Loads of bands release the occasional great b-side. But I reckon that The Jam, and latterly The Smiths are the only lot to consistently put what many fans regard as some of the best stuff they ever recorded as the b/w or c/w to the record played on the radio.
mp3 : The Jam - The Butterfly Collector
mp3 : The Jam - Smithers Jones
mp3 : The Jam - Liza Radley
mp3 : The Jam - Tales From The Riverbank
It makes a cracking EP doesn't it?
Happy Listening.
12 comments:
www.mister-wong.de/tags/blog%2Bfree/
Don't forget Suede...
...and I'm no big Oasis fan, but many of their Bs are better than their As (as befits PW acolytes)...
oh, it most certainly would!
Would have to agree with the comments about Suede (for around the time of the first three albums) and Oasis (for the time of the first two albums). people used to ask why i bought singles; decent b-sides were often the reason, much more than remixes. Especially if it was a cover version on the b-side...
Oh I dont disagree that both Suede and Oasis have put out some amazing b-sides, but as I dont thunk they were/have been as consistently brilliant as The Jam or The Smiths.
Like Davy and ed said, Oasis put out consistently brilliant B sides for the first two albums. Agree on the Jam, less sure about the Smiths. Evidence please.
ctelblog - Smiths b-sides included 'How soon is now?' which was the 12" b-side to 'William It Was Really Nothing' first, before it was later issued as a single in its' own right, along with another excellent Smiths' track 'Please Please Please Let me Get What I want.'
Other class Smiths b-sides include 'Jeane' (b-side to This Charming Man')'Asleep (b-side to 'The Boy With the Thorn In His Side), the instrumental 'Money Changes Everything' (b-side to 'Bigmouth Strikes Again' and later appropriated for Bryan Ferry's song 'The Right Stuff'), 'Half A Person' (b-side to 'Shoplifters Of the World Unite')'Is It Really So Strange?' (b-side to Sheila Take A Bow')...and yes, I did go and grab the 7"s from the shelf!
Am I a geek? Duh!
I wrote this once ...
The Jam recorded for 5 years (1977-82). In that time, they changed the lives of many, whilst (incidentally) becoming the biggest band in the UK.
They were accused at times (Weller in particular) of being fashionably nihilistic, inherently miserable and steeped in unremitting cynicism. That, my friend, is complete bollocks. (I’m an old curmudgeon – so I know what I’m talking about) Besides, it is a fine line between cynicism and reality!
Much of the message of the music of The Jam was, in fact (to scattergun a phrase or two), about bringing hope into hearts, cuddling a warm girl, and dancing the night away with the gift of life. Because, when all is said and done, life is a drink – and you get drunk … when you’re young.
In the days when records had TWO sides, The Jam released strong ‘B Sides’ - which, by design, were rarely found on their albums.
Tales From The Riverbank was c/w the single ‘Absolute Beginners’ in 1981. The stark contrast of a picture sleeve depicting grey damp terraced houses in industrial England was firmly against the narrative backdrop of ‘Tales From The Riverbank’ which is a nostalgic lament to days with ‘no fears or worries - just a golden country’. And, you certainly don’t need to be British to appreciate the song’s message. I guess it works in the US, Europe, South America or even Japan.
As the sun finally breaks through an interminable SUMMER of discontent, stick this simple spirit-lifter on loud, and warm your old bones and your bitter, bitter soul.
DICK
Great stuff Dick. Wish I could write as well as that.....
I love all these songs. I would also add Shopping, which alongside Liza Radley is probably one of my all time favourite Weller tunes. The b-side thing was something he carried on with The Style Council too. The first four singles feature some of my absolute favourite TSC tunes on b-sides...
"true it's a dream, mixed with nostalgia...." I'd forgotten about Tales From The Riverbank!!! I don't know how I dare even say it, but I had.
Liza Radley & Butterfly Collector would always be in any 'Top Five Jam' of mine.
Post a Comment