Some don't have any of these instruments
Many hit singles were taken out of albums, or later included as album tracks, but the opposite is also true. There have been quite a few great songs that were released as singles only and never made it onto albums. Of course, many of these were later added to greatest hits compilations or even reissues of albums, but they were all originally stand-alone singles.
Click through the gallery and see how many you can recognize.
Originally recorded in 1992, 'Changes' features in Tupac's 'Greatest Hits' compilation released posthumously, but it was never included in an album.
Probably one of the most famous duet songs of all time, 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' is nowhere to be found in an album.
This classic Joy Division tune was released in June 1980, which was about one month after vocalist Ian Curtis passed away. It's one of the band's greatest hits, but never made it onto their second album 'Closer,' released later that year.
'Lose Yourself' was Eminem's first no. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The tune was part of the soundtrack of the 2002 movie '8 Mile,' but it never made it onto an Eminem album.
Believe it or not, 'Hey Jude' is not in any of The Beatles' albums. The No. 1 hit song was released as a single in 1968. Of course, it features in several compilations, but it was never part of an album.
J.Lo teamed up with Pitbull and released 'Live It Up' in 2013. It was a huge hit but was nowhere to be found on a Jennifer Lopez or Pitbull album.
'Focus' isn't included in the original release of Ariana Grande's third studio album, 'Dangerous Woman.' The single was only released as a bonus track of the album in Japan.
The Smiths had a number of hit singles that were not included in any of their albums. Examples include 'Panic' and 'This Charming Man,' among others.
The song 'I Love It' featuring rapper Lil Pump never made it onto a Kayne West album. Nor did 'FourFiveSeconds,' featuring Paul McCartney and Rihanna.
One of The Cure's greatest hits, 'Boys Don't Cry' was originally released after their debut album 'Three Imaginary Boys' came out in 1979. It was later included in the US release of 'Three Imaginary Boys,' which was renamed 'Boys Don't Cry.' This is considered a compilation album, however.
Released in 2016, 'Rise' was a huge hit, helped by the fact that the US TV channel NBC used it during the coverage of the Rio Olympics. The song was not included in any of Perry's albums.
The English duo's version of 'Always On My Mind' was a huge hit, but was not included as a track album. The only exception was a bonus track in the US version of their second album 'Actually' and then a remix in the album ' Introspective.'
This tune, featuring Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones and Jennifer Lopez, was never included in an album.
Riri has quite a few songs that were never included in her albums. These include 'FourFive Seconds,' 'American Oxygen,' and 'B Better Have My Money,' among others.
This huge hit by British Glam rockers T. Rex was not included in the 1973 album 'Tanx'. It was not until 1985 that it was included as a bonus track in the reissue of the album.
This collaboration between Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea did pretty well as a single, but the song was never included in an album.
This classic New Order tune was released as a single between 1986's 'Brotherhood' and 1989's 'Technique.' It features in a single compilation called 'Substance,' but not in a studio album.
Released in December 1994, between the band's albums 'Definitely Maybe' and '(What's The Story?) Morning Glory,' the single was a hit. 'Whatever' never made it into an Oasis album, other than the 2010 compilation 'Time Flies... 1994–2009.'
Kylie Minogue's hit 'Timebomb' was released in 2012 as a single and not included in an album, other than compilations and box sets.
'Gambler' is part of the soundtrack of the 1985 movie 'Vision Quest.' It was never included in any of Madonna's albums.
This song, featuring James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and André 3000 of Outkast, was never part of a Gorillaz album. Nor was their 2017 single 'Sleeping Powder.'
All albums by ex-One Direction member Zayn Malik feature lots of songs, but a few singles were not included. One example is 2017's 'Still Got Time,' featuring PartyNextDoor.
The two girl groups teamed up to record a cover of the Aerosmith classic in 2007. The song was never included in either of the group's albums.
Released in 1983, 'Is There Something I Should Know?' was huge in both the UK and the US markets. It was never part of an album, other than the 'Singles Box Set 1981–1985,' released in 2003.
'Elephant Stone' was released six months before the band's debut album came out. It was nowhere to be found in either of their two records.
Happy Mondays' acid house anthem 'Hallelujah' was found in the band's 1989 EP 'Madchester Rave On,' and one month later in another EP called 'Hallelujah,' but it was never part of an album.
Released in 1994, just before their second album came out, 'Stay Together' was never included in a Suede album. This was the band's last single released with guitarist Bernard Butler.
Released as a single in 2003, 'This Groove' was originally recorded for Victoria Beckham's second studio album, which was never released.
This song was eventually added to the reissue of their 1990 album 'Some Friendly,' but it was not included in the original version.
This single came out after the band's debut album 'Silent Alarm.' It was such a popular tune that it was later included in a reissue of the record.
Sources: (RadioX) (Official Charts) (Rate Your Music)
See also: Do you remember these one-hit wonders?
Hit singles that never made it onto an album
Some of these were no.1 hits!
MUSIC Songs
Many hit singles were taken out of albums, or later included as album tracks, but the opposite is also true. There have been quite a few great songs that were released as singles only and never made it onto albums. Of course, many of these were later added to greatest hits compilations or even reissues of albums, but they were all originally stand-alone singles.
Click through the gallery and see how many you can recognize.