Not a typical unreleased tracks thread
 

Ok, we have a ton of b-sides, lost songs, unreleased songs threads and by now most of us pretty much know the songs give or take a few.

So, with that in mind instead of listing what are the best songs in this vein perhaps we could do something different. So in your no doubt humble opinions which unreleased, b-side songs do you think.

a) would have been a hit if released
b) would have stood up against the bands best stuff
c) been better for an album than another track
d) all of the above.

Let's not just say "Nothing would be a hit because I like it"

Some examples for me are.

Walk Like a Man could have been a hit on country radio or AOR radio, I think it has that vibe, while those kind of faux message songs typically do well if they find an audience.

I think it is fairly obvious that Edge of a Broken Heart would be all. It fit the 80s, was the perfect example of Bon Jovi at that time, and was better than some songs on Slippery.

Postcards from the Wasteland could stand up to their better stuff, well at least from the last 10 years. It has one of the strongest lyrics and that kind of melodic vibe even though it is more rooted than soaring.

Anyway, this is not my thread, it is yours, be free and populate it as you see fit.

This is the song that instantly popped in my head when I read your 4 criteria. This is a "wtf were they thinking leaving it off the record".

I agree with all three of your picks. I think one of the biggest mistakes of their career was not releasing Walk Like a Man as a single. It would have appealed to the country audience greatly and it would have appealed to both males and females. To this day I can't figure out why they didn't release that. It's pretty obvious they didn't have their finger on the pulse of the country market.

If I remember correctly, Stay was a Crush demo and I think it could have had more hit potential than the "big ballads" on that record.

I also think that Cold, Hard Heart should have been on Destination Anywhere. I don't think it should have replaced anything already there, it just should have made the cut.

Most definitely!! LOVE that song!

I think it would have taken some work to have been a hit, but lyrically it is certainly one of their finest songs.

I don't know if WLAM could have been a hit, I am just glad that it wasn't. I'd hate any excuse for them to steer their next album in that direction. I know some here love it, but I really didn't like it at all.

I can't think of any b-side that was a sure fire hit (including the beloved Edge of a Broken Heart... it's good. Just not Prayer or Wanted good), though I can name plenty of them that should have made albums.

On Have a Nice Day, there were three weak links that could have been replaced by the Nothing, Dirty Little Secret, and These Open Arms. But honestly, I love that album so much that I wish they had just kept writing and put out a double disc. Bounce would have also been a good double disc album... it had a lot diversity and several good b-sides. Standing, Postcards and We Can Dance should have made it regardless.

I like Postcards from the Wasteland, but it sounds a LOT like Joey, which I actually believe is a superior song.

In the 11 years since Bounce was released I've never once thought they sounded alike. Interesting.

Well, to me, it's most prominent right before the chorus. Every single time, I expect Jon to sing "heeeeeeeeeeeey Joey" instead of "I'm sending postcards..."

Stay for sure. Release that instead of Thank You For Loving Me, and you could have had a massive hit. But its too taxing vocally so would never have been.

I don't disagree with Walk Like A Man- lyrically and musically a very good song, although the country vibe from the Lost Highway sessions is a real downer for most places outside of America. Just suggesting LH would be a country album was enough for a massive negative over here and just gave people another stick to beat them with.

On the flip side to that, Unbreakable could have been a massive pop smash, but again we would be going off on another direction had that been the case. It definitely would have fitted into the HAND album for sure.

I always felt "Wedding Day" was a hit. Everyone I ever played it for was like DAMN that's a good song! "Always" and "This Ain't A Love Song" were hits for them around the same time. No reason this one couldn't have been either. I'm actually glad it wasn't on the box set. Keeps it kinda "Lost" still...a true hidden gem!