Please don't think that this is a carbon copy sort of tribute album though. Once I got the sing-a-long out of my system, I was able to give B-Sides the attention it deserved. The Smithereens haven't steered me wrong yet and this CD is no exception to that rule. They are vocally as true to The Beatles as they are to themselves, with the tight and brilliant harmonies that both groups are famous for. Songs like "There's A Place" and "If I Fell" are proof of that.
Jim Babjak stepped up to the front mic several times. He took lead vocals on "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" and (the only tune that wasn't on any Beatles single) "Some Other Guy". According to a Koch Records press release this song (only found on the album Live At The BBC) was included because Jim wanted to sing another lead. I didn't ask him about that. But I did want to find out more about the one track that I hadn't heard of before and the only the instrumental included on the disc.
""Cry For A Shadow" was the first Beatles single I owned. I bought it off a kid sitting behind me in 7th grade. He probably took it from his sister. I had to pay 75¢ for it which was a lot of money at the time. I didn't like the A side titled "Why". I didn't understand the whole Tony Sherdian and the Beatles as back up band mystery until I read books about the Beatles later that year. The cool thing about "Cry For A Shadow" was that I never heard anything like it before. It was really weird and I thought all the screaming in the background was wicked. I had a lot of fun recreating the screaming part. It was almost as fun as playing the guitar on it. I'm really glad we put this one on the album since very few people have thought of covering it before. It's definitely a lost gem."
Article comments
1 - the reverend spadge dooley
Hi,
I enjoyed the review, could you post a track listing (as I'm too lazy to find out for myself!)...
Should anyone wish to join a B-side debate, I would of course vote for Rain and Yes It Is as my favourtites, although I wonder what is a B-side on an EP???
Sadly, as a Beatle obsessive, I don't think I've even ever heard Cry For A Shadow, although I do remember it as a constant advert in (UK) Record Collector as I was growing up: £10,000 offered I think I remember for that and In Spite Of All The Danger.
GawdSpeed and all that.
Dooley.
2 - tink
Hey Rev!!
No problem. Here are the titles:
"Thank You Girl"
"There's A Place"
"I'll Get You"
"You Can't Do That"
"Ask Me Why"
"Cry For A Shadow"
"P.S. I Love You"
"I'm Happy Just To Dance With You"
"If I Fell"
"Slow Down"
"I Don't Want To Spoil The Party"
"Some Other Guy"
That would be an interesting debate about EP b-sides. Would the first listed be considered the number one top choice of the two?
In the liner notes there are pieces by both Tom
Frangione and Bruce Spizer, both very up on their Beatle history. One of them even talks about the 7" vinyls and specifically b-sides.
So I'm thinking that you could ask either one of them about EPs. If you follow the links in my review, they will take you to websites for both gentlement.
Sounds like you are going to have to buy B-sides The Beatles in order to hear "Cry For A Shadow". Love to hear your take on the CD.
Glad you liked the review!
3 - Yacko
"Sadly, as a Beatle obsessive, I don't think I've even ever heard Cry For A Shadow,"
Yikes, the song is as common as dirt. Came out in the US on that Why single mentioned, I think it was on MGM. Plus shows on the Tony Sheridan and the Beatles album and reissues of it, including the most recent incarnation.
I'm sure there are UK versions, try Amazon UK and see if anything shows.
It is an instrumental, perhaps a homage, perhaps a challenge to the Shadows (get the pun of the title?). The Beatles together and apart fancied themselves to be all purpose songwriters with a talented range. I don't think And I Love Her (wasn't there a Bossa Nova craze at the time?), Back In The USSR (Beach Boys) or It's Only Love (slightly demented Anthony Newley) are accidents of design. Also the only Beatles song with the writing credits "Lennon-Harrison".
4 - tink
Hey Yacko!
You're right on about this being the only Beatles song credited to Lennon-Harrison.
Thanks for reading.