Sometimes a single spark of genius survives an otherwise disastrous session. Whether it's a legendary band losing their way or a solo artist battling the studio, these 15 tracks managed to transcend their mediocre surroundings to become essential entries in the rock canon.
1. The Who – 'Eminence Front' (It's Hard, 1982)
While the rest of It's Hard feels like a band running out of steam, 'Eminence Front' is a cool, dark, and sophisticated masterpiece. Pete Townshend’s jagged, funk-influenced guitar and the hypnotic synthesizer loop create a sense of mounting dread. It’s a scathing critique of 80s decadence and 'big-time' posturing, standing as the only track on the album that feels like it belongs in the pantheon of The Who’s greatest work.
2. Queen – 'Under Pressure' (Hot Space, 1982)
Hot Space was Queen’s ill-fated pivot to mechanical disco, an album that famously alienated their rock-loving fanbase. However, the closing track – a spontaneous collaboration with David Bowie – is one of the most beloved songs in history. Built on John Deacon’s iconic bassline and the soaring vocal interplay between Mercury and Bowie, it provided the emotional weight and human soul that the rest of the synth-heavy album sorely lacked.
3. Pink Floyd – 'On the Turning Away' (A Momentary Lapse of Reason, 1987)
Among the somewhat sterile, synth-heavy landscape of A Momentary Lapse of Reason, 'On the Turning Away' provides the album’s only true moment of soulful gravitas. It eschews 1980s corporate-rock gloss for a timeless, folk-inspired melody that gradually builds into a soaring anthem. David Gilmour’s lyrical guitar solo is among his most emotive, recapturing the 'human' warmth of the band's 1970s peak and proving Pink Floyd could still be profound without Roger Waters.
4. Led Zeppelin – 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Do' (Coda, 1982)
Coda was a collection of leftovers released after Led Zeppelin's demise, and it feels like exactly that: a compilation of scraps. However, 'Hey, Hey, What Can I Do' – originally a B-side – is a stunning acoustic-folk rocker. It’s warm, soulful, and features a brilliant vocal from Robert Plant. It is so good that it’s a mystery why it didn't make it onto a 'proper' album like Led Zeppelin III.
5. The Beatles – 'Hey Bulldog' (Yellow Submarine, 1969)
The Yellow Submarine soundtrack is widely considered the 'lightest' Beatles release, filled with orchestral scores and leftovers. 'Hey Bulldog', however, is a ferocious, piano-driven rocker that shows the band at their tightest. Recorded during the 'Lady Madonna' sessions, it features a biting John Lennon vocal and a snarling guitar solo from George Harrison. It is a hidden gem that is far too cool for a children's cartoon soundtrack.
6. Grateful Dead – 'Touch of Grey' (In the Dark, 1987)
After a long studio drought and Jerry Garcia’s health struggles, the Dead released In the Dark, their 12th studio album and their first for six years. While much of the album is unremarkable, 'Touch of Grey' became an improbable Top 10 hit. With its resilient lyrics ('I will get by') and catchy, bright melody, it captured the band’s ageing wisdom and survivor spirit. It gave the Dead a new generation of fans, even if the rest of the album struggled to match its infectious optimism.
7. The Cure – 'The 13th' (Wild Mood Swings, 1996)
Wild Mood Swings is often cited by fans as the moment The Cure lost their cohesive gloom. However, 'The 13th' is a fascinating, brass-heavy departure. It’s a weird, Latin-influenced track that shows Robert Smith experimenting with rhythm and mood in a way that is far more interesting than the acoustic pop fillers that populate the rest of the bloated record.
8. Guns N' Roses – 'Ain't It Fun' ("The Spaghetti Incident?", 1993)
While the rest of The Spaghetti Incident? feels like a contractual obligation filled with lukewarm punk covers, 'Ain't It Fun' is a haunting, cinematic masterpiece. A cover of the Rocket from the Tombs track, it features a dual vocal from Axl Rose and Michael Monroe that drips with genuine nihilism. Its dark, orchestral production and bitter lyrics capture a grit the other tracks lack, serving as a visceral, tragic epitaph for the band's original era.
9. The Rolling Stones – 'Time Waits for No One' (It's Only Rock 'n Roll, 1974)
The album It's Only Rock 'n Roll is often seen as something of a comedown from the Stones' 1968-72 golden era. But this track is a sophisticated, jazzy anomaly. It features arguably the greatest guitar solo Mick Taylor ever recorded – a fluid, Latin-infused masterpiece that elevates the song into a transcendental meditation on time. It is a moment of pure beauty on an album otherwise characterized by cynical swagger.
10. The Kinks – 'Working Day' (Soap Opera, 1975)
While Soap Opera is often dismissed as Ray Davies’ most indulgent theatrical detour, '(A) Face in the Crowd' is its undeniable emotional anchor. A tender, sparse ballad reminiscent of 'Celluloid Heroes', it finds the protagonist – a rock star masquerading as an 'ordinary man' – finally cracking under the weight of his own artifice. It’s a rare, vulnerable moment where the campy irony of the album drops away, revealing Davies’ profound, lifelong obsession with identity and the quiet dignity of the common worker.
11. Iggy Pop – 'Play It Safe' (Soldier, 1980)
While Soldier is notoriously marred by a thin, flat production and legendary studio infighting that drove David Bowie to walk out of recordings, 'Play It Safe' stands as its brilliant, jagged peak. Co-written with Bowie and featuring backing vocals from Simple Minds' Jim Kerr and Derek Forbes, the track is a biting, sarcastic critique of creative cowardice.
Its repetitive, mechanical groove and Iggy’s mocking delivery capture a 'New Wave' coldness that actually works, providing a rare moment of focused, cynical genius amidst an otherwise disorganized and chaotic recording session.
12. Journey – 'Edge of the Blade' (Frontiers, 1983)
Frontiers saw Journey leaning into a more processed, keyboard-heavy 80s sound that lacked the soulful grit of their early work. But 'Edge of the Blade' is a high-octane hard rock track that reminds you why Steve Perry is one of the greatest singers in history. It’s aggressive, muscular, and features a powerhouse performance that stands head and shoulders above the synthpop ballads that dominate the record.
13. Bauhaus – 'Burning from the Inside' (Burning from the Inside, 1983)
Recorded while frontman Peter Murphy was sidelined with a serious illness, the rest of the band handled much of the songwriting, resulting in a fractured final album. The title track, however, is a quintessential gothic masterpiece. It’s a slow-burning, atmospheric epic that captures the band’s dark magic perfectly, proving they could still conjure shadows even as they were breaking up.
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