Strange Contrary B-Sides

This was the B-side of (You Don't Have To) Paint Me A Picture:



Gary Lewis & The Playboys / Looking For The Stars

 

We seem to be posting a lot of weird stuff but here's one where both sides were popular but very different.

This was the A-Side.

Wings - Girl's School.



It got flipped and the b-side was the bigger hit, in the UK anyway. See next post.

 

I prefer the b-side.

Mull Of Kintyre.

 

This was the B-side of "Go All The Way."



The Raspberries / With You In My Life

 

I was going to post that next. They certainly got silly on the b-sides.

 

Makes more sense than Cartier. Not a bad song but rather journeyman for Elton at that point in his career. It's contrary.

 

I appreciate that but people paid money for it and took it home. It feels like Elton is laughing at us not with us.

 

That's excellent. Should have been a double a-side.

 

That works. It's actually funny too. Thanks.

 

Could have been a hit. Not sure how contrary it is though. Still sounds like power pop.

 

This was the B-side of "Maria Magenta" (1973). Needless to say, it would probably be considered "contrary" to just about any A-side.



Donovan / The Intergalactic Laxative

 

Flip side of Something In the Air. Sung in a smooth Ringo-like baritone that grows on you.

 

Van Morrison's strange "Mechanical Bliss," which was the B-side to his uplifting 1977 "Joyous Sound" single.

The song was supposed to be a track from an album he abandoned before recording "A Period of Transition." It's the weirdest thing that Van ever recorded - even weirder than "Ringworm."

 

I'm a Donovan fan and I enjoyed it. Contrary? Yes.

 

I haven't given it time to grow on me but it's a letdown if you want something like the a-side. Contrary!

Thanks.

 

That is weird and nothing like "good" Van, of whom i am a fan.

 

That is weird and nothing like "good" Van, of whom i am a fan.

Thanks.

PS. There are 3 songs on the youtube link. The other two are good Van.

 

In 1980, the Teardrop Explodes released the classic single Reward, which propelled them to pop stardom in the UK. The b- side was the bizarre Strange House In The Snow, a challenging listen to say the least. I love both songs, but the contrast would have been jarring for many attracted by Reward's pop sensibilities

 

There are probably years when this could have been a left-field hit. But yes nothing like you'd expect from the a-side.

 

I like this! Also, the guitar into sounds like it influenced Boston's "More Than a Feeling."

 

Sonny Bono was quite possibly the most talentless person ever to be a "rockstar" -- Sid Vicious a close second.

 

Good to know someone other than Emitt Rhodes loved all the twee-McCartney songs

 

Try Sultanesque, the b-side to Love Is The Drug

 

when he was good , he was very very good, when he was bad ...

 

A completely ridiculous song, but I’ve always enjoyed it.