B-Side

B-Side An uncommon music shop in downtown Madison with a striking array of new, classic, and unusual Vinyl &

45 years ago today, The Gun Club released their debut LP "Fire of Love”. Led by 23-year-old L.A. guitarist, songwriter J...
08/31/2026

45 years ago today, The Gun Club released their debut LP "Fire of Love”. Led by 23-year-old L.A. guitarist, songwriter Jeffrey Lee Pierce, this album is regarded as groundbreaking for its early blend of stripped-down punk & American roots styles, helping create sub-genres 'punk blues' and 'psychobilly,' later influencing many garage rockers. It likely came nowhere near the Billboard chart but has been reissued several times and reviews are excellent. Fan-favorite songs include ‘S*x Beat’ ‘Ghost on the Highway’ + ‘She’s Like He**in to Me’. More in Comments.

August 31 Birthdays: Alan Lerner b.1918; Gunter Hampel and Bobby Parker b.1937; Spider John Koerner b.1938; Jerry Allison (The Crickets) and Jim McCrary b.1939; Wilton Felder (The Crusaders) and Robbie Basho b.1940; Bengt Berger b.1942; Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac) b.1945; Chris Whitley b.1960; Paul Winter is 87; Roger Dean is 82; Van Morrison (Them) and Itzhak Perlman are 81; Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions) and Andy Stein (Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen) and Cyril Jordan (Flamin’ Groovies) are 78; Rick Roberts (The Flying Burrito Brothers / Firefall) is 77; David Chastain is 73; Anto Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys) is 71; Gina Schock (The Go-Go's) and Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) are 69; Julie Brown is 68; Joanna Connor is 64; Reb Beach (Winger) and Larry Waddell (Mint Condition) are 63; Stefano Battaglia is 61; Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel) and Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub) are 59; Jeff Russo (Tonic) is 57; Debbie Gibson is 56; Craig Nicholls (The Vines) and Del Marquis (Scissor Sisters) are 49.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Short break from our daily Historic Album post. Today we'd like to commemorate 50 years since this small nightclub show ...
08/30/2026

Short break from our daily Historic Album post. Today we'd like to commemorate 50 years since this small nightclub show in downtown Madison, about one block from our store. This L.A. hard rock / proto-punk band was touring its self-titled debut LP; the band members were ages 16-17 (l-r: Joan Jett; Lita Ford; Cherie Currie; Jackie Fox; Sandy West). Concertgoers in that era could legally drink and attend such shows at age 18. Wild times. In 1976 The Runaways had a limited repertoire and indulged the crowd by playing their single “Cherry Bomb” twice… no one seemed to mind. Gig poster by El Tejon stage manager Gary Sohmers. Other famous bands that played in that long-gone nightclub off State Street include Ramones and Leslie West Band.

August 30 Birthdays: Willie Bryant b.1908; Kitty Wells b.1919; Kenny Dorham b.1924; Johnny Mann b.1928; John Phillips (The Mamas & the Papas) b.1935; John Peel b.1939; William ‘Smitty’ Smith b.1944; Peggy Lipton b.1946; Ron Beitle (Wild Cherry) b.1954; Dave Brockie (Gwar) b.1963; Chuck Colbert (The American Breed) is 87; John McNally (The Searchers) is 85; R. Crumb (& his Cheap Suit Serenaders) is 83; John Surman is 82; Fred Tackett (Little Feat) is 81; Micky Moody is 76; Horace Panter (The Specials) is 73; Anthony Coleman and Jamie Moses are 71; Gerald Albright is 69; Martin Jackson (Magazine) is 68; Paul Oakenfold is 63; Robert Clivillés (C+C Music Factory) is 62; Lars Frederiksen (Rancid) is 55; Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish) is 52; Dom Flemons (Carolina Chocolate Drops) is 44; Hannah Georgas is 43; Ryan Ross (Panic! at the Disco) is 40; Julia Jacklin (Phantastic Ferniture) is 36.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

55 years ago, Ten Years After - Band released “A Space in Time”. Led by guitarist, songwriter Alvin Lee (26), this self-...
08/29/2026

55 years ago, Ten Years After - Band released “A Space in Time”. Led by guitarist, songwriter Alvin Lee (26), this self-produced sixth LP by the English rock quartet arrived two years after their legendary performance at Woodstock (documented in the concert film). This album became their most popular, reaching #17 Billboard and entering the Top 40 in most reporting countries, while earning good reviews. It features their biggest hit single “I’d Love to Change the World”. More in Comments.

August 29 Birthdays: Charlie Parker b.1920; Dinah Washington b.1924; Jimmy C. Newman b.1927; Johnny Paris (Johnny & the Hurricanes) b.1940; Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground) b.1942; Dick Halligan (Blood, Sweat & Tears) b.1943; Doug Raney b.1956; Michael Jackson b.1958; Liam Payne (One Direction) b.1993; Bennie Maupin is 86; Chris Copping (Procol Harum) is 81; David Jenkins (Pablo Cruise) is 79; Don Schlitz and Dave Malone (The Radiators) are 74; Diamanda Galás is 71; Eddi Reader is 67; Tony MacAlpine is 66; Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) is 63; Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) is 59; Me’shell Ndegeocello is 58; Alex Griffin (Ned's Atomic Dustbin) is 55; Kyle Cook (Matchbox Twenty) is 51; David Desrosiers (Simple Plan) is 46; Lea Michele is 40.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Released in the States 25 years ago today: “It’s a Wonderful Life” by Sparklehorse. “They” had previously been an elabor...
08/28/2026

Released in the States 25 years ago today: “It’s a Wonderful Life” by Sparklehorse. “They” had previously been an elaborate one-man art-pop project for 38-year-old Mark Linkous, but this 3rd LP featured a full band, though Linkous still played many instruments and co-produced it with Dave Fridmann & John Parish. It scored an average 81 of 100 from 17 published critics (via Metacritic) and remains beloved by fans. Music videos were also created for each song, by different directors. Nina Persson + PJ Harvey contribute backing vocals. Fun facts: Linkous asked Tom Waits to co-write / sing a song, which did happen (‘Dog Door’). Vic Chesnutt also co-wrote one (‘Little Fat Baby’). Unfun fact: Mark and Vic each had less than 9 years to live. More in Comments.

This week’s New Releases: Madison’s own Graham Hunt; Son Volt; Interpol; Dinosaur Jr.; Alabama Shakes; The Jayhawks; Billy Strings; Mike D; Ruthie Foster; Jim James; Allah Las; Czarface; The Linda Lindas; Sara Cahoone; Floating Points; Trashcan Sinatras; Dahi; Capleton; Henry Threadgill Zooid; Mastodon; Post Malone; Alex Warren ARCHIVAL: Willie Nelson ‘78; Die Kreuzen ‘84; Israel Vibration ‘91; Luna ‘12

August 28 Birthdays: Kenny Drew b.1928; Joe Osborn (Wrecking Crew) b.1937; Ivy Jo Hunter b.1940; Joseph Shabalala (Ladysmith Black Mambazo) and John Marshall (Nucleus / Soft Machine) b.1941; Sterling Morrison (The Velvet Underground) b.1942; Honey Lantree (The Honeycombs) b.1943; Fred Cole (Dead Moon) b.1948; Martin Lamble (Fairport Convention) b.1949; Wayne Osmond (The Osmonds) and Dave Hlubek (Molly Hatchet) b.1951; Clem Cattini (The Tornados) is 89; Danny Seraphine (Chicago) is 78; Mike Metheny and Hugh Cornwell (The Stranglers) are 77; Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks / Young Fresh Fellows) and Dinah Cancer (45 Grave) are 66; Kim Appleby (Mel and Kim) is 65; Shania Twain is 61; Jack Black (Tenacious D) is 57; Pete Turner (Elbow) is 52; Jake Owen is 45; LeAnn Rimes is 44; Cove Reber (Saosin) and Gwenifer Raymond are 41; Florence Welch (Florence + the Machine) is 40; Cécile McLorin Salvant is 37.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Released 35 years ago today: “Ten” by Pearl Jam (our copy here). This debut album by the Seattle hard-rock / alt-rock ba...
08/27/2026

Released 35 years ago today: “Ten” by Pearl Jam (our copy here). This debut album by the Seattle hard-rock / alt-rock band reached #2 Billboard while earning reviews ranging from good to excellent. Songwriters Stone Gossard (guitar, 24) and Jeff Ament (bass, 28) had been playing together for some time in bands Green River and Mother Love Bone before they hired singer, lyricist Eddie Vedder (26) to front this new band. This album launched one of the biggest American rock bands of their generation. “Ten” features hit singles “Alive” “Even Flow” + “Jeremy” and remains the band’s most popular album, with over 13 million sold in the States alone. It has landed on many Best of the 1990s and Greatest All Time album lists. More in Comments.

August 27 Birthdays: Lester Young b.1909; Alice Coltrane b.1937; Edward Patten (Gladys Knight & the Pips) b.1939; Sonny Sharrock (Last Exit) b.1940; Daryl Dragon (Captain & Tennille) b.1942; Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge / Cactus) b.1944; Phil Shulman (Gentle Giant) is 89; Neil Murray (Whitesnake) is 76; Alex Lifeson (Rush) is 73; Glen Matlock (S*x Pistols) is 70; Rez Abbasi is 61; Bob Nastanovich (Pavement / Silver Jews) is 59; Tony Kanal (No Doubt) is 56; Jon Siebels (Eve 6) and Sarah Neufeld (Arcade Fire) are 47; Jessica Lea Mayfield is 37; Spencer Peppet (The Ophelias) is 30.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Farewell Tim "Frank-N-Furter" Curry, known for many things but most remembered for his lead role in the 1975 cult-classi...
08/26/2026

Farewell Tim "Frank-N-Furter" Curry, known for many things but most remembered for his lead role in the 1975 cult-classic musical comedy "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
We didn't think twice when someone bought a copy of that soundtrack this morning, because it continues to sell so well. Doin' that Time Warp again. Gone at 80.

Released 60 years ago today: “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan. Produced by Mickie Most in early 1966, this third album by ...
08/26/2026

Released 60 years ago today: “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan. Produced by Mickie Most in early 1966, this third album by the 20-year-old Scottish songwriter earned good-to-excellent reviews while reaching #11 Billboard. The title track became Donovan’s only U.S. #1 hit single, though the album also features “Season of the Witch,” which was not issued as a single but is considered one of his greatest songs. Fun facts: While still solidly in the folk-rock genre, this LP is one of first to infuse psychedelic elements, as well as one of the first pop albums with extensive use of sitar, played by 23-year-old Texan Shawn Phillips, who incidentally wrote the melody for “Season of the Witch” and would soon become a successful solo artist with a career that continues today (he performed in Madison last year). Jimmy Page was a session player on some tracks. Pitchfork included Sunshine Superman on their list “Best Albums of the 1960s”. More in Comments.

August 26 Birthdays: Jimmy Rushing b.1901; Jet Black (The Stranglers) b.1938; Nik Turner (Hawkwind) b.1940; Chris Curtis (The Searchers) b.1941; Leon Redbone b.1949; Vic Dana is 84; Dori Caymmi is 83; Alan Parker and Maureen Tucker (The Velvet Underground) are 82; Scott Fagan is 81; Valerie Simpson (Ashford & Simpson) is 80; Bob Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 77; John O'Neill (The Undertones / That Petrol Emotion) is 69; Branford Marsalis is 66; Annie Holland (Elastica) is 61; Dan Vickrey (Counting Crows) and Shirley Manson (Garbage) are 60; Adrian Young (No Doubt) is 57; Allison Robertson (The Donnas) is 47; Keke Palmer is 33.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Farewell to the one and only Dolly Parton. One of the most beloved and successful singer-songwriters of all time. There ...
08/25/2026

Farewell to the one and only Dolly Parton. One of the most beloved and successful singer-songwriters of all time. There will never be another. Gone at 80.

45 years ago today, The Replacements released “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash”. The Minneapolis punk band’s debu...
08/25/2026

45 years ago today, The Replacements released “Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash”. The Minneapolis punk band’s debut album was issued on the local Twin/Tone label to good reviews. With 18 songs packed in under 37 minutes, ten of them clock under two minutes each, and only two break the three-minute barrier. Led by 21-year-old songwriter Paul Westerberg, his bandmates were also 20 and 21 except bassist Tommy Stinson (14!). Retrospective reviews became more glowing; for example, in 2009, Pitchfork scored it 9.4 of 10. More in Comments.

August 25 Birthdays: Leonard Bernstein b.1918; Leonard Gaskin b.1920; Warren “Monty” Matthews (The Jordanaires) b.1927; Jerry Rivers (The Drifting Cowboys) b.1928; Wayne Shorter (Miles Davis Quintet / Weather Report) b.1933; Pat Martino b.1944; Keith Tippett b.1947; Charles Fambrough and W***y DeVille (Mink DeVille) b.1950; John McGeoch (Magazine / Siouxsie) b.1955; Shock G (Digital Underground) b.1963; Mia Zapata (The Gits) b.1965; Christopher Augustine (Every Mother's Son) is 85; Walter Williams (The O'Jays) is 83; Ledward Kaapana is 78; Gene Simmons (Kiss) and Henry Paul (The Outlaws) are 77; Rob Halford (Judas Priest) is 75; Geoff Downes (The Buggles / Yes) is 74; Marty Jourard (The Motels) Vivien Goldman and Elvis Costello are 72; Billy Ray Cyrus is 65; Vivian Campbell (Dio / Def Leppard) is 64; Candida Doyle (Pulp) is 63; Colleen Browne (Pale Saints) is 61; Derek Sherinian (Planet X / Black Country Communion) and Terminator X (Public Enemy) are 60; Jeff Tweedy (Uncle Tupelo / Wilco) is 59; Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian) is 58; Jo Dee Messina is 56; Amy Macdonald is 39; Emily Warren and Julia Steiner (Ratboys) are 34.

Notice: B-Side is OPEN Mon-Thurs 10-6 / Fri+Sat 10-7 / Sunday 11-5. Email [email protected] or message here to support our shop with any Vinyl, CD, t-shirt or gift card orders, for pickup or shipment to your home. Thank you for shopping local 🙂

If you enjoy our human-written (no AI) daily posts celebrating historic albums, songs & artist birthdays, please invite your friends to follow the B-Side page, thanks

Address

514 State St
Madison, WI
53703

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+16082551977

Website

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