IN WHICH BOTH SIDES OF THE SINGLE ARE OUTSTANDING

It was while piecing together yesterday's thing on The Correct Use of Soap that got me thinking about this, the wonderful follow-up to Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've):-

mp3 : Buzzcocks - Promises
mp3 : Buzzcocks - Lipstick

Released at tail end of 1978, this reached #20 in the UK singles chart, the last ever time Buzzcocks reached that particular milestone.  I reckon that if the predecessor single hadn't been such a classic, then Promises would be a track that would feature highly in most folks lists of the best new-wave/post-punk 45s.

The b-side is the same tune as that of Shot By Both Sides, the debut single by Magazine.  An interesting footnote is that Lipstick is credited solely to Pete Shelley which can only mean that Howard Devoto's contribution to the song which launched his most successful band was in the department of lyrics.

Happy Listening. Oh and both tracks come in at under 2 mins 40 seconds.  Perfect punk-pop.