Post by gremashlo on Oct 6, 2010 19:56:13 GMT -5
With all of these flips reviewed, I have noticed that the more popular the artist, the more likely that the song will be of minimal value. Successsful artists will insist on holding back "choice" cuts for "A" sides, while album track filled is used to take up the space of the "B" side...
However, as seen with Bobby Day ("Over and Over"), artists who don't have that luxury will load up both sides, hoping that one or the other will strike gold...that seems to be the case with B.W.
Stevenson.
Stevenson, a high school classmate of "Junk Food Junkie" Larry Groce and Michael Martin Murphy, is best/only known for his one true hit, the magnificent "My Maria" (later stolen note for note by Brooks and Dunn). Stevenson, a southern-fried rocker out of the Lynyrd Skynyrd mode, was re-made into a progressive country singer by RCA, and stayed in that format until his untimely death following heart surgery in 1981.
While "Maria" (which despite making #9 in 1972, NEVER made the country charts, which shows just how messed up country radio was at the time) is his testament, his other releases shine, such as the original version of "Shambala" (later recorded by Three Dog Night). But, the true hidden jem was his ballad that rode the "B" side of "Maria"..."August Evening Lady".
"Lady" is as subtle and gentle as "Maria" is brash and cocky--an ode to a woman whom is about to be crushed by her lover leaving her. As the narrative crosses over from the woman to the man who anguishes over a choice he cannot avoid, a story is woven as tight and as complex as anything James Taylor ever wrote. Stevenson's guitar offers a mellow yet intense backdrop--this is not a love song as much as a break-up song at it's most intense level.
"Please don't leave me alone; please believe me...I'll die if you are gone" cuts and draws as much blood as a scalpel. It is tragic that Stevenson died so young; it is doubled by the fact that this song remains unknown.
However, as seen with Bobby Day ("Over and Over"), artists who don't have that luxury will load up both sides, hoping that one or the other will strike gold...that seems to be the case with B.W.
Stevenson.
Stevenson, a high school classmate of "Junk Food Junkie" Larry Groce and Michael Martin Murphy, is best/only known for his one true hit, the magnificent "My Maria" (later stolen note for note by Brooks and Dunn). Stevenson, a southern-fried rocker out of the Lynyrd Skynyrd mode, was re-made into a progressive country singer by RCA, and stayed in that format until his untimely death following heart surgery in 1981.
While "Maria" (which despite making #9 in 1972, NEVER made the country charts, which shows just how messed up country radio was at the time) is his testament, his other releases shine, such as the original version of "Shambala" (later recorded by Three Dog Night). But, the true hidden jem was his ballad that rode the "B" side of "Maria"..."August Evening Lady".
"Lady" is as subtle and gentle as "Maria" is brash and cocky--an ode to a woman whom is about to be crushed by her lover leaving her. As the narrative crosses over from the woman to the man who anguishes over a choice he cannot avoid, a story is woven as tight and as complex as anything James Taylor ever wrote. Stevenson's guitar offers a mellow yet intense backdrop--this is not a love song as much as a break-up song at it's most intense level.
"Please don't leave me alone; please believe me...I'll die if you are gone" cuts and draws as much blood as a scalpel. It is tragic that Stevenson died so young; it is doubled by the fact that this song remains unknown.
