Happy second Stackday, Michael! What a herculean task, choosing 100 albums' Side 2 lead-ins!
I have spent the last 5 decades certain that "Born to Run" led off its namesake album! But, as that was the song the rock press guided me to right off the bat, that's, very likely, the first track I played when I brought the promo home from the local CBS regional office in NW Houston, late-August '75! Ah, those were the good ole days (I was 20)!
"Turn it On Again"/Genesis was a banger of a flipsider, easily worth leading off the album! I always loved tension-building pulses like that one began with, before exploding! Iggy's "Raw Power," another fascinating example of a title track as flipsider....ya wonder what goes into THAT decision...assuming your album was titled already, why the "second lead-off" song "relegation"?
Which brings me to the dawn of the CD, as you mention, and its attendant desire for some (me, too!) for plotting the "album with no sides," and wondering just how many artists and their producers when thru those same machinations.....tracking the album (in its new CD configuration) with the same or similar attention to that LP-formatted distinction for both sides (like we used to do)! Even sans a need to "flip," could a psychological "need" still exist for the listener to have a banger poised in that half-way position to re-gain our interest and/or re-set our aural compass?!? "Record nerds, table for two!!!"🤣
Loving the new concept and titles (The Flipside, Flipsiders, et al), Michael......full speed to Year 3!
I remember first hearing Tom Petty's 'Full Moon Fever' on CD from a friend of mine. (I was stubborn and didn't get my first CD player until around 1991...first CD bought was Frank Zappa's 'Sheik Yerbouti!') At the end of what should be the first side (after the fade of "Runnin' Down a Dream"), Tom recorded a spot that said something to the effect of, "This is where you'd normally have to get up and turn the record over, so we're just gonna sit here for a little bit while you turn it over in your mind." Then, after a few more seconds of him waiting and whistling, "Feel a Whole Lot Better" kicked off. Genius!
Thanks for reading and for the spot-on analysis, as always, Brad!
Oh, that's a scream, Michael!! I LOVE that "awareness of the construct".....It's that "playing with the medium" that's so next-level for an artist!! Plus, what a bonus for listeners....like an exclusive Fan Club message (remember those?)!!
And, with "Full Moon Fever" enjoying an '89 release, CDs were the chosen format of the day by then! If "FMF" had been recorded and released on LP, THEN had a CD release, then I could see Tom doing that! But (if my CD issue dates are accurate!), for Tom to be aware of his fans possibly caring (and missing the LP format?), and then cater (too) to playing with that format change, mad ups to Tom!
Thanks for the compliment, Michael....hang in there, long-term memory!!😉
Thanks for the trip down memory lane - although I confess that I'm unfamiliar with many songs listed here, being a not very avid music listener. Anyway, I'm thankful to be reminded of Eric Burton's Spill the Wine - haven't listened to that one in years (decades)! Doing so now ....
Also grateful to see Chris Whitley's Phone Call listed!
Happy second Stackday, Michael! What a herculean task, choosing 100 albums' Side 2 lead-ins!
I have spent the last 5 decades certain that "Born to Run" led off its namesake album! But, as that was the song the rock press guided me to right off the bat, that's, very likely, the first track I played when I brought the promo home from the local CBS regional office in NW Houston, late-August '75! Ah, those were the good ole days (I was 20)!
"Turn it On Again"/Genesis was a banger of a flipsider, easily worth leading off the album! I always loved tension-building pulses like that one began with, before exploding! Iggy's "Raw Power," another fascinating example of a title track as flipsider....ya wonder what goes into THAT decision...assuming your album was titled already, why the "second lead-off" song "relegation"?
Which brings me to the dawn of the CD, as you mention, and its attendant desire for some (me, too!) for plotting the "album with no sides," and wondering just how many artists and their producers when thru those same machinations.....tracking the album (in its new CD configuration) with the same or similar attention to that LP-formatted distinction for both sides (like we used to do)! Even sans a need to "flip," could a psychological "need" still exist for the listener to have a banger poised in that half-way position to re-gain our interest and/or re-set our aural compass?!? "Record nerds, table for two!!!"🤣
Loving the new concept and titles (The Flipside, Flipsiders, et al), Michael......full speed to Year 3!
I remember first hearing Tom Petty's 'Full Moon Fever' on CD from a friend of mine. (I was stubborn and didn't get my first CD player until around 1991...first CD bought was Frank Zappa's 'Sheik Yerbouti!') At the end of what should be the first side (after the fade of "Runnin' Down a Dream"), Tom recorded a spot that said something to the effect of, "This is where you'd normally have to get up and turn the record over, so we're just gonna sit here for a little bit while you turn it over in your mind." Then, after a few more seconds of him waiting and whistling, "Feel a Whole Lot Better" kicked off. Genius!
Thanks for reading and for the spot-on analysis, as always, Brad!
Oh, that's a scream, Michael!! I LOVE that "awareness of the construct".....It's that "playing with the medium" that's so next-level for an artist!! Plus, what a bonus for listeners....like an exclusive Fan Club message (remember those?)!!
And, with "Full Moon Fever" enjoying an '89 release, CDs were the chosen format of the day by then! If "FMF" had been recorded and released on LP, THEN had a CD release, then I could see Tom doing that! But (if my CD issue dates are accurate!), for Tom to be aware of his fans possibly caring (and missing the LP format?), and then cater (too) to playing with that format change, mad ups to Tom!
Thanks for the compliment, Michael....hang in there, long-term memory!!😉
I can remember 40 years ago, but can't remember where I left my keys!
Happy birthday! Always enjoy reading your work. And so happy to see "Busload of Faith" in the top 10. What a great song.
Thanks!
Happy birthday to The Mixtape! Here’s to many many more! 🎊
Thanks, Kevin!
Love this idea! Closing songs next??
At some point, yes!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane - although I confess that I'm unfamiliar with many songs listed here, being a not very avid music listener. Anyway, I'm thankful to be reminded of Eric Burton's Spill the Wine - haven't listened to that one in years (decades)! Doing so now ....
Also grateful to see Chris Whitley's Phone Call listed!
Happy birthday to The Mixtape! Have loved reading your work over the last couple of years
Many thanks, Matthew…and the sentiment is mutual!