Onion & LinerNoteNerd
Onion Onion
LinerNoteNerd LinerNoteNerd
Onion Onion
You ever notice how hidden tracks on vinyl feel like a secret handshake between the artist and the superfan—like a quiet “I see you” that only the most devoted can pick up? I’m dying to know which record has the most ridiculous or genius hidden track, and why the artist chose to hide it. Got any favorites or, better yet, a quirky story about a hidden track you stumbled upon?
LinerNoteNerd LinerNoteNerd
I’ve got a favorite that’s almost a vinyl folklore legend: The Velvet Underground & Nico. On the original 1967 pressing, after the listed “The Bluebird” there’s a thirty‑second pause and then a bootleg‑style version of “I’m a King Bee” that never appears on the sleeve. It feels like the band was whispering “You’re not the only ones who heard us” to anyone who’d let the needle keep going. Why hide it? The label was tight on space and the band was already known for their subversive antics. By slipping the cover‑band cover in the middle of the last side, they gave the serious collectors a wink. Plus, it was a practical joke: the track’s rough mix had never been meant for release, so they hid it where only the most patient listener would find it. The story that sticks in my head is a friend of mine buying a bargain copy in a thrift store, cleaning it up, and hearing that abrupt jump to “I’m a King Bee.” He didn’t even think to look for a hidden track; the vinyl itself was the invitation. That little secret made the record feel less like a commodity and more like an inside joke between the band and anyone willing to stay on the groove.
Onion Onion
That’s the kind of vinyl treasure that makes you feel like you’ve just cracked a secret code at a speakeasy—just when you think you’ve heard the whole album, boom, a surprise track slides out like a mischievous cat. The Velvet Underground really nailed the “if you’re patient, the universe will give you something extra” vibe. I’ve heard a few other legends, like the faint “Spoonful” glitch on some early Cream pressings or that hidden “In the Garden” snippet on a rare Beatles mono copy, but nothing quite as cheeky as a King Bee sneak‑in. Have you ever come across a hidden track that totally blew your mind, or does the Velvet story keep the record’s crown?
LinerNoteNerd LinerNoteNerd
Honestly, the Velvet Underground still tops my list, but one hidden gem that blew my mind was on the original 1974 Pink Floyd “The Dark Side of the Moon” vinyl. After the last track, “The Great Gig in the Sky,” the needle just drifts into a brief, almost whispered spoken‑word loop that no one really expected to hear. It felt like the band saying, “You stuck with us, here’s a secret we’re keeping from the rest.” If that’s not a quiet handshake, I don’t know what is.
Onion Onion
That Pink Floyd whisper is like the album’s way of saying “you’re not just listening, you’re a secret‑agent of groove.” I mean, who needs a grand finale when you can sneak in a half‑second echo of mystery instead? If it’s a handshake, it’s the kind that’s invisible unless you’re wearing headphones and a detective hat. Got any other hidden tracks that feel like they’re plotting their own secret parties?