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Post by rayshae3 on Aug 10, 2014 3:53:18 GMT -5
On the other side of “Starman” (#65 and my choice for this week’s lost 70 classic from option “A” for week ending August 12, 1972) was this other classic, which wraps up the definition of a perfect single; the two sides having two strong tracks from ‘The Ziggy Stardust’ album. This b-side later in 1976, became an a-side release, but failed to chart. Nevertheless, it’s now constantly heard on classic rock stations. Both sides are BTW co-produced by Ken Scott, a very famous producer whose credits includes such acts from the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp down to Level 42, and several in-between. Suffragette City-David Bowie
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Post by 1finemrg on Aug 12, 2014 22:03:52 GMT -5
Actually the "B" side classic of this double-sided hit reached the Top 40 one week before the "A" side. On August 16, 1969 while they were performing at Woodstock, the "B" side of their new single held at its #34 position while the "A" side rocketed from #48 to #15. CCR's "Green River" would become the third of 5 singles to peak at #2. The great "B" side would make it to #30. Commotion - Creedence Clearwater Revival
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Post by rayshae3 on Aug 17, 2014 13:27:55 GMT -5
This B-side to #77 on this week’s AT40/70s (for chart-date 8/16/75) on the flip-side of “Gone at Last” (from ‘Still Crazy after all These Years’) was actually an-A-side released a couple of years earlier and originally on Paul Simon 1973 ‘There Goes Rhymin’ Simon’ album. [BTW, the 1973 single’s flipside “Something so Right” was also got released as an A-side later on.] Neverthless these releases didn’t chart in 1973. Moreover, the falsetto vocals is provided by Rev. Claude Jeter on the single, a one-time member of the gospel group Dixie Hummingbirds, who originally inspired Simon to write “Bridge over Troubled Water’. Take Me to the Mardi Gras-Paul Simon
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Post by 1finemrg on Aug 18, 2014 5:37:30 GMT -5
Chicago's third Hot 100 single was at #13 on August 21, 1970. It would become the second Top 10 from the album "Chicago II" as "25 Or 6 To 4" would eventually peak at #4. The "B" side classic is a great album cut that is often overlooked. Written by Peter Cetera, it's his first contribution to a Chicago album. Where Do We Go From Here - Chicago
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Post by rayshae3 on Aug 20, 2014 3:45:51 GMT -5
To correspond with this week’s AT40/70s for week ending 8/24/74: Right from the top of the chart; One of the best b-sides to one of the most mediocre a-sides (IMO)ever: #1-Having My Baby. In fact I go one step further and say this b-side is probably one of Paul Anka’s best songs (as well as being a staple of his concerts). And If it wasn’t for its depressing words, it could’ve been heard every father’s day…and you thought “Alone Again (Naturally)” and “The Living Years” had sad lyrics. Papa-Paul Anka
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Post by 1finemrg on Aug 25, 2014 21:35:01 GMT -5
Ambrosia's first single "Holdin' On To Yesterday" was at its #17 peak on August 30, 1975. The "B" side classic is one of the highlights of their self-titled debut album, produced by Alan Parsons. Note: Song is 4:30 in length. The youtube link has 2 minutes of dead air at the end. Make Us All Aware - Ambrosia
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Post by 1finemrg on Sept 1, 2014 13:05:50 GMT -5
From 9/3/66. The "A" side would shortly enter the top ten peaking at #8. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" ranks as one of the Beach Boys all time greats... ...only to be eclipsed by the "B" side in terms of greatness. It reached #39 during an 8 week chart run. Paul McCartney has called it his all-time favorite. Even Brian Wilson's mom Audree said that this was probably his best composition. Hard to argue with mom though I'll add that her son Carl's vocals turn a great composition into a legendary recording. God Only Knows - Beach Boys
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Post by rayshae3 on Sept 3, 2014 4:29:08 GMT -5
My b-side selection to correspond with the main AT40/70s re-broadcast for the labor day weekend is on the other side of the #115 bubbling under (“Wait for Summer”-Jack Wild); the flip side is called “Melody”. Now let me connect Jack with Melody, not by six degrees of separation, but perhaps only by two or three… Two years earlier in 1968, the fourteen-year-old child actor, Jack Wild had starred in the movie ‘Oliver!’ for which he got nominated for best supporting actor because of his role as ‘The Artful Dodger’ in the Charles Dickens musical adaptation. He lost despite the movie itself winning six Oscars, including the Best Picture. A couple of years later, Jack and Mark Lester (who starred as Oliver Twist) teamed up again in another movie titled ‘Melody’. This one was almost like an ‘ABC afterschool special’ (for those of you who know what I’m talking about): a puppy love story set in a London grade school between the rich boy Daniel (played by Mark Lester) and his love interest, Melody, from a lower working class background; this was at the detriment of Daniel’s relationship with his male buddies (one of whom was played by Jack Wild.) The sleeper film wasn’t a hit neither in North America nor in its native Britain; but a huge box office hit (one of the biggest for the entire decade of the 70s) in Japan. The soundtrack of the movie itself is full of songs by the Bee Gees and CSN&Y. That’s right: The Bee Gees were not novices in film music territory before Saturday Night Fever came along. By the way, a song included in the movie by the Bee Gees, called “Melody Fair”, originally appeared on the Bee Gees’ 1969 album ‘Odessa’. Indeed, later on, Andy Gibb’s backing band, ‘Melody Fayre’, was named after this song. Now, this is another connection/observation I was gonna mention: Jack Wild was also a nominee in ’68 Golden Globes for New Artist of the Year. But, not unlike what happened to aforementioned Andy Gibb, he too destroyed his promising early successes because of substance abuse; so much so that by the mid-1970s, his career stopped. His challenges eventually caused him succumbing to death at the age of 53. The irony is that the parent album that includes this b-side (titled ‘The Jack Wild Album’) also includes his cover of “When I’m Sixty-Four”… So now to the b-side, a simple song from the more innocent times: Melody-Jack Wild
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Post by 1finemrg on Sept 8, 2014 5:08:03 GMT -5
Paul and Linda McCartney's "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" was his first #1 single outside the Beatles. It fell out of the top spot on September 11, 1971. The "B" side classic was the lead off track from "Ram". In it, he fired back at John Lennon and music critics of his solo work. John would respond with "How Do You Sleep" from his "Imagine" album and Ringo (produced by George) would chime in with "Back Off Boogaloo". A great song released at a sad time for Beatles' fans. Too Many People - Paul & Linda McCartney
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Post by 1finemrg on Sept 14, 2014 21:54:47 GMT -5
Jim Croce's first Top 40 single fell from its peak #8 position to #21 on September 16,1972. The "B" side classic is a timeless song for the ages. It became the title of his posthumous greatest hits album released a mere 2 years later. The album would reach #2 on the Billboard 200. Photographs And Memories - Jim Croce
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Post by 1finemrg on Sept 22, 2014 21:38:40 GMT -5
The "B" side classic from September 25, 1965 is the flip of "Whenever You're Ready" by the Zombies. It was bubbling under in its fourth and final chart week having peaked at #110. The flip was destined for obscurity until in 1968, a one-hit wonder band from San Jose, California named People covered the tune and reached #14 on the Hot 100. I Love You - Zombies
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Post by 1finemrg on Sept 29, 2014 22:43:42 GMT -5
On October 2, 1971, the Carpenters' cover of "Superstar" was at #4 in its fifth week on the charts. It would be one of 5 songs from Karen & Richard to peak at the runner-up position. The "B" side also charted, peaking at #67 during a 10 week stay. Written by Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin Jr., the "B" side was the title song to a movie starring Bill Mumy. The song was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Isaac Hayes "Theme From Shaft". Bless The Beasts And The Children - Carpenters
Note: Another song from the "Bless The Beasts And The Children" soundtrack, titled "Cotton's Dream" would earn Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. a Grammy later in the seventies. It became the theme music in the soap opera "The Young And The Restless" during the mid-seventies, and achieved even greater success when it was associated with Nadia Comaneci's Olympic triumphs in the 1976 summer games. Retitled "Nadia's Theme (The Young And The Restless)", the song would reach #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1976.
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Post by 1finemrg on Oct 10, 2014 5:37:42 GMT -5
For this week's "B" side classic, we'll stick with the October 9, 1976 show. Boz Scaggs was holding the #3 position with his highest peaking top 40 single "Lowdown". The album "Silk Degrees" made it one notch higher on the Billboard Album Charts, and the "B" side of "Lowdown" is a beautiful ballad that closes out side one of the album. For all you kids an album is...I had to walk several miles uphill both ways through a blinding snowstorm blah, blah, blah... Harbor Lights - Boz Scaggs
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Post by 1finemrg on Oct 14, 2014 21:56:43 GMT -5
October 14: In honor of Justin Hayward's birthday today, we'll feature a "B" side classic from his pen. The Moody Blues' follow up to "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)", "Ride My See-Saw" debuted in the anchor position of the hot 100 on October 12, 1968. It would only ride the charts for 5 weeks, but did peak at #61. The "B" side is simply one of Justin's best recordings lyrically and musically speaking. Voices In The Sky - Moody Blues
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Post by 1finemrg on Oct 24, 2014 20:20:08 GMT -5
A happy 78th birthday to Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman today. To honor the occasion we'll flip over the "Angie" which was bumped from #1 on October 27, 1973, and replaced by "Midnight Train To Georgia". "Angie" was originally issued as the "B" side, but program directors flipped the 45 over and this rocker became the "B" side classic. Silver Train - Rolling Stones
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