Open up any of the music software on my computer, look at my most played songs and they’ll all show the same thing. Rows and rows of Red Hot Chili Peppers tracks, from various points in their career. Except Spotify, which I only ever really used to listen to The Offspring for some reason. Don’t go near Spotify, or you’ll ruin this entire feature. They’re one of the few bands that I consider myself a dedicated fan of and they’re special to me in a way that no other band are. I credit them as the reason I’m into music in the way I am and despite being able to acknowledge that many bands produce music of equal, or greater quality, I can’t quite seem to enjoy anything else as much.
One of the things I love most about them is that they’ve produced some amazingly popular songs, but there’s also a lot of treats to be found amongst B-sides, rarities and live recordings and as they are currently part way through releasing a mammoth set of outtakes from their 2011 album I’m With You, they seemed like a great choice for our next Off the Beaten Track feature.
So, without further delay, let’s take a look at what I believe to be the band’s 7 best B-sides.
Joe (From Desecration Smile, Hump De Bump)
Stadium Arcadium is packed with 28 tracks and has a total running time that exceeds 2 hours, but for some reason, the B-sides still stand out as some of the best material written for the collection. Truthfully, going purely on quality, I could have chosen any of Stadium Arcadium’s b-sides, but Joe feels special. It keeps the band’s trademark sound, whilst adding to the mix with a hint of Reggae that sets it apart from a lot of their other material. Written as a tribute to Joe Strummer, Joe is a perfect example of the talents of four different musicians coming together to make a complete package that’s nothing short of beautiful. It’s often hard to decode the words that are coming out of Anthony Kiedis’ mouth but in this case, it’d be even harder to deny that what he’s saying doesn’t mean something, thanks to the sheer amount of passion and emotion in his voice as he sings the track’s infectious chorus.
Whatever We Want (From Dani California)
There’s no denying that RHCP aren’t the same now as they were in the band’s early days and ever since tracks like Under the Bridge and Californication contributed to a major shift in sound and style, some older fans have been asking for a return to their roots. This is where Whatever We Want steps in. A fun, fast and loud throwback to some of the band’s earlier material, Whatever Want is almost the complete opposite of Dani California, the single it was released alongside. They might not have returned to singing about partying on your pussy, but the band’s eclectic sound is more obvious than it’s been in a while, with the talents of each member quite clearly on display for almost 5 minutes of pure fanservice.
Sikamikanico (From Under the Bridge)
Driven by the fast guitar riff of John Frusciante, Sikamikanico is an eclectic, fun mix of the band’s classic funk rock sound and punk rock influences. You’d have to work pretty hard if you wanted to sing along to this as the lyrics fly out of Anthony Kiedis’ mouth at speed, but pull it off and you’ll be having as much fun as the band seem to be having for the entire time, which is in contrast to the emotionally-charged tone of Under the Bridge, which helped to change the band’s sound. As a collection, the tracks demonstrate the two extremes of what the band is capable of and Sikamikanico gives fans a chance to jump around their bedroom like excited children, after feeling the saddening weight of Under the Bridge’s origins and meanings.
Slowly Deeply (From Universally Speaking)
RHCP are known for breaking into instrumental jams, or using them to lead into well known tracks during live shows, but they’ve never really been the kind to include them on albums. This is a shame, given that the talents of each member really do shine during instrumentals. Dig a little deeper though and you’ll find some real treats tucked away amongst b-sides and rarities, including Slowly Deeply. Flea starts the track with some off his signature bass work, which is soon joined by a distorted guitar track and some subtle, yet great drumming. This is a rare case in which Flea, Chad and John get to try something a bit more experimental, which results in a fantastic, inventive piece of music that fans can sit back and appreciate.
Victorian Machinery (From Magpies on Fire)
Magpies on Fire itself is an album outtake, released as part of the band’s current I’m With You Sessions series, so I spent a while debating with myself about whether or not Victorian Machinery should be included in this list, but I eventually reached the conclusion that it’s just too good to be left out. There’s almost two sides to the track; one side being a typical Chilis song and the other being something more industrial and more chaotic. The song starts with the loud and almost invasive sound of Chad Smith’s extraordinary drumming. What he’s playing doesn’t seem to be complex, but it’s powerful, single handedly adding a sense of chaos and urgency to the track, before it skilfully and suddenly becomes softer and more mellow. “A seminal pleasure, I will love you forever” sings Anthony Kiedis during the momentary calmness, before screaming “woooooo!” as the track kicks off into madness again and the drums come back in with force. It’s at this point that one can truly appreciate how much this band love making music together, whether loud and fun, calm and touching, or both at once.
Soul to Squeeze (From Give it Away, Under the Bridge)
How could I possibly talk about the B-sides of Red Hot Chili Peppers without mentioning Soul to Squeeze? Considered by many as the definitive Red Hot Chili Peppers song, it’s one of the band’s most popular songs to date, reaching number one on the US Modern Rock Chart after the band released the track as a single to coincide with its inclusion on the soundtrack for the 1993 film Coneheads. The track is a perfect example of each band member playing to each other’s strengths. Each instrument has a prominent role alongside Anthony’s vocals, which are on great form, but none of them stand out as the best part of the track. Here, everybody involved is sharing the spotlight, not stealing it and Soul to Squeeze only benefits from that. It’s a tight, memorable package that’s not only a great B-side, but a great song in its own right.
Someone (From The Zephyr Song)
The Zephyr Song has never really been one of my favourite Red Hot Chili Peppers tracks. I believe it’s the one track that By The Way could do without and more often than not I’ll skip it if it comes on. I don’t know why, but it just annoys me. What makes it more annoying is that they had a song as brilliant as Someone sitting alone in the sidelines, watching as The Zephyr Song was chosen for the album’s final tracklist. It’s a joyful, upbeat track that incorporates an almost retro sound into a song that is still, unmistakably, by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. With subtle instrumental work and fantastic vocals, which are supported by even greater backing vocals, Someone can be described as ‘layered’. I’ve probably listened to this track more than any other and I still notice things I haven’t before. Every time is a treat and every time, I walk away with the tune stuck in my head and a smile on my face. It’s just one of those songs that makes you happy and in all honesty, what more could you want?
Do you agree? Disagree? Got your own favourite B-sides, or recommendations for bands to talk about in the future? Don’t be afraid to comment below and let us know.
7bitarcade - Archive 