The B52s album Cosmic Thing was such a hodgepodge of songs. I've already talked about my favorite song from the album, "Channel Z," but "Deadbeat Club" was the last single released from that album in America. I'm surprised it didn't pick up any momentum. No wonder their first single from Good Stuff was the title track, an attempt to capture that "Love Shack" energy. By then, people seemed to lose interest. Too bad. For all their success, The B52s remain underrated in their later years.
This week I'm focusing on music "B-Sides," songs that were on the opposite side of single releases via records and cassettes from musical artists (it took a while before I got a CD player). Often cast aside, forgotten songs. Specifically, I'm focusing on B-Sides I used to hear on the jukebox at Papa Gino's where I worked during high school. Two whole years and I don't think the jukebox ever removed or added any music. The one selection you would hear at my job over and over every night was "Love Shack" by The B52s. I much preferred their B-side "Channel Z," which did get play on MTV but never took off the same way. I always appreciated it whenever anyone chose it over "Love Shack."
