As discussed in the 90s number 1 thread, what songs were ‘lost’ singles - promoted, on Now albums, etc but not actually singles?

 

Sonnet by the Verve

Don’t Panic and God Put a Smile Upon Your Face by Coldplay

Your Disco Needs You by Kylie

 

…..?

I always wonder what Never Give Up On The Good Times would've done for the Spice Girls had it been the originally planned double a-side with Viva Forever.

I'm not sure but I want to say All I Really Want by Alanis Morisette as I'm sure that was played a lot on the radio - it could have just completely flopped though for all I know

Was ‘Mama’ by the Spice Girls officially a single?

Westlife - When You're Looking Like That

 

from Wikipedia:

 

Although being one of the more popular tracks in the UK and a music video being played regularly on UK music channels, the single was cancelled[why?]and was not released in the UK or Ireland and charted outside of top 100 in UK Singles Chart due to leakage only.

 

Its one of their best songs too imo!

Edited November 1, 20213 yr by 30 Spells Snakey

Was ‘Mama’ by the Spice Girls officially a single?

 

Yes, as a double a-side with Who Do You Think You Are.

 

Had no idea about that Westlife track! Always assumed it was a single, felt like it was everywhere! (EDIT: It was a double a-side with Queen Of My Heart so was a single)

All I Really Want reached #59, it was about the 6th single though. Alanis also had Uninvited which was a radio single only.

 

Just seen that God Put A Smile On Your Face reached #100 around the time it went to radio - this was before downloads counted so there must have been some imports (as with Sonnet) or something. Coldplay also had The Hardest Part from X&Y.

 

Others include Atomic Kitten - You Are and Will Young - Love Is A Matter Of Distance.

Definitely an interesting topic.

 

After looking into it out of interest i'll revise my comment about Sonnet slightly in the other thread. Lucky Man entered at #7 but sold 80k to do so in the incredibly strong sales climate of late 1997. The week that Sonnet charted at #74 on import sales in May 1998 on the other hand was one of that years slower sales weeks and the #1 only sold 49k! Hypothetically had Sonnet been officially released as a single that week and given that the import sales suggest there was significant demand for it, it would have surely had a good shot at #1!

I think Champagne Supernova by Oasis also fits the bill of a lost single. It was released as the final single from WTSMG in the US and elsewhere in 1996 but never in the UK. Despite this it was included on both their greatest hits albums, is one of their best remembered hits and still one of their most popular on Spotify and I believe is one of the biggest selling songs to never chart in the Top 100.

 

I'd also say to a lesser extent Don't Go Away was a lost single from Be Here Now.

Uninvited - Alanis Morrissette

Eagle - Abba

Thank You For The Music - Abba (1978 not the late Greatest Hits promoting single)

Twist & Shout - The Beatles

Yesterday - The Beatles

Money - Pink Floyd

Stairway To heaven - led Zeppelin

Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin (1970 not the very very late 90's Greatest Hits promoting single)

Michelle - The Beatles

Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles

Imagine - John Lennon (1971 not the late Greatest Hits promoting single)

Tiny Dancer - Elton john

Bennie & The Jets - Elton John (1973 not the late Greatest Hits promoting single)

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles

I'm Not Your Stepping Stone - The Monkees

 

 

that'll do for starters for the oldies from days when albums just didnt bother releasing tracks as singles, or the stupid UK record labels went for the wrong singles or less singles than other markets. Plus Uninvited which was a movie track that wasn't issued as a single to my great annoyance....the 90's was another marketing decade holding singles back in the US to sell albums, and occasionally in the UK.

 

Compilation albums didnt exist then to bung them on, but they still got radio play, TV exposure and many many hit cover versions. A hit single in all but actual release.

Blur - This is a Low?

the Manics - No surface all feeling?

Thank You For The Music - Abba (1978 not the late Greatest Hits promoting single)

 

If we talk about UK I will add "Nina Pretty Ballerina", "Honey Honey" (instead Sweet Dreams release), "When I Kissed A Teacher" (even the official video was filmed), "Happy New Year" and "When All Is Said And Done" (fantastic choice for their last single).

Edited November 4, 20213 yr by Last Dreamer

Yep definitely would add “The Hardest Part” by Coldplay - promo video and all.

 

Pink Floyd hardly ever released singles but would definitely include “Money”, “Wish you were here”, “Comfortably Numb”

 

Arctic Monkeys “Mardy Bum” got loads of airplay on XFm and possibly Virgin despite never being a single back in the day

Edited November 4, 20213 yr by Smint

I don't know if this counts, but "Pennyroyal Tea" was originally going to be the single from Nirvana's In Utero to follow "All Apologies" but due to Kurt Cobain's suicide, the single release was postponed indefinitely. It did, however, get a physical release in 2014 for Record Store Day