Biggest jump/fall in quality between two songs on an EP/album

Music
1

When has an absolute stinker song been followed by an absolute classic, or vice-versa? Why does this tend to happen?

No examples from singles, as B-sides obviously tend to be lower quality.

For example-
Purple Rain: Darling Nikki (dogshit) leading to When Doves Cry (maybe Prince’s best)

Druqks: Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount (headspinning brilliance) leading to Gwarek2 (fine on its own as a piece of dark ambience but kills the momentum of side 1)

Pet Sounds: Sloop John B to God Only Knows (self-explanatory).

Is this just a remnant of the old Side A/ Side B split being made redundant by CDs and streaming? Or is it because some artists can’t be bothered with quality control?

Either way, let’s hear some examples.

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2

Sloop John B is better than God Only Knows

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3

“Something” into “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” always cracks me up, even though I quite like the latter

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4

Karma Police into Fitter Happier

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5

I was trying to think of a Beatles one, my pick would be The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill (dreadful) into While My Guitar Gently Weeps (very good)

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Beatles did that a lot. I’d also say Yellow Submarine (kids’ nonsense) into She Said She Said (psychedelic gem).

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7

Immortality followed by Stupid Mop by Pearl Jam from Vitalogy

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8

Bruce following I Wanna Marry You - his worst song pre-1990 - with The River.

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9

I was just about to post the same thing! ‘Little girl I wanna marry you’ always makes me grit my teeth.

Another example from later on the same album: it’s always a bit jarring going from

I’m driving a stolen car / On a pitch-black night / And I’m telling myself / It’s gonna be all right / But I ride by night / And I travel in fear / That in this darkness / I will disappear

to

WELL HEY LITTLE DOLLY WITH THE BLUE JEANS ON / WANNA RAMROD WITH YA HONEY TILL HALF PAST DAWN

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10

The Universal (great) followed by Mr Robinson’s Quango (a war crime)

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11

Darling Niki is ace…
Really can’t disapprove of any song on that album tbh…

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12

I think Mr Robinson’s Quango is fine until the ‘I’m a naughty boy’ bit. And also it makes me think of that TV performance where Damon gets way too into it and twats his head on the microphone.

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13

Am trying to stream Purple Rain as we speak….
Was so obsessed with the film as a 12 year old….:heart:

14

The fact I still know all the words to every songs 40 odd years later is testimony to its absolute brilliance :heart:

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15

Not very DiS but Don’t Cry [Alt. Version] to My World from Use Your Illusion II

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Watching :heart:
Lots of streaming options available..
We should put “The Time and Wendy and Lisa” into the Bands you never here about anymore

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Lots of extremely dodgy scenes though :smiling_face_with_tear:

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Infinite banger.

I think a lot of the mid-80s Prince spin-offs have been forgotten because they just aren’t on streaming. It does mean you can pick them up cheap on vinyl. Got the first Mazarati album for a fiver recently!

This Post Paid For By PROF$.

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19

Absolutely nothing wrong with that tune.

I’ll raise you.
Disney Girls - Student Demonstration Time.
Mike Love’s lyrics and delivery truly stink.

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20

Good to baad or bad to good?

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