Indeed the Smitties do love to include cool things like that on all their recordings. Some are found in the songs themselves. "I'll Get You" has that extra special touch of including the hand claps found in the original recording. And drummer Dennis Diken took over the vocal chores on the Larry Williams' penned "Slow Down".
On top of his drumming and harmonies duties, Dennis is the king of The Smithereens liner notes. B-Sides The Beatles is the latest and as with all the others, it is most informative. Diken gave up the sticks for only one song on this album, "P.S. I Love You". Sitting in for him was session player, Andy White, who was the drummer on the original 1962 Beatles version. To quote Dennis, "you can look it up!"
Another tidbit from the notes. When you get your copy of B-Sides The Beatles make sure to check out the cover artwork. It was custom created by legendary Mad Magazine artist Jack Davis. Dennis ends his liner notes with a special thank you to him.
"Jack, thanks a million for drawing our CD cover and for making yet another dream come true for The Smithereens. And we're obliged to you for helping to create a cool world where even squares become hip and anything seems possible."
Personally? I gotta dig a world like that. One where four "mop-tops" from a relatively small port town in the U.K. called Liverpool can change the entire world. And a bunch of guys outta New Jersey can make their own mark as well.
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.