Great Albums with Only One Great Side

Do you always turn the album over, or do you sometimes find it not worth it? There are some records that have a continuity that demands flipping the LP. Who can listen to The Beatles’ Abbey Road and stop at “I Want You,” which concludes Side One? After the stormy, almost underwater swirl and shocking abrupt end, you need to hear what follows on Side 2.

There’s a satisfaction that makes the experience feel whole. Take The Kinks’ Muswell Hillbillies, Rolling Stones’ Tattoo You, Joni Mitchell’s Blue, and Moody Blues’ Days of Future Passed. But what about those classics that run out of steam at the conclusion of Side One?

Here are three that are “front-loaded,” but with a Side Two that runs out of musical gas.

David Bowie – Young Americans

“Young Americans” kicks off Bowie’s 1975 release and is an absolute classic. The rest of the side flows in an Al Green-like groove and is delightful.

Then what happens? While Side Two does contain “Fame,” it has little else to offer. Bowie sounds tired, like he’s grasping for something soulful but ends up sounding bored and miserable.

Also, his version of Lennon & McCartney’s “Across The Universe” is uninspired. Listen to Side One and find a mesmerizing Bowie, but on Side Two, the musical spell is broken.

Paul McCartney & Wings – Red Rose Speedway

McCartney’s Red Rose Speedway contains some strong moments at the beginning, but certainly has a wobbly Side 2. On the second side, there are “Single Pigeon,” “One More Kiss” and “When The Night,” which sound like warm-up takes that were quickly written and recorded with little care.

“Tragedy,” “Medley” and “I Lie Around” meander, Which brings us back to the start. “My Love,” on Side One, is the one we all remember. The other first siders, “Big Barn Bed,” “Get On the Right Thing,” and “Little Lamb Dragonfly,” are sweet curios, especially compared to the second half.

Bob Dylan – Infidels

Aside from Dylan’s first and last release in the 1980s, Dylan did not release high-caliber material for that decade. He ended it with Oh Mercy. His first release was the highly regarded Infidels, which surprised critics and fans alike. Just a few years before it,  Dylan was floundering through his “born-again Christian” phase. Infidels remedied that — or at least Side One did. “Jokerman” starts off the album and is a timeless classic.

“Sweetheart Like You,” “Neighborhood Bully” and “License To Kill” finish off the side with panache. Then Side Two begins. “Man of Peace,” which would have been a standout an album or two earlier, doesn’t compare to anything on the first side. “Union Sundown” sounds like a discarded Bruce Springsteen track. “I and I” and “Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” finish off the album; the energy that kicked off the album has all but evaporated by its conclusion.

These three are worth hearing, but, like a movie where the second half is a dud, sneak out at the halfway point and don’t look back. Any others you’d add to the list?

-Vincent Maganzini

Photo: Vinyl turntable (Wikimedia Commons)