Top 10 standout tracks from the '90s, mysteriously overlooked by several bands when it came to album production
In the 1990s, some of the most influential bands in music history released a plethora of iconic albums that shaped the era. However, amidst the success of these albums, there were several remarkable songs that did not make it to the final tracklists. Here, we delve into ten such songs that arguably should have graced the albums they were created for.
1. **Suede – "Stay Together"** Released as a non-album single in early 1994, "Stay Together" was Suede's last single before guitarist Bernard Butler left and was omitted from their second album, *Dog Man Star*. The song, with its signature Brett Anderson crooning and striking guitar work, is a grandiose epic that fits well with the album's tone.
2. **The Cure – "Burn"** Created for the 1994 film *The Crow*, "Burn" never appeared on a Cure album despite being a widescreen, menacing track arguably stronger than much of their surrounding album material. It stands as one of the band’s best mid-90s efforts omitted from studio releases.
3. **Nine Inch Nails – "The Perfect Drug"** Though initially dismissed by Trent Reznor, this 1997 single blends electronic-rock glitches and drum’n’bass elements with a standout melodic chorus. It could have complemented 1999’s *The Fragile* well, and more recently, NIN has revisited it live.
4. **Radiohead – "Lift"** Although widely considered a great song, "Lift" was not included on Radiohead’s albums at the time, missing the chance to become a more familiar part of their 90s discography.
5. **Alice In Chains – "Nutshell"** A deeply emotional and acclaimed track, "Nutshell" was not featured as an official album track in the 90s, despite strong fan appreciation.
6. **Manic Street Preachers – "Prologue To History"** A significant and powerful song that didn’t make it onto official 90s albums but deserves recognition as part of their key repertoire.
7. **Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser – "All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun"** This collaborative track was another gem missing from Buckley’s official album releases in the 90s.
8. **Smashing Pumpkins – "Let Me Give The World To You"** Known among fans but excluded from major albums, it’s a notable Pumpkins track deserving wider acknowledgement from the 90s.
9. **Oasis – "Acquiesce"** A fan-favorite B-side that didn’t initially appear on any Oasis studio album, though included in compilations later, this gritty track stands out among their 90s songs.
10. **The Gift – NXS (Nu Sound Exchange)** Though more controversial, this song's powerful imagery and impactful message about global crises caused it to be banned from MTV and not included in album form, yet it remains an unforgettable 90s track.
These songs showcase significant quality, impact, or uniqueness that arguably warranted official inclusion on albums during the 1990s. They have since become fan favorites or cult classics precisely because they were not initially part of the main discographies of these influential artists.
- Many of these overlooked songs, such as Suede's "Stay Together," demonstrate a strong fit with their respective album's tone and contribute to shaping alternative rock's sound in the 1990s.
- The Cure's "Burn," created for a movie soundtrack, showcases menacing guitar work and stands as one of the band's best mid-90s efforts that should have graced a studio album.
- Nine Inch Nails' "The Perfect Drug" blends distinct electronic-rock and drum'n'bass elements and could have complemented the band's 1999 album, "The Fragile."
- Radiohead's "Lift," despite its universal acclaim, missed becoming a more prominent part of their 90s discography due to its absence from their albums at the time.
- Alice In Chains' "Nutshell" is an acclaimed, deeply emotional track that received strong fan appreciation, yet did not become an official album track in the 90s.
- Manic Street Preachers' "Prologue To History" is a powerful song that missed official 90s album releases, but deserves recognition as part of their key repertoire.
- Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser's collaborative track, "All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun," remained unforgettable despite missing Buckley's official album releases in the 90s.
- Smashing Pumpkins' "Let Me Give The World To You" remains popular among fans and unsung by critics, emphasizing the need for wider acknowledgement of this notable Pumpkins track from the 90s.
- Oasis' "Acquiesce," a fan-favorite B-side, didn't initially appear on any studio album, yet was included in compilations later, demonstrating its place among their 90s songs.
- The controversial The Gift – NXS (Nu Sound Exchange), with its powerful imagery and message about global crises, was banned from MTV and remained an unforgettable 90s track despite not being included in an official album form.
These songs, overlooked during the 1990s, have since become cherished by fans and continue to contribute to alternative rock's rich and diverse history.
