Saving the Best for Last: 25 Great Closing Tracks

I keep forgetting how awesome The Jam is…I highly recommend the song “Eaton Rifles” nice…

I wonder why I don’t see “Knights of Cydonia” from Black Holes and Revelations by Muse. One of their strongest albums with a very solid line and finishing very strong with Knights. It really was a very recent album that shows that not all music is going the way of pop but still has the great strength to continue on the ways of the great Rock bands of the past. It seems the majority of great talent today is going more towards pop to make better mainstream success while remaining wary to experiment and try their own thing. Muse has proven with this album that there are still great bands out there willing to continue on that way and not just shoot straight for the one hit pop phenomenon that most aim for today.

C’mon Radiohead’s ‘Videotape’ was better, as was the Beatle’s ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’

Otherwise very fine list.

How did you pick “Dark Side of the Moon” over “Echoes”?

Train in Vain by the Clash on ‘London Calling’. And it’s not even on the track list of the album!

Actually, the last lines of Street Spirit (Fade Out)are “Immerse your soul in love”.

While not technically the last song on the album, throughout my teen years and beyond, I had the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Sir Psycho Sexy” stuck in my head. An epic song to end Blood Sugar Sex Magik… it pulled the entire album together for a giant close. I can’t think of a time since that an “album” felt more like an album.

Only in Dreams – Weezer

Damage Inc. from Master of Puppets, by Metallica (1986). A huge, glaring omission. Easily one of the best thrash songs to come out of the 80’s.

The album itself is typically listed in the top 5, if not no. 1, of the top metal albums of all time. The album itself was also ranked 168 for the top 500 albums of all time by Rolling Stone.

Youtube Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjUS4m_mF3s

What are the “rules” for music sites like this? Can bloggers go around and show off awesome music like this without getting in trouble with various publishers, RIAA etc. ? Can you just have full clips + link to them etc. without the man getting pissed? I’m seriously asking this question because I don’t know what the rules are anymore.

Great list, by the way.

I’d also to praise “Sir Psycho Sexy.” RHCP has some songs that were good at the time but, in hindsight, maybe that great but “Sir Psycho Sexy” is always amazing..

Cassandra Gemini from the Mars Volta’s album Frances the Mute is seriously an amazing half-hour closer to one of the finest experimental albums this side of the 21st century! Considering the band makes an effort to make cohesive albums to be listened to all the way through, I think at least ONE album’s closer should make the list.

I’d have to go with A Wolf at the Door (It Girl. Rag Doll.) for the Radiohead song. The Stones song is a great choice though. Also the Beatles. Wonderful really. And I know this is all opinion anyway, but come on Desolation Row totally beats out Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, even in the most romantic of moods (granted it is my favorite song possibly of all time.)

It’s actually “Stripper” in the BlackSabbath song, not ripper.

Before I read the article, I made a quick mental list and I think you hit every one except “Train in Vain,” which was mentioned by a commenter above. I would have taken “Desolation Row”, but that’s a reasonable argument.

One to add: “40″ closes both of U2’s 1983 albums – Under a Blood Red Sky and War. I prefer the live version, but either version marks the end of U2’s early phase and hints at what’s to come with Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree.

Great list, though one thing I will comment on is the stone roses album, the original uk release has ‘I am the resurrection’ as the last track which is far more fitting than ‘ fools gold ‘ which wasn’t even made for this album it was a remix added for the us release…….It’s still one of my top 5 fave albums.

Good list. I’d also add “The End” from Abbey Road (with “Her Majesty” sneaking in afterwards).

you could have picked a Doors track. Final tracks include “The End”, “Maggie M’Gill”, “When the Music’s Over”, “The Soft Parade”, and “Riders on the Storm”

Never has a bonus track sounded more tacked onto a record than Fools Gold on the US version of the 1st Stone Roses album. If they really wanted it on there, they sound have put it in the middle between sides A & B, not following another 10 minute song, I Am the Resurrection, which should totally be on this list.

As a Radiohead diehard for many years, I much prefer “The Tourist” to “Street Spirit”. Lyrically and sonically mind opening. One of Jonny Greenwood’s best guitar solos. Thom Yorke’s vocals at it’s finest and Phil Selway’s final high treble cymbal tops off a earth shattering song cycle.

Not to mention that “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” is one of the greatest closing tracks from a film (Wall Street.) That must knock it up a few notches.

Amen Jeff, I have to agree with you that Knights of Cydonia is an excellent end to a great album, and while they experiment with different sorts of sound throughout the album, they come back and rock out on the final track. For those who haven’t already experienced it, Muse’s work is well worth checking out, and Black Holes and Revelations is a great place to start.

Disintegration – The Cure (title tracks for The Top and Pornography are also great closers)
Decades – Joy Division Closer
The Morning Fog – Kate Bush (gloriously ending Hounds of Love)
Biko – Peter Gabriel III (as was closing Secret World with the title track)

Nice add on Kit…more good ones

takes me back to the good old times…

god of wine off third eye blinds self titled has always been one of my personal favorite last songs.

Howsabout ‘Hurt’ from Nine Inch Nails’ – The Downward Spiral. Perfect end song to quite a conceptual and introspective album.

It’s always an amazing end to the concerts also. Twas Johnny Cash worthy too =P

Voodoo Child – double-plus-awesome!

Great list, good lineup.

Surf’s Up, Beach Boys

Great list but I dare anyone to listen to Rock N’ Roll Suicide as the closing track to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars and tell me it doesn’t belong here. They lyrics and mood are haunting.

Julie Paradise is a powerful closer by the Screaming Trees on their Sweet Oblivion.

Disintegration by the Cure (mentioned above) is list worthy.

The VU track listed above is incorrect. The greatest album closer of all time from any band, ever is…

Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ by the Velvet Underground on their last album, Loaded.

Don’t feel bad for adding the TV on the Radio. It’s nice to see a newer release on the list.

Who are these people?
You missed the boat on a lot of albums:
Nights in White Satin – Moody Blues
Close to the Edge – YES
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Los Endos – Genesis
Pilgrim’s Progress – Procol Harum
Lucky Man – ELP
In the Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson
Spoonful – Cream
Whipping Post – Allman Bros.

What about Gold Dust Woman from Rumours? That is one sick song.

just thought of another one: The Ocean off of Led Zep’s Houses of the Holy. Great album and a fantastic closer.

Jon, i agree with Aqueous Transmission its so chilled.
Tool- Third eye off AEnima

“Thorn Tree in the Garden” by Derek and the Dominoes, from Layla. Two LPs worth of soul-melting blues ends with the saddest little acoustic piece. It’s exquisite.

Rob
EightE1

umm hello!????

Dyers Eve from And Justice For all – Metallica
one of the best ending songs evveerrr!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6kb5fvv6_A

sorry, man on the moon, you know what I mean.

[...] List Time: 25 Great Closing Tracks [...]

The structure of an album can be what defines a great album from a truly great album. A well rounded album always ends with a conclusive track that leaves you wholly satisfied at the least. In someways more important than the opener, if it ends with a almighty climax chances are you are going to play it again soon. Great post.

The Stone Roses’ “Fools Gold” was an interesting pick, but I’d nominate “Smog Moon” from Matthew Sweet’s brilliant album 100% Fun.

Great list! But i think it requires “Slim Slow Slider” Van Morrison… and btw “Two Headed Boy Pt. 2″ Is the only song, movie, story, book, etc. that I’ve cried during… It was like the fifth listen through and I had said right before how I thought how it was one of the weaker songs.. then bam! A tear rolled on down lmao

Whoever chose these songs was on glue, acid, or some other trippy substance. Wake the fuck up.

The Show Must Go On – Queen, Innuendo, 1991

What about Bloc Party the Silent Alarm album with “Compliments”? And yeah I totally agree with h. about Radiohead’s “Videotape” freakin brilliant!

Where is “Jungleland”?

lol at the Muse suggestion. Listen, I hate to tell you this, but if you listen to Muse and think they are a really good band, you know nothing about music. Muse is trash anyway you look at it, a jokingly pretentious and uninventive band (prog + yorke wailing). Get out there and expand your musical horizons and you will soon realize how terrible Muse really is.

For my money, you can’t talk about album closers without including “You Set the Scene,” the gorgeous, timeless last track on Love’s Forever Changes, one of the best albums of all time. And the version on the Forever Changes Concert CD is nearly as good as the original studio classic. The great Arthur Lee lives on!

Nothing in return (walk away) from Over the Under by Down.

But also the closing songs from Down’s previous albums – Bury me in smoke from NOLA and Landing on the Mountains of Meggido from II: A bustle in your hedgerow – are easily best of their kind.

awesome! though i think the Abbey Road ending could’ve fit here…

I’m surprised “The Show Must Go On” from Queen’s Innuendo album wasn’t included here. Not only is it their best final track, but it was Freddie’s goodbye to the fans–and he delivered.

A few more to consider next time and some of my personal favorites to end an album go as:

Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers debut album.

Caroline No – Pet Sounds

Good Night – The Beatles (White Album) through all the mess and overload of songs none fit better than Ringo whispering “Good Night”

Toad – Fresh Cream, being a drummer the first time listening to the album straight through the song reminded me who was the motor of this band no other than Ginger Baker.

The End – The Doors, need i say more.

Riders On The Storm – L.A. Woman, almost a send off like Mr. Morrison was packing his bags.

All Apologies – In Utero, through all the alternative and heavy attack we see Kurt Cobain’s Pop influences.

Freedom – Rage Against the Machine debut album, from start to finish it seems like this album never stops and the band pounding the message into us.

Only In Dreams – Weezer debut “Blue” album

Couldn’t agree more with:

WHEN THE LEVY BREAKS FROM Led Zeppelin IV
GOODBYE from Madman Across The Water by Elton John;
FREE BIRD on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s self titled first album;
WHIPPING POST on The Allman Brothers;
WIND UP from Jethro Tull’s Agualung;
JUNGLELAND from Born to Run;
LOVE REIGN O’ER ME from Quadrophenia; and
THE END on The Doors

And let’s not forget:

KARNEVIL 9 (Welcome Back My Friends…)on Brain Salad Surgery by ELP;
CLOSE TO THE EDGE on Yes’ Close To The Edge ablum;
CLOSING TIME from Lyle Lovett’s self titled debut album;
and for pure sublimity,
RESOLUTION from Birds of Fire by The Mahavishnu Orchestra

“Like Suicide” by Soundgarden seems like it’s missing from the list. That’s too bad.

“Fillmore Jive,” at the end of Pavement’s _Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain_.