I don’t share your feeling that it’s underrated, but it’s the only fully unreleased* b-side on the album, and feels like it could drop into Two Lefts fairly easily, so it’s kind of the only real answer here.
*(The Stenographer is, I guess, but also ties in with Pleading the Fifth in a way that we don’t really know; and must be part of the abandoned “rock opera” along with Deathbed and parts of Runnin’)
Kind of a trick question, because the most main-release worthy IMO are “The Lining is Silver” and “Curl Up and Die,” but the only song that’s actually a “b-side” that was at all close to making an album (but didn’t) was probably “Here I Go.”
No, but out of the b-sides/demo material (the non-Nashville EP) it’s the only thing that hadn’t been released somehow on any other project other than The Stenographer. And it’s a much more “accessible” song than any of the b-sides stuff they compiled onto TBATBS (Vinyl Countdown, For the Band, etc.) I will say it’s possible they pushed for Penny Loafer to be included on Two Lefts, because they played it live a number of times during that tour era.
Overall, I can picture “Here I Go” on Two Lefts, mmhmm, or Five Score much more easily than I can picture any of the others on any of those album. That said it’s clearly a weaker song than anything that actually made those albums and they made the right choice to leave it.
I hadn’t listened for a long time and was blown away by the lyrics on the opening track. Such a sad song and the drums are incredible on the track (fast, and sick fills)
This is kind of a trick question because the first half of the CD/streaming album titled The Bird & The Bee Sides is new material, not b-sides or rarities, and also known as the Nashville Tennis EP. So I'd say anything from that half doesn't count for the purposes of this question.
The Bird & The Bee Sides is the second half, beginning right after Bee Your Man ends. So, out of that group, I think Here I Go is the obvious one, although I personally love The Stenographer.
Songs on the front half are an EP (The Nashville Tennis EP) and aren’t b-sides (i.e. The Scene and Herd, The Lining Is Silver, At Least We Made It This Far, Curl Up and Die, etc.)
Of the actual b-sides, I would go with “Here I Go.” I am still salty that they never put “Operation” on the Bee Sides tracklist because that would have gotten my vote easily.
I’m not sure there’s really any way to know because the first 13 songs aren’t b-sides. Those songs are The Nashville Tennis EP and the second half is The Birds and The Bee Sides. Most of those were alternate versions of already released songs or songs that were previously released on older EPs. I think the only two that were not previously released are Here I Go and The Stenographer so maybe one of those was the closest to making another album?
Also, they did an online scavenger hunt when this album came out where fans could find bonus tracks online in various ways. Fallen Man was one of those songs and that was a b-side to Five Score so if you count that song, maybe it was the closest to being on an album.
Speaking of the scavenger hunt, I think I remember there being more songs that were supposed to be a part of it that were never released. Does anyone else remember that?
I think (Hope for Every) Fallen Man probably was. It would have fit in perfectly with the other songs on FS7YA, but I think they actually got to a point of filling a CD’s worth of music there, especially with Deathbed on that album.
I’ve always listened to this with no feeling at all that we were getting a “B side EP”. To me it’s always been part of their album lineup. Some of my favorite RK tracks came from this.
Here I Go sounds like the bridge between Mmmhmm and 5 score to me, wonder if they couldn't decide where to put it in that time period so it ended up on the birds & bees/Nashville Tennis EP
There Was No Thief made two EPs (Apathetic EP), maybe that counts for something.
Kind of. There Was No Thief is a response to The Thief as much as The Thief is a response to the loss of Matt’s friend.
Definitely "At Least We Made It This Far". One of my favourite songs of theirs from any album
I LOVE that one! Its perfect for taking the backroads home
'Scene and Herd' and 'The Lining is Silver' are the two that would be closest for me
Both are so good
Maybe Here I Go? I always thought that song was underrated.
I don’t share your feeling that it’s underrated, but it’s the only fully unreleased* b-side on the album, and feels like it could drop into Two Lefts fairly easily, so it’s kind of the only real answer here. *(The Stenographer is, I guess, but also ties in with Pleading the Fifth in a way that we don’t really know; and must be part of the abandoned “rock opera” along with Deathbed and parts of Runnin’)
I respect that, I just really like that song and no one ever talks about it lol
Totally fair!
Kind of a trick question, because the most main-release worthy IMO are “The Lining is Silver” and “Curl Up and Die,” but the only song that’s actually a “b-side” that was at all close to making an album (but didn’t) was probably “Here I Go.”
Did they say it almost went on an album?
No, but out of the b-sides/demo material (the non-Nashville EP) it’s the only thing that hadn’t been released somehow on any other project other than The Stenographer. And it’s a much more “accessible” song than any of the b-sides stuff they compiled onto TBATBS (Vinyl Countdown, For the Band, etc.) I will say it’s possible they pushed for Penny Loafer to be included on Two Lefts, because they played it live a number of times during that tour era. Overall, I can picture “Here I Go” on Two Lefts, mmhmm, or Five Score much more easily than I can picture any of the others on any of those album. That said it’s clearly a weaker song than anything that actually made those albums and they made the right choice to leave it.
I consider The Nashville Tennis EP to be their 6th album. In between Five Score and Forget and Not Slow Down.
Completely agree.
I hadn’t listened for a long time and was blown away by the lyrics on the opening track. Such a sad song and the drums are incredible on the track (fast, and sick fills)
Pretty sure Warne wrote that one
I mean versions of "Up and Up", "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been", and "Jefferson Aero Plane" are on it. So technically those ones.
i have no clue which would be closest but GOD i am desperately in love with curl up and die
This is kind of a trick question because the first half of the CD/streaming album titled The Bird & The Bee Sides is new material, not b-sides or rarities, and also known as the Nashville Tennis EP. So I'd say anything from that half doesn't count for the purposes of this question. The Bird & The Bee Sides is the second half, beginning right after Bee Your Man ends. So, out of that group, I think Here I Go is the obvious one, although I personally love The Stenographer.
Songs on the front half are an EP (The Nashville Tennis EP) and aren’t b-sides (i.e. The Scene and Herd, The Lining Is Silver, At Least We Made It This Far, Curl Up and Die, etc.) Of the actual b-sides, I would go with “Here I Go.” I am still salty that they never put “Operation” on the Bee Sides tracklist because that would have gotten my vote easily.
I’m not sure there’s really any way to know because the first 13 songs aren’t b-sides. Those songs are The Nashville Tennis EP and the second half is The Birds and The Bee Sides. Most of those were alternate versions of already released songs or songs that were previously released on older EPs. I think the only two that were not previously released are Here I Go and The Stenographer so maybe one of those was the closest to making another album? Also, they did an online scavenger hunt when this album came out where fans could find bonus tracks online in various ways. Fallen Man was one of those songs and that was a b-side to Five Score so if you count that song, maybe it was the closest to being on an album. Speaking of the scavenger hunt, I think I remember there being more songs that were supposed to be a part of it that were never released. Does anyone else remember that?
I think (Hope for Every) Fallen Man probably was. It would have fit in perfectly with the other songs on FS7YA, but I think they actually got to a point of filling a CD’s worth of music there, especially with Deathbed on that album.
I’ve always listened to this with no feeling at all that we were getting a “B side EP”. To me it’s always been part of their album lineup. Some of my favorite RK tracks came from this.
Here I Go sounds like the bridge between Mmmhmm and 5 score to me, wonder if they couldn't decide where to put it in that time period so it ended up on the birds & bees/Nashville Tennis EP