Most rock bands are remembered for their albums, but British pop-punk quartet Buzzcocks are most loved for their compilation Singles Going Steady. The group’s driving, tuneful, and love-lorn songs suited three minute bursts, and their run of a-sides includes ‘Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)’ and ‘Everybody’s Happy Nowadays’.
But it wasn’t just the band’s a-sides collected on Singles Going Steady – the second side of the vinyl album collected the group’s accomplished b-sides.
‘Oh Shit!’ was the b-side to the group’s second single ‘What Do I Get?’ The single’s release was delayed because factory workers refused to press the record on account of the b-side’s title. Which is amusing when you consider that the Buzzcocks’ debut single was ‘Orgasm Addict’.
While a lot of Pete Shelley’s writing is nuanced and laced with self-deprecating humour or irony, ‘Oh Shit!’ is a minute and half of pure snotty kiss-off. It wouldn’t be half as effective without his charming British accent, which transforms a profanity-laced song into a surprisingly likeable ear-worm.
There’s more than one great Buzzcocks b-side – here’s ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’, propelled by a memorable bass-line.
Oh shit, I thought you and I were friends
Oh shit, I guess this is where our love ends
Oh shit, I thought things were goin’ well
But it hasn’t turned out so swell, has it?
Oh shit
Oh shit, pride comes before a fall
Oh shit, and once you lose one you’ve lost them all
Oh shit, I guess this time’s the time
And it seem you’re no longer mine, don’t it?
Oh shit
Oh shit
Oh
Oh shit, I wish I’d known before now
Oh shit, that you were such a cow
Oh shit, I wouldn’t’ve wasted my time
Oh shit, chasin’ somethin’ which wasn’t mine, face it
You’re shit
You’re shit
Oh shit, I wish I’d known before now
Oh shit, that you were such a fuckin’ cow
Oh shit, I wouldn’t’ve wasted my time
Oh shit, chasin’ somethin’ which could never be mine, admit
You’re shit
You’re shit
You’re shit
Admit, admit
You’re shit, you’re shit
You’re shit, you’re shit
You’re shit
What prudes those factory workers were! There are a lot worse songs than that out these days. Good post!
I guess punk stretched a few boundaries.
One of my real faves – all those early Buzzcocks singles were so exciting!
Yes, it feels like cheating getting them all at once on Singles Going Steady.
It must have been so exciting picking them up as they came out one-by-one.
Buzzcocks! I love Buzzcocks!
Yeah, I’m surprised the post didn’t get more reaction – thought there’d be a few more fans out there.