| BSIDE | Not the best single (1-4) |
| LOVESHACK | B-52s hit named by Rolling Stone as the best single of 1989 |
| NIGHT | Lyric from 23Ac's last chart-topper, not the best when Western city is source of ring (1,3,4,3,5,2,10,4,1,6,3,4,5,4,7) |
| BANDB | Good (but not the best) category for somewhere to stay (1,3,1) |
| WORST | Not the best terrace around on the street (5) |
| GROOM | Not the best man in the stable? |
| STYLES | Harry, singer/songwriter who won Best Single at the 2021 BRIT Awards for Watermelon Sugar (6) |
| NATURE | 1969 song by The Fourmyula, voted NZ's best single (6) |
| HOTCHIP | English synthpop band whose song Over and Over was named best single of 2006 by NME (3,4) |
| NUMBERONE | Best single by group? (6,3) |
| EPRO | Inarguably Beck's best single (for crossword purposes only) |
| ASIDES | Best singles, those intended for audience not players (6) |
| TRASH | Not the best |
| DREGS | Not the best |
| SALEM | Not the best city to play "Witchy Woman"? |
| SLUMS | Not the best parts of town |
| LOSER | Not the best man for new roles? (5) |
| BADGE | An insignia is not the best to give out |
| WURST | Seems like not the best way to enjoy liver? |
| LOTTO | Not the best plan for becoming a millionaire |
