demoted to b-side status, volume 1

What is the point of b-sides? It is to have exclusive material on a single that is often an outtake from the album the single is from. This makes it so dedicated fans buy the album and the single, which gets the label more money &c. Yet some b-sides are better that half of the songs on an album and flow better which leaves me with one question: How are b-sides decided on?
I shall never know, but here are some b-sides (and other-type things) that should not have been neglected.


Weezer - Longtime Sunshine
Released on Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo
Originally for SFTBH/Pinkerton

This song is amazing and as beautiful as the songs as Pinkerton, and fits well with the others. It is one othe songs like No Other One, Getchoo, Why Bother?, and Tired of Sex that was written before the Songs From the Black Hole album, but were fit into its concept with only slight changes. In the SFTBH form, a reprise and "coda mix" were formulated. After the SFTBH concept was shelved, it was intended to close Pinkerton, a position that would be fitting of it. The equally beautiful acoustic song Butterfly which was written late in the album sessions was chosen to take its place, which was not a bad choice besides the fact that it caused Longtime Sunshine was shelved. The song saw release on Rivers Cuomo's demo collection in 2007, Alone. The "coda mix" was released on the deluxe edition of Pinkerton today and the reprise is scheduled for release on Alone III in December.


Mono Puff - Tryptophane
Released on The Devil Went Down To Newport EP
Could have been on Unsupervised

Mono Puff are one of those bands that no one has ever heard of. They are John Flansburgh (of They Might Be Giants) and a couple of other guys that made music similar to TMBG. Their first release was the EP John Flansburgh's Mono Puff, released on his Hello label in March of 1995. It had six songs, five of which were later rerecorded and released on Mono Puff's first full length, Unsupervised. The opening track, Tryptophane, was released in this demo form as a b-side. It is a great track and is just piano and vocals. The Giants neglect it so much, they even misspell it as "Triptaphane" on their Clock Radio. It is sad...


volume 2 coming soon to this blog.

Yes, I actually am corrupting your stealth.