Somethin' Else (Eddie Cochran song)

"Somethin' Else" is a song by the rockabilly musician Eddie Cochran, co-written by his girlfriend, Sharon Sheeley, and his older brother, Bob Cochran, released in 1959. The first-person lyrics describe how Cochran wants a convertible he can't afford and a girl who he fears will not go out with him. But in the end, by saving money, he is able to buy a slightly older car, and works up the confidence to ask the girl out. The song was written by Sheeley on the back of a match book, and recorded with a drum beat identical to Little Richard's "Keep A-Knockin'", according to her, in order to impress Cochran who was a Little Richard fan. The drummer on both tracks was studio veteran Earl Palmer. But he was unaware of what Sheeley did at the time.^[1] The song peaked at #22 on the UK singles chart but only reached #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

The song has been covered by numerous bands, such as The Move (as title track to their 1968 live-ep Something Else from the Move), Led Zeppelin (appeared on both their 1997 compilation BBC Sessions, and their 2003 DVD), Slade, the New York Dolls, The Flamin' Groovies, Prima Donna, UFO, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (appeared on his albums Playback and Damn the Torpedoes), The Beatles, Keith Richards with the X-Pensive Winos, the Georgia Satellites, Speedy Keen, Teenage Head and notably Sid Vicious, who made it his second single as a solo artist. It was released on 23 February 1979, shortly after Vicious' death. It made it to number 3 on the UK singles chart and was Sid's biggest success. Vicious also recorded another Eddie Cochran song, "C'mon Everybody", which was released as his third solo single on June 22, 1979.

Personnel

• Eddie Cochran: vocal, guitar, electric bass overdub
• Earl Palmer: drums
• possibly Jim Stivers: piano

Led Zeppelin version

Led Zeppelin recorded its version of Somethin' Else in June 1969. It was ultimately released in 1997 on the album the BBC Sessions.

The Head Cat version

The Head Cat, the American rockabilly supergroup formed by vocalist Lemmy (of Motörhead), drummer Slim Jim Phantom (of The Stray Cats) and guitarist Danny B. Harvey (of Lonesome Spurs and The Rockats), recorded its version of Somethin' Else for their 2011 Album Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk.

External links

• Eddie Cochran US discography on Remember Eddie Cochran

References