in below. And be sure to check out the iTunes playlist below.
So glad you put Yellow Ledbetter on there! That is my #1 and my second favorite PJ song. Great list.
Thanks! Yeah, Pearl Jam was never one of my favorite bands, but this song is just so damn catchy. Total classic.
[…] Click here for my list of the 50 best B Sides Of All Time. […]
[…] Click here for my list of Best Alternative Rock B-Sides. […]
[…] reissues, The Aeroplane Flies High Singles-Collection features all the original 1996 singles and B-sides along with more rarities, bonus tracks and deluxe […]
A few more:
Curve: Falling Free, Today is Not the Day, Mission From God, Lo and Behold
All About Eve: The Garden of Jane DeLawney, Drowning, Elizabeth of Glass
The Sisters: Poison Door, On The Wire, Blood Money, Bury Me Deep, Emma
Lamb: Ear Parcel, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Massive Attack: Euro Zero Zero, Reflection, I Against I
Alien Sex Fiend: Gurl at the End of My Gun, Here She Comes, Mrs Fiend Goes to Outer Space
Nitzer Ebb: KIA, Time Slips By, Backlash, Who We Are, Out of Mind, Beats Me
Ministry: Smothered Hope (Live), Fucked, Paisley, Happy Dust
Siouxsie: A Sleeping Rain, An Execution, Catwalk, El Dia De Los Muertos, Hothead
Xymox: Shame, Promises, Down To Earth, Twisted
Midnight Oil: You May Not be Released
The Church: Life Speeds Up, As You Will, Lizard, Particles Matter, Dakota, The Gardener
Bob: Splintered in Her Head, A Few Hours After This, It Used to be Me
Mode: Oberkorn, Fools, Christmas Island, Stjarna, Memphisto, Kaleid, My Joy
Wow…I have some songs to seek out as some of these I haven’t heard before actually. But Emma by the Sisters is SO good! They actually use it on the soundtrack for the new thriller ‘The Guest’.
The ones The Cult put out for Love are legendary:
Little Face
All Souls Avenue
Judith
The Snake
No. 13
Love and Rockets had more than a few as well but the best:
Lucifer Sam
Holiday on The Moon
Bike
Dreamtime
Yep: I have the Rare Cult box set and it’s gold…Judith is so good. I also really like the b-sides to their self-titled album as well.
Then there’s PJ Harvey but there are well over 30 of those. Or The The, or Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It’s endless… there’s John Foxx.
Thank you for this list! I’m very happy to see Smashing Pumpkins-Starla on 1st place! It’s olso on 1st place in my music list!
Glad you enjoyed!
Good list but I’d also include
Sea of Sin and Happiest Girl by Depeche Mode
Touched By the Hand Of God by New Order
Supernature by Erasure
Dreaming by Smashing Pumpkins
Acquiesce by Oasis
Girl Don’t Come by Garbage
How Soon Is Now not being #1 makes this list crap. Worked at alt station/college station and have never heard or played 1/2 of this crap. Most of these were B Sides for a reason. The band trying their borderline junk to see if anyone would bite and like it. I’m sorry, my opinion, Everyone knows How Soon.