Oldsters on this list already know the principle behind this ongoing series here at RTH: long story short — I head out to a local thrift store, spend a dollar or two on music I know nothing about, take it home and give it a spin. If it’s good, I share it.
This one is different. The other day, a stack of classic rock 45s turned up at my local Goodwill. Most of it was boring, heard-it-all-before stuff, but buried in the middle of the pile were three Rolling Stones singles I’d never seen before — and they each featured non-album B-sides. Hearing three Stones tracks that were unknown to me seemed worth the 75-cent investment, so I scooped ’em up.
Now, normally, here’s where I opine about how great my finds were. I’m not going to do that this time. Instead, I’m going to summon our resident Stones-o-phile 2000 Man to weigh in on what I found. I really want to know where he sees these numbers landing on the scale of Glimmer Twins Greatness. Of course, I’m interested in everybody else’s thoughts, too — and I further ask each of you the following probing question: What’s your all-time favorite non-LP B-side — from any band?
I look forward to your responses, and I hope these presumably unknown Stones “trackssss” are enlightening.
HVB
“Everything’s Turning to Gold”, B-side to “Shattered”
“Think I’m Going Mad”, B-side to “She Was Hot”
“Through the Lonely Nights”, B-side to “It’s Ony Rock and Roll”
“Everything’s Turning to Gold” used to get a lot of airplay. That was a strong b-side. Gotta think about fave non-lp b-side ever.
Thanks for your thoughts, Townsman Larry. I’m going to go easy on myself by listing a few Great non-LP B-sides; perhaps I’ll get around to choosing one as the discussion unfolds.
“Judy,” the dBs
“Greasy Chicken,” Terence Trent d’Arby
“You’re My Favorite Waste of Time,” Marshall Crenshaw
Those are all fine songs. They finally released Through the Lonely Nights on their Rarities cd that came out a few years ago. I think it’s a weird, pseudo country ballad, and I really like what Mick Taylor is doing on it. I definitely think it was a good choice for a B side, and it wouldn’t have fit well on It’s Only Rock n Roll.
I think Think I’m Going Mad is in the same vein, but I think it would have fit better on Undercover than Feel On Baby did. There’s some bootleg versions of that one. I think they may be longer, but I’m not sure. Did you get the cool tongue shaped 45?
The best song of the bunch is definitely Everything Is Turning to Gold. Put it in your car stereo on a warm, sunny day and hit the on ramp and see how much faster that song makes your car go!
Man, I forgot to answer the question!
My favorite non lp B side is Who’s Driving Your Plane, once again by The Rolling Stones. When I think about it, they really released quite a few non lp B sides in their career, and most of them are pretty good.
“Black Book” has to be my favorite non-LP B-Sides – off of one of Blur’s “Music is My Radar” singles.
A close second would be “Theme From An Imaginary Film.” off of a Blur, “Parklife” single.
And a non-Blur B-side would be the short “You’re Welcome,” from the “Heroes and Villains” single
Thanks for the commentary, 2000 Man — though I can’t say I agree with your enthusiasm for these tunes. That “Think I’m Going Mad” number is a stinker! The other two are of varying degrees of okay-ness. “Everything Is Turning to Gold” is starting to grow on me, though, so who knows?
On the topic of great non-album B-sides, I forgot a whole shitload of amazing Prince tracks:
Shockadelica
Scarlet Pussy
Erotic City
Horny Pony
Escape
… geez, the list goes on and on.
I’ll have to catch up and check out these songs later tonight, but the first non-album B-side that I love that comes to mind is Eric Burdon and War’s “Magic Mountain”, the B-side to “Spill the Wine”. Man I love that song! I think I’ve posted it for all to hear in the past.
erotic city is a non album b-side huh!?
i never knew that!
Arto Lindsey of the seminal no-wave band DNA does an amazing cover of that song on his latin electronica solo album, Mundo Civilizado. Very cool indeed!
My favorite non album b-side is Faithless the Wonderboy by Radiohead.
In about 1992, Radiohead released their first American single, Creep.
I lived in my dad’s (finished)basement at the time, consuming major ammounts of MTV.
I loved this Creep song, i’ll tell ya.
I went to Tower records on Roosevelt Blvd (nrtheast fila) and bought the “cassingle”(shitunot) of Creep.
The b-side was this really great tune i mentioned above.
A few weeks later, i went and bought Pablow Honey
It sucked.
They continued to suck until the critical acclame for O.K. Computer was such that i felt i had to like it.
I don”t.
I like Kid A and Amnesiac.
That’s about it.
Someone said to me that Radiohead are the Pink Floyd of now.
Maybe if you dig The Division Bell.
Faithless the Wonderboy is pretty good though.
Check it out.
Erotic City got released twice – as a single and on a 12″ but never on an album. First appearance of the animalistica Sheila E. The prophet loves him some Sheila E.