Besides, B-sides

As one who has always been compelled to root for the underdog, I have also had a great deal of empathy for the "B" side of records. Of course in the age of CD's and electronic devices to listen to music, the "B" side is no longer a thing with which I struggle. However, as a young music listener I felt that it was only fair to listen to both sides of a record. Who was I to ignore a song that this musical artist put such work into? How could I sentence it to be face-down for its entire existence?

I don't know exactly what age it started, but I do recall that in our house we had a great rack of 45 records. Most of them no longer had their sleeves but they all seemed to play without skips or scratches. My cousin Melissa and I would spend long afternoons listening to them and making up dances to the various hits. This rack brought me my first introduction to David Bowie, with the song "Fame" (B-side, "Right"). But I digress...

My obsession with "B" sides continued even when I graduated to record albums. I would purchase an album for a specific song, but I would force myself to listen to the "B" side to the point of getting familiar with most of the songs before I would allow myself to listen to the "A" side; which of course contained the song for which the purchase was made.

I still don't know exactly why I would do this. Part of me thinks that in order to be a true "fan" of an artist, you should be familiar with a broader scope of their work. One can also get a greater sense of the artist by listening to the lyrics of a variety of their songs. Even if someone didn't write the song themselves, (Ironically, Barry Manilow did NOT write, "I Write The Songs") they are choosing a song for its message and caring enough about it to apply their voice, their essence. The second reason is that I've always been a bit of a masochist. It takes a certain amount of sacrifice to earn or deserve the honor of listening to the song that so moved me to spend my $3-12 dollars. I chalk that whole notion off to my good Catholic upbringing. You can't just walk in and get to hear "Ashes to Ashes," you have to earn the right by listening (and learning to love) "John I'm Only Dancing (again)" (1975). ...(I apologize for all the parentheses.)