Our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” article presents a list of songs that, in one way or another, may not have been as popular as they should have been. Aerosmith was one of the most popular rock bands in the 1970s, releasing album after album of great rock and roll tunes. They were the American version of Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones, or whatever you wanted to call them. They had their own distinct sound, fueled by Steven Tyler’s out-of-this-world vocals and Joe Perry’s slick guitar playing alongside Brad Whitford. They slightly fell off in the early 1980s due to drug problems and personality issues but came roaring back in 1987 with Permanent Vacation, putting them right back on top. Their catalog is vast, and there’s so much to choose from. Here are ten of our favorites that we feel have just been a little bit, maybe too overlooked in their catalog.
AEROSMITH UNDERRATED SONGS
# 10 – Somebody – Aerosmith
We kick off our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” list with a cool track from the band’s debut album, titled “Somebody.” The first time I ever heard this song was when I purchased the “Dream On” 45 single. I’ve always loved listening to B-sides, and “Somebody” was what they placed on the B-side to the single “Dream On.” Aerosmith’s first album wasn’t a big hit outside of Boston when it was first released in 1973. It only gained popularity after the “Toys in the Attic” album blew up the charts. Following this, Aerosmith re-released “Dream On” as a single, and it became a monster hit.
# 9 -LUV XXX- Music from Another Dimension!
Continuing with our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” list, we showcase the opening track from the band’s most recent studio album, entitled Music from Another Dimension! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 14 years since Aerosmith released a new studio album. The album’s opening track is killer once you get past the first minute and a half of sound effects. This was an excellent album that, for some reason, was ignored by the general public compared to the rest of their catalog.
# 8 – No Surprize – Night in the Ruts
In the number eight spot on our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” list, we present the song “No Surprize” from the album Night in the Ruts. This album is one that both Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have called one of their best, even though it was not as popular as their previous records. The song was written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. Interestingly, even though it’s Joe Perry who plays on the record, he does not appear in the video for this track. It’s pretty strange to watch this video without Joe Perry. I believe that’s Jimmy Crespo who is on guitar in the video.
# 7 – Stop Messin Around – Honkin’ on Bobo
If you heard this on the radio and the DJ didn’t mention who it was, chances are you might not have known it was Aerosmith. With Steven Tyler not on lead vocals, and the band covering a classic Fleetwood Mac song, yes, it could have been confusing. Nonetheless, the band excels on this track with the almighty Joe Perry on lead vocals and Brad Whitford playing his heart out, laying down a fantastic blues solo. This all happens on their very underrated blues album Honkin’ on Bobo. The album was released in 2004 with Steven Tyler on the harp.
# 6 – Walk On Down – Get A Grip
Who would have thought that we would feature two songs in a row on this list with Joe Perry on lead vocals? This down-and-dirty garage rocker was released on the band’s Get a Grip album. The album was fueled by songs written by many songwriters and musicians including Desmond Child, Jim Vallance, Lenny Kravitz, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw, and more. Yet, this one was written just by Joe Perry. It’s simply killer. Listen to Joey Kramer smacking those drums around.
# 5 – Get It Up – Draw The Line
At the halfway point on our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” list, we feature a track from one of our favorite Aerosmith albums. I never understood why this album received some hate from fans. I guess after Rocks, people were expecting something a little different. I thought this was a cracking album with some killer tunes like the title track and “Kings and Queens.” The song “Get It Up” was released as the third single from the album and probably floated a little too under the radar, but in the end, it fits perfectly with this list.
# 4 – Rats In The Cellar – Rocks
At the number four spot on our “10 Most Underrated Aerosmith Songs” list, we place a pretty big one that we could probably debate over its underrated status. This is my favorite Aerosmith album, and so for me, there are no underrated songs on this album, as I played this record a million times. Yet, we are trying to turn people on to songs they may have never heard. This was never released as a single, and it’s possible there are many who have never heard this one. That’s a crime, as everyone should have this album in their rock and roll collection.
# 3 – Lord Of The Thighs – Get Your Wings
Is there a better rock and roll opening in Aerosmith’s catalog that is as down and dirty, organic as this one? Listen to that Joey Kramer drum beast. It’s just so rock and roll rhythmic in a sort of garage band way. Those guitars and bass just wrap around Tyler’s voice like best friends ready to get into a brawl at a corner street pub in some desolate town no one ever heard of. That’s the beauty of digging out some underrated stuff like this. It just blows our mind how great these songs were.
# 2 – Adam’s Apple – Toys In The Attic
It might be a bit of a stretch to call this one underrated since Toys in the Attic was basically in every teenage rock and roll collection in the 1970s. Still, if you became a fan of the band later on, it’s possible you’ve never heard this one. There were three singles released from the Toys in the Attic album, and this one was not one of them. I remember really digging this song when I was 14 years old. Not sure my catholic school teachers would have been happy with it, but all those nuns used to beat me up anyway, so what did I care?
# 1 – Fallen Angels – Nine Lives
There are many old-school fans who have stayed away from Aerosmith’s modern period for various reasons. I think if you’re a true fan of a band, you stick with them throughout their entire career and stop with the whining about everything. I love every Aerosmith album because I am a big-time fan of the band. This song here is a beautiful song that is as heartfelt as you can get. It’s sad, of course, because of the subject matter, but somehow Steven Tyler breathes some sort of hope and life into the song. You can hear him song his heart and soul out on this one. This is an epic piece that stands as one of the band’s longest they ever recorded and one of the most special.