Nov 292010
Can you think of any situations in which an album and song by a band have the same title but the song is not on the album and the album is released first? The only example that I can think of is Houses of the Holy. Houses of the Holy (the album) was released in ’73 but “Houses of the Holy” (the song) appeared on Physical Graffiti in ’75.
More examples would probably crop up if you consider instances where the title was used as a song first rather than the album but, again, I can’t think of any examples aside from live albums, greatest hits collections, and anthologies (eg, Rock And Roll Never Forgets: Bob Seger’s Best!”).
I thought about doing this as a Last Man Standing but this might be a one-off.
Jason Falkner’s song “Author Unknown,” which is also the title of his first album, is actually on his follow-up, “Can you still feel?”
Impressive, Cher.
The Doors, Waiting for the Sun lp came out in 1968 and the song is on Morrison Hotel (1970).
Robyn Hitchcock’s lp Queen Elvis (1989) precedes the release of the song Queen Elvis on Eye (1990).
Elvis Costello should get some sort of prize for releasing Almost Blue the lp in 1981 followed by Imperial Bedroom which contains the song Almost Blue but not the song Imperial Bedroom which was a b-side, I believe.
The title song of the first Smithereens album Especially For You came out two years after on the album Green Thoughts.
More to come…
Also around this time, didn’t Elvis write “Mad About the Wrong Boy” with one of The Attractions, only to have that be the title of The Attractions’ “solo” album?
The Jayhawks “Tomorrow the Green Grass” did not contain the title song, it was used for a movie soundtrack the next year and added to the 2nd disc of their best of.
..and they are recording their 1st Cd in 15 years with the classic lineup.
That’s good news – the return of the two main guys. I haven’t been able to stomach their music since the one guy left.
the first two Louris-only records have grown on me. I liked the 3rd right away. Mark Olson’s solo record “Salvation Blues” is maybe the best thing either has done
AC/DC released their (awesome) live album “If You Want Blood…” a couple of years before a track of that name showed up on the (also awesome) “Highway to Hell” LP.
I am OMS!
the queen song “sheer heart attack” is on queen’s 1977 news of the world album.
Wow, I had forgotten about that one.
Talk Talk’s album doesn’t contain a song called “The Colour Of Spring,” but Mark Hollis’ solo album a few years later, does. Having said that, though, it’s entirely possible that the song was written about the band or the past and use of the phrase is central to that theme.
If I may stretch the rules a bit like Cher, than we should include Brian Wilson’s solo album I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, which of course was a song on the…ah, you know the rest of the story.
Pulp’s album His ‘n’ Hers does not contain the song of the same name, which was instead included on The Sisters EP, which came out around the same time, from the same recording sessions.
Did “Houses of the Holy” make the bum contest? I don’t remember. How about a contest for naked children? I can think of two others right off the bat.
On second thought it’s pretty creepy, nevermind.
Julian Cope’s album, “world shut your mouth” does not contain that song, but it is on St Julian, which came out about three years later, I think.
captain beefheart’s safe as milk (album 1967, song 1968 on strictly personal).
Don’t ever give up: bruinskip is Last Man Standing!