B-Side Yourself With Joy
Every artist has their big hits, the ones that get all the radio play and live forever on playlists. But real fans know the true treasures are often hidden on the B-sides, bonus tracks, and overlooked album tracks. These deep cuts are the songs that never became chart-toppers but still define an artist’s artistry.
From haunting ballads to wild experiments, here are some tracks every true fan should know. Do you?
"Silver Springs" (Fleetwood Mac)
Originally cut from Rumours, Silver Springs is one of Stevie Nicks’ most heartbreaking performances. It was left off due to time constraints, but fans later rallied around it as one of Fleetwood Mac’s best hidden gems. The song resurfaced during The Dance reunion tour in 1997, bringing an entire new generation to tears with Nicks’ emotional delivery aimed directly at Lindsey Buckingham.
Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs (Live) (Official Video) [HD], Fleetwood Mac
"A Day in the Life of a Tree" (The Beach Boys)
While Pet Sounds gets all the praise, The Beach Boys’ catalog hides plenty of strange beauty. A Day in the Life of a Tree from Surf’s Up features manager Jack Rieley on lead vocals, giving the track a fragile, emotional weight. It’s an unlikely masterpiece about environmental decay, proving that Brian Wilson’s genius went far beyond surfing and cars.
The Beach Boys: Surf's Up (Review), Sound of Free
"Pledging My Time" (Bob Dylan)
Tucked on Blonde on Blonde, this bluesy number often gets overlooked in favor of Dylan’s more famous tracks. But Pledging My Time is Dylan at his grittiest and rawest, showing just how much he could bend the blues into his own poetic form. True fans cherish its hypnotic groove and confessional tone.
Review of Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde, Top 5 Records
"She’s a Jar" (Wilco)
From Summerteeth, this track is both tender and unsettling. Jeff Tweedy’s lyrics float between love song and ominous poetry, and the chorus hook hides a chilling twist. It’s one of those Wilco songs that grows darker with each listen—rewarding fans who lean into the layers.
Wilco - She's A Jar (1999-04-21 Irving Plaza, New York, NY) [Best Live Version!], Jesse Mullen
"Ten Years Gone" (Led Zeppelin)
Often overshadowed by Zeppelin’s stadium-shaking anthems, Ten Years Gone is one of their most emotional deep cuts. Page’s lush guitar layers pair with Plant’s nostalgic lyrics for an epic that feels both intimate and towering. Fans often call it one of the band’s underrated masterpieces.
Led Zeppelin | Ten Years Gone Live ( Knebworth 1979 )ᴴᴰ, Gypsy
"Fearless" (Pink Floyd)
Lost in the shadow of Meddle’s Echoes, Fearless is a slow-building gem that Floyd diehards swear by. Its rolling acoustic guitar and soaring crowd-chant coda make it one of the band’s most uplifting hidden tracks, far from the darkness of The Wall.
Fearless - Pink Floyd (LIVE), Rock ao Piano
"That’s the Way" (Led Zeppelin)
Another Zeppelin cut that shows their quieter side. From Led Zeppelin III, That’s the Way strips back the bombast for a hauntingly beautiful folk ballad. Fans often point to it as proof that Zeppelin wasn’t just about heavy riffs—they had a tender, pastoral heart too.
Led Zeppelin - That's The Way [Live at Earls Court 1975] (Official Video), Led Zeppelin
"Condition of the Heart" (Prince)
Prince’s catalog is full of hits, but dig into Around the World in a Day and you’ll find this moody, sprawling ballad. It’s pure Prince—melancholic, romantic, and otherworldly. Fans consider it one of his most overlooked masterpieces, a track that showcases his emotional depth beyond the funk.
Prince - Around the World in a Day | Album Review, Scott V
"Wasted Time" (The Eagles)
Hotel California is known for its title track and New Kid in Town, but Wasted Time is the emotional core. Don Henley pours his heart into this slow-burning ballad about lost love. It’s an essential deep cut for any Eagles fan who wants more than the radio singles.
Wasted Time by Eagles, theflamingnaked
"Green Earrings" (Steely Dan)
Steely Dan are known for polished hits like Reelin’ in the Years, but deep in The Royal Scam lies this funky, jazzy jam. With its complex guitar solos and cool detachment, it’s a track only true Dan fans usually know—and they love it.
Steely Dan - Green Earrings (Two Against Nature 2000), MalcoMix Fusion
"Have Mercy on the Criminal" (Elton John)
From Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, this dramatic ballad finds Elton at his most cinematic. With strings building behind his piano, the song tells the story of an outlaw with unexpected empathy. It’s a fan favorite that showcases Elton’s ability to blend theatrical flair with raw emotion, and true believers consider it one of his most underrated performances.
"Candy’s Room" (Bruce Springsteen)
While Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A. made Bruce a household name, Candy’s Room on Darkness on the Edge of Town shows another side. It’s a fast, intense love song with Springsteen’s raw urgency at full force. Many fans call it one of his most underrated tracks.
Bruce Springsteen - Candy's Room- Pittsburgh, PA - August 18, 2024, NoRetNoSurrender
"One More Cup of Coffee" (Bob Dylan)
From Desire, this haunting ballad features Emmylou Harris on harmonies and a mesmerizing Middle Eastern-inspired arrangement. It’s haunting, mystical, and unforgettable, showing Dylan’s ability to tap into moods far beyond folk or rock.
Bob Dylan One More Cup Of Coffee LIVE performance [Full Song] 1975 | Netflix, Still Watching Netflix
"Quicksand" (David Bowie)
Nestled on Hunky Dory, Quicksand is a philosophical stunner that blends existential lyrics with gorgeous melodies. Bowie himself often said it was a song about being lost in meaning, and it remains a fan-favorite for those who dig deep into his work.
David Bowie Quicksand Live Port Chester '97, B0WIElover
"The Gunner’s Dream" (Pink Floyd)
Buried on The Final Cut, The Gunner’s Dream is Roger Waters at his most poignant. It imagines the last thoughts of a dying airman and delivers one of Floyd’s most moving vocal performances. While the album divides fans, this song is universally cherished.
Pink Floyd - The Gunner's Dream / The Final Cut, tania
"Life By the Drop" (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
Released posthumously on The Sky Is Crying, this acoustic track is a simple yet stunning showcase of Vaughan’s artistry. Without flashy solos, it reveals the soulful songwriter behind the guitar god.
Unboxing Vinyl SRV Sky is crying, SALMUZ
"Blue in Green" (Miles Davis)
On Kind of Blue, So What gets all the attention, but Blue in Green is the cut that truly stops fans in their tracks. Co-written with Bill Evans, it’s a slow, moody exploration of space and silence. For jazz fans, it’s the definition of a deep cut classic.
Album Discussion: Kind Of Blue - Miles Davis, Brian Needle Meets Vinyl
"Simple Twist of Fate" (Bob Dylan)
Another Dylan entry—because no one has more deep cuts than him. From Blood on the Tracks, this song is a masterclass in storytelling. With its winding tale of fleeting love, it’s one of Dylan’s most cherished fan favorites.
Bob Dylan Simple Twist of Fate Hamilton, Ont. 1992, Artur Artist presents The Casper Collection
"Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (The Beach Boys)
From Pet Sounds, this track isn’t one of the singles but is regarded by fans as one of Brian Wilson’s purest love songs. The lush orchestration and fragile vocals make it an intimate masterpiece.
The Beach Boys: Pet Sounds - Album Review, Sound of Free
"Long, Long, Long" (The Beatles)
On The White Album, hidden after the chaos of Helter Skelter, lies this quiet George Harrison track. It’s often overlooked but deeply loved by Beatles fans who recognize it as one of Harrison’s most beautiful spiritual songs.
The Beatles White Album Review, Ross Goodall
"Amoreena" (Elton John)
A hidden gem from Tumbleweed Connection, Amoreena is an upbeat, soulful tune that captures Elton’s early country-rock vibe. While casual listeners may not know it, fans love its joyful energy and vivid storytelling. It even got a pop-culture boost when Al Pacino’s character played it in the opening scene of Dog Day Afternoon.
"The Bewlay Brothers" (David Bowie)
Closing out Hunky Dory, this strange, surreal track is a cult favorite. Bowie’s lyrics are cryptic, and the atmosphere eerie, making it one of his most enigmatic deep cuts.
David Bowie - The Bewlay Brothers (Hammersmith Odeon, London 10.2.02)-1080p, gringo557
"Try Not to Breathe" (R.E.M.)
From Automatic for the People, this track is overshadowed by Everybody Hurts and Man on the Moon, but it’s just as powerful. Michael Stipe’s lyrics about mortality are tender and haunting, making it a fan favorite for true R.E.M. devotees.
The Crown Jewels - Ep. 15: R.E.M. - Automatic For The People (1992 US), University Of Vinyl
"The Prophet’s Song" (Queen)
On A Night at the Opera, everyone knows Bohemian Rhapsody, but The Prophet’s Song is an epic in its own right. Clocking in at over eight minutes, it’s Queen at their most ambitious, blending layered harmonies with apocalyptic lyrics.
Queen - The Prophet's Song - Official Music Video (High Quality), Chinwonder2
"A Quick One, While He’s Away" (The Who)
This mini-opera from A Quick One often gets overshadowed, but it’s a precursor to Tommy and showcases The Who’s experimental genius. Fans love its mix of humor, energy, and operatic storytelling.
The Who, Michael Lindsay-Hogg - A Quick One (While He's Away), TheWho
"Red Hill Mining Town" (U2)
From The Joshua Tree, this track never became a single but remains a fan-favorite. Bono’s soaring vocals and the song’s working-class themes resonate deeply, making it one of U2’s most underrated gems.
"It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue" (Bob Dylan)
Yes, Dylan again. This track from Bringing It All Back Home has been covered countless times, but his original version is still haunting and timeless. True fans know it’s one of his most enduring deep cuts.
"Moonlight Mile" (The Rolling Stones)
Closing out Sticky Fingers, this dreamy ballad is far from the band’s swaggering singles. With strings and subtle emotion, it’s one of the Stones’ most beautiful hidden gems.
Rolling Stones Moonlight Mile LIVE HD + LIRICS, Rolling Stones A.R.
"And So It Goes" (Billy Joel)
Tucked away on Storm Front, this ballad is one of Billy Joel’s quietest and most vulnerable songs. Just voice and piano, it strips away the bravado of his bigger hits. Fans consider it a hidden masterpiece that shows Joel at his most introspective and poetic.
Billy Joel - And So It Goes (Official Video), Billy Joel
"I Don’t Wanna Grow Up" (Tom Waits)
Waits’ catalog is full of eccentric brilliance, but this song from Bone Machine is playful, heartbreaking, and pure Waits magic. Fans love its blend of humor and melancholy.
Tom Waits - I Don't Wanna Grow Up (1992) - (4K), VideoXL
"Rearviewmirror" (Pearl Jam)
From Vs., this driving anthem is a live staple but often overlooked by casual fans. It’s a cathartic release that Eddie Vedder himself has called one of his most personal and powerful songs.
Rearviewmirror (Live) - Touring Band 2000 - Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam
"Descending" (The Black Crowes)
Closing out Amorica, Descending is a gospel-tinged ballad that stands as one of The Black Crowes’ most powerful deep cuts. Chris Robinson’s soulful vocal, paired with the band’s slow-burning groove, makes it a haunting closer that fans hold close to their hearts.
"Thrasher" (Neil Young)
On Rust Never Sleeps, this acoustic ballad is considered one of Neil’s greatest lyrical achievements. Though never a hit, it’s a cult favorite for those who dig deep into his work.
"Dreams Burn Down" (Ride)
From Nowhere, this shoegaze classic didn’t hit the mainstream, but fans know it as one of Ride’s most powerful and emotional tracks, full of swirling guitars and melancholy beauty.
Ride - Dreams Burn Down (Live on KEXP), KEXP
"Thirteen" (Big Star)
This gentle acoustic ballad from #1 Record is considered one of the most perfect teenage love songs ever written. While Big Star never achieved commercial success, true fans hold this song close to their hearts.
Big Star - Thirteen [Alternate Mix] (Official Music Video), UPROXX Indie Mixtape
"Pink Rabbits" (The National)
From Trouble Will Find Me, this track isn’t a single but became a fan obsession. With its aching lyrics and Matt Berninger’s weary baritone, it’s one of The National’s most beloved deep cuts.
The National - Pink Rabbits (Live), Beverly Road: Celebrating The National
"Cactus Tree" (Joni Mitchell)
Closing her debut Song to a Seagull, Cactus Tree is a poetic meditation on independence and love. Joni’s storytelling is at its most delicate here, and fans often point to it as one of her most underrated works.
Joni Mitchell - Cactus Tree (In Concert on BBC, 1970), John1948SevenD
"Push" (The Cure)
On The Head on the Door, the singles shine, but Push is a fan-favorite deep cut, with Robert Smith’s jangly guitar lines and soaring energy. It’s a live staple beloved by die-hards even if casual listeners miss it.
The Cure - Push (Live) 4K, FirstRowConcert
"SpottieOttieDopaliscious" (Outkast)
Buried in Aquemini, this laid-back, horn-driven track is pure Outkast brilliance. With its spoken-word storytelling and unforgettable groove, it’s a cult favorite that fans swear by as one of their coolest creations.
It Was a Vibe. How Outkast Made SpottieOttieDopaliscious | The Breakdown, Rolling Stone
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