B-side "Boll Weevil Song" Format 7" 45rpm Length 2:08 | Released July 1959 Recorded June 23, 1959 | |
Genre Rock and roll, rockabilly | ||
"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. It has been covered by a wide range of artists and most notably by the Sex Pistols who scored a number 3 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1979.
Contents
Eddie Cochran version
The first-person lyrics describe how Cochran wants a convertible he can not 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 an older car, and works up the confidence to ask the girl out. The song was written on the back of a match book. Veteran studio drummer Earl Palmer played the same drum beat on "Somethin' Else" as Charles Connor did on Little Richard's "Keep A-Knockin'". But Eddie Cochran was unaware that Sheeley wanted to duplicate the drum sound of the Little Richard recording. The song peaked at No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart, but only reached No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Known personnel
Songwriting credit
Note that the songwriting credit correctly shows Bob, not Bobby, Cochran. Eddie's brother Bob co-wrote the song. Bobby Cochran is Eddie's nephew.
Sex Pistols version
Sex Pistols recorded a version of the song for the album The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. "Something Else" on the double A-sided single was credited to Sex Pistols : vocals Sid Vicious and was released three weeks after Vicious died. It peaked at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. The other side of the single was "Friggin' in the Riggin'" credited to Sex Pistols : vocals Steve Jones.
There are a few (slight) changes to the lyrics, for example the opening verse is changed from, "Here comes that girl again/Wanted to date her since I don't know when" to "Here comes that girl again/One of the cutest since I don't know when" and in the third verse, the lines are changed from "Worked hard and saved my dough/I'll buy that car that I've been wanting so" to "Worked hard and saved my dough/I buy that car and I load up with Joe".