The Buzzcocks juggernaut showed no signs of slowing down as yet another brand new song became the latest 45 in March 1979.
However, this one didn’t do as well as hoped or expected, spending a miserly four weeks in the Top 40 and peaking at #29.
Not everybody would be happy nowadays.
I do recall there being something of a critical backlash against the band around this time. Magazine had just released their second studio LP, Secondhand Daylight and its ambition and breadth led some to suggest that Pete Shelley was a bit of a one-trick pony incapable of lacing the Doc Martins of his former band mate. The fact that the new Buzzcocks single had the vocalist straining to hit the high notes was also a source of some amusement and ‘Happy’ took a bit of a caning when compared to what had been written before.
mp3 : Buzzcocks – Everybody’s Happy Nowadays
mp3 : Buzzcocks – Why Can’t I Touch It?
The b-side is a strange one. A band which specialised in the classic 2-3 minute pop song put down something that stretched out over six minutes. This could have been a pleasant surprise except for the fact that the song is not all that good and leaves listeners pining for the more simple shouty catchy stuff of old,
I guess I’m not with the crowd on this one because I put this one right up there with the best of them… the A-side, anyway.
I’m with Brian. And I love the b-side, too. Good lengthy practice tune for budding bassists to learn to play the octaves.
I will 3rd that motion! Maybe it was an American thing….And I think Why Can’t I Touch It is the forerunner for the band beginning to feel their Post Punk oats….Both sides brilliant in my mind!
I have to disagree with your assessment of ‘Why Can’t I Touch It?’ – it’s fabulous. The song was memorably covered just last year by Deerhunter.
Me too, love Why Can’t I Touch it
Everybody’s Happy… has always been one of my fave Buzzcocks tunes.
I loved their more experimental longer stuff like Moving Away From The Pulsebeat and Late For The Train. The b-side here is ace.
Love the B-side as well.
I thought Why Can’t I Touch It was a stand alone single. I absolutely love it.
One of my favourite Buzzcocks singles too, A&B side.
Interesting to be so out of sync with everyone.
I first heard this particular b-side back in 1979 and it shocked and to some extent horrified me as I wasn’t prepared for anything beyond 2-3 minutes. Haven’t ever been able to shake off those first impressions.