Alone Again (Naturally) b/w Save It by Gilbert O’Sullivan (MAM/1972) - I never realized that this bouncy 1970s mellowpop hit had such brutally depressing lyrics. It starts off with the usual romantic heartbreak, but by the last verse you get the sad story of his parents’ deaths. Geeze. The flip is a more upbeat tune with somewhat aggressive electric guitar. Lyrics aren’t all that upbeat, though.

Magic Record b/w Philadelphia U.S.A. by The Nu Tornados (Carlton/1959) - A-side is a self referencing rock ‘n’ roll novelty tune proclaiming itself to be the magic record that spreads love among all who hear it. B-side is a paean to Philadelphia and its blue-eyed girls, done up Mummers string band style (as opposed to old-time string band style) with a whole lot of reverb.

A Universal History Of Infamy by Jorge Luis Borges (1935) - A landmark of modern Latin American literature. Borges retells sometimes true tales of crime, violence and the supernatural.

Indian Giver b/w Pow Wow by 1910 Fruitgum Co. (Buddah/1969) - More classic bubblegum from Super K Productions. The flip is a sloppy tribute song to the Howdy Doody tv show, tape reversed for total incomprehensibility.

Popsicles And Icicles b/w Huntington Flats by The Murmaids (Chattahoochee Records/1963) - Pleasant girl group pop on the a-side, with a bouncy, slushy organ instro on the flip. An early Kim Fowley production.

Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey b/w Too Many People by Paul & Linda McCartney (Apple/1971) - Earlier, wackier solo work by ‘the cute one.’

Six Problems For Don Isidro Parodi by Jorge Luis Borges and Adolfo Bioy-Casares (1942) - A half dozen satirical detective stories set in a world of literary nitwits, solved grudgingly by the jailbound barber, Parodi. Virtuoso silliness from a pair of major Argentine authors.

Hey Joe! b/w Sittin’ In The Sun (Countin’ My Money) by Frankie Laine (Columbia/1953) - A nice pair of casually jovial pre-rock pop tunes. This is not the Hey Joe you’re thinking of.

Raunchy b/w The Midnite Man by Bill Justis and His Orchestra (Sam C. Phillips International Corp./1957) - The rock instrumental classic with the guitar novice inspiring twangy guitar hook. A vocal novelty number on the flip.

She’s A Lady b/w My Way by Tom Jones (Parrot/1970) - A stone Jones classic on the a-side, with the era’s obligatory cover of My Way on the flip.