Obviously How Soon Is Now as the b side of William It Was Really Nothing is worth noting.
John suggested that Fantastic Life, b side of Lie Dream of A Casino Soul by the Mighty Fall as an equal to Adam’s proffering of God Box.
The Jam always produced a listenable b side and two of the best were Liza Radley (Start) and Dreams of Children (Going Underground).
The b side to Ghost Town was Friday Night Saturday Morning, on the 12 inch anyway, and that would be another classic.
Strange House in the Snow by the Teardrop Explodes was Reward’s b side and as with all these mentioned fulfills a criteria that a great b side is enhanced by the a side being a classic as well.
These b sides were I don’t believe taken from an album so that enhances their quality.
Another discussion revolved around the b side that was also an extension of the a side. We spoke about Soft Cell and Where Did Our Love Go. Other examples of this could be Story of the Blues by Wah and American Pie by Don Mclean.
John used to love flipping over a seven inch single and discovering a gem, such as Insects by Altered Images as the b side to Happy Birthday. Still something weird as Claire Grogan squeals in a demented Siouxsie as a schoolgirl fashion. John think this was an album track though.
Talking of Siouxsie John remembers Supernatural Thing, b side to Arabian Nights, but that may be a cover. Does anyone know?
Most of the Bowie singles seem to have album tracks as b sides.
Other great Smiths B sides include Sweet and Tender Hooligan on Sheila take a Bow and Jeanne on This Charming Man.
Jeanne was also covered by Billy Bragg who did a great b side on Levi Stubbs Tears which was his take on Walk Away Renee with some beautiful guitar by Johnny Marr.
John’s single buying era was mostly in the eighties and was sometimes determined by what was reduced in Woolworths!
John's favourite bands of the era include Echo and the Bunnymen and the pick of theirs would be Bedbugs and Ballyhoo on the flip of Bring on the Dancing Horses, Simple Minds seem to use album tracks and live versions, the Associates mixed things up a bit but doing completely different versions of album tracks and It’s Better This Way as Party Fears Two b side is a great example.
Looking forward to the next Album Club!
John
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