The Friday Nov. 27 Column

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival

Song List – Top 8 B-Sides

Without trying to sound too much like we’re yelling “Get off my lawn!,” one of the things that the modern music listener with the CD’s, iPods and downloads will never have the pleasure of is discovering the “B-Side.” The B-side was the other side of a 45rpm (Google it kids) that for a number or reasons, either didn’t make it onto the LP (Long Play) version of the album, or there simply wasn’t the space on the vinyl.

Many of these songs were considered leftovers or throw away songs but some went on to become even bigger hits than the “A-Side.” While you enjoy your leftover Thanksgiving feasts, here’s some leftover tunes to accompany the meal.

 8) Colour My World – A-Side: Beginnings – 1971 – Chicago

This song actually has the honor of being a B-Side twice, also appearing with “Make me Smile” in 1970. The song is still a major part of the bands repertoire.

7) Needle and the Damage Done – A Side: Old Man – 1972 – Neil Young

During the recording of “Harvest” Young just decided to add a live version from a year earlier to the album and speaks to the addiction to heroin that he saw taking the lives of many of his friends. The song has since been covered by many, including Our Lady Peace, Green River, Duran Duran, Lior, Simple Minds, the Pretenders, Flea and even Tori Amos.

6) Gold Dust Woman – A Side: You Make Lovin’ Fun – 1977 – Fleetwood Mac

Another song that enjoyed two B side releases before the eventual release as an A side, as it was the B side of “Don’t Stop” in the UK.

5) Rockin’ Down the Highway – A Side: Jesus is Just Alright – 1972 – Doobie Brothers

To us, both were big hits and we actually never bought a Doobie Brothers single as the entire album was usually worth the $3.99 that albums cost then. The A side was actually written by the next artists on this list

4) Feel a Whole Lot better – A Side: All I Really Want to Do – 1965 – the Byrds

A sardonic view of romance, the A&R folks at Columbia Records actually pushed both sides of the single and the song landed on the charts as a B Side. Tom Petty does the version you’ll likely hear these days.

3) Born on the Bayou – A Side: Proud Mary – 1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Although there were not many bayous in El Cerrito, where the band hailed from, band leader John Fogerty managed to grab the spirit of the south in many of the bands early hits. Many of his songs were influenced by Lake Berryessa and the surrounding towns.

2) Livin’ Lovin’ Maid – A Side: Whole Lotta Love – 1970 – Led Zeppelin

One of guitarist Jimmy Page’s least favorite songs, the band never played it live at any show and is also one of the few songs that has John Paul Jones on backing vocals. The song segues from “Heartbreaker” and if the songs are not played together, the DJ has broken one of the primary Led Zeppelin rules.

1) I Am the The Walrus – A Side: Hello, Goodbye – 1967 – the Beatles

After John Lennon received a letter from a student who was attending the high school he had attended and pronounced that he was in a class that analyzed the Beatles Lyrics, Lennon thought he would have a little fun. Amused that anyone would spend that much time analyzing the bands lyrics, he wrote the Walrus based on three song ideas he had in his head. The beginning lyrics of the song were written while Lennon was on acid, according to a 1980 interview with Playboy Magazine. Who’d have thunk it?

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Set List – The Rundown

 

Jon Shannon Williams
Jon Shannon Williams

 

Annex Wine Bar
865 W. Napa St. Sonoma – 938-7779

Tonight, Nov. 27, Full Circle – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28, Glenn Carter – 7:30 p.m.

Barking Dog Roasters
18133 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 939-1905

Tonight, Nov. 27, Stewart Degner – 5 p.m.

Blue Moon Saloon
19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma – 996-3055

Saturday, Nov. 28, Karaoke – 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29, Blues Jam – all welcome – 10 p.m.

B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille
400 First St. E. Sonoma – 938-7110

Tonight, Nov. 27, T Luke and the Tight Suits – 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28, DJ Hi – C – 9 p.m.

Friday Farmers Market
Depot Park – 270 First St W. Sonoma

Today, Nov. 27, Stewart Degner – 9:30 a.m. .

HopMonk Tavern
691 Broadway Sonoma – 935-9100

Tonight, Nov. 27, Chris Laterzo – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28, Jon Shannon Williams – 8 p.m.

Murphy’s Irish Pub
464 First St. E. Sonoma – 935-0660.

Tonight, Nov. 27, Angela Rockne – 8 p.m.

Olde Sonoma Public House
18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs – 938-7587

Sunday, Nov. 29, Karaoke – 7:30 p.m.

Olive and Vine
14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen – 996-9152 – Reservations suggested

Sunday, Nov. 29, Jimmy Dillon – 6 p.m.

Plaza Bistro
420 First St E. Sonoma – 996-4466

Tonight, Nov. 27, Jeff Massanari – 7 p.m.

Rossi’s 1906 Dancehall
401 Grove St. El Verano – 343-0044

Tonight, Nov. 27, Blues Jam – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28, Pulp Friction – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29, Sweet Potato 5 – 6 p.m.

Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall
452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma – 996-1364.

Tonight, Nov. 27, Stevie Gurr, Tim Eschliman and Lou Rodriguez – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28, Full Circle – 4:30 p.m. – Staggerwing – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29, Mark Dennis, Mark Willson and Friends – 4:30 p.m.

Sonoma Community Center – Rotary Kitchen
276 E. Napa St., Sonoma – 938-4626

Sunday, Nov. 29, Jennie Nourse – 6:15 p.m.

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