What's your favorite B-side?

[jcroach]

I love Wilco's deep cuts. Soundtrack songs, demos, b-sides. I thought it would be fun to see what everyone's favorites were. Please take the poll, then tell us all why you picked what you did. I didn't include any cover songs and only included officially released songs. I think I got them all.

 

Lots of great tracks here! Maybe one day the band will put them all in one package for us.

 

After a few weeks maybe I'll whittle the list down to the top 10 and then do it over again.

[Sir Stewart]

Nicely formatted poll.

[SarahC]

"No More Poetry" because the lyrics are fun

"Magazine Called Sunset" because it's sweet

"Dark Neon" because it makes me dance

[jcroach]

Nicely formatted poll.

 

Thanks!

 

I picked Student Loan (stereo), Cars Can't Escape, and One True Vine.

 

Student Loan (Stereo) is just a fast, fun almost punk rock song. It's a side of Wilco we don't see often. Just a Kid, Kicking Television and The Minus Five's (I've Got a) Lyrical Stance are similar songs.

 

Like many fans I've been fascinated by Cars Can't Escape since hearing the YHF demos, then later its inclusion on "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" and Jay Bennett's horrible reworking on his album "Bigger Than Blue." Why was it cut? Who wrote it? It's an amazing song that I wish they played more often.

 

One True Vine is just a sweet soulful song. Some R&B influence there.

[-seven]

I would have voted for Venus Stopped the Train if it was an option.

[mpolak21]

I would have voted for Venus Stopped the Train if it was an option.

 

That song is incredible, there are days where the YHF demos are my second favorite Wilco album behind YHF.

 

--Mike

[u2roolz]

I would have voted for Venus Stopped the Train if it was an option.

 

 

That song is incredible, there are days where the YHF demos are my second favorite Wilco album behind YHF.

 

--Mike

I agree with both of these statements. Sadly, it technically isn't a b-side.

Oh, and I love the longer version of this song. The backing vocals are amazing. EDIT: I should clarify the previous statement. The short version cuts off about 30 seconds of the harmonies. I didn't want people to think I was implying that only the long version had backing vocals.

[-seven]

 

 

I agree with both of these statements. Sadly, it technically isn't a b-side.

 

 

True, but neither are some of the other options that are listed.

[jcroach]

 

True, but neither are some of the other options that are listed.

 

OK, so maybe I should have used the term "Officially released original non-album tracks", but b-sides is shorter.

 

"Venus Stopped the Train" is a good song. So is "Shakin' Sugar/Alone" for that matter. Makes me wonder why they weren't released on the Bonus EP. My guess is that they are more "Jay" songs than "Jeff" songs. Hence their inclusion on "The Palace at 4am (Part I)." Interesting read.

[sonicshoulder]

Choosing the Yankee or AGIB section is impossible for me. I could ponder to no end.

[redpillbox]

I picked:

"Blasting Fonda"

"Cars..."

"Just a Kid"

 

The second section seemed like the hardest choice as I've just come to the conclusion (in the last two weeks) that I love the song "More Like the Moon" - it takes me to the same place that "One Sunday Morning Does" and I think that's because of the harmonic repetition that is going on. They both hypnotize me. Anyway, I picked "Cars..." as it's been my de facto favorite Wilco song forever, so I figured I owed it some loyalty. It's a bit too early to make a call on "Message From Mid-Bar" for me, but I'm digging it.

 

Re: jcroach's link - VERY interesting read and I always wondered about the origin of those "other" YHF songs and the backgrounds and why the song "Cars" stuck around and made it into the Wilco repertoire when an equal-caliber "Venus" disappeared off the face of the planet, when both seem to have "lived the same life" so to speak. Edward seems to confirm that Tweedy at least wrote the lyrics and song structure, by making it a point to say that Jay wrote 'My Darlin'' and played every instrument on "Shakin' Sugar (Alone)" - a key point and difference I think. So if Jeff wrote the lyric and structure to "Venus" I wonder why it disappeared. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's played "Alone" before so it can't be simply that it was because it was released on Jay's record right? I seem to recall that he addressed this at a LRS when someone requested "Venus" but I could be wrong and might be completely derailing the topic.

[-seven]

 

Re: jcroach's link - VERY interesting read and I always wondered about the origin of those "other" YHF songs and the backgrounds and why the song "Cars" stuck around and made it into the Wilco repertoire when an equal-caliber "Venus" disappeared off the face of the planet, when both seem to have "lived the same life" so to speak. Edward seems to confirm that Tweedy at least wrote the lyrics and song structure, by making it a point to say that Jay wrote 'My Darlin'' and played every instrument on "Shakin' Sugar (Alone)" - a key point and difference I think. So if Jeff wrote the lyric and structure to "Venus" I wonder why it disappeared. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's played "Alone" before so it can't be simply that it was because it was released on Jay's record right? I seem to recall that he addressed this at a LRS when someone requested "Venus" but I could be wrong and might be completely derailing the topic.

 

I would love to hear more about what was said about Venus at the LRS. I have my own theory of why it doesn't get played which could be waaaaay off base, but it's always been in the back of mind about this song.

It's here, down at the bottom of the comments. Same user name. http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858506714/

[MountainGerbil]

Does anyone know where I can get/download most of these? I am missing almost all of them, and don't see them on iTunes.

 

Thanks!

[Analogman]

Does anyone know where I can get/download most of these? I am missing almost all of them, and don't see them on iTunes.

 

Thanks!

 

You can get some of them by way of The Wilco Archive.

 

As for the tracks you can't find there, just do some searching online.

 

Any of the tracks from the following - you can get from Wilco's official website:

Yankee Foxtrot Hotel - More Like The Moon EP

A Ghost Is Born - Bonus EP

Sky Blue Sky - Bonus EP

 

Although - I think they may be offline at the moment.

 

There is also a thread pinned at the top of this section that may help you out with regards to information (Wilco's Non-album tracks).

[Autumnteeth]

Love Cars Can't Escape, but Magazine got my vote. What a great era for bsides. A lot of great ones left off the album missing too.

[anthony]

Childlike and Evergreen - such a sweet and organic sounding folk song. Underrated.

 

 

Wow, YHF-AGiB is very tough to choose. I went with Bob Dylan's Beard but could have easily chose at least three others (especially CCE - the holy grail of Wilco B-sides). I like Bob's Beard for the same reason I liked CL&EG: I love when JT strips down to folk song mode. Add some heartfelt lyrics and some fancy picking and you got a great song.

 

Unlikely Japan - a hypnotizing song with droning acoustics and Cylon overdubs. Perfect!

[jimtweedy1977]

yep, One True Vine is tops for me

 

 

Thanks!

 

I picked Student Loan (stereo), Cars Can't Escape, and One True Vine.

 

Student Loan (Stereo) is just a fast, fun almost punk rock song. It's a side of Wilco we don't see often. Just a Kid, Kicking Television and The Minus Five's (I've Got a) Lyrical Stance are similar songs.

 

Like many fans I've been fascinated by Cars Can't Escape since hearing the YHF demos, then later its inclusion on "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" and Jay Bennett's horrible reworking on his album "Bigger Than Blue." Why was it cut? Who wrote it? It's an amazing song that I wish they played more often.

 

One True Vine is just a sweet soulful song. Some R&B influence there.

[jimtweedy1977]

It's not a b-side, but it is a non-album track 'diamond claw' from the Wilco book. A great instrumental.

[jcroach]

It's not a b-side, but it is a non-album track 'diamond claw' from the Wilco book. A great instrumental.

 

I like The High Heat. I debated whether to include a couple of these tracks. They are certainly "Officially released original non-album tracks." I don't look at that disc like a traditional "Wilco album." But the songs are a slightly different animals to the b-sides and compilation songs on the list. It's kind of like U2 and Brian Eno's "Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1". It isn't a U2 album, but features all the members of U2, but wasn't released as a U2 album. Kind of like The Minus Five's "Down with Wilco." Although U2 consistently plays at least one song from this album in concerts (Miss Sarajevo) and rarely a second (Your Blue Room). As far as I know, Wilco has never played anything from "The Book" live and hasn't played anything from "Down With Wilco" outside of Tweedy solo shows.

[Wild Frank]

Looking at that list does show the strength of the 2002-2004 period. For me the two standout tracks are 'Cars Can't Escape' and 'Magazine'. Those two would have graced any album. The majority of the rest are not, in my opinion, in the same league (although i do enjoy 49th beard)

[jcroach]

I'm going to give this one bump, just because we need one more vote for 50 votes!