Strange Contrary B-Sides

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by beenieman, May 25, 2023.

  1. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    My first musical purchases were singles. As they were expensive to me, bought by pocket money, I listened to them a lot and listened to the b-sides as well.

    What I'm looking for here is examples of when the b-side was completely off the wall in relation to the a-side. When the b-side seemed deliberately contrary to what someone who bought the single would expect or want?

    Here's an example. The Turtles pop single "You Know What I Mean" came with the freakout opera parody "Rugs Of Woods & Flowers". Contrary!



    Other examples?

    Post the youtube link , with the name of the song please.
     
    BrentB, JDeanB, lordcat and 6 others like this.
  2. AndyTaylor

    AndyTaylor Forum Resident

    Location:
    Devon
    You Know My Name Look Up The Number, Let It Be
     
    Jon H., RickH, Eska68 and 24 others like this.
  3. AndyTaylor

    AndyTaylor Forum Resident

    Location:
    Devon
    Iron Maiden Mission from ‘Arry, Two Minutes to Midnight. A recording of a backstage argument.
     
    lordcat, RKMiller, Ted Sallis and 2 others like this.
  4. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    I just listened to it. It's terrible and certainly the antithesis of Let It Be. No wonder the band threw in the towel after this.:)
     
    Man at C&A likes this.
  5. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    A perfect example. Quite funny though.
     
    Jarleboy likes this.
  6. Cool hand luke

    Cool hand luke There you go man, keep as cool as you can

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    terrible? :shake:
    maybe just something kinda fun?
     
    RickH, Suncola, Jarleboy and 12 others like this.
  7. DPK

    DPK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southeastern U.S.
    Sex Pistols- "Who Killed Bambi?" (b-side to "Silly Thing")

     
    SmallDarkCloud and versionsound like this.
  8. DPK

    DPK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southeastern U.S.
    Sex Pistols- "Friggin' in the Riggin'" (b-side to "Something Else")

     
  9. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek but it is pretty bad.
     
    Cool hand luke and ARK like this.
  10. Helter Skelter

    Helter Skelter Forum Resident

    Cat Food is fun little slice of surreal pop. The B Side Groon is a jazzy instrumental jam. Not completely contrary per se, but I just wanted an excuse to mention Cat Food, which I love. The song, not the chunks of gristle in a delicious meaty jelly.

     
    DrJ, tug_of_war, stereoptic and 6 others like this.
  11. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Examples?
     
  12. DPK

    DPK Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southeastern U.S.
    Sex Pistols- "God Save the Queen Symphony" (b-side to "C'mon Everybody")

     
  13. Helter Skelter

    Helter Skelter Forum Resident

  14. O Don Piano

    O Don Piano Senior Member

    No. It's actually pretty great. And they really didn't "throw in the towel" after this. But that's another long story.

    But yes it's a major contrast call from the A-Side.
     
    Suncola, DTK, limoges and 2 others like this.
  15. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Not good. Silly Thing was better.

    Big in Florida?
     
  16. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    I love the Sex Pistols but I think of this rubbish as a different band. Great examples for the thread. Thanks.
     
  17. phillyal1

    phillyal1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    philadelphia, pa.
    Beatles do Bonzos/the Goons -- made sense at the time (if you were fans of both )
     
    Jonny W and Buddybud like this.
  18. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Contrary doesn't have to equal bad.
     
    gregorya, Jarleboy and 51IS like this.
  19. mr.datsun

    mr.datsun Incompletist

    Location:
    London
    Roxy Music

    Virginia Plain bside was The Numberer
    Pyjamarama bside was The Pride and The Pain

    The first was a strange alien instrumental groove and the second was a kind of weird Serge Leone western scene. Both entertaining and both by band saxo player Andy Mackay.

    Their third single had some kind of Hawaiian tune on the b side. Less interesting but still out of character for the band and the a side.
     
    tug_of_war likes this.
  20. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA

    Submitted for your approval..."Tedesco and Pitman" the B-side of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby":

     
    The Green Elf and Davmoco like this.
  21. Cool hand luke

    Cool hand luke There you go man, keep as cool as you can

    Location:
    Massachusetts
    not a problem listening to that, as long as you can look at those pictures :love:
     
    CliffL likes this.
  22. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand
    :)

    Approved. A contrary song for buyers looking for more "Be My Baby" sounds but a good tune.

    More?
     
    Jarleboy and Davmoco like this.
  23. Deibu

    Deibu I Dream of Tangerines

    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    Elton John - "Step Into Christmas" b/w "Ho Ho Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" I first heard "Ho Ho Ho..." on the Dr. Demento show many years ago, and prefer it to the A-side. :D



    Regards,
    Dave
     
    KaBluie and SmallDarkCloud like this.
  24. beenieman

    beenieman Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    New Zealand


    A strange tune alright. Not what I'd expect after listening to Virginia Plain. Thanks.

    The Pride & The Pain was less interesting (to me) and definitely meets the threads premise.
     
    mr.datsun and phillyal1 like this.
  25. CliffL

    CliffL Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sacramento CA USA
    This one is downright catchy-"Lazy Susan", the b-side of "Black Pearl" by the Checkmates Ltd. About as far as you can get from the A-side!

     
    phillyal1 likes this.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine