Here's another example of a single whose original A side is not the lure that draws collectors to this lesser-known Gaye/Terrell matchup courtesy of Ashford & Simpson. Rather, it's the gorgeous B side, which is not only more appealing musically, but also has a nicer title. I mean, in all honesty, can you love a song called "The Onion Song"? The thought brings tears to my eyes, but only because of my strong association with tears and onions. :-) So to those who cling to the myth that 45 B sides are unworthy byproducts of a two-sided vinyl format I say, "Wrong!" The vast accumulation of experience teaches us that 45 B sides are often as worthy or even more so than the "hit" side, especially when dealing with U.S. 45s from the 1950s-80s and beyond. In rare cases, B sides are dreck and meant to be so, but by far the more typical approach was to offer a different side of the artist's repertoire, often chosen by the artist themselves as a sort of "bone" thrown by the record companies. And many artists took advantage of this to put their very best foot forward, rather than a piece of dreck that would only turn the potential fan off. So always listen to your B sides... you'll often be very pleasantly surprised! Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Motown Records factory sleeve. The labels and vinyl are very nearly pristine, as is the audio, which is very close to Mint.
